I was regularly riding with my mate Steve who mentioned the 'Crit races' at Trinity Park. This is a fast paced, 30minute (novice class) closed circuit race series held over 6 week - there is also a 1hr (pro class) option for those who are sufficiently masochistic.
Having missed the 1st week I made my debut at round 2. By "made my debut" I mean I managed to stay with the pack on the start line but struggled to stay with them for much longer...
The courses are 1.5 to 2 miles long and consist of many 90 degree bends with 100m or so between them and to keep with the pack you need to permanently sprint! So for 30mins you sprint, brake, sprint, brake, sprint, brake... If you lose the pack, you lose the 'tow' effect that it gives off, making it even harder to catch back up.
Round 2
For my 1st attempt I managed 7 laps, I stuck with the pack for a couple of them, but then fell away and limped over the line. As "novices" go, these are pretty skilful! Only the 1st 20 people get their places recorded so I've no idea of my final position.
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Round 3
At round 3 a lead pack and follow up pack formed, I managed to stay with the latter and I think I only just missed out on a ranked position.
At the end of the race my body was struggling, my muscles wouldn't work any more and I was struggling to breath. I ended up laying down in the car park for a few minutes while I recovered. I don't think I've ever pushed myself that hard before or since!
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I missed rounds 4 and 5 but returned for the final.
Round 6
Having picked up a feel for what was involved at round 2 I had high hopes (well, I thought I might just be able to scrape into the top 20), however I lost the pack on the 2nd lap from the end and then punctured on the penultimate lap, not quite the blaze of glory I'd hoped to go out in...
Endomondo
One characteristic of the crit races is that the pack travels so close together, so quickly and around such tight fast bends, that crashes are almost inevitable. When they happen they're on hard tarmac and a "domino rally" type effect takes out several riders at once.
I saw 2 crashes at the final round. In the first - the worst of the 2 - someone appeared to take the 1st corner too wide then swung back in and collided with the bloke right in front of me. I managed to avoid it somehow, but it looked pretty painful for those involved. From chatting to one of the blokes afterwards (the one who got hit) it sounded like quite an expensive crash as well (Di2 and carbon rims etc) he was also draping a towel over his shoulder so that he didn't get blood on his car seats!
On the 2nd one, the pack were going around one of the last couple of corners and it seems the tarmac was just too slippery and, as he leant right over, one guy on the outside just slid sideways off the track fortunately managing not to take anyone with him.
I enjoyed the rounds I did. It opened my eyes to a totally different style of racing and gave me a greater appreciation at how hard the faster racers really are pushing themselves.
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