Hello all, started off the new year with my first crit race that I found out about at www.buttar.com and it was pretty cool. 15 laps around the VA hospital in Winter Park FL. Distance was about 1 to 1.2 miles per lap ( didn't turn my computer on).
34 riders with probably 15 first timers so i felt pretty comfortable in my skill level relative to the rest of the B group ( Men's cat 4,5, masters and Women). I start in the back 1/3 of the field since I've never been in a corner with this many people before. We start out at a relatively sedate pace, maybe 15-16 mph and I'm thinking "this is good, I can do this"! About 3/4 of the way around the first lap and reality hits, along with a right-left-right straight into the wind. Apparently the fast guys up front had found their groove, they decide to pour it on, at this point I am up to 19-20 and quickly loosing touch.By lap 2 I am 100 yards back and by lap 3 they are mostly gone.
I ontinue to motor along content to know that I am not last (but close to it) the peleton whizzes by at lap 5 and so it goes for me the rest of the way. 5 more laps and here they come again, Meanwhile I have managed to pass a couple of people who have been dropped and that helps my motivation, I even lapped one guy in a Davitamon jersey( I don't care if he was only going 14 maybe, it was cool) 2 laps to go and I have this guy on my wheel who is obviously faster but he doesn't want to pass and so he sits on my wheel for about half a lap ( Iam 6'3 260 so make a huge shield from the wind) About halfway down the front straight I get in the drops as low as i can and let the wind blast him as I put down as much power as I have left to run up to about 22-23, around the corner and I see him trying to make up the 10-15 yards I just put on him but he is not catching me😄 My legs are on fire at this point and I am just happy it's almost over, into the zigzag and a 2 man break (the leaders) come by and as I round the final turn the peleton whizzes by just before I get to the line.
Come to find out later that the 2 man break were teamates and one does triathlons and the other races cyclocross, they were running around 25-27 for most of the race. I need to lose 50 pounds and find 5 mph,lol.
Sorry this was so wordy but it was a blast and I will definitely do it again! Good luck to anyone considering doing there first race.🙂