January 12, 2014, Not So Underground Criterium   60+
Phoenix, AZ   30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Noel Space for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)

With the 50+ race just prior to this one not being too taxing, this race should put me as the favorite. David Bixby also moved up to the 60+ class this year, but had skipped the 50+ race, so he would be much fresher. My risk with doing two races is a higher probability of getting a cramp, so I'd just have to hope that didn't happen, again. There were only about 9 of us at the start line and David had two team-mates that could complicate things for me.

I had just enough time to change my front wheel, take a quick drink and make my way to the start line as the official began his announcements. We started up the hill a bit briskly with Bixby forcing the pace, but I had no problem staying with him. He forced the pace quite often, probably in hopes of losing me, but without success. But we were going a bit quicker than the 50+ race. Poor David didn't have much help from anyone else and occasionally he'd let a team-mate off the front and leave a gap, in hopes they might escape or at least get one of the 5 primes. I'd make sure they didn't get away and would scoot up to their wheel.
 
End of lap 1, keeping an eye on Bixby in Black.
 
 
Lap 2, Bixby forcing the pace.
 
 
Lap 4, Bixby still trying.
 
We had many primes and although I could probably have scooped them all up, they were for small prizes and I let most of them go to the other riders, with most of them getting distributed fairly well. I took the one on Lap 7, as I was on one of David's team-mates who was going for it and it was an easy take (a gift certificate at a chinese restaurant).
 
Taking the third prime on lap 7.
 
 
Lap 9, watching Bixby.
 
 
Lap 10, an easy turn at the front.
 
 
Lap 12, one lap to go, glued to Bixby.
 
So at the end, we were still one bunch. I just needed to make sure nobody got in my way near the end. I sat on David Bixby's wheel and was watching where there was leeway to move with half a lap to go. A bit sooner than most would expect, David had left a big gap on the right and I took off to lead through the final two turns. I had a sizable gap going into the penultimate corner, so I took a moderate pace to make sure nothing slipped and used a good inside line on the final corner and easily kept Bixby from catching up.
 
Final sprint, coming around the corner.
 
 
Keeping to the inside.
 
 
Checking on where Bixby was.
 
 
Almost at the finish.
 
 
Starting to raise right hand in victory.
 
It was good to get a victory on the first day of the racing season. I'm glad I had no problem with cramping. I can still easily out sprint Bixby and my top speed was where it usually is for a good sprint. More races to come at:
http://bike.caloriesmadesimple.com/Racing/2014Results.htm
Summary
Start
Time		 Distance
(Miles)		 Starters Duration Weather
(Deg F, mph)		 Speed avg
(MPH)		 Speed Max
(MPH)
4:10 pm 10.4 11 26:07 67, Light from West 24.0 35.7

Results    

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