Hung over on manhattan Beach

Sunday 27th June: 50 minutes around a 1,4 mile Criterium circuit in LA. Not that I was expecting to do well at this one at all, but I had got myself hyped up about it in the weeks leading up. A combination of limited sleep the night before, leaving the hotel late and having to double back to fetch the Tuxedo that needed to be returned, the uncertainty as to where the race started as well as LA traffic, all resulted in me arriving late. With a lot of begging and pleading I got my race number and literally joined the 35yrs plus group on the startline as the countdown began. I had no time to pin my number on and simple pushed it into my back pockets.

Two minutes into the first lap I realised that my bike set up was not the best. The saddle was to low and the stem to long. In the corners my bike handling was to nervous as I battled to find the leaning point, I was in constant fear that the wheels would kick out from under me. A note for future referance: get some time on a bike before you race it!!

My first introduction into criteruim racing in the US was incredible. Events where held through out the day for different catogeries. The mens 35yrs+ cat 1-4 was fully booked with 100 entrants squeezed onto the course. When chasing down a few early breaks this line stretched to over 200 metres. Four tight corners kept me on my toes as I felt uncomfortable taking an inside or outside line into them. The first quarter I battled at the back getting a feel for the large peleton. On the second quarter I moved to the front of the pack, deciding that I had come such a long way and spend a small fortune getting here, that I might as well get a front row seat. But after tangling my bars up with another riders I opted to slide back in the group rather than test the limits to my travel and medical insurance in the states.

The rest of the race I sat comfortable in the peleton as we completed lap after lap. Preems where constantly being called out, with everything from helmets to tyres being given away. I briefly fancied my chances of getting to the front on the last lap, but lost my nerve at the idea of going into that last corner (that same corner would claim Freddie Rodrigues of Rock Racing in the next race along with a few others).

I'll chalk this one up as experience gained. I had more fun wandering around the cycling carnival enjoying the atmosphere after the race, taking photo's of the Rock Racing team cars (no girls unfortunately) and collecting souvenirs. Hoefully i will know what I'm doing at next weeks race and be a bit more prepared!!