May 30 - ST Bikes Memorial Day Criterium, Morgan Hill
Race website & results
Womens 4 report by Kim Taylor    Master 30+ 1/2/3 & 40+ 1/2/3 report by Larry Nolan

Womens 4 race report by Kim Taylor, San Jose Bicycle Club

Crashes to the left of me - crashes to the right of me - crashes all around me!! And three separate crashes to boot. I've never seen so many people go down in a bike event as much as in this one. I'm not sure why the racing style of riders was so sketchy; perhaps it was the lack of experience of some of the riders in a tight group; maybe it was just nerves.

One good thing that I got out of the experience of crashing hard in the past is this: when all these women were being thrown around like rag dolls, I didn't panic at all, even when pushed from the left and right and getting bumped into from behind as crashes unfolded around me. I just picked my way gingerly around bodies and bikes and avoided being a part of the carnage.

Anyway, enough said about that. I hope everyone who went down was not hurt too badly.

I thought of riding out to the race from Almaden, but the consumption of wine the night before at our friends' house prevented me from attempting such a long warmup before the race. I opted to drive to the venue and warm up on nearby roads, which turned out to work well for me. The biggest team representation was once again from the Velo Girls - there was pink as far as the eye could see! My daughter would have been in heaven if she were there. She might have rooted for these girls instead of me, as a matter of fact.

It was quite a slow-moving criterium, oddly enough, even with the great pavement, smooth turns, and perfect weather conditions. I never felt overly taxed in this race at any time, even though my heartrate max was 180 and my AHR was 166. The only stress on my heart was the tension caused by wheels moving jerkily around, rarely holding a line!

Unfortunately, Lauren got mixed up in the third crash of the race - which occurred on the very last lap a bit before the last turn to the finish. Luckily, she's OK, but she was in great position at that point to take the race.

This final pileup made me slow down to a crawl in order to be able to pick my way around the bodies and bikes - if I had just a little bit more pavement, I may have caught a few more wheels at the finish line! I was just glad to be able to finish in one piece.

I think I may end up doing road races from now on (and the SJBC Vuelta and Winter Series). We'll see.

Master 30+ 1/2/3 & 40+ 1/2/3 report by Larry Nolan, AMD Masters Cycling Team

I wanted to send in my ST Bikes Memorial race report because it reminded me of why I love bike racing so much. Each January at the Early Bird Criterium Training Series all of the mentors repeatedly mention the different forms of bike racing. If rolling through tight corners shoulder-to-shoulder with 100 new friends at 25 mph (or more) is not your idea of fun we simply ask that you learn the skills, get uncomfortable from time to time so that you really learn the skills (!), and seek out races that suit your strengths. This can be time trials, track, off-road, CX, BMX, road racing and criteriums. I started this story here because I have been racing for 18 years, have competed in 100’s of criteriums and was willing to bet that the San Jose Bike Club Memorial Day course would end in an en masse field sprint. After all, don’t all super fast, wide and long courses with only two right hand corners and two sweepers, end up in field sprints?

The morning start for the M30+ 1/2/3’s meant that there was very little wind to break things up. About 60 of us took to the start line. Gee, Morgan Stanley- Specialized had five riders, Lombardi’s had three, Safeway had five, Spine had four, and lots of other guys that I haven’t raced with before. Without teammates it was looking like a hard race ahead for me, but I like a hard race. I especially like it when the promoters mix up the fields. Racing with our younger “peers” and some new faces is always exciting. Exciting in the ways that they handle their bikes, and the tactics they use during the race. Anyways, we’re half way through the women’s crash-shortened 60 minute race and there have been numerous attacks/ chases, the usual sprints for the primes, and it is looking more and more like a field sprint. A small break of three sneak away and then the ever-pesky Michael Hernandez (Spine) leaps across without anyone in tow. Finally, two Central Valley riders bridge to make it six in the lead group. All the prize spots were up the road. Team Safeway, and last weeks double victory winner Patrick Briggs (White jersey sports) have missed this break. The pack is expecting an honest chase, or at least a few more attempts to bridge the growing gap. Strangely, there is no chase and the gap opens up. Safeway was betting on Morgan Stanley to pull back the break but Morgan Stanley was willing to take their chances. Up ahead the six started attacking each other. When non-sprinters start putting the hurt on riders they shouldn’t be upset when those riders stop working with the attackers. The attackers did not get away so Ed Goulet showed them how to finish and won the race. The new/ young riders may not have heard of Ed but he’s a former district champion and very fast finisher. Congrats and welcome back Ed. Back in the pack we were having fun with the fact that we’d be sprinting for nothing. Me? I rolled across the line in last and saved my energy for the M40 race.

The M40+ 1/2/3 event started with about 50 riders, many that were up for their second race of the day. Again, we’re in a race on a fast course with no wind. We’re surrounded by riders that are excited to be racing with their peers. Most are thinking that a 40+ race will be slightly easier than the usual 35+ slugfest. Ha! We settle into the routine of attacking/chasing and waiting to see if the right mixture of riders gets away. They did, again, late in the race. This time Spine, Morgan Stanley and Safeway are driving the break, five riders in total. The gap grew and the chasing was half-ass because no one wants to spend too much energy in bringing it back. They have to save something for their sprint, right? Well, that was me. It was a gamble that I took. Round and round we go. The three laps to go sign comes up and the break is right in front of us but no one is closing it. One lap to go and they are still right there. I’m talking maybe an eight second gap. We have been clocking ~2:10 per lap so this is a long way to go. Ah, what the heck, I’m not a patient person so I make my bridge attempt and get across cleanly to the five on the back stretch. Problem is, the five are looking at each other and have not engaged in their sprint. We’re still too far from the line. As I’m catching my breath and surfing behind the break we are caught by the field. A well rested Chris Hipp (Labor) soars through the break to take the win with Roger Bennett (Safeway) sprinting from the breakaway to take second and I rolled across in third.

I love that race courses aren’t always predictable and that the racers still determine the flow. I love that bets were placed, some gambles paid nothing and some paid out big. Thanks for reading.

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