Well here is the story. Fort Ritchey Criterium today is Cascade, Maryland. I raced two races. First the category 3/4 35+. I got 11th place. Still can't get in the right position for the final sprint.That is not the story.
Second race was category 4. The wind was blowing. The field was nearly full and the course fast and fun. Ted and I were racing together like usual. He wanted to ride with me so we could stay out of the wind. Early in the race I was up front and I could not see Ted. So I went to the back to find Ted. He said the braking in the corners was preventing him from getting to the front. I said follow me, lets get up there now. With in a couple laps we were right where we wanted to be. Now just holding our position waiting for the laps to count down was are goal.
The wind was blowing us all all over the place. Two guys bumped shoulders on the back straight and began to crash. I was sitting a rider back and a bit to the left. The crash began to swing my way. I thought I was save when a bike shot to the left and a handlebar hooked my front wheel. I was braking at the time so I went down very softly. Just really stepped off the bike. There were 7-8 riders on the ground. One pretty hurt holding his shoulder, not good. Another kid asking if he was bleeding over and over again. He had a cut on his chin.It was kind of funny. He asked if his tooth was chipped? It was a little. He started yelling that his parents were going to kill him. It was really kind of funny. Ted was under a another riders bike not hurt at all. He had to slam on his brakes and endoed into the back of the crash.
Both of our front wheels were out of true. We went to the pit for our free lap. I had my wheels in a bag on a hill in the pit. I changed my wheel and waited for the official to tell us when to go. The group came by and we sprint to get in the group. Ted took off and got right in. I couldn't get my right cleat to clip in. I tried a few more times. I reached down and pulled a handful of dirt off the bottom of my shoe. Crap they are getting away.I pedaled some to not get dropped. I tried my cleat again, nothing. I put in a couple of hard pedal strokes so I could get closer to the group. BAM !! I'm on the the ground sliding. My foot slipped off the pedal and I crashed by myself at 25mph. It hit my head real hard too. Helmet cracked into two pieces. Sunglasses lenses came out. Shorts and jersey torn. Even my socks were torn. DAM, I CRASHED TWICE IN ONE LAP!!
Other than the loss of skin, I am fine. I'm sure tomorrow may be a different story. But I will be ready for battle again next week.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Crazy Group Ride
When will training rides learn not to piss off the locals? As many know, I've been riding most of my life. I love to ride fast in large groups of people. I've ridden in many group rides all over the country. Some faster then others, some larger then others and some saver then others. A couple days ago I rode in the craziest group ride ever.
Course description- 3 mile loop on mostly rural roads. Starts at Laserdome in Manheim Pa. It is an all right turn course going clockwise of course. The first right is on to Esbenshade Rd. This is a fairly busy road with a slight downhill. Right on to Rohrer Rd which is rural with a steady cross wind from from the right. Straight on to Erisman Rd at a stop sign. HA,ha! Then right on to Auction Rd.to the finish line at Red Rose Radio.
Ever since I moved to Shrewsbury, I've been looking for a good fast local training ride. I was told about this ride by a coworker who lives in Lancaster. I've been wanting to do this ride for a couple of years. On Wednesday I worked with Bob and he took me this ride was that night. Great I'll do it. I called Keith and he met us there. Bob and I arrived early enough to ride the course once. He warned me about the first corner because he said this ride is fast and they tend to roll right throw the stop sign on to Esbenshade Rd.and there is no shoulder. He even warned me about their disregard for the yellow line. Wow, little did I know.
The ride starts out fast from the beginning. Kind of double line down Esbenshade. On to Rohrer and the pace really picked up. I move up toward the front to protect myself from accelerations. Coming past the finish line the first time I get a tap on my right hip by a rider wanting to come by. At that time I was coming around two riders who were slowing down a bit. This kid who taps me comes flying up the right. I look over and say 'where are you going?', because there is no where to go. As we are entering Esbenshade, I let off the gas a bit to look left for traffic and then jam right back into line. He kid rides past me a calls me an asshole. Puzzled, I ride up to him and ask 'what the heck is his problem is'. He yells at me for opening a gap. I'm like 'dude it is a training ride, relax!'. So, now I'm thinking hmmm.. that was weird. I don't get yelled at often in rides. Oh well, just settle in and ride. We turn on to Rohrer and the whole group goes to the left side of the road. Remember this is a two lane road that is open to traffic. Holy cow this is getting crazy. What if someone wants to pass us from behind. Holy crap what if someone is coming toward us. Someone yells 'car back' and a car passes clearly pissed off. This is really crazy!
It is really fast and I get popped a bit. I drop off the back of the big group. I guess I will sit a lap out and try to get back in when they come back around. Little did I know, there is another group coming by. A B group. Cool! I will just ride with them. I am just looking for a good hard workout anyway. Any group will do. It is about 30 riders strong. Clearly not as strong and clearly more entry level riders. No problem, I will just pull more and work harder. Again we turn on to Rohrer and the whole group goes to the left side of the road. I stay on the right of the yellow line and power into the wind. Yes, I am working much harder but I really don't want to get killed.
As we come around for another lap we see the A group in front of us. Weird? Why are we catching the A's? Ah, must have been a crash. Figures. As it turns out, when they were going down Esbenshade about to turn on to Rohrer, of course from the left lane taken up both lanes, a pickup truck goes into the grass and passes everyone on their right. Now that is truly CRAZY!!! Guys said the guy got airborne when he went off road. They thought someone was going to get killed. Luckily no one got hit.
After the ride we were talking about the pickup truck, someone asked if they called the police to report the driver. Their response was no because they might close down this ride. Hell this ride needs to be closed down until these riders can learn to obey the laws of the road and not take such entitlement to think they own the road. Someone is going to get killed.
With all the disobedience for the general rules of the road it is no wonder the locals hate cyclist. Training rides are not races. The course is not closed. The yellow line should never be crossed, even when there is not a yellow line. Crossing the yellow line is CRAZY !!!!!!!!
Course description- 3 mile loop on mostly rural roads. Starts at Laserdome in Manheim Pa. It is an all right turn course going clockwise of course. The first right is on to Esbenshade Rd. This is a fairly busy road with a slight downhill. Right on to Rohrer Rd which is rural with a steady cross wind from from the right. Straight on to Erisman Rd at a stop sign. HA,ha! Then right on to Auction Rd.to the finish line at Red Rose Radio.
Ever since I moved to Shrewsbury, I've been looking for a good fast local training ride. I was told about this ride by a coworker who lives in Lancaster. I've been wanting to do this ride for a couple of years. On Wednesday I worked with Bob and he took me this ride was that night. Great I'll do it. I called Keith and he met us there. Bob and I arrived early enough to ride the course once. He warned me about the first corner because he said this ride is fast and they tend to roll right throw the stop sign on to Esbenshade Rd.and there is no shoulder. He even warned me about their disregard for the yellow line. Wow, little did I know.
The ride starts out fast from the beginning. Kind of double line down Esbenshade. On to Rohrer and the pace really picked up. I move up toward the front to protect myself from accelerations. Coming past the finish line the first time I get a tap on my right hip by a rider wanting to come by. At that time I was coming around two riders who were slowing down a bit. This kid who taps me comes flying up the right. I look over and say 'where are you going?', because there is no where to go. As we are entering Esbenshade, I let off the gas a bit to look left for traffic and then jam right back into line. He kid rides past me a calls me an asshole. Puzzled, I ride up to him and ask 'what the heck is his problem is'. He yells at me for opening a gap. I'm like 'dude it is a training ride, relax!'. So, now I'm thinking hmmm.. that was weird. I don't get yelled at often in rides. Oh well, just settle in and ride. We turn on to Rohrer and the whole group goes to the left side of the road. Remember this is a two lane road that is open to traffic. Holy cow this is getting crazy. What if someone wants to pass us from behind. Holy crap what if someone is coming toward us. Someone yells 'car back' and a car passes clearly pissed off. This is really crazy!
It is really fast and I get popped a bit. I drop off the back of the big group. I guess I will sit a lap out and try to get back in when they come back around. Little did I know, there is another group coming by. A B group. Cool! I will just ride with them. I am just looking for a good hard workout anyway. Any group will do. It is about 30 riders strong. Clearly not as strong and clearly more entry level riders. No problem, I will just pull more and work harder. Again we turn on to Rohrer and the whole group goes to the left side of the road. I stay on the right of the yellow line and power into the wind. Yes, I am working much harder but I really don't want to get killed.
As we come around for another lap we see the A group in front of us. Weird? Why are we catching the A's? Ah, must have been a crash. Figures. As it turns out, when they were going down Esbenshade about to turn on to Rohrer, of course from the left lane taken up both lanes, a pickup truck goes into the grass and passes everyone on their right. Now that is truly CRAZY!!! Guys said the guy got airborne when he went off road. They thought someone was going to get killed. Luckily no one got hit.
After the ride we were talking about the pickup truck, someone asked if they called the police to report the driver. Their response was no because they might close down this ride. Hell this ride needs to be closed down until these riders can learn to obey the laws of the road and not take such entitlement to think they own the road. Someone is going to get killed.
With all the disobedience for the general rules of the road it is no wonder the locals hate cyclist. Training rides are not races. The course is not closed. The yellow line should never be crossed, even when there is not a yellow line. Crossing the yellow line is CRAZY !!!!!!!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sometimes work gets in the way of life. Then again, sometimes you can work in a little life into work.
The last day of the month and the first three days of the month I have the opportunity to earn time and a half at work. It is a great thing but that usually means working over the weekend once every month. In the winter that is no big deal. But in the spring and summer I do my best not to miss riding and racing during the weekends. This spring I went on a little spending spree in celebration of getting in racing shape. I bought two pairs of race wheels to go with my new race bike. Ouch. So I really like making time and a half when I can.
This week I was scheduled to work Friday-Sunday and Monday-Wednesday. Bunny Hop Criterium was on Sunday at 3pm. I was able to arrange my trip to get back to BWI at 12:30pm. That would be pushing it but doable to get to the parking lot, drive to the race, register and get to the start line in time, I tried to get rid of the PVD turn to make it easier on myself. It would cost me a couple hours of pay but it would make my life a lot less stressful. No one wanted to work my little turn :( Then Jill offered to save the day. She worked my turn for me :). It is so nice to have friends. Thanks Jill!
I got to the race with plenty of time to watch a few races and even warm up a little. It was a very hot day so I didn't want to warm up too much in fear of over heating. I raced the category 4 race. I've raced Bunny Hop for the past 5 or so years with mixed results. It is a very easy course but it can be fast and one year I blow a tire and left half of my ass in the second corner. I felt great right from the start. Able to move up and back thru the group of a hundred riders at will. I stayed in the top twenty or so watching the breaks go and come back. With 17 laps to go the bell rang for a two place prime. I just sat back not really thinking of going for it until we rounded the last corner and I carried my speed into a half hearted jump that got me second place in the sprint. Nice an easy $10.00 gift certificate for a burrito. I drifted back into the pack now waiting for the final sprint. I thought I was going to be in a good spot for the finish but the guy leading me thru the final corner slowed down just enough to to keep me from really getting on top of my gear. I finished 10th.
Happy with my result and still feeling good, I decided to race the category 35+ race too. I had to register and change numbers fast. I have not raced a 35+ race in a couple years because I've had too much trouble hanging on to their speed. Not a problem now. :) I only planned on hanging in just to get some more fast miles. I found myself moving through the group with ease. It was faster for sure. As the laps ticked away I realized I was going to finish this race. And I could even try sprinting with this guys. I rolled up to Mike and asked if he would lead me out. With two laps to go the pace of course really picked up. I felt a little twinge in my right calf. Coming into the last corner before the final lap my calf cramped hard, locking up my leg. Race over. Rats. I almost made it. The heat got to me. The miles got to me. The speed got to me. All in all I am very happy with both of my races.
Now that is the best way to spend the hours between VGA trips.
This week I was scheduled to work Friday-Sunday and Monday-Wednesday. Bunny Hop Criterium was on Sunday at 3pm. I was able to arrange my trip to get back to BWI at 12:30pm. That would be pushing it but doable to get to the parking lot, drive to the race, register and get to the start line in time, I tried to get rid of the PVD turn to make it easier on myself. It would cost me a couple hours of pay but it would make my life a lot less stressful. No one wanted to work my little turn :( Then Jill offered to save the day. She worked my turn for me :). It is so nice to have friends. Thanks Jill!
I got to the race with plenty of time to watch a few races and even warm up a little. It was a very hot day so I didn't want to warm up too much in fear of over heating. I raced the category 4 race. I've raced Bunny Hop for the past 5 or so years with mixed results. It is a very easy course but it can be fast and one year I blow a tire and left half of my ass in the second corner. I felt great right from the start. Able to move up and back thru the group of a hundred riders at will. I stayed in the top twenty or so watching the breaks go and come back. With 17 laps to go the bell rang for a two place prime. I just sat back not really thinking of going for it until we rounded the last corner and I carried my speed into a half hearted jump that got me second place in the sprint. Nice an easy $10.00 gift certificate for a burrito. I drifted back into the pack now waiting for the final sprint. I thought I was going to be in a good spot for the finish but the guy leading me thru the final corner slowed down just enough to to keep me from really getting on top of my gear. I finished 10th.
Happy with my result and still feeling good, I decided to race the category 35+ race too. I had to register and change numbers fast. I have not raced a 35+ race in a couple years because I've had too much trouble hanging on to their speed. Not a problem now. :) I only planned on hanging in just to get some more fast miles. I found myself moving through the group with ease. It was faster for sure. As the laps ticked away I realized I was going to finish this race. And I could even try sprinting with this guys. I rolled up to Mike and asked if he would lead me out. With two laps to go the pace of course really picked up. I felt a little twinge in my right calf. Coming into the last corner before the final lap my calf cramped hard, locking up my leg. Race over. Rats. I almost made it. The heat got to me. The miles got to me. The speed got to me. All in all I am very happy with both of my races.
Now that is the best way to spend the hours between VGA trips.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
