After yesterday's race, I was hoping to do better at today's Keith Berger Memorial Criterium, presented by CVC. It wouldn't take much - I just had to avoid getting a flat tire and finish. Fortunately, I accomplished both tasks and, though our team plan didn't go as, um, planned, I learned a few new lessons, and remembered some old ones.
As for new lessons, I discovered that I could attack, chase, and bridge in a "real" Cat 3 race (as opposed to a training race) without getting dropped. So my recovery is ok - especially surprising after yesterday's unintentional 20 mile time trial. I also got more practice moving up within the pack, instead of always moving up by going outside the pack. Admittedly, you have to be much more patient and skilled within the pack. But you're rewarded with better position without burning so many matches.
Old lessons remembered: The folks that put on these races, and come out to the races, are really, really great people. Sure, we try to bash each others' heads in while racing (metaphorically speaking), but the pre and post race banter and general chatting are as big a part of the whole racing thing as the race itself. God forbid that it should ever be otherwise. Results are nice, but it's the relationships that you remember most.
And the races themselves often are for a good cause. The "Berger Crit" (affectionately called), raises funds for junior racers and cancer research. Keith Berger was a member of CVC who died of cancer some years ago. He had a passion for encouraging young racers and his family honors his memory by sponsoring this race. It's a wonderful, and fitting, way for a bike racer to be remembered.
We all want to be remembered in some way, to make a difference. We can't all have a huge impact on world events, but we can each make a difference where we are. That's why relationships are so important. That's why I think racing, especially racing in support of a cause, is so satisfying. It helps us remember the role we have to play while we're here.
While racing as metaphor for life gets a little cliche sometimes, we all want to be remembered somehow, even - or sometimes especially - in the context of a race. We may not be able to win, or to even post a good result, but we can play some role in how the race develops - and maybe even have an impact on its outcome.
Two examples from today's race:
There were 52 of us at the start and, typical of crits, the race started fast with a couple of attacks going off early on. A few guys would get up the road, but would be reeled in relatively quickly. At one point, my friend HOB got in a small break, but like all the previous attempts, it was brought back.
With all the attacks and counterattacks, not to mention the number of primes offered, we all had a difficult time keeping things together. Despite our efforts though, a good sized - about 8-12? - group got up the road and it looked like the race was riding away from us. The pack let them get 30 seconds ahead and didn't seem all that interested in chasing (I suspected all of the teams must've been represented, but wasn't sure). As we came down the finishing straight, I decided to throw a grenade into the pack and get myself remembered SOMEhow, even if only for a suicide attack. I sprinted like crazy to try and bridge to the break and, while I didn't catch them, I got close enough to see the result: the pack was now driving like crazy. That break was brought back within the next lap. I may not be remembered for long, but at least I know I changed the dynamic of the race at that point.
Even more impressive, HOB - not content to give up on his chance at glory - went on a solo flyer and stayed away for almost 4 laps. His effort was impressive enough that somebody in the crowd offered a spectator prime for which HOB, miraculously, stayed away JUST long enough to win. His effort kept the pace of the race high and while it may not have affected the final outcome, there are sure to be some folks that remember that crazy tall ponytailed Bethel guy that kept the pack at bay just long enough to have his name announced not once, but twice.
For each of these little dramas, there are any number of additional stories taking place in every race - as many stories as there are racers. We all have our own reasons for racing. Many of those reasons are the same (good results, a good workout, being able to eat whatever you want), but some of them are unique and special. I think that when Keith Berger raced, he did it for something larger than just his own results. Maybe not always. We're all human and seldom achieve what we aspire to - our reach too often exceeds our grasp.
In a way, that's what happened to me as we came into the final laps of today's race. With two laps to go, Cliff, me and SDC were lined up and ready to execute our plan. Unfortunately, there was a crash when someone overcooked corner 2 and almost took out Cliff. That worked to our advantage though since it put me where I needed to be for the last lap,on the front of our little train. After the bell, and on the backside, I did a big turn and got at the front of the pack on the right side, leading out my guys.
Unfortunately, there was a move going down the left and we were both headed toward corner 3 at high speed. I hesitated - and then blew up going through the corner. In the confusion, a bunch of guys went by. SDC and Cliff had gotten boxed in, and I was totally cooked and almost OTB by the time I hit the finish line.
I'd set a goal that turned out to be just beyond my abilities - at least this day. But I'll remember that lesson, and I'll try to apply what I've learned to future races. That's another great thing to remember about bike racing - there's always next week and, with it, another chance to make a difference.
(For a detailed course description, check out my report from last years race here.)
Very nice Chris, I always enjoy reading your blog!
Posted by: MA | June 28, 2010 at 05:27 AM