Covered bridge bike race

[Aussie Rob]

So today i gave bike racing a try for the first time, and let me tell you, it's TONS of fun!

I did the CAT 4/5 race (obviously) and enjoyed getting a feel for the dynamics of a bike race from the inside out. Lots of jockeying for position with people trying to stay up front and out of trouble. I managed this part fairly well (courtesy of the Wednesday night spin rides), took a short easy pull here and there (i was expressly forbidden from working up front), and felt comfortable there. Good thing too, because on lap 3 there was a crash back in the field which sounded expensive!

So we cruised around for much of the race, the occasional test of the waters made by some riders who myself and a few others went with hoping something would happen...nothing did. So on the last lap i decided to have a go myself, and opened up a gap of a few seconds between myself and the peloton, but alas, no one came with me, and try as i might, i just couldn't get away completely. I stayed out there for a few miles, but i was toiling in futility, and my legs just weren't there. Bottom line, I went too early....rookie mistake. With about 400 yards to go they made the catch and the sprint was on. I managed to grab a wheel and hold on for 6th place, nearly puking from that final effort as i crossed the line.

If you've been wondering about bike racing like i have, i HIGHLY recommend you give it a try. I'm looking forward to more. It isn't any more dangerous near the front as a regular group ride.

eta - I noticed a CTC water bottle in one guys cage too. Who was that?

[Brian Luther]

Aussie Rob,

Great effort on the circuit! Yes, hanging in the peleton is awesome, and even better once you drift up front.....

And it sucks, when they let you hang! The rite's of passage, on the bike..... It is a team effort, as well as an individual fight for the race.... ;D

Brian

p.s. riding with you last year at the Sunday Ride In June, and at the Spin rides out of Lakewood, you got the legs dude... You are a strong rider, and a great cyclists......

[Angie]

I agree that bike racing is a blast. I did two of the RATL and a couple of other road races last year. I could not stay with the pack but had fun before they started to ramp up the pace. Glad you had fun. I hope to make it to the last 2 RATLs this year.

Likely the guy with the CTC water bottle was Brent Martin... big guy with cool tattoos... .. he is an awesome cyclist.

ANGIE

[MarkD]

Dude... you rock - hard core...

[erinj]

yes, brent did a cat 4 race this weekend...could have been him...he will be racing again this weekend...

[Eric]

Aussie, Congrats on jumping into the peleton. I'm looking to jump back into the Westlake Crits this year. I would encourage you to do the same but with caution.

A crash in a crit is a heavy price to pay when you are training for Ironman. As you heard at covered bridge a crash can happen fast, equipment is toast, bones break.

The Cat4/5/Citizen races are the worst because of the inexperience of some riders. More prone to sudden movements and jerky actions that cause crashes.

It's fun but be very careful.

[Aussie Rob]

I'm going to give a few of them a go, and ride at/close to the front to avoid the carnage. Maybe just sit on the front and ride tempo and make the sprinters hurt. I won't win anything, but that'd be fun in its own right

[Eric]

This will be my last comment about road racing. This past weekend there was a nasty crash at the Race At The Lakes (RATL) Saturday. One victim was Rudy Sroka from Bike Authority. He broke his arm in two places. I don't know the details of the crash but for Rudy to go down like that....unheard of.

[Aussie Rob]

You're right, it's risky for sure.

Fortunately (unfortunately?) financial constraints are going to limit any further road racing for me until further notice.

sorry to hear about your mate....that sounds bad! Still early though, hopefully he can salvage some of the summer.