aaronmcd

I'm doing Snelling. Prob won't be allowed to stay for Merced though. Maybe I'll check out Santa Cruz.

hack

I'm signed up, but will probably bow out. That'd be my second day back on the bike and doubt I'd do too well.

hack

If that's the UCSC crit on Sunday its down in Salinas. Flat squarish course with maybe some wind.

hack

Also...I've been quite bored this past week and a half and have read over a dozen race reports from the past few Snelling's. It seems the P12 is typically won in a break that gets away after a few laps. Wind is supposed to be a killer.

mattm

Thx - sounds like almost every p12 race lol!

caloso

Snelling is all about wind and two mile flat straight section of horrible pavement.

hack

Ha...that'd all be a new experience for me. In the 4's you get one or two guys try to get away, they get realed back, then we bunch back up and sprint.

aaronmcd

Hmm, I've started thinking cat 5 = chase all breaks and cat 4 = Nobody feels like chasing.

hack

The biggest challenge there is recruiting enough people to join you in a break. The 4's do chase down breaks when they see enough same teamed riders try to getaway though.

save10

the last 1km-2km before the R hand turn to the finish is rough pavement

save10

Does anyone know what they use as the start/turn around points on canada for the beat the clock TTs? i'm going to be do some practice work and want to use the results as bench marks

hyperlitenerd

I am signed up for it, not sure if I will make the trek down from santa clara. Not sure if I am feeling a 100 person cat 4 field. In the past the cat 4's people do not form echelons in the wind... So do you take the effort and try to start it, or do you just try and find what cover you can in the gutter?

UmneyDurak

CAT4s will chase a small girl on a pink bike with tussles if she is a head on a course.

"Yo, is she in our field?"
"No idea, attack!"




Then there is a self appointed "safety guy": "Slowing down", "Careful", "blah, blah, blah". I just want to scream "Shut a **** up, and race."

hack

"Turn ahead...everyone hold your line!!!!!!!"

mattm

Forget what you see on TV.. I don't think the 1/2's field will be creating echelons either.

In fact people want the field to split by guttering those behind you, unless of course you're in a break.

hyperlitenerd

Any words of wisdom for snelling for those of us racing it for the first time?

caloso

Mind the bees.

hack

This, along with coming off an injury, may be plenty to keep me away.

caloso

Seriously though. Be really attentive coming through start/finish. The pavement there is really terrible and it's a slight down hill usually with a tailwind so it can string out. When you turn right back on to Keyes, there is a short sharp pitch. It's not much but the 3d or 4th time through it can hurt and cause a separation if you're not paying attention because Keyes totally exposed to the crosswind. If you are not near the front, you will get guttered and you may be dropped.

mattm

Waaah.

Just realized that San Dimas Stage Race and Santa Cruz crit are on the same weekend this year!!

If I contact Velo Promo they'll move the SC crit right??

UmneyDurak

I don't see why not. lol

UmneyDurak

Damn license now is 70 bucks!

mattm

They say it's for the greater good, anti-doping and such.

UmneyDurak

I rather have lower license fees.

I am also considering quitting racing and trying ice speed skating. Seems a safe activity.

ljrichar

But now you can race mountain bikes so there's that.