Aliso Viejo Grand Prix Rocked!

[lkn2ryd]

Just an update on the race. The course was pretty brutal for most. I spiked and blew up just after the announcer said "Cat 5 Racers ROLL OUT!" Some of the gang couldn't get their gearing right. Sucked to have the start in the middle of a two bump climb - but heck, it separated the men from the boyz. I was definitely a boy. But I stuck it out and finished. Any riders out there in SCTR land race today? I would have loved some "team" work. I was in the second group flying Surf City Cyclery's kit. I think I was red lining throughout the whole race! First time racer in the road catagory. Very humbling but I can see how it can be addicting. There were a few guys in the Cat 5 race that looked like they should be in the Tour de France. Serious mixed bag. Definitely going to do it next year and hope other closet roadies and identified roadies hit it next year...it is a heck of a fitness gauge. I had a guy slide up inside of me in corner 3 and in the 2nd to last lap someone tried to get rid of a water bottle, it hit a tree, and shot back into the field and hit me in the head! Sure wish it was a pair of panties instead! 15th and happy.

[ubermensch]

Ditching water bottles in a cat 5 race?

I'm still too disgusted to download the stuff from the Garmin, but I think I rode 4 or 5 laps before pulling out. I lost touch with the lead group after the 2nd lap, and there's something about the slow pity clap from the spectators that gets to me.

I thought maybe I would try a road race next month, but after Aliso yesterday, I think I will hold off until next year. Still not ready. Critville is where I belong.

BTW, my dad was out there taking pictures, and if you want me to dig and see if you are in any of them, let me know what colors your helmet and jersey are.

[OffRoadie]

A Cat 5 race is what, 30 minutes? Is the the water bottle even necessary?

Good on you though. I have yet to race a crit.

[gest24]

Congrats on finishing! lol I'm going to be trying my hand at a crit (or any other sort of road racing) at the San Marcos race. Hopefully I don't get dropped too bad.

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by OffRoadie

A Cat 5 race is what, 30 minutes? Is the the water bottle even necessary?

Good on you though. I have yet to race a crit.

30-40 minutes. Mostly 30 though.

Normally I carry half a bottle and have a little bit left after the race. Yesterday I ran out after about 3 laps because it was warmer and more humid than I'm used to.

[dstepper]

Good job Simon....thanks for the RR.

Dean

[OffRoadie]

Originally Posted by gest24

Congrats on finishing! lol I'm going to be trying my hand at a crit (or any other sort of road racing) at the San Marcos race. Hopefully I don't get dropped too bad.

I was thinking about doing San Marcos, but a guy I know said that it's a particularly tough course. It would be a bit of "trial by fire."

[lkn2ryd]

Hey Tom - it would be great to see how torched I was. I had a Red Specialized "Team" helmet and Red Blk and Wht Surf City Cyclery Kit. I was number 913. Sounds like you were infront of me cause I was in a second group just after the start. I think there was a surge on the first turn and everyone towards the back were still trying to understand how their lungs legs and heart could feel so wrecked in only three hundred or so meters! I know when I turned the first corner I thought, "this is gonna hurt more than anything I'm accustomed to." (Married with four kids!) I hoped I would recover and slowly catch back up to the lead group but I think they had some real race type guys in it. RECOVERY was not really an option on the course without being in a group of 6 or more and it was too hot to try to stay out of the wind for me. The scooter guy kept telling me to Echelon and get the draft - hellz no I thought - I want the cool down. If you were in front of me you could have grabbed on and suffered with me and the four or five I was riding with. I love the pitty claps! I look at them and smile. I swear if I could harness my mouth, cause it is always yapping, I could of placed in the top ten. As for the bottle projectile I was not expecting it but I thought it was funny after the fact - the guy apologized profusely! I told him NO SHINANIGANS! or I would drop a bag of marbles on the course!!!lol My racing buddies said I need to shut my trap and race - no talking, focus and execute. Whatever....\
So if your dad has shots let me know and thanks for offering.
OFFRoadie - 30 minutes without the bottle would have really sucked. If not for hydration then for wetting the mouth and pouring over your thighs cause they were ON FIRE!

[station]

Did anyone get pics?

[Wrecker]

There is a guy that I saw out today who was at Manhattan, Aliso and today's Long Beach. He said he posts pics at his website: kennybz.com Check it out, there are lots of pics!

I was there, too, but in the women's cat IV. As uber pointed out in a previous post, last place finishes aren't all that to talk about, so I'll bite my tongue
We had about 10-12 starting, and I pulled an 8th--that second part of the hill just about killed me each lap and I was just glad to get my finish in.

John did the Cat V and pulled a fifth place out of it. While you guys were out, I was volunteering at turn 3. The Cat V field was blown apart by the first lap, with THREE packs! Great job hanging in there to finish, they were talking about it today and mentioned how difficult that race was--we'll look for you guys next year. Great crit race for mtber's because of the climb; maybe we can taint some more of the STR guys into trying it.

Because I wasn't feeling enough of a beating yesterday, when I got home at 9:30pm I started thinking about a race that someone mentioned happening today.....or not thinking, whatever, I ended up in Long Beach with another 8th place in a field of more than 20 (so much better than yesterday--we didn't have a pack after 2 laps, drafting makes SUCH a difference!!!)

Anyone up for ElDo? After 3 tries at this, I think I'm starting to become seriously addicted.

[lkn2ryd]

Wow! 5th he must be one tough rider. Good for you getting the 8th two days in a row. That second bump will haunt me for a while. Do you know what time the Long Beach race Cat V's get under way? The CBR site really lacks in clear information OR I can't navigate it. Thanks for the kennybz.com tip!

[gest24]

Originally Posted by OffRoadie

I was thinking about doing San Marcos, but a guy I know said that it's a particularly tough course. It would be a bit of "trial by fire."

Thats exactly what I'm doing. Straight trial by fire.

[Wrecker]

Originally Posted by lkn2ryd

That second bump will haunt me for a while. Do you know what time the Long Beach race Cat V's get under way? The CBR site really lacks in clear information OR I can't navigate it. Thanks for the kennybz.com tip!

Yep, I found the CBR site a bit difficult to navigate. Today's Cat Vs started at 0715. Next week I think there is one in Domingues Hills, with the same schedule--it's OMG dayum early for a ride

Good luck to you guys jumping into the fire at San Marcos! We expect a full RR in here!!!!

[gest24]

Originally Posted by Wrecker

Yep, I found the CBR site a bit difficult to navigate. Today's Cat Vs started at 0715. Next week I think there is one in Domingues Hills, with the same schedule--it's OMG dayum early for a ride

Good luck to you guys jumping into the fire at San Marcos! We expect a full RR in here!!!!

Will do, I'll more than likely have pics to go with it. All my friends that I ride road with are coming out for support. But none of them want to support me from the pack, just the sidelines.

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by lkn2ryd

RECOVERY was not really an option on the course without being in a group of 6 or more and it was too hot to try to stay out of the wind for me. The scooter guy kept telling me to Echelon and get the draft - hellz no I thought - I want the cool down. If you were in front of me you could have grabbed on and suffered with me and the four or five I was riding with.

Funny you should mention that because I only rode the last couple of laps because I found a couple of guys that were willing to work together. After that little group dissolved, I looked around and didn't see anybody close (right after the fast downhill turn.....onto City Lights I think....the one before the last turn into the uphill), so I went straight to the parking lot. Had I known there were people behind me, I might have stuck around for another parade lap.

Is this you in the first pic? If it is, shoot me a message with your email and I'll send some full res. photos.

In the middle of the 2nd pic, that wheelsucker in the black helmet would be me.