Since
this was my first bike race I showed up early to see how everything
went. I had spent the last week looking over the web on race
reports and tips on what to do, but nothing is better than seeing
everything for yoruself. Plus I had not pre-registered, so I
need to make sure I would get a spot in the race since the field
limit was only 50. I register and get my number and take it
back to my truck and pin it on my jersey. Since I am not affiliated
with a team (yet) I get to wear a plain/dull jersey. I grab
my camera and head back to the race to snap some pictures and
see how everything works. I snapped a few pictures of the races
before mine which were both masters races. When the second masters
race was about to start I watched the first lap and then headed
back over to my truck. About 45 minutes left until my race and
I needed to warm up. I had put my bib on before I left and put
jeans and a shirt on over it. So I still needed to get changed.
It was 52F outside, so I opted for leg warmers, but no arm warmers.
Riding in a pack there is not as much wind so my arms do not
get as cold. I put on everything and grabbed my clif bar and
waterbottle. Around to the back of the truck to pull out the
trainer and bike and get it setup. I hopped on the train and
spun at around 90-95RPM for 25 minutes while listening to some
tunes, eating and drinking some water. Then I did a 2 minute
hard effort and then back to just spinning easy for another
7 or so minutes. As others started to get off there trainers
so did I. I packed up and headed over to the start/finish line.
As I got up there I really needed to use the restrooom, so I
parked my bike and did my business. I grabbed my bike and walked
back over to were everyone was waiting. I got there just in
time for the final sprint in the race before mine. Not to exciting.
After there race everyone headed out onto the course and did
a kind of warm up lap to get around to the start/finish. Being
my first race I was trying to make friends, so I pulled up next
to a guy and started chatting with him. His name was Curt and
ended up that he was racing in the Junior category, but was
very nice. He told me he would cheer for me, and I thought that
was great. I had an audience now :)
Everyone
got up to the line and at least half the field there was like
me and had never raced before, so I did not feel so bad. They
gave the basic instructions on primes (sounded out like preems)
and trying to be careful. We road a neutral lap to get a feel
for the course, which was good since there were a lot of road
dots (those reflector things that make noise when you change
lanes in a car)on the ground. Everyone came around back to the
start/finish and we were ready to go. All the primers and tips
I read talked about paying attention when you clipped in and
to do it fast. So I prepeared my self and made sure I was ready.
The race started and kept my head up looking around to make
sure I did not hit anyone and clipped in. I was happy and then
noticed that everyone else was still trying to get clipped in,
so the race is off to a good start now. I just sit back and
find a wheel to follow. I found a guy with a Trek 5200 that
looked pretty good in the beginning, so I stuck behind him.
The pack was very tight, with people almost touch bars and a
lot of wheel overlapping going on. I sit back and just ride
for the first three laps and realize that my position is changed
from front to back at least twice a lap. We come around the
start/finish line and they ring the bell signifying it is a
prime lap. I decided that if I wanted to be able to claim any
prize on my first race it would have to be on a prime lap and
early on. I start working my way through the field to try and
get in position to sprint. As I go around the first turn I hear
my named yelled out by Curtis, that was good motivation for
me. About 500m from the finish I am up on the front leading.
Not the best place to be to start a spring but I had no choice.
I pick up the pace (32mph) and a couple people behind me grab
my wheel and plan to use me as a lead out. I get about 150m
from the line and about 6 people take off around me and I cannot
keep up. That was about the point the race ended for me. I blew
up and did not have a good strategy and the race was close to
over for me. Of course I do not give up, I got shot out the
back of the pack like a scud missle from Iraq. Never fear, I
will slow up my pace and recovery and try to get back with the
pack. I go into my time trail position (without the aerobars)
and start cranking away. I see a couple other people getting
dropped from the pack and decide to cathc up to them and see
if I can work with them to get back to the pack. I planned to
pull them a bit since they were obviously tired and then try
and a get a good tempo with them to get back up there. I pull
for a couple minutes and then roll back and the guy with the
Trek 5200 is up on front now. There is a slight hill (<2%)
and he has to stand up to maintain the pace (22mph), he drop
kicks me and I did not think that was to nice. It was because
he just ran out of legs to keep going. The pace dropped down
about 2mph and I decided there was no way this pace would get
me back up with the pack. So I go around him and get back into
my own zone. I continue to pass people as they get dropped,
but I cannot get enough speed to recatch the group. On the second
to last lap I catch up to a guy and say hi to him and I go by
and he responded. Finally, someone that is friendly. I sat up
(from my TT position) and chat with him about the race and stuff.
He was a nice guy and we crossed the line together at the end.