CBR Memorial day – race 1
Posted on May 27, 2008
After the ITT on saturday I chilled on Sunday, went for a coast ride which was really nice.
To be honest, I did not want to go race but since I had paid the entry fee I thought I might as well show up.
Somewhat chilly and a pretty big crowd. Actually I haven’t seen this many people at a race since VOS I think.
First race had 110 guys. This reminded me of my CAT-5 days… the chaos and the constant feeling that something is about to happen. Something bad.
Race goes of and the speed was actually pretty high. I was surprised. The field got strung out several times but because of the size, nothing really got away and some plain wraps chase every move very hard. Strategy was useless in this race.
With 5 to go I got that itch and decided to sit back and watch. I knew it was coming I just was not sure when EXACTLY. With one lap to go on the finish/start line it went. 4-5 guys went down and it was not pretty. I saw a DeWalt guy take a pretty big leap over the pile. I stopped and grabbed his bike out of the way cause half the group was still in it for the sprint.
The finish was called off but some guys actually came through at speed, which was pretty dumb. I will go ahead and mention the 1st winner, a CA Pool guy. He actually came through all the people not coasting but keeping enough speed so that he would come in first. I am sorry, I love those guys but I have to call him out on it. What a way to win, dodging 50 people screaming at you to stop. Oh well. That was that for the first race
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8 Responses to “CBR Memorial day – race 1”
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Dude, not sure how this works but I just got it forwarded to me by some folks. I am the 1st CA Pools Guy that was following a teamate’s leadout and that had a gap on the rest of the field along with a Helen’s rider during the last lap. When it comes to racing, its balls out to the finish, and that’s the focus when a teammate has laid it down for you on the last lap! Gotta tell you, I had a teammate on the ground who ended up in the hospital and I/we attended to him after the race. Guess what, he’ll be fine, as will you, who I suppose got a nice rear shot as we did it again on the second race finish, finishing 3rd-5th.
Alright, I tried to answer to this and I wrote it out 3 times, but there is no nice way to say this, so i won’t say anything. You know what went on, I watched it from the side….
I guarantee your teammate would have traded 3-5th @ CBR for a safe finish… Maybe its just me being a pussy and realizing that it is just not worth it. I would like to hear form your teammate, I am sure he has other thoughts.
In any case, congrats on the results.
Let me try and shed some light! I was on the side watching as I was getting ready for the next race. The crash happened right in front of me. I understand where Ernie is coming from as most racers are focused on the riders in front and around them(especially in the last lap) and not too concerned about what’s up the road. I saw the leadout and saw the entire peleton not looking up the road until about 100 ft before the crowd in the road. Me personally–If I was on the front, I would be afraid of riders taking me out from behind. Ernie and a couple other riders rode through, not at full speed, and made it safely.
Point taken Mike. BUT there were people in corner 4, so this was how I saw it.
Hope your teammate heals OK.
Ya–I know!! It was an ugly situation all around. By the way–Im hitting Fiesta on the TT bike tomorrow!!!!
Alright… I am bringing LaFonda, the terrible 150cc scooter…. I wonder who will get more shit. Last time 2 guys wanted to throw some punches…
I was in that 3′s crash. A guy went down in front of me and I flipped over him. I landed on my shoulder and fractured my collar bone. Bruce (CA pool) broke his collar bone too. Bruce’s wife drove us to Long Beach Memorial. To say Bruce will be fine isn’t entirely true. They were still working on him when I left, I’m sure he needed surgery.
BTW – This race ended my criterium racing. I’m done. These races/racers are getting worse.
Thanks for the response Nathan.
I had the same thoughts when I had my crash and slowly I have been able to race crits again. You just have to change your tactics. I am either at the very front or very back. With 5 to go I am either leading someone out, chasing a breakaway or I am watching the mess.
The emotional and financial hardship of a crash really throws you off for quite some time. Even with what they call “INSURANCE” and the positive talks you get after a crash, the guy that walks away will always have a different take on it.
I wish that everyone at some point could eat shit like this. I am pretty sure the mentality will change. It’s sad, but it is true.