Star Bangle Crit Series
Tacoma Twilight Criterium Saturday 6/30/12:
This was a new course this year located in the Proctor district and would be my first Cat 3 race. Of course I ate something that did not agree with me the day before and had multiple visits to several bathrooms. This really didn't help my anxiety much. I enjoyed the course with its 4 corners and all right hand turns. Turn 1 and 2 were slightly downhill and turn 3 was fast leading into a half a block uphill that led you into turn 4 and the start finish straight. All the action was in turn 3. It had rough pavement and bumps on the inside of the corner where the best line through the corner would be. Of course this is where all the crashes took place as well. For my first Category 3 race it was ok. The pace was faster but wasn't to bad. We averaged 24.5 mph and the Category 4 race averaged 22.5 mph so not a big difference but enough to keep you on your toes. The big issue for me was moving up with only a few laps to go. This needs to be done much earlier in the Cat 3 race and you really need to be aggressive with holding your position. I lost a few places on the last lap but was still able to come through with 10th!
Brad Lewis Memorial Boat Street Crit Sunday 7/1/12:
This is a course I have done several times but the last couple of years as a Cat 4 I didn't have the best of luck. Racing with my lucky #666 I knew things had to be better. Once again the pace of the field was higher but wasn't anything that I couldn't handle. My body does pretty good when racing back to back days. The one thing about this course that I don't enjoy is the fast downhill right hand corner. I have almost crashed there a few times and have seen several people wipe out. I was up towards the front again with a few laps to go and just didn't suck it up enough when coming down the hill and taking that corner balls out. I was still able to come around a few guys for 10th again! Avg. speed 28.5 mph, Cat 4 race 26.2 mph.
Joe Matava (Burien Crit) 7/4/12:
With this race being just down the street I was pretty excited. Lindsay and a few friends were coming down to watch so I really wanted to put on a good show. This course I have done several times and it’s a good 4 corners with them all being left handers. The finish is slightly downhill and the first corner is usually where most of the crashes take place. We had 63 starters which always makes it crowded and a bit nerve racking the first few laps. The people that get a good starting position but don't have the fitness to stay up front slowly make their way to the back of the field and then are pulled before they are lapped. Better known as OFT (Off the back). I started making my way to the pointy end of the field with 10 laps to go. With 8 to go someone crashed at the front of the race in the middle of turn 1. I was in the top 15 when it happened so I immediately thought sidewalk around the accident. I headed for the crosswalk entrance on the sidewalk only to ride into the yellow tape they had around the course on the sidewalks. Damn't. I did a complete U turn and got back on the course, only to find myself closing a large gap to the leaders. I caught back up by the time we got to the start finish line. That was it for me as we came around on the last lap I didn't have anything left in my book of matches. 29th place. Average 24.9 mph Cat 4 race 21.2 mph
