Bethel Crit #2:Tour de Kirche

Yesterday was another beautiful day of racing and seeing friends.  After the first race of the series was canceled due to snow, we've been really spoiled with April-like sunny race days the last two weeks.

 

Here's Coach Rainy inspecting my equipment the night before the race

 

Unfortunately, my racing didn't quite match up to the weather and I didn't finish as well this week as last. But I *did* accomplish my primary goals for the day:

 

1) don't get caught up in a crash;

2) stay near the front (related to #1 above);

3) climb up the left (short) side of the hill, despite the crowds/jostling, to avoid the longer trip outside;

4) be sure I'm near the front on the last lap

 

The good news is that I accomplished ALL of those things - even #4.  The bad news is that I spent WAY too much time out in the wind/unsheltered.  Apparently, I can't get away with that nearly as much as I used to - esp. in an upgraded field of almost 90(!) racers (there was a HUGE turnout yesterday).

 

Here's the field at the start - and they were still coming up the hill to line up

 

Consequently, while I was within the front 10-15 at the bottom of the final climb, AND on the left side as planned, I only got part way up before I TOTALLY blew up.  By "totally" I mean I finished the climb in my 39/23.  I haven't had that happen in a long time and was frankly a little surprised.  I hadn't raced the previous day, I had plenty of water, and while I didn't warm up that much that wasn't really an issue since I was in the front 1/3 of the pack the whole race.  I just couldn't accelerate up the hill when I had to.  I had nothing left.

 

My best analysis is that all that time outside the pack - while I felt fine doing it at the time - actually took MUCH more out of me than I realized.

 

I learned a valuable lesson for sure.

 

Here are some more pics from the race (all pics courtesy Mrs. Suitcase, who gets better and better despite the poor camera equipment):

 

 

This is Corner #1, shortly after the Start/Finish, and the only true corner on the course.

 

 

Coming into the backside, strung out with a little bit of a break off the front.

 

 

Going by... I'm #315 - outside the pack, as usual this race.

 

 

Patrolling near the front, I was actually able to latch on to a selection and motorpaced it for about a lap with them, until we were (quickly) caught.

 

 

This break got a very large gap considering there were only two of them, and the wind was picking up.  But you can see the pack is motivated.

 

Good view of the finish line at the top of the hill.  This is probably the start of the final lap. 

 

So next week's main (if not only) goal: STAY MORE SHELTERED.  I don't care if a break goes up the road or if there's a selection.  I resolve that, next week at least, I will NOT chase anything down, I will NOT get out of the pack for ANY reason, I WILL save ALL of my matches for a big bonfire at the end - rather than burn them one at a time and then have an empty box when I need it most.

 

Unless of course some teammates show up and then I'll be doing whatever they want, including but not limited to totally imploding to get in a break, mark moves, or lead out our best sprinter.

 

Natch

 

Other than accomplishing my goals for this race (and thankfully "finish well" wasn't one of them), there were a couple of additional consolations: I got a little experience bumping and being bumped - the pack, when I was in it, was pretty full and tight.  And that ranks up there with my season-long goal of gaining more pack experience when it's especially tight and fast.

 

And secondly, my friend SDC won the race - despite all the hard work and time he puts in promoting/organizing it, he still had enough at the end.  Big props go out to him.

 

Here's a video of the finish (again, courtesy the Missus).  Extra credit if you can find me:

 

Here's to the next race!  Can't believe there are only three left . . . :^(

 

 

Comments

[Andrew J. Bernstein]

So, how did this weekend's race go?

Next time we're in the same race, make sure you come say hello... I'll give you a push up the hill!

[Giiles Bikes NH]

What'd you eat that day? The day before?

[ChrisB.]

FYI . . .

This should be great:

http://collegiatecycling.org/eccc/wiki/uploads/Calendar/20090411-yale.pdf

Being that it's Easter weekend, I'll probably end up doing just the TT on Saturday.

[Suitcase of Courage]

Andrew: Thanks - I'll definitely take you up on that.

Giles: Ate the same as usual. I'm pretty sure my performance had to do with not staying sheltered. Won't make THAT mistake again!

[Suitcase of Courage]

ChrisB: Sounds like some great racing coming up in New Haven!

Am I reading the flyer right though? It looks like non-collegiate racers can do the TT and the crit but they CANNOT do the circuit race. Is that correct?

[ChrisB.]

I asked about the circuit race, and apparently the timing and logistics were just too much, at least for the inaugural year.

I'd pick a circuit race over a crit any day. Crits are the "hair metal" of bicycle racing. Of course I'm probably just saying that because I suck at them.