So who here races?

[Clearly Unstable]

This....

Lead to this....

I was so far off the back in road races/crits, the photographers thought I was just come crazy tourist with a number I'd found and never took a pic of me...

 

[Michele]

1st race of season (using an old team kit red/white, as new one not here yet).

 

[craig1985]

How long was the race, and how did you go?

 

[Michele]

It's the usual criterium, around 50-60kms; it was a little hilly with a small climb at the end.
As it was my first race and the roads were wet I didnt feel like risking at the last turn and approached the climb too far behind but then felt good and passed many guys by ending 7th.

 

[NickBVK]

Long time fan, got a bike ~6 months ago, got my license 2 weeks ago - first race this weekend.

Look out C Grade!

 

[JeffreyPerry]

last race

My last race was last summer in an evening series at Pacific raceways in Washington. Cat 5 race. The Starbucks guys took the front on the last lap and just went hard. The sprinter ended up 2nd...I ended up in 11th or 12th. It felt good going out by myself against teams of 3 or 4. Fun as heck though. I've been busy with a cross country move and school so not much riding getting done, but will start the season in Savannah GA in a couple weeks. Can't wait!

 

[AntonioRossi]

Did my first crit last month. Next crit this upcoming sunday

 

[avanti]

I race road and track TTs only (I have wonky eyesight currently) and race as a master.

I have also officiated at, and promoted, road races, road TTs, and all kinds of track racing, and also managed a velodrome. Great experiences.

 

[craig1985]

So how is everybody's racing season going (those that do)?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

So how is everybody's racing season going (those that do)?

Haven't got to racing all season wasn't allowed by the parents because of disappointing University results...

Going to do 3-4 races this summer, pics and stories will be included

 

[Michele]

Yesterday done a 75kms/20laps circuit race where I managed to enter the right break after a few laps.
7 men with 4 including me of my category so high chance to get on podium but after gaining over 1 minute and just 3 laps remaining my front tire punctured.

 

[craig1985]

Do you race against any former pro's Michele?

 

[Michele]

In Italy categories are divided by age, so hardly former pros in mine (the younger). Mostly ex U23 guys.

Last year there was an ex pro, Mirko Allegrini, and this year there's an ex stagiere with Miche whos winning almost everything in my area.
2 weeks ago there was a 24hr race in Feltre and despite all the Pro/U23 he did the best lap time.

 

[craig1985]

Haven't got to racing all season wasn't allowed by the parents because of disappointing University results...

Going to do 3-4 races this summer, pics and stories will be included

Less time posting meme's with Parrulo and more time studying and you could have been racing. Did you get any good results last year? lol I haven't won a race in more than five years.

 

[ambrose]

5 2nds and 2 3rds.... it's starting to get annoying but better than DNFs and the like.

anyway starting to hit form, nationals series races start (for me) in a month. and have no uni for the next month either (so lots of kms weather permitting, otherwise alot of ergo ) Fun times hopefully (apologies to all those who have full time jobs and families, or injuries)

 

[Archibald]

Long time fan, got a bike ~6 months ago, got my license 2 weeks ago - first race this weekend.

Look out C Grade!

I see you're in Sydney. What's the club/race scene like there?

 

[slowoldman]

So life happens and I haven't been able to race nearly as much as I have the past few years. But here are a few shots from friends of my racing this season. These are from Manhattan Beach and Dana Point Grand Prix's. Hope everybody is having a great season and enjoying their riding. Circumstances this year have shown me that this is a great hobby but of relatively small circumstance in the whole picture of life.

Dana Point Grand Prix

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix

Manhattan Beach Grand Prix

Photo credits to my friends Dan Munson and Moe Saurenmann

 

[Deagol]

Welcome back, SOM. Great thread....

My first season not racing in seven years. Nice to have a break, not sure if/when I will go back. Good to see others doing it, though ....

 

[lanternrouge]

Slowoldman keep those posts coming I for one enjoy reading them. The pics too, nice artwork by the looks as well!

Did my first race thursday night More to come.

 

[maxmartin]

nice tattoo, dude

And if so, are you brave enough to post a pic? Or will you carry on in anonymity?

I'll start.

photo credit to my buddy Dan Munson.

 

[Carols]

1973 was my first year riding for Brooklyn, and the first of my three Milano-Sanremo wins. Here I beat Francioni (2nd) and Gimondi (3rd)

Oh My Goodness...The Roger De Vlaemink!

 

[red_flanders]

I thought it had some processing done. The blurred background doesn't look like it usually does if the photographer is panning. And your hands shouldn't be blurred if your face is not. Both move across the plane at the same speed. Maybe I'm wrong. Either way, don't think this is a criticism, I think digital processing is modern art and this is a really nice photograph.

Whether there was post-processing in Photoshop or not, (color correction, contrast push, hue shifts) the effect you're seeing is a combo of panning and flash on a lower than automatic shutter speed. Could have been (and was often) achieved with film.

 

[Oldman]

We have the same issue here in California. Masters races are 70% of the racing while the juniors are sparse. Former Pro's abusing the weekend warriors. The good thing is there are often multiple age groups which makes it more diverse. As I remember in Italy there were only 2-3 age groups, which can make it even harder.

We have an unfortunate mix of promoters wanting to please all catagories and make maximum money. Example: Masters 30+, Cat 1-4 for a 35 minute Crit @$30. Costly experiment ripe for crashes.
Other end of spectrum are great circuit races with better age separation and $20; put on by a local team as promoter.

 

[Michele]

30$ for a crit is quiet a lot.

 

[craig1985]

We pay $10 to enter.