Racing in Brisbane

My road season started off this past weekend in Brisbane, CA. One of the many reasons I enjoy this race it is a 10 minute drive from my apartment.

Saturday - Criterium

I'm never properly trained for this aggressive criterium but it is great training. I wasn't aggressive enough today and spent too much time near the back. About 1/2 through the race I got caught behind a crash, spent an entire lap chasing back onto the group, only to get caught behind another crash ! After that I was too spent to get back and dropped out.

Sunday - Circuit Race

This was the first road race i ever did, what 4 years ago, yikes! Its got a nice long steady climb in every lap that overtime puts the hurt on. I spent the first 1/2 of the race safely tucked in the group, but never falling farther back then the top half. At 5 to go I started moving up and started take some short turns at the front as the group made a half-hearted attempt to bring back a rider that had been up the road for most of the race. None of the teams with representation were making much of an effort. On the descent with 4 laps to go and again with 2 to go I made an effort to go off the front to see if anyone would join. Nobody did so I didn't follow these through with an attack up the hill. After this last attempt as I let riders pulled through I stupidly mis-shifted my chain right off the ring ! One again that was it for me, although at least I finished this one.

Although I didn't get a chance for a result in either race, i was racing well on Sunday and the legs felt good. Hoping that this bodes well for my chances in my upcoming races.

Here's a video from one of the other races on Saturday. Not my class but this gives you the general idea.