I finished the track season with a bang! The last non-madison race of the season, and I finally crash. It was the 40 lap cat 4 points race. I contested the first sprint and got a result, but did a poor job getting off the front. While screwing around with that I spent too much energy and missed the attach when it came. I was off the back pretty quickly, and assumed they would come back after the next sprint. I was wrong.I could read the writing on the wall, so I eased up and waited. There were 4 guys off the front and the rest were lost. I figured I would rest, catch on with the leaders, pick up some points before we picked up everybody else. That would leave me with a pretty easy 5th, and the possibility for more if I started feeling better.
They caught me, and I got some points on the next sprint. Things were kind of going as planned... until. After the sprint, I was on the outside, so I stayed high. I was actually contemplating attacking. I was looking around, then all of the sudden Jay Brown starts coming up into me. Next thing I know I am smashed between the rail and Jay at the top of the banking. I reach for the rail to hold on, which results in no more than me smashing my arms against it and not gaining any purchase. I fall to the ground and slide down with my bicycle to the apron.
Luckily, I didn't hit or get hit by any riders on the way down. Also, I didn't break anything. Sitting on the apron, I did the shoulder shrug and then stood up. I figured it couldn't be too bad if I could do both of those. Amazingly the kit and the bike are largely untouched (the saddle and my shoes took some major scrapes though). Great wound care article by Mike Murray at K-Man's Cat 6 Corner.
Talking with Jay, he said the guy in front of him just took a right turn directly up the bank and he had nowhere to go. I have ridden with Jay in the past, and trust him, so I figure this is true. I am not sure who the other rider was. It doesn't really matter - this stuff happens and everybody makes mistakes. I kind of blame myself for not paying better attention.
I am badly bruised, scratched and sore and this is impacting my preparation for ccx. I am a newbie and need all the practice I can get, but I am really sore. I will be camping this weekend, so I have a good excuse to stay off the bike. Hopefully, I will be ready for some real workouts by Monday.
4 comments:
Halloween isn't for another month, but you got your costume early! This sure is a scary looking one. Nice, clear and colorful pic though! Now it's cyclocross time.
Bummer dude. You play you pay! Maybe not so good for the first CCX but by midway I bet you'll be bruisin' the competition! I took a track class a couple yers back and the teacher talked about the line of death beign when you cross wheels. Sounds like all 3 of you dudes did that. That track is steep man! YOur tougher than me to race that. I stick to cross and hope for soft landings.
Hey Eric,
First off I'm truly sorry that this had to happen to you. The wreck was 100% my fault and I have no excuse for causing it. I was being lazy in that race following who ever wanted to lead. After the lap 25 points, I miscalculated the guys speed in front of me as he was pulling up track. Instead of going under him, I went up the track with him over lapping his wheel(stupid thing to do!). This proved to be a bad decision because he did another line change up track catching my front wheel. Being the novice inexperienced track racer that I am, I panicked and instead of pedaling up track, I tried to stop pedaling. This caused me to crash taking you and two other guys out with me. I’m feel terrible about it and can only say that I’m sorry!!! I owe all of you guys a beer or two or three!!
I hope you recover quickly.
Jay
Jay - don't worry about it. We are all beginners and this stuff happens. As I said, I trust you and have enjoyed being on the track with you - that has not changed. Please do not feel bad. This is part of learning and nobody broke anything. Come May, I will be back on the track waiting for you to lap me again.
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