#36: Pepper Place Criterium
Another race in the bag, another pack finish.
There were about 50-55 category 4 racers that lined up on for the 4 corner 0.7 mile course. The course was pretty wide open and fast. Without too much trouble, our field averaged 25.4 mph. The field, however was pretty skiddish especially going into corner 1. This corner was at the end of a long drag down the start/finish side and necked down from a wide 3 lane road to a narrow 2 lane road. At least three riders ended up in the grass after flipping over the hay bails. Another 3 times (at least) I had riders ride through my handlebars (which can be a interesting feeling). Another time in the 2nd corner late in the race, a rider bounced off teammate William Frogge and then into me (giving me a nice tire burn on my Achilles). I am not sure how how everyone managed to stay upright.
Me in Cat 4 field
The race featured some crazy big primes (several were $100 cash), which I was only in position to fight for 1-2 times. Frogge attacked for one with another and narrowly missed a $100 one about mid-race. In the end, there was one rider off the front (Tria), and I ended up in the field for the field sprint poorly positioned for a 25th finish. Frogge attacked a few too many times and finished just behind the field for 34th.
Frogge going for a prime
Earlier, Andrea raced as well as she could have in the 3/4 race. A rider from Cycleworks rolled off the front and her 3 teammates managed to shutdown the chase. Andrea tried to pull her back, but was getting no help at all from the other teams for some reason. She ended up taking 2nd in the field sprint for 3rd place.
Andrea early in the women’s 3/4 race.
Tim Moore raced the category 5 race, probably his last before upgrading over the winter. I didn’t see his placing on the list, but it looked like there were a few “???” and blanks on the Cat V list, but he finished with the field.
Tim in the Cat 5 race
—
Photos (lots) and a Polar graph to follow once I get home. I managed to pick up some nails in both passenger tires. At the race yesterday, both were low (<10 psig). I am waiting at NTB in Birmingham to get them repaired before driving back to Memphis. I don’t need a blowout at 65 mph. Between this and the speeding ticket (81mph in a 65) I picked up on the way here on US78 just over the Alab. border, this is turning into a much more expensive weekend than planned….
—-
Here is the collection of photos taken by me (Women’s 3/4 race, Kids race, Beach Cruiser and some Pro123) and Andrea (Cat V, Cat IV, Women’s 1/2, and some Pro123).
