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Reports by:
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What Iwan saw:
Category: 4
Result: Off the back
For the first couple of laps it seemed like no problem, then someone turned
on the juice. Hung on for a few more laps, then OTB. A tough "interval"
course. The little (40 ft?) hill was difficult to charge up becuase it came
after a slow right hander. Always needed max power to get over it with the
pack. Then recover recover... slow for hairpin... accelerate for fast
downhill through tricky narrow section with the little rise, then it's the
hill again... repeat. Summary: max power lacking, recovery time too long.
Hats off to Matt & Rory who looked great out there.
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What Tim saw:
Category: 5
Result: Did not finish
Well, I was a little worried about this race, considering there was a
failrly big hill and a hairpin turn - lots of accelerations. After the
first lap, I realized the hairpin wasn't that bad as it led into a
downhill which I could just give a hard-short acceleration and coast
into the 90-degree right-turn (one of the nice advantages of being a
cyldesdale). The hill wasn't that bad and I never found myself going up
the hill at max. It was short-enough that I could just power over it.
As Jorge and I were rolling to the start coming up the final-straight
hill, we saw that the racers were lined up already. We hamered to the
start and made it. I thought there was still a couple of minutes before
the start, so I decided to take a last-minute bathroom break since the
the porto-potty was about 10-feet from the start-line. After I finish
releiving myself, I run back to the bike, and as I'm mounting the bike
the whistle blows. I hurry up and try to clip in and my foot slips. I
finally get clipped in and sprint back to the pack. Thankfully, the
hairpin turn was just after the start line, so the pack slowed for the
turn allowing me to latch back on. Phew, that was close!
The rest of the race was ok, until lap 7 or 8 when I found myself at the
back of the pack at the finish line. I decided I'd take a wide turn
around the hairpin and get back some places. Well, I started pedaling a
little to soon and clipped my pedal and my back wheel jumped up by what
felt like a foot. When it landed the sidewall must have come out of the
rim, because something started rubbing every revolution. After a few
revolutions, the tire blew and my race was done (no spare wheel) at the
pit.
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What Jorge saw:
Category: 5
Result: Mid-pack
I was looking forward to this race mainly because it
is the last one for the year and I get to rest up and
prepare for the next years race season. Got to the
race venue with time to spare and parked next to Tim
around the neighborhood and the parking was free.
Signed up and got our numbers, checked out the course
and chitchatted with the other FFBC racers who were
just done with their races. The course looked
challenging with a slightly uphill start finish
straight followed with a sharp right hairpin turn
followed with a fast downhill into some rough pavement
on to what feels like stair steps of a climb back on
to the start straight.
Got a decent warm up of close to about 40 minutes on
the trainer and we were off to the start. For once
velopromo was on time cause I almost had flash backs
of Timpani as I rode up the last climb approaching the
start finish line and finding everyone lining up and
ready to go. My heart almost went up my throat as I
pedaled frantically to make it to the start line which
I did with lots of time to spare, boy that was close.
Our race was scheduled to run for 11 laps so I knew
this was going to be a fast one. The first few laps
were spent between mid to the front of the pack trying
to get a feel for the course and how the pack was
taking it. The race course was bumpy and I had my back
tire step out once on the hairpin turn trying to go
deep and cutting it sharp trailing my brakes which I
had to remind my self not to do after and take the
turn easier. I also fishtailed coming into the fast
right hander once after the fast decent trying to
brake late into the turn, fun and I also had to remind
myself not to do that. The short climbs were fun with
the last one being a little bit of a challenge due to
the slow corner before it. I was climbing alright and
did most of my moving up between the downhill and the
climb.
With five laps to go I started to move up and placed
myself at the front of the pack in preparation for the
finish. Battled with this kid for wheels at the front
to the point that my motocross instincts started to
come out and I felt like sticking my shoulders out and
push my weight around to get people out of the way but
I had to remind myself that this is not a motocross
race and I can’t ride like that. Brake checking,
stealing lines and cutting people off maybe normal in
dirt bike racing but not here. Watch a few attacks go
up the road only to get brought back till one dude
manage to set himself free with 3 laps to go and
soloed for the win.
Two laps to go and I was
struggling to hold my position having to go with all
the little surges and in turn trying to keep my place
of a couple of places back from the front. Last lap
and 3 more where able to free themselves from the pack
and I miss it due to my lack of attention, tried to
bridge but my legs weren’t having it anymore and
elected to sit behind a group of people trying to
recover for the last time up the hill and for the
sprint home. The last time up the hill was pure
torture and I was absolutely at the limit, gave
everything I had at the sprint passed a few folks and
got 11th, half a bike length from a top ten.
I had fun, the course was fun and challenging and
could use some pavement work on some parts, noticed a
tire popping at some point in the race only to find
out after ward that it was Tim’s tire which sucked
cause he was riding good.
It feels great to end my first year of racing in one
piece and not having to eat pavement once. I learned
allot and also improved towards the end. Seen my
results improve steadily and likewise my fitness. Now
its time for a break and start seeing what I can do
for next year and finally upgrade to the four’s so
Richard will stop nagging me about finally upgrading.
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