Attleboro Crit on Saturday

[taudep]

I'm trying to decide whether I'm racing this weekend. Any takers?

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register. ... ntid=10954

There's also a mountain bike race at Pat's Peak on Sunday. Did it last year. Great downhill section, but I'm not in love with the 800 ft climbing per lap.

http://www.patspeak.com/summer/bike_xcountry.php

[Doran Abel]

I am also toying with the idea of one (Sat Attleboro crit) or the other (Sun MTB XC at Pats Peak) or a 3rd option (BCA Greylock century). All depends on family activities. I have done no speed training recently (crit) and not sure I have enough long miles in (century). If I did the XC, it would just be for pure fun in Cat 3 for my first MTB race. Shoulder is 75% recovered, but go back to orthopedist-therapy this week.

[taudep]

I'm starting to toy with the idea of skipping all above and doing a Wells Ave on Sunday.

[taudep]

OK, I've decided that I'm racing Attleboro and I've registered. It's too close to miss, and at 20K, I can't imaging the race lasting much longer than 35 minutes. I heard the course is almost as basic at Wells Ave.

Maybe see some of you there. If not, I don't mind not having to compete against John, Doug, Scott, Jeremy, etc...

[RPerson]

The course is pretty basic, but watch out for turn 2 (or is it considered 3?). It's the turn off of the top section of the course. The road narrows down quite a bit and you should be hauling when you go through it. A few years ago when I was there a bunch of guys were trying to go 3 and 4 wide through there and the guys on the outside left often became acquainted painfully with the curb...

[michaelcole]

I have done this race a bunch of times and I think it's really fun because it is NOT anything like Wells ave. There are a couple of tight corners. Rich is right that #2 being the the one to watch out for.

The course:
Starts with a short roller of a hill. Just enough to force an effort. The hill ends just in the middle of a sweeping righthander (Turn 1)

Then a short flat straight takes you into turn 2. It's a tight 90 degree corner that you want to be on the inside of and at the very front. You really want to take your own line in this corner. It's worth a little work to get that position. If there are any sketchy riders near you then it could get ugly here especially if you get forced wide left.

Then a downhill that is gradual enough that the leader will still need to work to hold race speed.

Then another right hander that is gentle enough to take regardless of position but when you come out of it you need to start setting up for the rest.

There is a sort of two part right turn before the finishing straight. On the final lap, the finishing spots will largely be determined by the time you reach this final turn. The straight is short enough that the final sprint wont change things much. Moreso than on most courses the race is to the last turn. Get there in the top 3-5 behind a good wheel and you could take it.

I always seem to rely too much on a sprint here and hit the last turn in 10th or 12th then sprint up a few more places. Being more aggressive in the middle of the lap will have you sprinting for a W instead of 9th.

Good luck and stay safe.

[taudep]

Thanks for the race course description. It sounds fun. (I was obviously uninformed.) I'll be sure to have fought for my spot before the double-right hand turns.

[Bruce]

yes, yes I remember turn 2 well....there were a couple of MRc jersies skidding over the curb and into that woman's front yard!