It's official, I've raced in my first race. Tonight I made my way out to the Driveway and raced in the Kenny Hill Autoworks Thursday night criterium. The course, "The Driveway", is a car and kart racing track in East Austin thus it's a closed course and the roadway is smooth.
The plan was to stay up with the main group as close as possible until the last lap and then to pull away for the win. Good plan, but the execution faulted when the started yelled go. I was starting from the second row. The rider in front of me had trouble clipping in and I almost ran into him. Unlike any long distance start these guys don't mess around at getting up to speed. After the mishap at the start I myself was not clipped in. RIght from the start the speed was at least 24 mph so here I am pedaling with my left foot not clipped in and once I do get clipped in the main group is starting to pull away. I do my best to get back up which I'm do, just barely hanging onto the back. I'm not sure exactly when and were it happened but I was no longer with the main group, in fact I think I was in last place. I did manage to claw my way back to past about 3 people, but in the end I didn't see them in the race anymore.
The Analysis
For the 25 minutes my average speed was 21.32 mph, max speed was 31.91 mph (when I was working to bridge the gap to the main group). My average power was 275 watts, max was 722 watts (again getting to the main group). Like I stated I fully expected my speed to be higher than what it was. So far the only thing I can come up with is the course really doesn't match up to the way I've been training. I've been working at sustaining my power and speed but that work has been done on relatively straight roads. The Driveway has a lot of curves. There's a lot of bursts of speed out of the corners
Next Time
Yes there will be a next time, I don't think there are any more races this year, but next spring I'll be back out. I think I'll be better prepared. It was fun, I think I'm better suited for longer distances and with hills. Now I want to try a bonified road race.
Sep 19, 2008 at 5:16 AM Congrats in getting your first race under your belt. You've raced one more time than I have. I had a friend once who rode in some weekly training crits when I lived in Virginia Beach and he said the key was learning how to take the corners and accelerate out of them. If you don't you'll get left behind. I don't know if that's true or not but it sounds like what you were describing.
Sep 19, 2008 at 5:55 AM Yes the corners were the deciding factor along with my inability to get up to speed really quick after the turns. As soon as I'd be getting back up to speed there would be a turn. For the most part the turns at the Driveway can be pedaled through so that's good. I think there was only 1 time where I stopped pedaling and that was on the downhill section to catch my breath for a second. However, leaning into the turn and continuing to push with power is definitely something I need to work on for next year as well as picking efficient lines through the curves.
Sep 19, 2008 at 5:56 AM I've never ridden a crit -- I'm impressed! You obviously learned a lot, so my guess is next time you'll see a huge improvement.
Head down to the RGV -- my 'team' is sponsoring our monthly 10K time trial on Saturday! A short 10 hour round trip, cycle for 15 minutes, eat some barbecue...what more could you ask for?
Sep 21, 2008 at 3:58 PM Great to see this site. Live near Marble Falls looking for new Bike shop in MF..MIKES BIKES..Anybody heard of it..got numbers? Couldn't find it online this side of Sausolito! Thanx!!
Sep 21, 2008 at 4:51 PM Welcome Katy, I'm not aware of any bike shops in Marble Falls, but I'll keep my ears open. The closest ones I know of are Hammer Head Bikes, Southwest Cycle Sport and Spin City Cycling, all in Cedar Park. Got any good routes in/around Marble Falls?
Nov 24, 2008 at 6:09 AM Bicycle service and repair in marble Falls TX