Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Har-Ber Meadows Crit
So this was my first crit. It was a good learning experience, and I left the race wanting to do it again A.S.A.P, even though I ended up not even finishing the race. I spent most of the day very frustrated, but I realized what I could do differently for the next time I race a crit. For those of you that have never raced a crit, here's what I learned today...
1. NEVER start the race in the back row. Get to the front of the starting line the best you can. I decided to do a couple of practice runs, which is very important to do, but I did 2 of them. I think 1 is all you need, because the second lap cost me a good start position. From the get go I was constantly fighting my way up the group. Since I was in the back of the pack the majority of the time, I experienced the "surge" of the field the most. Every corner I had to crank it up and use a lot of energy to stay with the pack.
2. Try and stay on the outside of the pack on sharp turns. This is what cost me the race. There were four 90 degree turns, with one 'S' curve. As it turns out, the lap in which I worked my way up to the middle of the pack and was feeling confident enough to attack, I got sucked into the inside of a sharp turn. A train of riders got to my left and held their line. At no fault of their own, I was forced off the pavement and on to the side walk...and then on to the grass. It was at this point that I lost my position and had to once again grit my teeth and try and catch up with the pack. By the time I caught them, the 'surge' took it's toll and I had nothing left. I looked at my heart rate monitor and it was at 95% max. Not good. It was at this point I blew up.
3. I can't really think of anything else other than just do loads of intervals during training in the weeks leading up to the race.
4. Listen to Def Leppard before you race.
Overall it was a good experience. I felt confident going into the race, and that really helped calm my nerves down.
'Till next time.
1. NEVER start the race in the back row. Get to the front of the starting line the best you can. I decided to do a couple of practice runs, which is very important to do, but I did 2 of them. I think 1 is all you need, because the second lap cost me a good start position. From the get go I was constantly fighting my way up the group. Since I was in the back of the pack the majority of the time, I experienced the "surge" of the field the most. Every corner I had to crank it up and use a lot of energy to stay with the pack.
2. Try and stay on the outside of the pack on sharp turns. This is what cost me the race. There were four 90 degree turns, with one 'S' curve. As it turns out, the lap in which I worked my way up to the middle of the pack and was feeling confident enough to attack, I got sucked into the inside of a sharp turn. A train of riders got to my left and held their line. At no fault of their own, I was forced off the pavement and on to the side walk...and then on to the grass. It was at this point that I lost my position and had to once again grit my teeth and try and catch up with the pack. By the time I caught them, the 'surge' took it's toll and I had nothing left. I looked at my heart rate monitor and it was at 95% max. Not good. It was at this point I blew up.
3. I can't really think of anything else other than just do loads of intervals during training in the weeks leading up to the race.
4. Listen to Def Leppard before you race.
Overall it was a good experience. I felt confident going into the race, and that really helped calm my nerves down.
'Till next time.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
I'm pretty sure I'll never do that again...
...I was a groomsman in one of my best friends weddings this past weekend.
good people. good booze... nuff said.
good people. good booze... nuff said.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
HI
Im gonna try this new "blogging" thing out once again. Usually any time I work with technology I spend that time on my professional site at www.whoisthebrett.com (shameless plug) which is my site that displays my graphic design shit.
I missed a mountain bike race in Little Rock today due to work. I'm working on a character mascot for a dude that lives in London (a gig that I found on scriptlance.com) which puts him 7 hours ahead of me. That means in order to meet a deadline I have to have stuff done a day in advance, which I'm still not used to. I also will probably be missing my favorite race of the season - Fat Tire Fest, to go to Florida with the fam. So it looks like I wont be racing my mountain bike till September.
Oh well, at least I got that sandwich to look forward to.
I missed a mountain bike race in Little Rock today due to work. I'm working on a character mascot for a dude that lives in London (a gig that I found on scriptlance.com) which puts him 7 hours ahead of me. That means in order to meet a deadline I have to have stuff done a day in advance, which I'm still not used to. I also will probably be missing my favorite race of the season - Fat Tire Fest, to go to Florida with the fam. So it looks like I wont be racing my mountain bike till September.
Oh well, at least I got that sandwich to look forward to.
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