Thursday, February 24, 2011

Team Revolutions Clinic

I got the day off on February the 20th so I could do a Team Revs Race Team Clinic put on by John, Reese, and Matt. I drove to the wrong spot, which is one of the few times I definitely enjoyed having a Smartphone because I was able to check my e-mail and the Google map. Sweet. (If I would have just looked right at the stop light, the whole team was there. How I missed them? I don't know. Quit judging me!).

We warmed up for a few minutes, then Matt gave us a skills lesson on clipping in during at the start of a race. After doing that a few times and no bad incidents, Reese took over and gave us a lesson on racing, tactics, and what goes on/what can happen during a race. We asked questions and then we headed to the start.

We got into teams (team captains were John, William, Reese, and Matt). We then had a 4-rider breakaway, the peloton (which I was in), and the chase (which I believe consisted of William, John, and Matt). Everything was fine and dandy, the speed was fine, I was okay with people being close to me, and then the U-turns came. God. Damn. U-turns.

We did a 25-mile course on the canal. The canal is 5 miles one way, so basically we went over the course 5 times, 2-1/2 times if you count the out and back. I got in the back of the group so I didn't feel like I'd mess up and kill someone on the second to last U-turn that by the time I completed the actual turn, the group was pretty far. Tried to catch them but damn... could not do it.

Yeah. It fucking sucked.

Last turn and last "lap," I got together with Terry, Karen M., Reese, and I believe James (a newer member), so we worked together. Reese totally used my stupid ass on the sprint, which I basically led him out to it. Lesson learned.

So, since the speed didn't bother me, I know it was the U-turns. People touching, bumping, whatever didn't bother me, though it was a little uncomfortable, I think that if I simply learn to turn, I'd be okay. Same thing happened to me on the Folsom Cyclebration Circuit race... those turns just get to me.

At the end of the race, we all got together and I asked Matt if they would be willing to make a skills clinic on turning, bike handling, etc., for dumbasses like me. He said that they would be. Also, he explained that out bikes are made to turn, and it would be hard to lay down the bike on one of those turns simply because of how our bikes are made (if that sentence made sense, congrats to you!). Basically, I'm sure that what that meant was, "Dude, Kasea. Man up. Turn the fucking bike." I gotta put my big girl bibs on.

So, it didn't turn out the way I would have liked it to. I was pretty bummed that because of a turn, I got dropped. So, confidence level went down, though my cycling confidence has been in a ditch right now. No idea when it wants to come back out of that stupid ditch and actually join me on some rides. I'm sure that practice will make me better and more confident. I'm pretty lucky to be in a team that actually offers such clinics. I know most recreational teams don't, so I'm super thankful. Thanks John, Reese, and Matt. You guys are awesome!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

UC Davis Crit Report, 2/13/2011

Now that I feel better, I guess I could now write my report for the UC Davis collegiate criterium (or the second attempt, at least). I ought to realize that most people enjoy reading the rainbow-shitting-puppy type of report, so here it goes!

I'll begin by noting that the weekend of the race was the wort weekend I've had in a couple of years (for those who don't know what a couple is, couple = 2), including a huge panic attack. I haven't had one like that in ages; I had forgotten how horrible they felt. I didn't race the road race on the 12th due to work, so I only raced the crit on the 13th. After having such a large anxiety attack on Saturday night, I figured that if simply finishing the crit would be an accomplishment.

I got packed and drove to William Land Park. When I got to registration I noticed that the time for my division was moved to 10:20am instead of the original 9:30am start. Crap, because I had somewhere to be after the race! Turns out that the Men's D class was divided into 2 fields because. I'm not sure why because when I saw the first wave, the size didn't seem extraordinary so who knows what the reasoning was. The first wave had one CSUS rider. The second wave had two. You could probably guess that CSUS was completely outnumbered by every other school!

On to my division, which was starting even later. My boyfriend, Randy, had gotten there in the middle of the second Men's D wave and took some pictures. I lined up with the rest of the girls. One of the UCD coaches (I'm assuming. I know they had a coach there), came up and said that because this was a first race for a few riders, there were going to do a 2-lap pacelining clinic. Damn... It was late, I wanted to get this over with before nerves got to me, and I needed to be somewhere... did I mention that we were already starting fairly late? Okay.. I can appreciate what they're doing, but what a shitty day (for me) for the schedule to get all messed up.

I was put in a group with several Humboldt riders, one of them who was riding in regular running shoes and flat pedals. As we were taking turns at the front, Flat Pedal took her turn and when she moved off, instead of going to the back of the paceline, she cut the second person off. No big, shit happens. She got corrected and all was well. On her second turn, the exact same thing, but before she hit the 2nd rider (one of her teammates) and the 3rd (me), we both said, "NOT YET!"

The issue I had with the mini clinic was that they put emphasis on pacelining instead of riding as a group. But I guess that comes more naturally with experience. I'm pretty sure I rode more paceline-like in my first couple of races.

We lined up for the actual race and started. It was a 30-minute race. The group quickly separated into those who have race and the bran new racers. UC Davis had about 4 or 5 girls working together. I was the only CSUS rider. I got to the front, Davis was drafting me and wouldn't switch off so I started to yo-yo with a purpose of making someone move to the front. Davis took that bait. Then they send an attack, which I countered and heard the Davis rider yell, "DAMMIT!" Apparently, she was pissed (Randy has a picture). Hey, toots. It's racing. Your plans aren't always going to go as intended. Another attack, in which UCD, UCLA, and I were in the breakaway for a bit. We all got back together.

Prime lap and UCD and I attacked. I got 2nd for the prime. First time I've ever gotten any sort of prime. I backed off. UCD kept sending kept sending attacks, which I didn't counter after a while because I wanted to have some legs for the last lap. UCD was getting pretty anxious, mostly because their attacks weren't weeding anyone off, I think (UCLA, Humboldt, and I were on them like flies on caca), and they were making some stupid, stupid mistakes. I called an inside for a corner and nearly got pinned on the curb. Whether it was intentional because they were pissed or a mistake, I don't know, but it happened several times. Another UCD girl nearly rammed into me even though I made sure she knew I was there. Choice words were said. Eh, it happens.

On the last lap, I made sure I didn't get boxed in. I attacked on the last corner by making a really tight turn since most of the time, all of the girls would slow down since they yelled out "slowing!" on every. single. corner. Knowing that I could make quick, tight corners, I decided to use the gap they opened on the inside and tacked. A few girls were in front of me, we sped up, and finished. I wasn't sure of my placing, but fuck it, I finished, avoided crashes, and that was that.

Got my results and I got 6th out of 23 girls with points for a prime. I left to get to Randy's dad's 60th birthday party in Placerville. I didn't get to see the rest of the races, so I don't know how the guys in the Men's C and A did.

In my next crit, I'm going to try and ride a bit more defensively instead of offensively. Maybe I'll be able to save some energy if I don't work as much and I'll be able to get a better placing. Pictures will hopefully be posted soon. For now, training until the next race.