3rd in a Crit for my first start!
What an absolute adrenalin rush for 56 minutes and 40 seconds.
It all started nicely enough, C Grade and D Grade at the starting line together, all 18 of us (10 D grade, 8 C grade). But then it was off, gee i'm glad i've done some Tues/Thurs North Road Rides's as the pace was off like a shot. So was the heart rate.
Rounded the first turn - and I stopped pedalling mid corner (didn't apply brakes) and I dropped about 3 positions and had to dig in to stay on... righto, won't make that mistake again. National Bvlde is a smooth road circuit about 1.4km a lap. It is a brand new industrial estate just near Ford in Broadmeadows. The circuit was clean, and we had a tasty headwind down the back straight which was offset by the fact that the back straight was the downhill section.
This all made for some very fast racing in my opinion.
Early on in the race (about 2nd lap!) I thought well i'm goint to pop sooner rather than later, my HR was (I thought) through the roof and there was no signs of the pace letting up (doing about 38km/h). I was doing about 182bpm very early in the race and I thought I was just going to die early based on past experience. But at the same time I didn't feel like I was doing 182bpm.
Then the first surge came from someone else (impossible to tell D and C graders apart). We were suddenly doing 42 - 44km/h for a lap, HR was doing 190's, but I was glad again that i've done Tues/Thurs NRR's for this as my drafting skill was noticably better than most others. I could get closer and hold it for longer than those around me. Thanks to pointers from various people, I didn't freak out the first time that someone touched me on the upper thigh, low and behold I was closing someone out (unintentionally) and that was the way of telling me.
What I can say is though, is that previous bunches i've been with are 'loose' by comparison to the closeness side by side that this racing gets. I didn't see any true rubbing of shoulders but gee it was close.
The pace settled a bit mid race, to a lowly 28-30km/h which allowed me to gratefully rest my HR a bit (yaa 158-165bpm!), but that only lasted about 1 or 2 laps.
2/3's in I was hammering, I was feeling on top of the world and I had convinced myself that if I haven't popped at this work rate yet, i'm not going to until the end. I settled myself on third wheel with about 5 minutes to go, and then a surge came. It is quiet on the front you cannot hear those behind you at all. I decided (which I thought was silly at the time, but did it anyway) that I wanted to go with the surge regardless if it was D grade or C grade.
Swinging out, and boosting the cadence I caught onto the new leaders and I was still 3rd wheel, cranking along at 45km/h drafting my way, I was happy that this happened on the front straight, I kept my head around the top of the course not to let a gap occur, and I was close enough to get a solid draft down the back straight into the head wind and stop pedalling for a bit.
We came to the 40 minute marker, which the marshells then did the 3 laps to go bell for D Grade. C Graders called out saying - "Earn your money D Grade!". So that was it, 2 people made an attack from 36km/h to mid 40's again, I went with as I didn't want to loose my 3rd wheel position.
Pace settled again, I had dropped to 5th wheel, but I was comfortable here. I felt strong, I felt I had reserves for a sprint with 2 laps to go. From the last turn onto the front straight to the finish line was about 400metres, too long to sprint from the turn.
One lap to go, and off went another surge, I followed again this time just to make sure they didn't leave the group behind, if it came to it, i didn't want someone to make it an easy win. I was 4th into the back straight, round the second last corner and I was 5th. That was cool, my cornering had improved all race, and I new I could take this last corner fast and I had enough for a sprint.
Last corner, 2 abreast, and 3 riders in front 45km/h through the corner. I kept the cadence up and I shifted one gear down to give me something to spin into before I knew it, two riders shot past me - thats it, sprint is on!!
I watched two riders go wide, that's it, i'm now sixth wheel. Spin up, spin and spin some more I got out of the saddle for about 5 seconds to get the power going and then a sat down to continue to build cadence.
Up to 5th, then 4th. I spied 3rd position (2nd and 1st had well and truly gone) and I knew I could get him. At this stage we were probably doing 58-60km/h, I drafted up behind him from overtaking into 4th position and with about 50 metres to go I swung wide and just put the head down and span my legs out. I got him!! I continued across the finish line at 62.1km/h with a HR of 201bpm.
I couldn't help but let out a cheer for myself and give little clenched fist pump.
56minutes 41 seconds
32.8km Distance
34.8km/h Average
62.1km/h Top Speed
94 Cadence Average
136 Cadence Max (New max for me!)
173 bpm Heart Rate Average
201 bpm Heart Rate Max (New max for me!)
I couldn't believe the averages when I looked at them, 173bpm average for nearly a full hour, and I still mustered a sprint at the end.
On the cool down lap I wanted to throw up. Continued to have that feeling for about 10 minutes after the event, argh. Bought a sports drink (finished all mine during the race).
Wooo $15 prize money! I get my entry money back, + $5. Went to the local supermarket and bought a bag of natural confectionary lollies, a Boost chocolate bar, a Big M and a Cheesy Mite scroll from bakers delight.
It took about 80 minutes for the adrenalin to wear off. I couldn't help but be hyper post race, it was an absolute buzz. I'll be there again.
What an absolute adrenalin rush for 56 minutes and 40 seconds.
It all started nicely enough, C Grade and D Grade at the starting line together, all 18 of us (10 D grade, 8 C grade). But then it was off, gee i'm glad i've done some Tues/Thurs North Road Rides's as the pace was off like a shot. So was the heart rate.
Rounded the first turn - and I stopped pedalling mid corner (didn't apply brakes) and I dropped about 3 positions and had to dig in to stay on... righto, won't make that mistake again. National Bvlde is a smooth road circuit about 1.4km a lap. It is a brand new industrial estate just near Ford in Broadmeadows. The circuit was clean, and we had a tasty headwind down the back straight which was offset by the fact that the back straight was the downhill section.
This all made for some very fast racing in my opinion.
Early on in the race (about 2nd lap!) I thought well i'm goint to pop sooner rather than later, my HR was (I thought) through the roof and there was no signs of the pace letting up (doing about 38km/h). I was doing about 182bpm very early in the race and I thought I was just going to die early based on past experience. But at the same time I didn't feel like I was doing 182bpm.
Then the first surge came from someone else (impossible to tell D and C graders apart). We were suddenly doing 42 - 44km/h for a lap, HR was doing 190's, but I was glad again that i've done Tues/Thurs NRR's for this as my drafting skill was noticably better than most others. I could get closer and hold it for longer than those around me. Thanks to pointers from various people, I didn't freak out the first time that someone touched me on the upper thigh, low and behold I was closing someone out (unintentionally) and that was the way of telling me.
What I can say is though, is that previous bunches i've been with are 'loose' by comparison to the closeness side by side that this racing gets. I didn't see any true rubbing of shoulders but gee it was close.
The pace settled a bit mid race, to a lowly 28-30km/h which allowed me to gratefully rest my HR a bit (yaa 158-165bpm!), but that only lasted about 1 or 2 laps.
2/3's in I was hammering, I was feeling on top of the world and I had convinced myself that if I haven't popped at this work rate yet, i'm not going to until the end. I settled myself on third wheel with about 5 minutes to go, and then a surge came. It is quiet on the front you cannot hear those behind you at all. I decided (which I thought was silly at the time, but did it anyway) that I wanted to go with the surge regardless if it was D grade or C grade.
Swinging out, and boosting the cadence I caught onto the new leaders and I was still 3rd wheel, cranking along at 45km/h drafting my way, I was happy that this happened on the front straight, I kept my head around the top of the course not to let a gap occur, and I was close enough to get a solid draft down the back straight into the head wind and stop pedalling for a bit.
We came to the 40 minute marker, which the marshells then did the 3 laps to go bell for D Grade. C Graders called out saying - "Earn your money D Grade!". So that was it, 2 people made an attack from 36km/h to mid 40's again, I went with as I didn't want to loose my 3rd wheel position.
Pace settled again, I had dropped to 5th wheel, but I was comfortable here. I felt strong, I felt I had reserves for a sprint with 2 laps to go. From the last turn onto the front straight to the finish line was about 400metres, too long to sprint from the turn.
One lap to go, and off went another surge, I followed again this time just to make sure they didn't leave the group behind, if it came to it, i didn't want someone to make it an easy win. I was 4th into the back straight, round the second last corner and I was 5th. That was cool, my cornering had improved all race, and I new I could take this last corner fast and I had enough for a sprint.
Last corner, 2 abreast, and 3 riders in front 45km/h through the corner. I kept the cadence up and I shifted one gear down to give me something to spin into before I knew it, two riders shot past me - thats it, sprint is on!!
I watched two riders go wide, that's it, i'm now sixth wheel. Spin up, spin and spin some more I got out of the saddle for about 5 seconds to get the power going and then a sat down to continue to build cadence.
Up to 5th, then 4th. I spied 3rd position (2nd and 1st had well and truly gone) and I knew I could get him. At this stage we were probably doing 58-60km/h, I drafted up behind him from overtaking into 4th position and with about 50 metres to go I swung wide and just put the head down and span my legs out. I got him!! I continued across the finish line at 62.1km/h with a HR of 201bpm.
I couldn't help but let out a cheer for myself and give little clenched fist pump.
56minutes 41 seconds
32.8km Distance
34.8km/h Average
62.1km/h Top Speed
94 Cadence Average
136 Cadence Max (New max for me!)
173 bpm Heart Rate Average
201 bpm Heart Rate Max (New max for me!)
I couldn't believe the averages when I looked at them, 173bpm average for nearly a full hour, and I still mustered a sprint at the end.
On the cool down lap I wanted to throw up. Continued to have that feeling for about 10 minutes after the event, argh. Bought a sports drink (finished all mine during the race).
Wooo $15 prize money! I get my entry money back, + $5. Went to the local supermarket and bought a bag of natural confectionary lollies, a Boost chocolate bar, a Big M and a Cheesy Mite scroll from bakers delight.
It took about 80 minutes for the adrenalin to wear off. I couldn't help but be hyper post race, it was an absolute buzz. I'll be there again.
