Super Duper Crit

Race blogs, lol. I'm so 2008. May as well put one in the ledger for 2013:

No 50 mile CX races this offseason, just some good old fashioned roller time (a lot of it), rounded off with a little Florida vakay to get some sun and dust off the pack skills. Enter race kickoff day 2013, Burnham's Super Crit, on a killer motorcycle/midget car race track called Blackhawk Farms.

Race 1: 30+ 4/5
They said 40 minutes at the start, but I should have known better. They rang the bell at 30, and I assumed it was a prime, and by the time I figured out otherwise, I recovered for 12th. whatev.

Race 2: 30+ Open
This was a big boy race, and I planned to play it safe and not be lunchmeat for the 1s and 2s. Teammie JFerg followed Zens on an early solo flyer so I sat around at the front. A couple guys went off to bridge, and I let them, though I remember thinking, dammit, I should be up there, he's the sprinter between us, and I go long. Soon enough, I saw him get dropped, and took it up. A couple guys used me up, then jumped to join the other bridgers, who formed a six man break for good.

I chased and chased and chased. A Wisco masters' rider (that's code for 'older than me') couldn't put in much, nor could Zens, who'd initiated the break, and been dropped from it. Nate from Burnham sat on our wheels as we would expect, since he had two guys up ahead.

I was doing the big turns after a while, so I knew I had to thin the group of four before the finish. I attacked after Zens' turn and only Nate could follow. I figured I'd just hold off those two to the finish, and get pipped by Nate in the end. Lo and behold, I was surprised to see the leaders in sight with half a lap to go. Nate had to finally take it up if he wanted to be any use to his guys up there, so I got a break and sucked wheel.

We approached them and two guys had just taken off at blitzkrieg speed to contest the win, leaving these guys eyeballing one another for 3rd. They weren't happy to see two more faces in the mix, so somebody jumped and the drag race was on. I was toast but happy to say I technically completed the bridge, then I noticed Nate fading slightly.

Final turn: me in the back, in our new low profile kit. Photo sorta borrowed from Ali Engin.

It's a deceptively long stretch after the turn, so I had time to run through his sprint and get him in the end. 8th of 31, just behind Chad Hartley, HAAAAY. Not bad for a cat 4 for lyfe. Other than wussing out on establishing the break, and just missing the move that became the break, I was pretty happy with the legs.

Race 3: cat 4
I was toast. I tried to protect teammies when I saw them exposed in the windy section, or drag them to the front, or just put in a hard turn on point when I got tired of the sketchfest in the pack. Somehow finished 18th/65, and Roadhouse got 2nd. Squirelliest race ever. MUST UPGRADE. At least I know I won't be the slowest cat 3.