So who here races?

[slowoldman]

Nice guys! I know I am really starting to like getting into breaks, it hurts but it's less crazy and safer at the finish. I don't know about everybody else's races but here in So Cal things are getting crazy!! Lots of crashes lately, overly aggressive riding, etc.

 

[Boeing]

Nice guys! I know I am really starting to like getting into breaks, it hurts but it's less crazy and safer at the finish. I don't know about everybody else's races but here in So Cal things are getting crazy!! Lots of crashes lately, overly aggressive riding, etc.

its stupid and has been. even como and food park are a showcase for fullretatrd these days

I dont know who is worse; the 20 something fit guy trying to barge or the masters guy reliving the dream trying to keep him off his wheel

not for me anymore

 

[Boeing]

Last saturday got in the escape group and ended 7th.
Quiet impressed with the high average speed as we're still in early season.

that is a very cool pic

 

[slowoldman]

its stupid and has been. even como and food park are a showcase for fullretatrd these days

I dont know who is worse; the 20 something fit guy trying to barge or the masters guy reliving the dream trying to keep him off his wheel

not for me anymore

I agree, even the group rides are getting nuts, people fighting for wheels is a bit ridiculous.

 

[42x16ss]

Nice guys! I know I am really starting to like getting into breaks, it hurts but it's less crazy and safer at the finish. I don't know about everybody else's races but here in So Cal things are getting crazy!! Lots of crashes lately, overly aggressive riding, etc.

It's not just SoCal ATM - there's been an unusual amount of crashes here lately too. Our open season has kicked off with a criterium series and two weeks in there has been crashes galore in almost all cats.

Masters C and B (B has been terrible!) seem to be the worst followed by Elite A. The best so far have been the old hands in Masters A and oddly enough Elite C...

 

[Kiara is a rational girl]

Masters C and B (B has been terrible!) seem to be the worst followed by Elite A. The best so far have been the old hands in Masters A and oddly enough Elite C...

Elite C? Is that as much of an oxymoron as it sounds?

 

[Anonymous]

So, Thurlow laid the wood down today at the Murrieta circuit race. He and another guy stayed away... Two man break, some wind, fast course.

He had his team clogging the toilet.. But still, he's really going well right now. Anybody racing at San Dimas should take note

 

[slowoldman]

So, Thurlow laid the wood down today at the Murrieta circuit race. He and another guy stayed away... Two man break, some wind, fast course.

He had his team clogging the toilet.. But still, he's really going well right now. Anybody racing at San Dimas should take note

Note taken... Took this weekend off, getting ready to go deep in the hurt box next weekend. The other guy is Greg Liebert, two motors off the front, always.

 

[Anonymous]

Note taken... Took this weekend off, getting ready to go deep in the hurt box next weekend. The other guy is Greg Liebert, two motors off the front, always.

Ah, the Cynergy dude that kept drilling it.... over and over. The Jessup guys kept them at 30 seconds for a looong time, but what was left of the group was neutralized for the 35+ Monster Media fest and that was about it.

The rest us were just fighting for table scraps.

 

[Archibald]

Raced last sunday - coming off a bad cold and 4+weeks of near 12hr workdays (and only commuting), including a "few" drinks at a bbq the night before, I took it as a training ride, fully expected to get dropped early on.
Strangely was feeling good and had moved up to about 4th wheel on the second to last hill when I got cramp. Stretched it on the brief descent before last hill, but to no avail - couldn't stay with the attackers on the last hill. Still, I had my best finish yet...

Numbers wise, it's just increasing. B's n C's got split as they had so many turn up. Even ran out of race numbers this time around for C-grade.
As for crashes, only 1 in this race and 1 in last month's. Perhaps we're too civil??

 

[More Strides than Rides]

In a breakaway with the flaanders jersey.

I like this picture, especially with the no cycling sign

 

[Parrulo]

today i rode that btt event i mentioned a few pages ago. . . 35k of really really tough terrain, for 35k there wasn't a single place where you felt like you could take a small gasp for air!!!! the fastest rider did it in nearly 3 hours(2:45 iirc) which shows how hard the terrain was as the guy was a complete beast. i did it in 4 hours and 30 but i had to wait for a friend of mine who had 3 flat tires and another friend on had some mechanical on his breaks and since i started at the back of the group of nearly 500 there were massive pile ups on the first 8k of the course that slowed every1 behind a lot.

still i doubt i could ever do it in less then 3:45 hours, i can't complain tho, not a single mechanical nor fall so besides some scratches done by hitting some branches and stuff during the course i came out pretty good. i also had the pleasure of dropping or passing about 20 guys during the last tarmac climb( only about 1k long which isn't included in the 35k course) to the finish with my best contador out of the saddle impression

 

[Michele]

Low quality pic from last sunday; found myself in a circa 20 men escape group out of 130-140 peloton.
Ended 6th.

 

[slowoldman]

Awesome job! 6th out of a field of 140 is great! No racing for me the past couple of weeks. Rain, racing, a job and two kids in college don't mix.

Good news is I pin on a number again both Saturday and Sunday of this week. Can't wait!

 

[slowoldman]

team mate Christian Kriek winning the Snelling Road Race, professional category.

So over the weekend I did two races. Avenue of the Flags in Buellton, great course, strong riders, tough race. We brought 4 guys, Amgen/Breakaway from Cancer brought 10+. Former Olympians Steve Hegg, Roy Knickman and Thurlow Rogers in the field as well as Rich Meeker (current National Champion), 3 of those 4 ride for BfC. We covered everything (and they sent somebody on every lap) with the help of the guys from Spy and Edge. Our sprinter was pinched on the last corner that gave Meek a gap of about 10 bike lengths and Craig closed all but one of those. So 2nd it was.

photo credit to J Urban

Torrance was Sunday, great course but a steady 20 mph headwind on the start/finish straight made it tough. Sore tired legs but we were able to control the group and lead it out for the sprint, I took the backside of the course and we had the front headed into the last turn and actually split the field. Billy took 4th, just tired legs that weren't responding in the sprint. Billy and Dan lined up for 35+ but a break went up the road (powered by Monster Media) and we managed a fifth in the field sprint for 9th overall.

Which brings me to the post I quoted. Ran 8 miles Tuesday morning and lined up for Eldorado park in the evening. Surf City had some strong riders there (Tommy Robles, Robby Miranda former BMX world champion), we had 5 guys and Simple Green brought out the numbers with about 7-8 guys including Kriek (pictured above), guess who drew the card to mark him? Yup, little OLD me. we were able to keep it all together despite some HARD attacks by the Simple Green pros. We ended with a 2nd and 4th. All in all a good 3 days of racing, but I think I may give up the 8 mile runs on Tuesday morning....

 

[usedtobefast]

So over the weekend I did two races. Avenue of the Flags in Buellton, great course, strong riders, tough race. We brought 4 guys, Amgen/Breakaway from Cancer brought 10+. Former Olympians Steve Hegg, Roy Knickman and Thurlow Rogers in the field as well as Rich Meeker (current National Champion), 3 of those 4 ride for BfC. We covered everything (and they sent somebody on every lap) with the help of the guys from Spy and Edge. Our sprinter was pinched on the last corner that gave Meek a gap of about 10 bike lengths and Craig closed all but one of those. So 2nd it was.

photo credit to J Urban

Torrance was Sunday, great course but a steady 20 mph headwind on the start/finish straight made it tough. Sore tired legs but we were able to control the group and lead it out for the sprint, I took the backside of the course and we had the front headed into the last turn and actually split the field. Billy took 4th, just tired legs that weren't responding in the sprint. Billy and Dan lined up for 35+ but a break went up the road (powered by Monster Media) and we managed a fifth in the field sprint for 9th overall.

Which brings me to the post I quoted. Ran 8 miles Tuesday morning and lined up for Eldorado park in the evening. Surf City had some strong riders there (Tommy Robles, Robby Miranda former BMX world champion), we had 5 guys and Simple Green brought out the numbers with about 7-8 guys including Kriek (pictured above), guess who drew the card to mark him? Yup, little OLD me . we were able to keep it all together despite some HARD attacks by the Simple Green pros. We ended with a 2nd and 4th. All in all a good 3 days of racing, but I think I may give up the 8 mile runs on Tuesday morning....

Kriek has been signed by Jelly Belly this week. Danny Van Haute is an ex teamate. good fun at Eldo,eh?

 

[slowoldman]

Kriek has been signed by Jelly Belly this week. Danny Van Haute is an ex teamate. good fun at Eldo,eh?

Good fun yes. That young man is extremely strong......

 

[Michele]

This past tuesday crit; ended 7th in a field sprint.

 

[element]

Rode today's Ras Loughgiel in Northern Ireland - some pretty rugged terrain and snow on the descent - managed 5th place from a small group of about 10 who got away on the main climb. Awesome race.

No photos of the finish, but here are a few of the unlucky ones who
overcooked it and found the peat bog on the snowy descent!

 

[Boeing]

wow what an adventure nice pics glad you are ok.

the same cant be said for a number of locals here in socal at Dana Point GP. some serious crash outs. the number of race related or group training rides crashes here n the OC this year is staggering.

 

[mewmewmew13]

wow element!! those ARE fantastic pics!! It really captures what we endure in cycling....for the sake of cycling.

Epic weather! but that makes for amazing memories doesn't it?

Congrats on the 5th place..looks well-earned!

 

[slowoldman]

Awesome pics element! That looks like a fun time!

Have done quite a few races since my last post.

My buddy Dan Munson took this pic at Dana Point. Every now and then he gets one of me where I'm not gasping for breath!

Here is an overview of the venue, one of the best in the nation I would say! I'm right in the middle of the frame "under" the doorway. Nice lined out pack, it's a FAST race!!

 

[42x16ss]

I'm guessing that first photo is your new wallpaper

That's a sweet shot!

 

[Polyarmour]

Lol at the guy in the peat bog, at least he had a soft landing. I'm imagining that if he hadn't made it out he'd make a perfect archeological specimen in 2000 years time.... Ooooh look at the funny clothes they used to wear.... and the hats...???

 

[ElleSquared]

Hypothetical situation:
Imagine you are a girl (fun, no? ), imagine you are in your mid-20's, and imagine you ride a lot for fun/fitness/commuting but have never raced or been part of a club/team, but then imagine you reallyreallyreally love being on your bike and kindasortamaybe want to get into racing (at a very low/not intimidating level, obviously.....)

What are your first steps? How do you go from "I love riding my bike for fun"-girl to "I am actually training towards the goal of competing against other human beings"-girl?


Hypothetically speaking, of course....