My First Road Race

After wanting to do at least one of the Banana Belt series’ races for the past three years, I’ve done it. I’m registered for the whole three race series. I raced in Cat 4 along with 5 other Hammer Velo women teammates. They scheduled the Master Women to start five minutes after Cat 4, but as we we’re lining up they delayed Cat 4 to race with the Master Women, putting about 36 women on the course. There was a mystery rider in the pack who I’ll mention later.

We had a team plan to stay in the front and set the pace, fast. I didn’t come up with that, but I was all for trying to stay in the front, if I could. My goals were to do my best to contribute to the team strategy and to stay with the pack. I took a turn at pulling twice maybe three times. One of our teammates, Lindsay led most of the race. She really claimed it. I was able to help her a couple of times, but only for ~ 1 minute. Another mate, Anna got up for quite awhile and pulled strong on lap three. I found myself at what seemed like the back on a number of the climbs. I can see this changing as I continue to train, ride and race, especially with my team. Anyway we were definitely an encouragement to each other. Mid-way through lap three, maybe even sooner there was a big break away group. Lindsay and Anna were there. SallyAnn, Jennifer and I worked with others nearly drawing them in, but it never happened. This second group started shrinking, I stayed on until the climb before the descent to the damn. From then on I was alone.

SallyAnn was riding consistent and provided a wheel for me to follow a few times when I was slowing. I was able to hang on to the pack at least once by meeting up with Jennifer at a crest and moving up in a descent. Sadly we lost Christy early on. Her chain dropped and tending to that caused her to drop off the pack. Having missed out on racing Jack Frost, Christy made up for with a 30 mile TT at Hagg Lake.

It was a really good experience and I expect it will be even more fun with better weather. It was cool, the ground was wet, which I understand from my friend, Martha, can be good making for less road resistance, but the rain brought a chill. The many neutrals we were required to take were a significant frustration.

It was a really neat experience providing the service of the lead car for the Master 4/5 men. I was getting tired as drove along in my WARM car. Having the company of our son and the responsibility of leading the racers kept me alert thought. It was pretty cool to see Hammer Velo men up front the whole race. Dave seemed to lead most of the race and Hugh and his friend, Jake, lead a breakaway at the end. Too bad they did not take 1, 2. Alia and Stephen did support with Hugh for Cat 3 in the morning. Then Alia joined Mile and Theresa Olson and Shari Tedder at registration while Stephen and I were on the course in the afternoon. It was a great day for our whole family.