paper plate numbers. i dig.
Racing with Midgits
Well since I got a fancy new bike, I figured I'd try to race. In Santa Rosa they have a weekly dirt criterion in a local park. It's a fun 1-mile loop that you do as many times as you can in 20 minutes (the expert race goes longer). Perfect for my first race.
My training regimen consisted of riding my bike once in a while for fun.
There were about 10 or 12 racers in the beginner race. Most were younger than me. Many were too young to drive. I was just hoping not to come in last against a bunch of 12 year olds.
The course starts with an uphill that's just enough to get you winded. That was my weakest part overall. At the whistle I was the second one off the line and stayed in 2nd for the first lap. I had planned on taking it easy and pacing myself, but how can you do that with a bunch of people right behind you? By the fourth lap I was pretty beat. How do people do this for 24 hours?
I was glad when the trail turned into bumpy singletrack going down. There was lots of loose rock and some large rocks you had to weave through. That's where I was able to do better. Most of the other racers had bikes that cost as much as my front wheel. Oh well.
The rest of the course is fast, twisty singletrack with some very low hanging branches (even ducking, my camelbak hit the branches). The course ends with a fun jump right before the finish line.
The nice thing about this race is that everyone cheers for everyone. I didn't even think to ask what place I came in until about 20 minutes after the race was over. I came in 5th-right in the middle of the pack.
I learned that lung power is more important than leg power. I guess it's back to spin class for me.
Here's a pic that my wife took. It's at the jump at the end of the course. Notice #7 behind me is about 12 years old. He was on my tail the whole time.
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My training regimen consisted of riding my bike once in a while for fun.
There were about 10 or 12 racers in the beginner race. Most were younger than me. Many were too young to drive. I was just hoping not to come in last against a bunch of 12 year olds.
The course starts with an uphill that's just enough to get you winded. That was my weakest part overall. At the whistle I was the second one off the line and stayed in 2nd for the first lap. I had planned on taking it easy and pacing myself, but how can you do that with a bunch of people right behind you? By the fourth lap I was pretty beat. How do people do this for 24 hours?
I was glad when the trail turned into bumpy singletrack going down. There was lots of loose rock and some large rocks you had to weave through. That's where I was able to do better. Most of the other racers had bikes that cost as much as my front wheel. Oh well.
The rest of the course is fast, twisty singletrack with some very low hanging branches (even ducking, my camelbak hit the branches). The course ends with a fun jump right before the finish line.
The nice thing about this race is that everyone cheers for everyone. I didn't even think to ask what place I came in until about 20 minutes after the race was over. I came in 5th-right in the middle of the pack.
I learned that lung power is more important than leg power. I guess it's back to spin class for me.
Here's a pic that my wife took. It's at the jump at the end of the course. Notice #7 behind me is about 12 years old. He was on my tail the whole time.
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I suppose if I would have beat all the 12 year-olds I might be a bully. But 4 of them beat me! One kid had a bike that was way too big for him, plastic pedals and jeans.Dan'ger said:
I'll try to do more of these races during the summer. The B group was about half single-speeds. The race is sponsored by a local bike shop, and they give out nice prizes, including gift certifcates for Lepe's, the local taqueria, as well as pedals, armor, sox, etc.
Don't take it too hard!
Good job up there last night, it's all in the racing, not so much in the win (yah rrright.. ..) It registered that it might have been you after remembering past posts of yours about a new little one. Lotsa them out spectating last night.
Jambing around that "short track" crit can really work you, the rev's are always up there! Typically, you're not up at that pace during 24hr races, except for the freaks that seem to go on like the Ever Ready Bunny :madman: .GuruAtma said:The course starts with an uphill that's just enough to get you winded. That was my weakest part overall. At the whistle I was the second one off the line and stayed in 2nd for the first lap. I had planned on taking it easy and pacing myself, but how can you do that with a bunch of people right behind you? By the fourth lap I was pretty beat. How do people do this for 24 hours?
Good job up there last night, it's all in the racing, not so much in the win (yah rrright..
..) It registered that it might have been you after remembering past posts of yours about a new little one. Lotsa them out spectating last night.
Yeah, my wife and 8-month old son Mateo were there cheering me on. There were a lot of babies there. He got to meet some of his future competition.
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awesome picture :thumbsup:GuruAtma said:Yeah, my wife and 8-month old son Mateo were there cheering me on. There were a lot of babies there. He got to meet some of his future competition.
That took some courage to go race those tikes. At that age you don't drink no stinkin water, don't get tired and never want to stop, then you stop and realise you're damn thirsty and tired, but only when you stop - adrenalin is produced way better in youth. Keep it up and I'm sure you'll be able to move up to the "adult" groups by end of summer and do well. BTW Nice kid, good to get him out and interested already
Yeah, I noticed your dog. He was an important part of the cheering section--he howled equally for everyone. I think you should bring him to every racefritzaholic said:
Well technically I was in the adult beginner category...there were just a lot of kids who chose to race in it rather than with the other kids. It's true what you say about kids. I'm sure they weren't thinking "I'm 40 years old, I never push myself so hard....I could have a heart attack any second. I should have gotten life insurance....". That's exactly what I was thinking on the 3rd lap...LyNx said:That took some courage to go race those tikes. At that age you don't drink no stinkin water, don't get tired and never want to stop, then you stop and realise you're damn thirsty and tired, but only when you stop - adrenalin is produced way better in youth. Keep it up and I'm sure you'll be able to move up to the "adult" groups by end of summer and do well. BTW Nice kid, good to get him out and interested already
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