There is only time to react without causing the cascade reaction of chaos behind me. I gripped my handlebar hood even more tighter and was exhaled when I apply the slightest pressure on my carbon rim brake. I could hear a similar brake behind me – a group of 10 other women thought of the exact same thing with me: whatever happened, don’t crash.
This is only the second change of a 30-minute criterion race called Tulsa Tough. And I don’t know what to expect for the rest of the race.
I have been a long participant and participants occasionally in My Austin, the Texas-based weekly Crit series, mentioned the entrance, live and dies since 2009. Also, I have participated in several crits in San Antonio, Texas, and as part of the stage race on Tour Corsicana, Texas. However, Tulsa Tough Crit is clearly the largest and most competitive field I have ever met – and my goal is only to stick with the package and resolve the race.
My stomach was in a knot induced by anxiety for two days before this race, and at 11:25 a.m., when the 4/5 category of our women began, the temperature was close to 95 percent with a humidity of 75 percent. Add the facts there is a four-minute delay for the start of our race while we waited in the hot hot hot in the line start … I’m scared.
I have not set myself to succeed in today’s race by getting to late staging officers. Some category 1/2 friends I have mentioned that in this larger crit race, starting to position is everything – and it first comes, first functioning. But, in the form of newer racers, I got lost trying to find staging and at the time I arrived – 30 minutes early – there were at least 30 people in front of me, waiting with enthusiasm to start the race and not roam from their initial block position. Not good.
Not only stalling in Tulsa Tough’s serious business, but also is the enforcement of US cycling rules for the race. Our main racial officials, Jeff, told us when we were waiting for a delayed race starting that the driver would be withdrawn every round after they fell from the main group. Suddenly, everything began to feel very real. I have socks filled with ice sticking to the back of my jersey to keep me cool, and when I feel it shed my bib shorts and splattered to the ground as if to highlight this very important fact.
Please don’t pull it, please, I begged me when I waited for the last 30 seconds when Jeff hoped us and prepared to blow the whistle initially.
Of course, the race starts with a lot of nerve energy – many braking in the initial turn and rapid acceleration of each of these angles. I did not do a good job moving towards the front of the package because every corner came and left, and I found myself behind some of the inexperienced racers who did not have a great bicycle handling skills.
“Hi!” I shouted at someone when they came close to cutting me at the bottom of the hill entering the initial / finishing area. Without an apology or even recognition, they took my line and drove, with the remaining peloton quickly accelerating in front of them. But this is definitely a moment “making or destroying” in my race – if I’m not related to the last few groups of groups, I will fall from the package and may not have the opportunity to resolve the race because of the rules of criticism.
Am I mentioning the race fast? Fortunately I knew the “L” course from the pre-racing ride on the previous day before, and my training had now prepared me for a fast-paced race. However, after about one round it fell from the package and ran to rejoin them, I knew I could potentially in trouble.
Lap 2 starts with a slight climb up the famous “Soundpony Hill” course. My legs have begun to get sick from the hard effort that I did in finishing directly to catch the package, and now I have to stay with them – no matter what. I peeked from my shoulder when I added a small hill and saw some other women struggling to keep in touch with the back of the package.
“Let’s go!” I screamed at a woman who was tired behind me, hoping I could motivate them to work with me and maybe even interesting me so I could get the chance to recover my legs that shouted for some very needed recovery moments. Two women joined me when we got the back of the hill and turned wide to the initial / finishing line. Maybe we had the opportunity to work together and closed the 10-second gap as a trio and returned to fight.
However, it won’t be our day today.
Jeff signaled to us on track and our race was finished, only 12 minutes. I don’t believe that only 12 minutes have passed when I paddle the course. The disappointment began to falter up and sweating down to my face and sting my eyes. 20 more drivers are cut immediately after that, and the race is finished with only 25 of the 50 starters.
When I watched a quick and angry finish, I enjoyed the fact that even though I had my first official DNF (not finished) in my racing history, I have also built sufficient trust in my ability to compete at the national level. I learned that I still have some basic skills to sharpen in sprinting like my training! I know I have to care more about the position (both before the race and especially when the race starts), and above all, I need to fight as hard as I can because everyone will everyone.
I must be motivated to improve my training game and maybe even hire a coach in front of Tulsa Tough next year (Yep, I want to go back). I like my 12-minute racing, and want to experience all 30 minutes of encouraging suffering that can be given by Crit Racing. And I plan to attack the famous “Crybaby Hill” course next year, and of course, try and finish.
If you want to improve your Crit game, avoid some of the classic new racer errors that I made.
1. Positioning Pack is everything
With every Crit race, you must stay in touch with the race field. The best advice I have provided about it is: If you don’t move forward, you move backwards. So, always think about the position of your package, even before you start your race.
2. Minimal brakes and make you fall
Avoid grabbing a handful of brakes. If you are positioned properly in packaging, braking must be minimal enough and there should be no need to brake at all in the corner other than to control the speed when you go. Along with a good angle, make sure you hold your line and don’t cut other racers so you can get to the first peak – this is an easy way to cause damage that is completely avoided. Keep an eye on you when you corner and also keep the spatial awareness of a good side will help you avoid the potential to touch the wheel.
3. Be a good sport
At the beginner / medium race level, we are all still learning and don’t need to talk to other racers or even call names. My best crit racing experience is when I can communicate with other drivers about what I will do, and keep the tone generally positive in my voice. Think about this: it is much easier to motivate someone to continue and help you in a race when you treat them respectfully, versus shouting or even insulting their abilities. Save constructive criticism (or #critbeef) for after the race.
