Golden State Crit - 45+ 3/4/5, 35+ 3/4

Golden State Crit Race Report 24 May, 2008
By Michael ORourke

After a brief rest after the Elite 3, we’re cuing up for the 45+ 3/4/5 race. The road has dried. Generally the Masters riders are more stable, so in my mind, the hardest part of the day is over and I can think less about the other racers and more about my own game. I know a few of these guys and the biggest question in my mind is will there be a break, or field sprint. Jes is in the field, as well as Mark Patten. They’re former teammates. Both these guys can stay off the front if they want so I’ll have to watch them. For the most part the race was pretty uneventful. As expected, no crashes or goofiness. No breakaways either. 30 minutes went by before I knew it, and then the lap cards come out with 5 to go. I eased back a little with the anticipation of moving up at three to go, which is exactly what I did. A stroke of luck for me on the last lap as someone stumbled a bit thru the hairpin. I smoothly slipped up my favorite inside line and into 6th position with relatively little effort. Perfect, right where I want to be! It had the added benefit of forcing the rest of the field into a chase that would tap their legs a bit for the sprint. Never forget that luck always factors into crit racing. The trick seems to be staying relaxed, fluid and dynamic so you can quickly recover from or exploit events as they present themselves. So, down the back straight and I’m safely tucked into the draft around 6th place. Cool, frosty and fresh. Thru the next right with one turn to go. I can see the guys in front of me glancing at each other, sizing each other up. I think they were trying to assess who might jump first after the last turn. Remember what I said about exploiting opportunities? It couldn’t have happened at a better time. 350 meters out and these guys are thinking about it?! Without hesitation - more of a reflex than a thought - I grab two gears, drop to the inside and pin it. A hard line thru the corner, and as soon as my bike came back something close to vertical, “Ride like you stole it”! This time that feeling of pulling it off turned out to be right. The jump must have caught these guys unaware, and it was over before it was done. I didn’t look back (another rule of mine), but I’m told by the race officials there was a good 20 to 30 meter gap. Finally, a “W” and some upgrade points.

Another rest and the 35+ 3/4 race is under way. By now the officials have removed the hairpin as too many riders have crashed. So now it’s a straight up 4 corner crit, with some wind. Yup, just begging for a breakaway. The strategy? Wait for some guys to get off the front…not too far…and bridge up when it looks like it’s the right mix and might stick. After a little over the half way thru and a few break attempts, it looks like this one will stick. Mike form Chico Corsa, whom I know to be strong, another Mike from Davis, Jes (remember him?) and one other are in the break and they all have a strong team contingent in the main group. Jeff, from Chico Corsa and one of the other teammates are already trying to block, and the others will soon follow suit. The timing couldn’t be better! As I jump up the left side on the home straight, I see Ron from Rio Strada coming up the right with the same idea. I meter my effort to merge neatly behind his wheel for a nice tow to the lead group. As we approach I pull thru and continue the drive as Ron yells at the others to get on. For the next 10 laps or so the six of us work together fairly well. Some guys needed a little more prodding than others, but we were getting it done. Again, before I knew it, the lap cards came out with 5 to go. Time to start thinking about the finish. We can’t let up or start attacking each other yet or the main group will pull us back. Here’s the part of crit racing that’s a little like poker – the bluff. Look like you’re really hurting and barely hanging on. Gap a little at the back and skip a pull. Not too many…just one here and one there. When you do pull thru, make sure it’s only enough to do some work. Remember, you’re racing with and against each other at the same time. As we cross the line with 3 to go it looks like we’ll stay away. Then, the craziest thing I’ve seen to date: what appears to be a 5 or 6 year old kid has made the executive decision to run across the course right in front of us!! Of course he’s a kid, and half way across he panics and does his crazy squirrel impersonation. “I can make it..no I can’t..wait..I can”. Fortunately, no one got hurt. Unfortunately, it split our little group into threes, with those less fortunate (Ron, Jes, and the other guy) getting swallowed up by the main group. Just me, Mike and Mike. Three Mikes in the break. Told you it was a strange race! Chico Mike seemed to be suffering the most and Davis Mike seemed to be superfresh, with me in between. Again, I figure my best chance is a 300 meter jaunt to the line. The trick is to take my last pull early enough to force someone else out front before the sprint. In hindsight, I should have tried to force Davis into the last lead out, but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, I attacked Chico Mike at the same spot as last race, with Davis Mike on my wheel. As expected I dropped one and the other pulled thru for the win. Still, I’ll take second place over a poke in the eye any day, and three top tens in one day doesn’t suck too bad either

Golden State Crit - Elite 3

Golden State Crit Race Report 24 May, 2008
By Michael ORourke

Weather; drizzle with very wet roads in the morning. Clearing with dry roads by 11:00. Course; Clockwise, technical, roughly rectangular with an “appendix” immediately after the start/finish (left, then straight 50 meters, sharp 180, then back to the remainder of the course). As if that wasn’t interesting enough, there’s a groove in the pavement near the curb on the first left hand turn which claimed many a rider. Slight headwind up the back straight, short run across the top and then 200 meters to the finish. Being as wet and technical as it was you could count on three things; crashes, crashes, and more crashes. Oh yea, and the lap after lap acceleration out of the hairpin will do a number on the legs! The elite cat 3 was my first race, and went pretty much as expected. My strategy was to stay in from, even if it meant compromising my sprint. First lap, crash and a pile up on the first right turn. I somehow managed to negotiate around the skittering bikes and tumbling riders. Next lap and one turn later, the same thing. I must have had that Jedi mind trick going as I’m not really sure how they didn’t take me out with them. Just for good measure, I hit the groove in turn one for a near fall and an extra shot of adrenalin. Whew! Two laps down and only about 20 to go…for the first race. Perhaps I’ll re-think the rest of my day. But not just now as I need to focus. I made sure to stay in the top 6 or so for the remainder of the event. Every few laps I could hear skids, scrapes, and the occasional unmistakable sound of bikes and their parts skittering across the pavement. Hey, there’s Josh! Probably going by me with the same thing in mind. Glad it wasn’t him that I heard going down. Anyway, the guys in front of me seem to be pretty stable. Ron, from Rio Strada did a lot of leading out. I know him to be a strong, experienced racer and it felt reassuring to see him up there. Round and round we went. I soon figured out that the inside line at the hairpin was the best one. It resulted in the least effort for acceleration which I think paid off at the end, and for the rest of the day as well. Which brings me to the finish strategy. I’m not the most explosive sprinter, and two hundred meters isn’t long enough for me to expect a good finish. The slick corners make it equally unlikely to launch across the top and drill the last corner. Quite a dilemma that I spent the remaining laps trying to sort out.
5 to go and the pace picks up, as expected. But no serious breaks, and into the bell lap the pack slows a bit up the back side. By now I have figured that I need to go for a long - as in half a lap - run for the finish and hope I can gut it out for a decent placing. Just then it looks like another rider has the same idea. I jump on his wheel thinking “this is too perfect”. Yep, it was. He sat up about 50 meters too early for me to make good use. I could see the surge coming up the inside in my peripheral, so what the heck. I’m committed at this point anyway. Away we go. and boy is this going to hurt! Head down, legs and lungs burning, choosing a careful line thru the two corners. No one’s come around me yet?! Hey, this might just work! 200 to go, 150…oh, there they are. Crap! First One goes by, then two three, four five six, Gotta hold on! Ten more pedal strokes and…done.. For 8th place! No points, but at least it’s a top ten (and I didn’t crash…always a bonus).

PCRS Team Competition - week 2

Week 2, 21 May, 2008
By Michael ORourke

Another fine week of racing for the V.V. crew! Both teams came thru with a strong showing on a windy (gusts up to 35 mph!) double points day. The Ladies continue their dominance over the field. Dawn T. appears to have her mechanical issues under control and came thru for the win. Amy and Dawn I-B. came thru in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Nice job again Ladies!!
The “B” team had a good day as well with everyone finishing within the top ten (except for Abe, who had mechanical issues). Of particular note, Justin finished 2nd, Ken Downey 4th, Jay and myself 5th, and how about newbie Kristy Dostart finishing 4th as well! All this was enough move from 4th to 3rd overall. Great job everyone! Keep up the hard work. As you all know, this coming Wednesday is a by week so rest up and be ready to ramp it up for the last 4 weeks.

PCRS Team Competition - Week 1

Week 1, 14 May, 2008
by Michael ORourke

Thanks to all who came out for the team competition last Wed. Our three man...er, woman team has already thrown the smack down in that division, exactly as we expected ! Dawn Tebbs dropped her chain - twice - and still pulled 2nd. Amy finally got around Kat Pollard (who's been holding her off so far in the series) for the win, and Dawn Infurna-Bean came thru for 4th with the same Swiss-clock consistency that got her the win at this year's Coolest 24. Nice job Ladies...and Dawn T =)

Our 5+ team is also off to a strong start in what looks to be a hotly contested series. Mad Cat, Above and Beyond, and Breakouts #1, along with V.V. Racing are all within 1 point. Steve Bowman had a "Spot of bother" with a flat on the last lap. Rumor has it he was in 2nd up to that point. Props to you, Steve for hoofing it in instead of abandoning!! Also of honorable mention are Josh Hughes, Justin Romney, newcomer Kristy Dostart who all placed 4th, Jay Garrard (5th), Roger Lackey (3) and yours truly, 2nd.

Just like last year, it looks as if every place will count, so check your division and see who you have to beat. Stay consistent, and put that extra effort in knowing that your result may be the difference. But hey, no pressure =).
See you all out there Wednesday !

Ride strong!