I've been teetering with this question for a few days now and I need some advice:
In a few weeks the wife and I are going on a Cycling Cruise in Tahiti; I'm super looking forward to it but racing is always on the schedule (not as much as some of you). I really want to do San Luis Rey RR (which work may not allow) and maybe Sea Otter so I will probably make an exception. I've been on the fence about doing crits, hammerfests, and other 'high risk' cycling because I really don't want to break a bone and not be able to cycle on this cruise.
On the other hand, if I actually want to win races this season my best move is to do those events and work on my racecraft. For me that stuff is definitely a tuned thing; the more I do it the crisper and more confident I am out there. I'm not sure if I'm being irrational about all this; getting on a bike period has its risks so its not like I'm totally eliminating the injury variable...