NC.com Crit #8

Start line

Wednesday was the 8th race in the NashvilleCyclist.com crit series. There were 20 of us on the line, and the race started fast. I was ready to go and jumped on the wheel of a pro racer (who I will see again on Saturday) for the first few laps. With the wind, we didn't stay away, but she kept attacking. I'd react a few times and I'd wait for Catherine and Kat to react other times. Sometimes we did well, when it mattered we didn't.

Mary (pro) and Jes got a little gap maybe 12-15 minutes in. Cath and Kat were in the perfect position to bridge up, and I was in the perfect position to hold the field. (I didn't feel like I was in position to bridge up solo: Jess was watching every move I made, and if I went I'd do all the work for her, which I didn't want to do.) Unfortunately, Cath and Kat weren't able to bridge up, and at that point we were racing for 3rd place. I don't mind racing for third when I have a teammate up the road. I wouldn't have minded racing for 5th with two teammates up the road. But this time no teammates were up the road, and I wasn't too pleased. Oh, well, it is what it is.

Field sprint. I'm the butt and wheel you see on the far right.

We continued our race, Cath set me up perfectly with a great leadout, and I finished 3rd to win the field sprint. I am happy with how I raced and had fun. I would have liked to be in the lead group, though. Maybe next week.

Jes, Mary, and me on the podium

Race #8, 7-24-13: 29:29, 11.38 miles, 23.1 mph, 180 bpm, 3/21 and 3/5 Cat 1/2s
Race #7, 7-20-13: 49:57, 18.92 miles, 22.2 mph, 182 bpm, 1/12 and 1/5 Cat 2s
Race #6, 7-03-13: 31:05, 11.98 miles, 23.1 mph, 184 bpm, 1/18 and 1/5 Cat 2s
Race #5, 6-26-13: 29:26, 10.92 miles, 22.3 mph, 183 bpm, 6/23 and 4/5 Cat 2s
Race #4, 6-19-13: 29:48, 11.89 miles, 23.9 mph, 186 bpm, 5/19 and 3/4 Cat 2s
Race #3, 6-12-13: 28:48, 10.73 miles, 22.3 mph, 189 bpm, 2/18 and 1/3 Cat 2s
Race #2, 5-29-13: 30:39, 11.31 miles, 22.1 mph, 2/18 and 2/4 Cat 2s
Race #1, 5-22-13: 35:36, 12.88 miles, 21.7 mph, 4/14 and 2/3 Cat 2s (incorrect time and mileage)

Tuesday's "recovery" ride

After some fun (but hard) races on Saturday and Sunday, I thought I'd need a recovery ride Tuesday so I decided to ride solo rather than join the group for the Harpeth ride through Cool Springs. Turns out my legs felt great and I had fun doing one of my usual routes a little faster than normal.

While riding up McEwen (both times) I even thought maybe I'd want to join Strava just for those segments. So, I did a little digging. Currently, there is one segment, up from Wilson Pike going west to the top, and the QoM is Marsha. Now I'm even more motivated, because I can add a new segment!

Are you on Strava? If so, what is the best segment?