Sunset Crit

Today was my official last road race of the year - the Sunset Criterium. I really like crits, but I haven't been able to do any this year for one reason or another.

This was the most convenient race venue I've ever been to - just one mile from my house! I rode over, signed up, took some practice laps, then went home and finished getting dressed. Luxury.

The course was pretty crazy, and I always like crazy. There was a 180 degree hairpin turn at the bottom of a hill -- two things I don't like in a crit are 180s and hills. I was a little concerned at first, but it turned out to be pretty fun.

I was off the front for a very long time. Teammate Richie Suditu was back in the pack helping keep them at bay. I thought I might hold it to the end, but then I started having troubles with side aches and what not. I got caught with 5 to go. I put in one final bridge/break to pull Richie into a good finishing position, and then I was cooked on that climb. I had to sit up and spin in to finish well behind the winner.

Still, the crowd clapped for me when I came across the line, for all the time I spent off the front. That was nice. For my efforts on the breakaway, I won a prime of a HUGE 3kg energy drink mix. It's really big...

Thanks to Sunset Cycles and Cycle One for putting on this race. It was really well run.

No more road racing. Time for cyclocross!