SingleSpeeding @ the Crits = kaBoom!
So I've been considering trying the SS at the crits. Whenever i ride the gearie i'm always shifting - so the thought of only having 1 gear was intimidating.
It's also scary because the course changes every week and they always throw in some dramatic direction change usually in conjuction with a steep uphill. Then of course are those flat straight aways where a big ring is in order.
But being for some strange reason the SS has be calling to me - so last race i thought i'd give it a go.
Pre-riding
I got there early in order to check out the course and check out the best lines for the tricky spots. Sure enough 3 long straight aways and and 3 short steep uphills. Momentum was key for making the uphills and spinning like a maniac on the straights would be required to not lose too much time on the straights
The start
9 of us girls line up - most of the usual suspects. I was nervous. I wanted to get a good start so i wouldn't have anyone messing up my critical lines on the uphills. 1-2-3-GO! I nestle into 3rd place for the 1st turn.
Laps 1 and 2
Immediately past the turn is short/steep hill - I take the more direct steeper line and am almost able to pass the 2 girls in front. I got timid tho - and backed off. I'm on their asses through the whoops and am able to pass both of them in the flat section. As i pass Sasha I hear her say "damn cynthia! you are riding fast!" This pass puts me in 1st place!
i spin like mad on the next straight - take sharp left turn onto a hill - crank/crank up the steep part (i hear people cheering - 'go cynthia - crank that SingleSpeed!') and then roll into the next part of the course. I haul ass through the bermed turn, spin like mad into the "toliet bowl", pump the big hump and spin like mad through the front straight. Holy Moly I'm in 1st place - i wasn't expecting that.
As i pass the start/finish I hear the announcer say "4 more laps!" I ride as fast as I can through the next lap still maintaining the lead but i can hear people gaining on me. To my surprise no one passes me on the straights. i think this is where they would have the advantage. I pass the start/finish on the 2nd lap in 1st place.
Laps 3/4/5
Ok...I'm starting to hurt pretty good now - i'm able to hold people off for most of the 3rd lap - but after the bermed turn and onto the last straight before the finish - 3 girls pass me - including Sasha. I'm cracked. Dave said he could hear me blow up "kaBoom!" I hang on to 4th place focusing on trying to recover a bit. I see 5th place gaining on me.
On lap 4 i'm still able to hold off the 5th place girl and i see Celesta way behind 5th place. I'm surprised as Cestesa usually blows away the field. I'm fading pretty good on the 5th lap and I'm getting tired of holding off the 5th place girl. I can't believe she doesn't get me on the straight. She wants to pass on a hill but I take the direct line - I tell her to pass as i'm cooked - but she never seems to be able to have the ompfa to pull it off. She finally passes me but i'm staying close. On the 2nd hill she bobbles the transtion and i pass her back and finish 4th.
Aftermath
oh my am i hurting. I have all kinds of gross stuff coming from my mouth and i try to spit out a ball of phlegm and a gust of wind blows it on my arm. ugh! gross! I feel terrible - I've totally spent myself - i have an horrible headache. i spin out my legs and it takes me a couple of hours before i feel human again. But I'm happy - i'm riding well - had a good finish. Plus Celesta said i set such a fast pace i blew her up. That's cool it's the first time i ever beat Celesta - now i'm anxious to beat Sasha. ;)
It's also scary because the course changes every week and they always throw in some dramatic direction change usually in conjuction with a steep uphill. Then of course are those flat straight aways where a big ring is in order.
But being for some strange reason the SS has be calling to me - so last race i thought i'd give it a go.
Pre-riding
I got there early in order to check out the course and check out the best lines for the tricky spots. Sure enough 3 long straight aways and and 3 short steep uphills. Momentum was key for making the uphills and spinning like a maniac on the straights would be required to not lose too much time on the straights
The start
9 of us girls line up - most of the usual suspects. I was nervous. I wanted to get a good start so i wouldn't have anyone messing up my critical lines on the uphills. 1-2-3-GO! I nestle into 3rd place for the 1st turn.
Laps 1 and 2
Immediately past the turn is short/steep hill - I take the more direct steeper line and am almost able to pass the 2 girls in front. I got timid tho - and backed off. I'm on their asses through the whoops and am able to pass both of them in the flat section. As i pass Sasha I hear her say "damn cynthia! you are riding fast!" This pass puts me in 1st place!
i spin like mad on the next straight - take sharp left turn onto a hill - crank/crank up the steep part (i hear people cheering - 'go cynthia - crank that SingleSpeed!') and then roll into the next part of the course. I haul ass through the bermed turn, spin like mad into the "toliet bowl", pump the big hump and spin like mad through the front straight. Holy Moly I'm in 1st place - i wasn't expecting that.
As i pass the start/finish I hear the announcer say "4 more laps!" I ride as fast as I can through the next lap still maintaining the lead but i can hear people gaining on me. To my surprise no one passes me on the straights. i think this is where they would have the advantage. I pass the start/finish on the 2nd lap in 1st place.
Laps 3/4/5
Ok...I'm starting to hurt pretty good now - i'm able to hold people off for most of the 3rd lap - but after the bermed turn and onto the last straight before the finish - 3 girls pass me - including Sasha. I'm cracked. Dave said he could hear me blow up "kaBoom!" I hang on to 4th place focusing on trying to recover a bit. I see 5th place gaining on me.
On lap 4 i'm still able to hold off the 5th place girl and i see Celesta way behind 5th place. I'm surprised as Cestesa usually blows away the field. I'm fading pretty good on the 5th lap and I'm getting tired of holding off the 5th place girl. I can't believe she doesn't get me on the straight. She wants to pass on a hill but I take the direct line - I tell her to pass as i'm cooked - but she never seems to be able to have the ompfa to pull it off. She finally passes me but i'm staying close. On the 2nd hill she bobbles the transtion and i pass her back and finish 4th.
Aftermath
oh my am i hurting. I have all kinds of gross stuff coming from my mouth and i try to spit out a ball of phlegm and a gust of wind blows it on my arm. ugh! gross! I feel terrible - I've totally spent myself - i have an horrible headache. i spin out my legs and it takes me a couple of hours before i feel human again. But I'm happy - i'm riding well - had a good finish. Plus Celesta said i set such a fast pace i blew her up. That's cool it's the first time i ever beat Celesta - now i'm anxious to beat Sasha. ;)
Comments
clay