Post by TC on Jun 19, 2006 19:02:39 GMT -5
Jennifer and I raced the ommnium weekend in TN. It was my first real close quarters bike racing, Jen is old hat to this sort of thing. Sat was the RR and TT. I was dropped by the field of about 40 Cat 5 35+ (they split the cat 5 field into <35>) at around mile 12 or so at the first climb. We started a rotating pace line, and I made it through 3 times before the rotating part stopped with me in the dead last position for the climb. I rode the rest of the time sans protection from the wind, not that it mattered, the last 8 miles is 8% to the finish. I am happy with my 26 place finish. We did not have anyone there to meet us at the finish 30 miles away, so we rode back to the start. I was spent for the TT that started at 4pm.
The TT was a 5k on a road next to the Bristol Speedway. It was 99 deg F. The course was rolling out and back, 4 hills. I got there early enough to preview the course and then Jen went at 4:06. I went at 4:37, captured 13th place, but Jen beat me by 2 seconds! DRAT! We went on to Bristol for the crit on Sunday.
The crit course is basically flat encompassing 2 city blocks downtown with a short hill between turn one and two. My goal was just to survive, I did. I did not get dropped, which I'm glad because there were enough cyclists in the cat 5 race to warrant pulling dropped riders. I spent a few laps around the front to see how that was. It is amazing how much less energy you have to spend up there. Alas, I finished 20th. I would encourage anyone who has the least desire to try racing to give it a shot. I am sold.
Jennifer finished 4th in Woman's cat 123 (she's a cat 2), 5th in the TT, and 8th in the crit. The winner of her crit lapped the field on the second to last lap!! Sweet! She just missed the money in the ommnium.
See you guys and girls Tues night,
Tony
PS- if you have any questions about the race, feel free to ask! TC
The TT was a 5k on a road next to the Bristol Speedway. It was 99 deg F. The course was rolling out and back, 4 hills. I got there early enough to preview the course and then Jen went at 4:06. I went at 4:37, captured 13th place, but Jen beat me by 2 seconds! DRAT! We went on to Bristol for the crit on Sunday.
The crit course is basically flat encompassing 2 city blocks downtown with a short hill between turn one and two. My goal was just to survive, I did. I did not get dropped, which I'm glad because there were enough cyclists in the cat 5 race to warrant pulling dropped riders. I spent a few laps around the front to see how that was. It is amazing how much less energy you have to spend up there. Alas, I finished 20th. I would encourage anyone who has the least desire to try racing to give it a shot. I am sold.
Jennifer finished 4th in Woman's cat 123 (she's a cat 2), 5th in the TT, and 8th in the crit. The winner of her crit lapped the field on the second to last lap!! Sweet! She just missed the money in the ommnium.
See you guys and girls Tues night,
Tony
PS- if you have any questions about the race, feel free to ask! TC