It's on . . .

[spokewench]

I was a worried my first expert race too. Just go out like you normally do and ride your own race; you might surprise yourself!

[Aggie_Ama]

Have fun! I have been getting my butt handed to me at my first three Cat 2 races of the season. BUT I set little goals for myself and try to learn. Example

Race one - 6th out of 7th. But I had a time goal based on the slowest rider last year and I smashed it. I also rode a climb I didn't think I could.

Race two - DFL. Didn't make time goal because a rider hit a tree in front of me and I spent about 10 minutes making sure he didn't have a serious head injury. But I road a drop called Hospital Hill that scared the pants off me in January.

Race three - DFL. I crashed my hardest wreck ever about 1/4 mile in. Rode the whole race with a serious hematoma on my hip and just below my knee. But I finished and am incredibly proud of that.

The best thing anyone told me is "this isn't my day job, so the only a$$ I have to kick is mine."