Theres a local road crit series that started last night at the place I ride during the week. I forgot that it started last night so I rode a little and then stayed to watch the crash 4/5s. Im always asked, because Ive been a spectator for about 4 years, why dont you race? Well this years excuse is Im in training for a 24 hour solo race and I can afford to be injured and racing the 4/5s would most defiantly put me in that position.
So anyhoo I take my usual position, on the sideline, and start picking my horses. Yea know the ones that you KNOW arent going to make it or the ones that you KNOW are going to cause a crash. I was a little disappointed at my horse last night because he did a 100% better than I thought and I put all my money on him. I bet that he wouldnt make it a lap but damn it if he didnt make 2 before he got dropped. Oh well better luck next time.
As the race goes on the pace starts to pick up but you can tell theres a little inexperience in the crowd but still moving along pretty good. Then I start to think I could have done this one and I imagine myself whooshing around the corners, sprinting up to max, breaking free of the pack and coasting hand raised in the air across the finish line for the win. I got a little jealous they were out there and I was watching from the side.
On one of the preems a buddy of mine, new state champ in crits, went head to head with this other dude and just beat him BUT while crossing the line pointed out the finish line to the other dude just to be sure he knew he got beat. Hahahha thats cocky, I like it.
400 yards from the finish in on a tree lined city park road theres a tight left hand 90 degree turn then a 100 yards a swooping 90 degree right hand then a 200 yard straight run up to the finish.
The front guys came hauling through there at maximum speed and sprinted to the finish but then a follow group also tried to hammer through, for some reason. One guy got pinched in the corner went off the road then got launched back on the road into the crowd. Several guys went down and hit hard causing MASSIVE damage to bikes and people. One guy had a cut all the way across his eyebrow and required several stitches. The other guy was way worse. His carbon fork broke in half, Im not sure how, and he hit bad. Disoriented, bruised, road rashed, possible separated/broke shoulder and he had a slight nose bleed (thats a bad one because he didnt seem to have taken a blow to his nose.) so that rushed that dude to the hospital.
Again, as I was helping direct the next group of racers around the accident, a guy asks me So why dont you do these things?
So anyhoo I take my usual position, on the sideline, and start picking my horses. Yea know the ones that you KNOW arent going to make it or the ones that you KNOW are going to cause a crash. I was a little disappointed at my horse last night because he did a 100% better than I thought and I put all my money on him. I bet that he wouldnt make it a lap but damn it if he didnt make 2 before he got dropped. Oh well better luck next time.
As the race goes on the pace starts to pick up but you can tell theres a little inexperience in the crowd but still moving along pretty good. Then I start to think I could have done this one and I imagine myself whooshing around the corners, sprinting up to max, breaking free of the pack and coasting hand raised in the air across the finish line for the win. I got a little jealous they were out there and I was watching from the side.
On one of the preems a buddy of mine, new state champ in crits, went head to head with this other dude and just beat him BUT while crossing the line pointed out the finish line to the other dude just to be sure he knew he got beat. Hahahha thats cocky, I like it.
400 yards from the finish in on a tree lined city park road theres a tight left hand 90 degree turn then a 100 yards a swooping 90 degree right hand then a 200 yard straight run up to the finish.
The front guys came hauling through there at maximum speed and sprinted to the finish but then a follow group also tried to hammer through, for some reason. One guy got pinched in the corner went off the road then got launched back on the road into the crowd. Several guys went down and hit hard causing MASSIVE damage to bikes and people. One guy had a cut all the way across his eyebrow and required several stitches. The other guy was way worse. His carbon fork broke in half, Im not sure how, and he hit bad. Disoriented, bruised, road rashed, possible separated/broke shoulder and he had a slight nose bleed (thats a bad one because he didnt seem to have taken a blow to his nose.) so that rushed that dude to the hospital.
Again, as I was helping direct the next group of racers around the accident, a guy asks me So why dont you do these things?
very smart.