Finally decided to sign up for a criterium and see how i would fair in a bike only race. Obviously i was racing Cat-5 so there were no bike ninja’s out there.
I bought my first road bike (allez elite) in Feb. I used to race BMX several years ago so i am pretty use to riding in a tight group, big crashes, ect.
The course is a 4 RH turn course, start/finish at the top of a false flat after the hill, first turn into a decent, next 2 turns are flat, 4th turn goes up a 60-80ft hill, fairly steep at the bottom and the road veers right after the steepest portion and then it is a light incline for approx 300m to the finish line.
Friend told me to just stay at the front and go with any and all attacks. Well, i sat at the front but noone tried any attack, i jumped on everyone to tried to accelerate up the hill and they would always back off near the top. On about lap 4 a racer who’s wheel i was on out of the saddle on the hill missed a shift or something, but slowed suddenly and irratically and i lost my front wheel, crashed, was run over a few times, probably my fault in someway, but whatever. I put the chain back on, road to the wheel pit and got my free lap rule. Had to manhandle my bars to straighten them and my right shifter. Few laps later, i was up near the front going up the same hill, and the racer in front of me crossed the persons in front of his wheel while out the the saddle and down i went again in a group of 4 or so riders, a lot harder this time. Got up, left STI shifter was completely bent to the inside, i was bleeding from the typical spots. I re-mounted after doing a fast bike check and this time i was fairly pissed off. We were told we could take another free lap, but i just road solo through the start/finish and TT’d for about 4 minutes and caught the lead pack on my own.
4 laps left i hung near the back and recovered a bit from my effort. On the climb i jumped into the middle. 3rd lap i just stayed in the middle and just jumped over a few more guys on the next climb. 2nd lap to go i went to the front for a minute or so halfway through the lap and just picked up the tempo going into the hill. I sat up and went into the climb at about 10th spot. On the final lap i moved to about 6th or so going into the last corner and the hill. A tall lanky fellow from UCSD jumped and attacked, me and 3 other riders hopped on his wheel. I was in 4th spot and there were one or two riders on me. On the mild right after the steepest part of the hill the rider in front of me lost the wheel and i went around on the left and bridged. About 300 meters to go i was in third. The UCSD rider was obviously blown as his tempo dropped. I was waiting for the attack from the rider in front of me but behind me i heard a distinctive downshift and on my right side a rider launched around. Immediately i jumped out the left side, downshifted and got on it. Gave it everything i had caught him and took him by a bike length at the line.
I was pretty shocked to check my Max HR at the end of the race, i hit 192 BPM on that final sprint. Highest i’ve ever recorded but i felt fine about a minute later.
Video of the finish- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma2RNLAJfzQ My friends are the ones screaming and scaring the hell out of the girl next to them…
Setting some tempo out front since no one else wanted to- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzTaBkKHSWg
I learned that Cat-5 is more like a rugby game than a bike race at times. Didn’t understand why some of the clubs there in force like swami’s or SDBC didnt try a break. I felt as if i could have gone on my own for the last lap but i guess we will never know. Overall it was a blast, i am hooked and can’t wait to do another one.
Plus, i won a 75 dollar certificate to a local bike shop. Need to improve tactics and bike handeling, but i knew that going into it.
Great time and no injuries from anyone in the rugby game.