This weekend marked the opening of the 2012 road season for CFCR Racing. I signed up for the 2012 Cal Aggie Crit held at Land Park in Sacramento, CA. The field was rather large at over 60 riders started the Cat 4 race.
The first break was reeled in after about two laps and the UC Davis riders, who were well represented in this race since they sponsored the event, countered. The front group sat up as they let their team get farther up the road. I was not in position to try to jump into this break though, so I watched as they grew smaller in the distance. Then it happened--
I remember the rider coasting in front of me and I took advantage of this and wanted to move up. I moved to the right and accelerated. Then, the rider began drifting to the right without checking his blind spot. I called out, "On your right!" and tried to scrub some speed (we were going about 25 mph of so at this point) and then I saw a Bicycle Plus/ Sierra Nevada rider in the corner of my right eye- I was trapped! Everything then went into super slo-mo. I remember our bars connecting, my front end wobbling uncontrollably, the curb getting closer, then the ground as I landed on my back, hitting my head on the ground. When I was upsidedown, I remember seeing another bike cartwheeling through the air and landing in front of me. I rolled over and saw a rider laying beside me, I asked him if he was okay, he replied no, and I told him that people were coming to help. I quickly checked out my bike and rode up to the start/finish line and got back in the race after the peloton came around again.
I didn't have much left for a sprint finish and was just happy to have been able to avoid a DNF, so I rolled across the line 21st out of 64 riders- still not to bad all things considered. A quick survey of my body after the race turned up a bruised wrist, skinned knee, and a little bit of soreness. I woke up the next morning plenty stiff on my left side and a headache! All is not bad though, as I got a reason to order my new Lazer Genesis helmet from Ikon Cycles that I have been eyeing, which should be here in time for next week's race!
As I began editing the video from my Go Pro, I noticed just how close I came to being tacoed by the sign post, and was glad that I went down where I did.
Let's hope that I am able to keep the shiny side up for next week's crit in Napa though!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Norcal vs Socal CX State Championships
CFCR Racing headed down south to B-town on Saturday. We made it in time to watch the Elite race for the season finale of Socal cross as they were finishing up a 22 race season! They were running the course very similar to last years state championships but I had a feeling the course would be reversed as soon as the Elite race ended. The racers were having to climb the same monster run-up that I suffered through last year, so I knew the pain this course could dish out.
Lightspeed Leg Buster Run-up from Saturday
As soon as the Elite race was over, course workers began frantically ripping up stakes and tearing course tape in preperation for Sunday's course. Chris, Mark, Tony, and myself got our bikes and got out on course. One word aptly depicts this course, "Ouch!" The course was using a new run-up to the right of the Lightspeed Leg Buster Run-up that was even steeper at the top!
The run-up for sunday.
Even at a cruising pace I could tell how tough this race was going to be. There seemed to be more climbing running the course in this direction. The lines that were cut for Saturday's course were totally unusable for Sunday's direction and I was glad that there would be several races before mine to cut out a new line for some of the tricky corners. In particular, there was one off-camber downhill grass section that did not seem to have a fast route. Up high was a tree root, down low was a patch of slippery leaves. I wound up going in the middle and seemed to find a good line, but still killed your momentum coming out of the turn which was an uphill.
I took one too many warm-up laps on Sunday, which zapped my legs for the start. I slotted in around 10th place coming into the first turn and had my work in store for me. I passed a few riders on the climbs but had a battle with Sheila Moon rider Lee Slone. After about three laps, I was able to break him off my wheel. I was now about 15 seconds off from 5th place with only 2 laps to go. I tried to reel Paul Hernandez (The TEAM SoCalCross) in but couldn't match his accelerations. I came across the line solo in 6th place.
Mens B Results:
The rest of the CFCR racing team toed-up to the line in the Master Mens B 35+ race. Fortunately they were able to avoid the crash at the first turn that took out two riders as they hooked bars and crashed into the barricades.
Chris Learned- Photo Copyright Tim Westmore
Chris had some front tire issues that had him sliding out on turns, but a quick trip through the pits had him rolling again. Chris and Tony finished right after each other, and Mark rolled through the finish line shortly after.
Tony Simoni- Photo Copyright Tim Westmore
Master Mens 35+ B Results:
Lightspeed Leg Buster Run-up from Saturday
As soon as the Elite race was over, course workers began frantically ripping up stakes and tearing course tape in preperation for Sunday's course. Chris, Mark, Tony, and myself got our bikes and got out on course. One word aptly depicts this course, "Ouch!" The course was using a new run-up to the right of the Lightspeed Leg Buster Run-up that was even steeper at the top!
The run-up for sunday.
Even at a cruising pace I could tell how tough this race was going to be. There seemed to be more climbing running the course in this direction. The lines that were cut for Saturday's course were totally unusable for Sunday's direction and I was glad that there would be several races before mine to cut out a new line for some of the tricky corners. In particular, there was one off-camber downhill grass section that did not seem to have a fast route. Up high was a tree root, down low was a patch of slippery leaves. I wound up going in the middle and seemed to find a good line, but still killed your momentum coming out of the turn which was an uphill.
I took one too many warm-up laps on Sunday, which zapped my legs for the start. I slotted in around 10th place coming into the first turn and had my work in store for me. I passed a few riders on the climbs but had a battle with Sheila Moon rider Lee Slone. After about three laps, I was able to break him off my wheel. I was now about 15 seconds off from 5th place with only 2 laps to go. I tried to reel Paul Hernandez (The TEAM SoCalCross) in but couldn't match his accelerations. I came across the line solo in 6th place.
Mens B Results:
The rest of the CFCR racing team toed-up to the line in the Master Mens B 35+ race. Fortunately they were able to avoid the crash at the first turn that took out two riders as they hooked bars and crashed into the barricades.
Chris Learned- Photo Copyright Tim Westmore
Chris had some front tire issues that had him sliding out on turns, but a quick trip through the pits had him rolling again. Chris and Tony finished right after each other, and Mark rolled through the finish line shortly after.
Tony Simoni- Photo Copyright Tim Westmore
Master Mens 35+ B Results:
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Hitting the ground running..literally!
Newly formed CFCR Racing p/b Ikon Cycles will be racing together for the first time at the 2nd Annual NorCal vs Socal California State Cyclocross Championships on January 22nd, 2012 in Bakersfield, CA. The forecast for the weekend should bring rainfall heading into Sunday making for perfect cross conditions!
Here's a little preview of the course we will be riding on Sunday
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