We got to race friday night at the track! It was the last night of the pre-season and I thought for sure it would be rained out. In fact I wasn't even planing to go until Evan, one of the announcers asked me for a ride - that meant I had to go. When I left Seattle it was raining so I was really surprised when we got to Redmond and there were sunny skies!
They started off with a 200 for time. It was not a very fast time for me but it might have been due to the cold weather.
My next race was a keirin - the race where the motor cycle paces the group (5-8 riders) up to speed. The moto is supposed to pace you up to 30 mph - then you race for 1-1/2 laps. It takes 5 laps to reach 30 mph when it is done the way it is supposed to. It was the first night for the moto and we got up to speed really fast. I think they might need to work on the pacing. I was in the back and when the moto pulled off some of the riders were already gassed. I followed one of the other women as she closed the gap but it was too late to be in contention for the 2 spots that got to advance. I felt pretty good though.
The next race was the miss-and-out. My goal was to ride smart and not waste energy. We had 17 women and the miss-and-out works like musical chairs. The last person across the line each lap is out. So the key is to go just hard enough to beat one person without wasting energy by accelerating too much and burning matches. We ride a neutral lap before the race is started so everybody is clipped in and ready to go. On the neutral lap I spotted Rosalyn high up on the banking. The perfect wheel! She was off the front for quite a while on the Enumclaw road race so I knew she was going to be the strongest. I locked on to her wheel and sure enough, she accelerated to the front and started drilling it. We were single file and I was in second position - perfect! My luck lasted at least 4-5 laps before other riders got smart and I had left just enough room for someone to take the wheel from me. I was in 4th position which was still OK, I had to start accelerating towards the finish each time though to avoid being last. There was one lap where it was really close and I thought - that is it. I eased off - just to hear them call someone else's number! Woops! Too late to get back on the back. Aside from that I was pretty happy - I think I got 7th.
I was watching the radar and felt a raindrop or two before the final points race so I opted not to start. The race was really fast and agressive and I was starting to regret not racing when the skies opened up and they had to quickly call the racers off the track. That was it for the night.
I can't wait for next friday!
They started off with a 200 for time. It was not a very fast time for me but it might have been due to the cold weather.
My next race was a keirin - the race where the motor cycle paces the group (5-8 riders) up to speed. The moto is supposed to pace you up to 30 mph - then you race for 1-1/2 laps. It takes 5 laps to reach 30 mph when it is done the way it is supposed to. It was the first night for the moto and we got up to speed really fast. I think they might need to work on the pacing. I was in the back and when the moto pulled off some of the riders were already gassed. I followed one of the other women as she closed the gap but it was too late to be in contention for the 2 spots that got to advance. I felt pretty good though.
The next race was the miss-and-out. My goal was to ride smart and not waste energy. We had 17 women and the miss-and-out works like musical chairs. The last person across the line each lap is out. So the key is to go just hard enough to beat one person without wasting energy by accelerating too much and burning matches. We ride a neutral lap before the race is started so everybody is clipped in and ready to go. On the neutral lap I spotted Rosalyn high up on the banking. The perfect wheel! She was off the front for quite a while on the Enumclaw road race so I knew she was going to be the strongest. I locked on to her wheel and sure enough, she accelerated to the front and started drilling it. We were single file and I was in second position - perfect! My luck lasted at least 4-5 laps before other riders got smart and I had left just enough room for someone to take the wheel from me. I was in 4th position which was still OK, I had to start accelerating towards the finish each time though to avoid being last. There was one lap where it was really close and I thought - that is it. I eased off - just to hear them call someone else's number! Woops! Too late to get back on the back. Aside from that I was pretty happy - I think I got 7th.
I was watching the radar and felt a raindrop or two before the final points race so I opted not to start. The race was really fast and agressive and I was starting to regret not racing when the skies opened up and they had to quickly call the racers off the track. That was it for the night.
I can't wait for next friday!
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