March 24, 2012, Hungry Dog Crit, Masters 55+
Mesa AZ
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ

This criterium was on a new course in NE Mesa AZ, put on by the Honeywell Cycling club. It was a very safe course with gentle corners and wide roads in an industrial park going CounterClockwise; each lap was 0.89 miles. Since the age category was a 55+, my main 50 year old rivals would not be participating. Surprisingly, the best other 55+ contenders were also not in attendance, such as Steve Cullinan or David Bixby. Only 12 of us were at the start line and I did not consider any of them a threat. So basically I just needed to ride smart and stay safe.

The weather was wonderful, in the upper 70's, sunshine, and just a bit of a headwind coming into the final stretch. Before the finish there were a few gentle left turns and then a right bend at the finish. So my plan would be to go a bit early to hit the last left bend first and then hold it until the finish, so as to avoid getting boxed in.

The race began very easily, averaging only 20.3 mph on the first lap. I had little reason to push it at this point, but my easy training rides are this fast. The pace picked up a little after that, but it still was not taxing. They gave us a prime after 3 laps and the 4th lap averaged 27.5 mph. I stayed with the lead riders contesting the sprint, but they immediately coasted after the line. A rider in a bright fluorescent green jersey, Ken Doss, then mosied off the front and the pack let him get a gap. I certainly didn't want a rider to just walk away, so I made sure that the pack kept enough speed to keep his gap in check and we absorbed him a lap later.

Three laps later there was another prime and I followed a rider in white that seemed pretty fit and was going for it. With about 30 meters to go I decided to take it, accelerated around him and threw the bike, beating him to the line. I kept an eye on the other riders to make sure there were no attacks. A lap later Ken snuck off the front and the pack let an even bigger gap. So I had to take some turns at the front to keep them chasing and we had him back in a couple laps later.

Our laps still were not blistering, usually 23 to 24 mph, with lap 11 only averaging 22.2 mph. I would sit at the very back of the pack to avoid everyone just sitting on my wheel. We were given a few more primes and I would move up to about fourth to keep on eye on the faster riders and avoid a solo attack. Soon we were given 5 to go, but the pace did not increase for the next couple laps.

Finally we were approaching two to go and things would get serious. At two to go they rang the bell for a final prime. Great. Of the two riders I had determined to be the strongest there, a Honeywell rider was one and he made a bid for the penultimate lap prime. He was moving pretty well, so I let him have the sprint and sat right on his wheel. With one to go, there were three of us with a gap, including Ken. It was too early to put my bid in. I yelled up that we had a gap with three, but the Honeywell rider pulled over with no apparent incentive to go for a further prize. Ken accelerated, so I latched onto his wheel. We still had a gap of about 4 lengths on a couple of other riders, followed by other riders somewhat stretched out. I kept looking back to see the progress of the chasers as we approached half a lap to go and was surprised that they were not gaining on us. We continued on around the last 90 degree turn and still had our advantage. Before we could get to the gentle turns, my lead rider was beginning to tire. I dared not slow down with him and allow the chasers to close in on us, so it was time to go. By the time I hit the last left turn, the other riders were not in sight and I came across the line with my hands raised, probably 20 lengths ahead of second place. I averaged 28.0 mph on the last lap.

Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)		 HR avg
(BPM)		 HR max
(BPM)
11:15 am 14.2 12 35:05 24.3 33.4 165 185

Photos courtesy Strada Racing Club (I'm in all black): Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

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