My first crit in 11 years

It must be 11 years ago or something since I did this last ... now I know why :D

It was a crit which you could compare with a US cat 3/4 race, 25 female riders, length about 26 miles on a closed circuit of a mile in the centre of a small town. So lot's of people cheering for us :rolleyes:

Owh my gd, did my lungs BURN :eek: !! I thought I was gonna die after 2 laps, but I hung in there. Halfway I slowly got into it and was able to 'relax' more. On the back straight of the last lap (yes, I was still with the bunch) I moved up to the frontrunners of the bunch, my thought was 'at least I am with the first few now'. And then pulled out everything I still had on the finish straight ... and came in 4th! Which amazes me, I thought lots of people would pas me but in the end only a couple did. I also was 5th at 2 money sprints and even 2nd on one, so I got to take 4 envelops home ... barely enough to pay for the gas used to get there and back.;)

Looking forward to the next venue. But first I'll start riding the local wednesday evening club races with the guys to pick up some race speed and strength.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mimosa

It must be 11 years ago or something since I did this last ... now I know why :D

It was a crit which you could compare with a US cat 3/4 race, 25 female riders, length about 26 miles on a closed circuit of a mile in the centre of a small town. So lot's of people cheering for us :rolleyes:

Owh my gd, did my lungs BURN :eek: !! I thought I was gonna die after 2 laps, but I hung in there. Halfway I slowly got into it and was able to 'relax' more. On the back straight of the last lap (yes, I was still with the bunch) I moved up to the frontrunners of the bunch, my thought was 'at least I am with the first few now'. And then pulled out everything I still had on the finish straight ... and came in 4th! Which amazes me, I thought lots of people would pas me but in the end only a couple did. I also was 5th at 2 money sprints and even 2nd on one, so I got to take 4 envelops home ... barely enough to pay for the gas used to get there and back.;)

Looking forward to the next venue. But first I'll start riding the local wednesday evening club races with the guys to pick up some race speed and strength.

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Wow!!! Congratulations you speedy thing.:D

Dang, if it's been 11 years since you've raced and you still kicked tail, dang! Awesome job and keep kicking tail!

Congrats! You did the exact right thing - hang on for as long as you can (the women will start fast, but will settle down in a couple of laps, and hanging on here is key), ride at the back, and come to the front for the finish.

Way to go!

SheFly

Enjoyed your race report! Sounds like you had a great race, Congratulations!

Well tonight clubride put me back onto the ground with both feet .... pfew. It's a mixed ride with all categories and genders starting together in one race (on a closed circuit). Within 15 minutes I had to let the bunch go because the speed was enormous (I heard people talk about 36 mph on the straight) due to the fact that a male dutch professional rider of the rabobank protour team was pulling the whole field to pieces. In total I was lapped twice in the 50 minute race but still it was good practice riding the corners and riding at high speeds. Next week I'll try again, hopefully that pro has something better to do that day.

hi,

to be lapped only twice by rabobank is pretty impressive if you ask me. I would be delighted if it were only two laps.

And a great finish with your crit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mimosa

It must be 11 years ago or something since I did this last ... now I know why :D

It was a crit which you could compare with a US cat 3/4 race, 25 female riders, length about 26 miles on a closed circuit of a mile in the centre of a small town. So lot's of people cheering for us :rolleyes:

Owh my gd, did my lungs BURN :eek: !! I thought I was gonna die after 2 laps, but I hung in there. Halfway I slowly got into it and was able to 'relax' more. On the back straight of the last lap (yes, I was still with the bunch) I moved up to the frontrunners of the bunch, my thought was 'at least I am with the first few now'. And then pulled out everything I still had on the finish straight ... and came in 4th! Which amazes me, I thought lots of people would pas me but in the end only a couple did. I also was 5th at 2 money sprints and even 2nd on one, so I got to take 4 envelops home ... barely enough to pay for the gas used to get there and back.;)

Looking forward to the next venue. But first I'll start riding the local wednesday evening club races with the guys to pick up some race speed and strength.

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Did you warm up beforehand? Sounds like you did really well! You might avoid some of the death feeling by warming up better or longer. Then all you have to worry about is: my heart rate was how high? for how long? :D

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Originally Posted by aicabsolut

Did you warm up beforehand? Sounds like you did really well! You might avoid some of the death feeling by warming up better or longer. Then all you have to worry about is: my heart rate was how high? for how long? :D

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Yes I did warmup but it is something I allways have the first couple of times (astmatic lungs). Last night it was already less and it will get less each time I do a race (and improve my condition)

Interesting account, Mimosa!
Gives the race a different feel, I guess, to be riding with a "pro".
As always i am in awe of you US gals who seem to ride crits as a matter of everyday - they are so much more common than over here.
Glad it was so successful for you after that considerable break from crits!
:)

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Originally Posted by RoadRaven

Interesting account, Mimosa!
Gives the race a different feel, I guess, to be riding with a "pro".
As always i am in awe of you US gals who seem to ride crits as a matter of everyday - they are so much more common than over here.
Glad it was so successful for you after that considerable break from crits!
:)

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Hey I am not a US girl :p I am a dutchie and ride the dutch crit scene :D

And yes, it feels different with a pro .... it's way faster. It feels like riding behind a mopet.:rolleyes:

<<< bright red face>>>

HUGE embarrasment

Sorry M, I knew that - I mean it tells me under your avatar if nothing else!

I can only blame the fact I had so many pages open and was trying to reply to several threads at once before i leap out the door to work.

Feel like an idiot - I have a Dutch brother-in-law, so had noticed with interest where you haled from...

I have no excuse, sheepishly yours from New Zealand (named after Zeeland, I believe...)

Raven

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoadRaven

<<< bright red face>>>
....
I have no excuse, sheepishly yours from New Zealand (named after Zeeland, I believe...)

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:D :D :D

Oh by the way, just got an email from the club president who organises these wednesday races (he was also racing yesterday) that he clocked a race average of 26.8mph (43,2 km/h) (including 2 warm up laps). Wow, no wonder I was unable to follow that. He invited me to join the sundaymorning race also, which I probably be doing.

PS you spelled it correctly Zeeland, a southern province in the Netheralnds.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mimosa

PS you spelled it correctly Zeeland, a southern province in the Netheralnds.

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Hmmm... found by the French, named by the Dutch, colonised by the English and about 70% of the population has Scottish descent including some of the Maori... krazzzzeee little place I live... I luuurve it!



Hmmm, no wonder you didn't keep up - thats a fine pace your club president set!
Kind've like the gap between my partner and eldest son... and me!