Race Report - Cumberland University Training Race - March 21, 2009
I always look forward to the first race of the year after months and months of basement riding. I finally get a measure of general fitness. Today's cobwebs were not fitness, but racing tactics. I generally felt good throughout the day on the incessant rolling terrain. Started the race on the front and spent almost the entire race within the first few riders. First objective achieved -- stay out of trouble. However, I made two key mistakes today.
The first was letting two riders in an early break gain so much time. I assumed the usual Cat 4 racing mentality would prevail with riders being surprised by the difficulty of going solo as well as the pack mentality to chase anything that moves. I did not know either rider and assumed by their looks that neither had the capability to hang out front for long. Mistake.
My second mistake was not riding to my limit. Once the group realized the gap was significant, the peloton (that is a generous description) gave up. We encouraged a chase a few times, but could get nobody to help. At that point, Thad, Marshall and I should have just put ourselves on the front, traded pulls, and given it our best shot. After all, it was a training race -- this would have been good training with nothing to lose.
I was pleased with my form today and really enjoyed lining up with Thad and Marshall. I look forward to getting back into the Masters field and getting the rest of the team together... should be a fun season. So long steel.
- Jay 3/21/09