Still Learning...Keith Berger Crit 6/28/09

One of the attractions of racing is its variety.  Every race offers a number of opportunities to push yourself, find your limits, try new tactics, learn.  Just when I think I have racing figured out (being able to act on what I think I know is another matter), I realize how much I have left to learn.

Case in point: yesterday's race.

But first, an introduction.

Course Description

In addition to our weekly training races, my team puts on a larger, annual race in East Hartford - The Keith Berger Memorial Criterium in East Hartford, CT. 

 

The track itself is a pretty straightforward one mile circuit, with few unique characteristics.  Despite its proximity to the river, there's no view - just a very large levee.  The roads are wide, in decent shape, and (technically) closed to traffic.  One distinguishing characteristic is the short leg between corners 3 and 4.  It's very short, so you have to be in good position going into corner 3 and there's still a long way to the finish line (located where the "54" is at the corner of Hartland St. and Founders Plaza - click for a larger view) but at least it's straight and wide.

One other thing: it's pancake flat and very fast.  The only thing that'll break things up are your competitor's legs, or the wind - if there is any.

Despite the plainness of the track, this is one of the best crits I've raced.  Sure, I'm biased, but the team knows what it's doing and is very organized.  Since I'm new, I think I can still say that with some level of objectivity.  Registration was well-manned ("womanned" actually) and smooth, "facilities" were close at hand, and there was even neutral support provided by SRAM.  I wouldn't have minded getting to use one of their backup bikes, but I didn't want to crash to be able to.  There was a finishline camera, plenty of officials and the results were posted quickly.

Best of all - the main point of the race was to raise funds for junior racers and cancer research.  Keith Berger was a CVC team member who died of cancer and one of his passions was supporting and encouraging younger racers.  I never had the privilege of knowing him, but his family continues to support the race and were there yesterday thanking people.  First class folks for sure.

This was the first time I'd ever raced here and the first time I've been able to volunteer with some of the logistics.  Mrs. SOC and I volunteered to help marshal the course and, in addition, I was able to get a good deal on PowerAde.

 

A REALLY good deal - 10 cases worth.  Consequently, we had to use the truck - too much to pack.  How much?

 

Well, in addtion to the 15o bottles (32oz each!), there was: 1 bike, 4 wheels, race bag, trainer, pump, cooler, 2 beach chairs, 2 umbrellas, "sundry" bag and other miscellaneous items.  Thankfully, my truck has an "extra cab."

The Race

Back to the "learning" though.  Being "our" race, we on the Cat3 team hoped to do well.  And we were packing some extra firepower in the form of a couple of strong new teammembers.  So we had a total of 5 in the race.  Since it was the first time we were racing together like this, our plan was to each race our own race and see where we were at the end.  It was pretty windy, with headwinds on 2 sides of the track, so we figured no breaks would stick.  "No problem" I thought - I figured we'd just stay sheltered and see how we'd fare in the sprint.

 

Me and Hobgoblin at the line - the last time I'd see the front of the race.

 

Just under 50 of us lined up and were off.  This is a shot of the first corner.  S/F is behind to the left.

 

It was a very good race.  Here's 4/5ths of the CVC team together.  The pace was never really unmanageable, though it did vary a lot depending on whether we were heading into the wind.  We used our brakes more than we really should have.  But, despite some minor bumping here and there and a couple of clipped pedals in the turns, there were no crashes.

 

Any safe race is a good race and this was definitely a good race for me.  Flat, fast races suit me and though my HR data shows me in Zone 5 for most of the race, it didn't feel that hard.

I raced very conservatively - trying to practice moving up within the pack when I could, but mostly staying to one side or the other about 1/2 way back.  Conserving my energy but, paradoxically, using more than I should have when it didn't matter.

Consequently, I wasn't near the front where I could attack or chase down any breaks.  Since that really wasn't in our plan, I didn't think too much about it at the time, but I think I would have had a lot more fun if I'd been more near the front and latching onto attacks when they came.

Turns out, I raced too conservatively.  The front got away from me during the final few laps and I couldn't move up quick enough, despite a great effort by SDC to thread me through the pack and up to the front.  I was glad I could follow his wheel as he threaded needles (learning only later that there were a lot of gaps he decided not to go through) .

I *did* move up though, and though I lost the wheel through the 3rd corner, I passed a lot of guys in the final stretch, guaranteeing a top 20 finish (barely).

But on the video I think I look a little ridiculous sprinting past guys that had basically sat up.  I think from now on, if I'm not in contention for the top 10 I'll sit up too, even if I lose a bunch of spots.

So, what did I learn?

• Practice staying in the middle of the pack, making my zone of comfort smaller and smaller;
• Practice holding position, especially if you're on a good wheel;
• When you have teammates in the race, have a clear plan, deciding who is going to be set up for the win and have the others race/sacrifice accordingly;
• Related to the above, race less conservatively - especially if you're not the one responsible for saving all your matches for a sprint that will win

And, finally, I have to consider that in the Cat3s, if you end up lower than 10th, it should be because you blow yourself up working for your teammates, and not because you race so conservatively that you aren't near the front when you need to be - either racing for the day's designated leader, or maintaining a winning position in the final laps.

As I've said before, one of the nice things about racing is that there's usually another race and another chance to learn and perfect your skills and tactics.

My next race is tomorrow night and class is in session.

Comments

[Rishabh]

I had a bad day and sat up after almost getting thrown into the curb in the 4's race in the last lap. Finished second last! Hahaha.

For some reason, it took me a few laps to figure out the layout of the course. Never a good sign.

I should have just gone to the front and drilled it for a little bit when I figured out that I wasn't feeling it.

Have fun at the tuesday nighter! I'll see you next week

[aki]

I think sprinting for 10th-20th is okay, esp in a field sprint where things are kind of crowded. In the race your perception is that the field is really stretched out when in fact it may be much closer than you think. I've been in sprints where I felt almost alone, but when reviewing pics or vids, I change my mind to thinking that I'm lucky I didn't get swamped at the line.

Sprinting for 30th, from 50th, that may be a bit excessive.

[Suitcase of Courage]

Rish: Glad you made it through ok and thanks again for relieving me at the marshall station. Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Aki: Thanks for that - makes me feel better (though I still think I look a little silly in the video). I'd hate to lose out on top 20 just cuz I didn't try.