February 26, 2006, Sun Devil Criterium, Category Masters 50+
Tempe, AZ   13.2 miles

This was a flat, 35 minute criterium on very smooth roads. The course was a 1/2 mile, somewhat roundish course with 2 ninety degree turns, the last one 230 meters from the finish. The corners were pretty safe and the roads generally very wide. The weather was great, 86 degrees, sunny and basically no wind.

This was my first real race of the season and I was not really ready for it having had very little training for the year. After twisting my knee on 12/31, I had hernia surgery on 1/9, then got sick on 1/20. Then just after recovering, I pulled a hamstring on a training ride and then got sick three days later again and the throat was still sore only a week ago. I skipped the first four races of the season because of the illnesses and have not had any consistent hard training since early December. So this race was going to be interesting.

There were only eight of us in this event and Norm Kibble was really the only guy that should be able to beat me and then only if it came down to a sprint. Like last year, the majority of the riders all belonged to the same club, Team RPM, which Norm also was a member of, but David Bixby, another strong member of this team decided to go fishing instead of racing today. Of the other three riders, two were of the same team and Greg Barrett also has a good sprint, so maybe he would be strong enough to work with me to overcome the inevitable team tactics from Team RPM. This time I wore my State Championship jersey (orange and blue), since there will only be four opportunities to race in it (unless I happen to win again in April); although I won it last April, the jersey is not delivered to the champions until after the season has ended.

The first two laps started at a very leisurely pace of about 20 mph. It picked up a bit on the next lap with some mild attacks to loosen up the legs. Nobody seemed real interested in making a strong go of it yet.

After about three miles into the race, Larry McComick of Team RPM rode off the front as he often does. He usually does not get out very far before the pack picks up the pace and reels him in, so nobody was real concerned. After about a lap and a half, I decided to get the ball rolling and start to bring him back. I took a hard turn at the front and pulled over, but the next rider was of course a Team RPM rider and just slowed things down. I took another turn in hopes that one of the other three would get the idea that Team RPM was blocking and that we'd have to work to get Larry back. After pulling over again, no one would help. I yelled to the other riders that Team RPM was blocking and to go around them, but they just sat there like they were totally satisfied to help the team let Larry get away. So at this point it was basically me against all seven of the other riders. I'd attack from the back and try to break away, but the gang would all work together to chase me down. I did this numerous times over the next several laps, but I simply didn't have the strength to get away and they were all working together against me and I felt the efforts starting to catch up with me. So even though we were averaging only 20.9 mph even with my attacks, Larry was able to just keep riding and eventually lap us for the win. Last year we averaged 24.7; I have moderate training rides by myself that are faster than this, so the pace was nothing. Sometimes we rolled along as slow as 15.1 mph.

My only ambition left in the race was to try to outsprint Norm at the finish, not a likely probability considering his abilities, my lack of fitness, and the efforts I had put in previously during the race. The organizers decided to throw in a prime sprint with one lap to go and one of the Team RPM riders took it and kept on going with nobody else willing to do anything about it; so there went second place. I was on Norm's wheel and we were third and fourth of the remaining group going around the last corner. I held his wheel, timed the best time to come around, made my jump and started advancing a bit, but just didn't have enough strength to make any ground, so ended up fourth overall.
Larry riding away. Chase attempt with Team RPM pouncing.
Team RPM blocking, Greg doing nothing. Norm taking third, me fourth, Greg fifth.

So not a very fun race, basically having seven against one and not being in top shape to be able to overcome it like last year. Next Sunday is another similar Criterium. However, I am having serious doubts about attending it. David Bixby will most likely be there as well and with five of the strongest riders all on the same team, it will be nearly impossible to accomplish anything except frustrate myself; I'm just not going to be strong enough in another week to fight five or more other strong riders.

Noel and I had a very enjoyable late lunch afterwards at the Olive Garden restaurant in Tempe.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Climbing
(Feet)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)		 HR waking
(BPM)		 Calories Burned
(Kcal)
12:52 pm 13.2 8 35:10 86, S@4 59 20.9 35.4 168 191 44 321

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