May 18 Windsor VCL

[trevor]

It was a great day for racing at our very own Windsor Park Crit. This race is a popular one for both racers and spectators alike. My family likes to hit up the swings and pack a picnic snack while daddy rides his bike ridiculously fast in a circle for 55 minutes plus 5 laps.
The A race was solid. A lot of the heavy hitters were away at Enumclaw so it didn't feel like the podium was predetermined before the race began. Pro City had 6 dudes and RHs had 4. Chopper Dan and I were the lone Wheelers. The first third of the race was pretty uneventful with a few attacks but nothing staying off the front for long. There was a guy wearing a Portland State kit that wasn't given much of a leash. Several accelerations and marking (well done CD) kept the race together until around the 40 minute mark when Jon Watkin was allowed some time off the front. When the Portland kid bridged up and no one marked him I knew we made a mistake. Sitting in and waiting to see if Pro City would get the 2 leaders back (seeing as they had numbers), CD and I were getting antsy. Steve Grandy made a solo move to bridge and again no one went with him. It seemed the pack was content to race for 4th. Lame. CD took matters in to his own hands come 5 to go and put in a monstrous effort bringing Steve to within shooting distance and 2 to go. Now a lone Pro City rider (Andrew Atwell) kept the line strung out with Alex (PC), Luke (RH), myself, and Tom (RH) in tow. Coming in to the back straight Andrew pulled off and Alex attacked immediately. Luke had a tough time keeping his wheel and let the smallest of gaps go coming in to the 2nd last corner. Still 3rd wheel this is where we passed Steve who had exploded in his effort to get up to the lead 2. Going in to the last corner Luke stalled ever so slightly and I should have not hesitated but I did and got swarmed by 4 guys on the final stretch to finish 8th OA. Not bad but I knew I had a lot more in the legs that I should have used up. 5 Mt. Dougs as penance will teach me.
No crashes.
Great prizes.
Sunny weather.
Post race beers.
A short spin home to enjoy the rest of the day with super soakers, Star Wars, and M&Ms. Life is sweet!
Looking forward to hearing Stephane, Andy, and Kayla's race reports from the Bs.
Next up, Speedway this Wednesday!

[Eugenehahn]

Sorry I couldn't be there. Maybe a few more days before the right side heals up enough to get out. Plus, I need a bike now. Maybe a nice new Tactic yours!

[stephane]

Thanks for the report Trevor. The A race was fun to watch from the sidelines with a pop and some warm sunshine. It seemed that there were a few attacks and the race was quite animated. Watkin is a wily old dog and good on him for the win.
Kayla, Andy and I were at the start-line for the B race along with a mixed bag of Russ Hayes. IRC, O2 and ProCity riders. My strategy was to go hard at the beginning and see what happened. I enlisted the help of Trevor "Big Diesel" Orme from IRC, who was more than happy to help out. We had one neutral lap and then BOOM we hit the gas. According to my Garmin stats, our highest speed (apart from the final sprint) was actually in our first lap. We split the field pretty quick and got somewhat of a ragged paceline going, with almost everyone taking a turn getting their face in the wind. I started an attack at around 30 minutes in and had a bout 20-30 bike-lengths when I felt my rear end go squishy. Damn, a flat! Well there went that breakaway. Oh, what could have been... Very luckily there was a "pit" on the course and I was able to borrow a Cervélo R3 from my new bestie Mike Dawson. It may have been 2 sizes too small with that dastardly double-tap shifting, but it allowed me to hop back in the race pronto. Chopper Dan had a spare tube and Andy from OBB (my 2 new new besties) was able to remove the industrial sized staple from my tire and change my tube in no time flat and after a SECOND pitstop I got back on my own bike again and jumped back in the mix. Andy launched a flyer at one point and I tried and control the pack to get him a few extra precious seconds, but it was not to be. On the bell lap IRC got a decent train going with 3 on the front and I was well placed coming round corner 3. Unfortunately, I started my sprint too late, lost a crucial bike length from the rider in front, was unable to get any slingshot and finished 6th. Vinko was able to take advantage of the IRC train and moved up from 7th on the finishing stretch and beat Trevor Orme for the win at the line. Impressive. I simply couldn''t match Trevor and Vinko's finishing power and there was not much chance of beating them in a straight-up sprint, but I definitely feel that a lack of concentration in the last 20 seconds cost me a couple of places at the end.
Now for the shout-outs:
Jenny N., Chris Paul and all the organisers for another fantastic smoothly-run event. Bravo once again.
All the volunteers who prevented cars from running us over and kept the corners gravel-free.
The Windsor Park residents who allowed us to ride bikes really fast around their neighbourhood.
The OBB police department for keeping us safe and making us feel pro with the neutral lap escort.
All the sponsors for the boatload of cool free stuff. I think everyone who stay for the draw behind got something.
Mike, Chopper Dan (I owe you an inner tube) and OBB Andy, without whom I would have been SOL during the race.
All the Wheelers crew for just being so rad.