Race Report: Wells Ave Training Criterium 5/2/2010

[Marc]

Sorry, no pics this week. First crit went well for me, although there two crashes, one on the prime lap and one on the bell lap. The first only took out two riders and the second just one, which was amazingly lucky. Both ended up in the hospital.

The pace was about what I was expected, we averaged 23.6 mph for the 12 miles (15 laps). I actually didn't have to work very hard as I just sat in the middle of the pack basically the whole race getting a feel for riding in a big pack. Definitely some pretty squirrely riders in the Cat 5's. I feel like I could pick out the better wheels to stay with though.

My legs were still a little sore from last week's training, but if I wanted to work a little more I feel confident I could've ridden near the front of the pack most of the race and even been competitive in a field sprint. The crash on the bell lap happened about five seconds after I started my final sprint so I kinda stopped sprinting since the guy went down about ten feet away from me.

Strategy was interesting. Everyone in the Cat 5's seemed so afraid of being boxed in to the inside, or maybe they were afraid of being inside on the corners, there were times the whole pack was riding the middle of the road and I could zip right up the inside.

At any rate, no break aways stuck, only one or two were attempted, and I finished with the pack which was my main goal. No electronic tracking so they only place the first ten riders (visually). Really didn't want to go off the back but it turns out I really didn't have to worry about that. I'm glad I got the first race done with; the jitters sucks but now I know what's what and I'll be able to enjoy myself better the next time I race on the road. My calendar is starting to fill up very quickly...

 

[bvibert]

Sounds like it worked out better than you expected, congrats!

 

[marcski]

Awesome, Marc. Road bike racing, whether road, crit or otherwise is a whole different thing. I'm not sure I want to go there personally, but I know a whole bunch that do. I think I'm too much of a whimp to do it....more from a mental standpoint than physical. But a few buddies want to take me on some big, competitive group rides to see what its like. There are apparently relatively frequent crashes especially in the front group and it's still not even racing.

 

[Marc]

Yeah, it's ironically (for me anyway), quite a bit more dangerous than mountain bike racing. I feel more comfortable picking out that bad riders since I've been riding for so many years now, but sometimes one can't avoid crashing. My closest call with a road crash was actually in the PMC last year when the guy in front of me in a pace line overlapped wheels with the guy in front of him, who then swerved and brought the guy in front of me down hard. Still amazed I stopped in time to avoid that and the three or four riders behind me did too. The MTB braking skills def. helped.

 

[Riverskier]

Yeah, it's ironically (for me anyway), quite a bit more dangerous than mountain bike racing.QUOTE]

Despite mountain biking's reputation for being somewhat "extreme", I have always found road biking to be more dangerous. Between the speed and traffic, it seem like there is a higher likeihood for serious injury. Of course, I am talking about cross country mountain biking only, as downhill is a whole different animal.