SheFly
09-20-2007, 05:26 AM
I had hung up my road bike for the season after Saco, but decided to have one last go at a crit up in York, ME. I am SO GLAD that I went - this race was AWESOME!
Ok. So I came last. Don't care. Here is a list of my accomplishments:
I stayed with the pack for the entire race.
I raced in the middle of the pack, at least a little bit.
I was semi-active, trying an attack or two (that didn't stick)
With 5 to go, I got on the front and TT'd for two laps hoping to bump the pace and make something happen - I should have waited another couple of laps ;) .
What do I need to do better?
GET OUT OF THE WIND. Everytime I came off the front of the pack, I ended up too far to one side or the other, taking the full force of the wind and not getting as much recovery as I should have.
Spend more time in the MIDDLE to the FRONT of the pack.
Protect my wheel. I got ridden off the wheel I was on more times than I can count tonight.
Position, position, position.
The net of it is that I had a blast, and learned even more about the intracacies of crit racing. Someone even told me tonight that she thought I had already come a long way from my performance at the Witches' Cup... It is my first season of crit racing, so I am still learning.
This is an awesome race venue, too. Great course and views of the ocean to boot. I can't really begin to tell you how much FUN the event really was, and you have NEVER seen someone as excited as I was to finish a race in last place :D .
Ok. So I came last. Don't care. Here is a list of my accomplishments:
I stayed with the pack for the entire race.
I raced in the middle of the pack, at least a little bit.
I was semi-active, trying an attack or two (that didn't stick)
With 5 to go, I got on the front and TT'd for two laps hoping to bump the pace and make something happen - I should have waited another couple of laps ;) .
What do I need to do better?
GET OUT OF THE WIND. Everytime I came off the front of the pack, I ended up too far to one side or the other, taking the full force of the wind and not getting as much recovery as I should have.
Spend more time in the MIDDLE to the FRONT of the pack.
Protect my wheel. I got ridden off the wheel I was on more times than I can count tonight.
Position, position, position.
The net of it is that I had a blast, and learned even more about the intracacies of crit racing. Someone even told me tonight that she thought I had already come a long way from my performance at the Witches' Cup... It is my first season of crit racing, so I am still learning.
This is an awesome race venue, too. Great course and views of the ocean to boot. I can't really begin to tell you how much FUN the event really was, and you have NEVER seen someone as excited as I was to finish a race in last place :D .