What's a "crit"?

[violette]

I read it but have no idea with it is.

[Eden]

Its a race with a very short circuit - generally less than a mile or two, often run around several city blocks. They are more common in the US, but seen in other countries too. They are most often raced for a set amount of time + 2 or 3 laps. They are hard and fast races with a lot of cornering so they are considered to be one of the more difficult types of races and are often intimidating for new racers. There is a wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criterium

my husband has a theory that way back a bit around the turn of the century when velodrome racing was very popular in Europe the US loved bike racing too, but didn't have too many velodromes - so the small towns made do with what they did have - city blocks and the criterium became very popular here.

[indysteel]

It's short for Criterium--a race consisting of multiple laps around a short course.

[Meg McKilty]

A blood lab calling for Creatinine levels. Duh.

[Mimosa]

crit = hell. Each lap you pass the finishline with the lapcounter sign ... and you think "How many laps to go? Oh no, still more then half to go!!"
But one thing I do like is the people cheering

[freshsushi]

"crits=hell"

heh. i love crits because the changes of you getting lost is much lower than in a road race

[Mimosa]

"crits=hell"

heh. i love crits because the changes of you getting lost is much lower than in a road race

hahaha .... that's true!!!! I allways feel lost when riding classics. I just follow the policeman riding upfront, in the hope that he knows where we are going.

[spike]

"crits=hell"

heh. i love crits because the changes of you getting lost is much lower than in a road race

As long as you hold your line!

[Dianyla]

Children, cover your ears...

It's how they pronounce **** in Japan.

[IFjane]

hahaha .... that's true!!!! I allways feel lost when riding classics. I just follow the policeman riding upfront, in the hope that he knows where we are going.

I just saw this thread. Mimosa, you would have been out of luck last Sunday for Stage 7 of the Tour of Virginia! The policemen led the breakaway (8 or9 riders) 1 - 2k the wrong way when they entered the city of Charlottesville. We were standing down from the first turn & saw them go straight instead of turning to come by us!

[Mimosa]

I just saw this thread. Mimosa, you would have been out of luck last Sunday for Stage 7 of the Tour of Virginia! The policemen led the breakaway (8 or9 riders) 1 - 2k the wrong way when they entered the city of Charlottesville. We were standing down from the first turn & saw them go straight instead of turning to come by us!

I know they screw up sometimes. It already happened twice this season here in the netherlands. Once they saw there error fast and the leadgirl was able to stay in the lead. But the second time the lead group had to regroup at the tail of the bunch that's how long it took for them to retrace their steps.