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"Your
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Early Bird Criterium Series Information.
Below is
an e-mail posted by Hypercat, Tim Weyland...it has great info regarding
the upcoming Early Bird Criterium series in Fremont.
Thanks to Tim for the post. |
Fellow Hypercats:
I went to the 1st Crit meeting on Dec. 27th at the Bicycle Garage in
Fremont- 880 South to Fremont, exit on Thornton & head East, shop is
in the Carillo Shopping Center 1/2 mile down on the left (Phil
mentioned it in the meeting in SF...there is another one on Jan. 3
5:30-7:00pm) Here is a brief recap of what was covered & a few
comments.....
The leader of the session was Larry Nolan (current Masters World
Track Champion & member of USPS Masters Team)...he actually was a
triathlete & got into bike racing 17? years ago at the Early Bird
Crit....There was a group of about 20 people at the meeting (of all
ages, male, female, etc.) & all with little or no experience racing.
The main topics covered were(FYI most of these topics were already
covered by Phil at the meeting in SF, although it didn't hurt to
hear them again perhaps with a slightly different spin):
1. Course: flat, wide road, Bots Dots, 3 main turns & a wide
sweeping turn. The course should be clean (no loose gravel)
although with the rain, who knows....(FYI- heavy rain at the course
will cancel the race)
2. Assertive racing (not aggressive, but not passive). We actually
practices "riding" in a pack around the inside of the shop.
There
is an expectation that race participants have at least some pack
riding experience.
3. Perpective...use your peripheral vision to know what is going on
around you, not just what is happening with the rider directly in
front of you.
4. Drafting...a must to stay with the pack (expect 50-100 riders),
but no need to be 4 inches from the wheel in front of you (If you
get dropped you will need to work with others to catch back up...It
is probably not possible to get back on your own.
5. Equipment: No aerobars, must have bar ends plugged, wear either
team jersey or something plain (not well known team jerseys), your
race number gets pinned (so bring 7-8 extra safety pins)sideways
just below your arm on the left side so the camera at the finish can
place you...they will have a picture of how to pin on the #, must
have an ANSI/Snell approved helmet, no sleeveless jerseys (should
not be a problem given the weather), bring extrat clothes for the
warmup & during the mentoring, you will need a USA cycling license
(you can get one online...go to the ncnca.org website, or you can
buy it at the race. It would also be helpful to print the race
waiver & complete ahead of time (you can find it at the race
promoter's website- velopromo.com
6. Need to concentrate, but stay relaxed, don't overreact
7. They will allow a "free lap" if you get a flat & need to
change a
wheel (although this must be done in the specified area)...also, if
you are way off the back, you may be allowed to stop & restart with
the pack, but then must not be part of the final sprint at the end.
8. Race schedule:
9:00-9:50am Category 4 & 5 with 5 or more races
10:00-11:05am Mentoring
11:15am-12:05pm Category 5 (new)
11:16am-12:05pm Masters 35+ Category 5 (new)
12:15-1:05pm Women 4, all juniors, Women 123
1:15-2:30pm Category 123
9. Mentoring will build each week through the 5 weeks of the Early
Bird Crits (if any are cancelled, that phase of mentoring will be
done the next week, although there will only be the 5 races. If any
get rained out they will not be rescheduled)
I hope this info. helps. I can't say I got a ton out of this, since
I heard most of it at the meeting in SF, although if you are
planning to go, a trip to the course with the bike is highly
recommended (I didn't have time to do this). The course is only 3-4
miles away from the shop. The course is all right turns(Dumbarton
Circle, Campus Drive, Kaiser Drive) It is off Paseo Padre Parkway
in Fremont, which is off Hwy 84 I believe headed toward the
Dumbarton Bridge from 880.
I look forward to being with all of you out there.
-Tim
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