Reports by:

• Tim
• Ed
• German
• Del
• Richard
• Garry

Category: E4
Result: 5th
Teammates: German, Oscar

I stayed at the front for the first 15 minutes of the race. I went for the first two primes, but didn't get either. After the second prime, I went to the back and recovered.

With 2 laps to go, I started to wiggle my way to the front. Between turns 3 and 4 (last lap) I was still around 10th, so I moved up a few more wheels on the outside. On the final straight I put in a pretty good kick and I think I nipped a couple people for 5th because I thought I finished 7th.

Did I discredit Richard's theory? ;)

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Category: 5
Result: 12 of 21
Teammates: Del,Wendy

Primary Goal: To sit in and finish race with pack.

Secondary Goal: If all systems go then try moving to front and maybe do something or help teammates in a sacrificial manner.

Whistle blows.... We are off.

Pace of the group was good for me. Got comfortable in the group. Evaluated riders around me. Who are good to draft off of? Who are dodgy? I sat in the back "sipping margaritas" as Del would say.

I noticed when the pace picked up Wendy had something to do with it. Not many riders wanted to work. On one lap I noticed Del up with Wendy actually pulling the group. I was saying that I should be up there with them. I actually heard the guy on the loudspeaker say "FFBC trying to get something going". FFBC gettin some......

Pace slowed. Del and Wendy drop back I know Wendy is resting. Between turns 1 and 2 I noticed Wendy surging up the inside and I decide to try to move up and join. I got up to around 7th position and tried to stay in as long as I could. I was redlining. I drifted back and stayed on the back to recover.

5 laps to go; I am staying behind the biggest guy. Riders start to get jumpy.

1 lap to go; The pace slowed and the back stretch was getting really sketchy. Still sitting back...

Last corner; Setting up for the Sprint. I was on the inside. I noticed one rider two riders in front of me take an inside line and he couldn't hold his line and started to drift into who I thought was Del. But when I passed I saw it was Wendy. I sprinted in across the line.

Things learned:

1. I can handle the cat 5 pace in the pack.

2. It's hard to roll thru a corner and not lose momentum when riding in this particular pack. Guys were braking contantly on the corners. Very annoying.

3. Need more work moving around in the pack.

4. Position is key for the final sprint.

5. Need more work on protecting my wheel.

Definitely a learning experience. I enjoyed every minute of it. The next race I would like to actually contribute and work with Wendy and Del (before they cat up).

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Category: E4 and 35+ 4/5
Result: Pack finish

E4
Race started at 8:00 AM and the pace was fast but was able to warm up my legs in the first 3 laps. Basically I maintained my position in the top 15 until the last lap where I ended up solo at the front remaining 2 laps and ened up pulling for a whole lap since no one wanted to pass me until the second corner of the last lap. Got tired and could not push harder so I ended in the middle of the pack, no sprint at all, just rolled to the end. Great race but next time, I will conserve my power for the end. Great job from Tim clinching 5th place and keeping his improvement word.

35+ 4/5
Oscar and i started to roll together most of the time and went ahead in afew occasions, legs were warmed and the lungs were still affected by the flu ut not big deal. Kept front position most of the time and pulled the field a few times as well to share the load with the front group. The race course was much faster, smoother and wind wasn't a big deal like ICCC's race, so the pace was really fast and somehow I felt the lack of speed onmylegs today, maybe I was still tired from yesterday. But it was great to se Oscar pulling the field and being competitive most of the time, certainly, he has shown a big improvement this year and iam happy for him and our team as well. The sprint was kind of similar than the elite 4's so i just stayed in the front 15 and got overpowered at the end losing valuable positions.

I was happy for my performance because even though I didn't clinch a top 10 at this time, my body felt competitive knowing that breathing is still a hard task when racing. Hopefully, it will go away soon and will do better next time. Thanks for reading.

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Category: 5
Result: 14 of 21
Teammates: Wendy,Ed

What can I say, I have a knack for 14th place.

I started out fine despite bumbling at the start with a missed clip in. I smacked my nether region on the tip of my seat (we all know that feeling) as I tried to clip in. As I looked down, my pedal was spinning furiously but thankfully I got in before smoke billowed off the spindle. No biggie though and I rejoined without problem.

As usual, I was out making friends. You know, asking guys what their favorite color was, hobbies and interests and whether or not they had a sister, the usual stuff. Some guys weren't having any of it and I was able to determine later that the one's keeping their replies short and to 2 to 3 words along with their game face were in actuality, hurting hehe.

The pace was slow, contrary to what I said earlier, i'm guessing our average was around 22-23, not the 19, slow but not THAT slow. I mistakenly forgot to reset my computer which read 1 hour 17 minutes for 25 miles. Ed and I had a 30 minute warm-up on the nearby streets earlier. Anyhow, as I said, the pace was slow but I wasn't complaining, heck it gave me more time to get to know everybody, haha. Meanwhile, every so often it would kick up to 27+ and that was when Wendy was up front, he dictated the pace for the whole race.

Ed was popping up every so often and at one point, didn't want to take part in my friendly banter, evidenced by his "don't you come talking to me" face :) It was great to see him in there mixing it up though, git you sum Ed!

With such a small group, it was easy to be up front one second and then in the back the next. I was getting a feel for everyone and trying to get away from the sketchy dudes. At some point I decided to join Wendy up front. I was getting tired of the sketchy lines being taken along with the braking in the corners so on the back stretch before turn 4, I took the inside line and shot up next to Wendy. I felt like Ponch and John from Chip's and we rounded the bend with two rows, one behind each of us. As we exited, Wendy picked it up and next thing I know, we're in a breakaway, woohoo! 22, 25, 27 "we're going ballistic!) as we crossed the start/finish and gapped. Through the right hand sweeper and it was on. Onto the straight and Wendy darted left as I kept on trucking. I later found out from Wendy that he pulled off because noone else was willing to work with us, not so much because he wanted me to pull, smart man. I was leading into turn 3 and as I glanced behind me, saw the peloton in a string. I was thinking about my line as I wanted to sweep it using a line to get everyone through safely and to get the shoot off the exit. I think I pulled in just a wee bit tight because my pedal skipped the ground, "cool" I thought to myself, I must of been really cranked over! As we straightend up, I pulled to the left just enough to let 5 riders go by. Wendy throws out a "five" and says "take 5th" and so I did.

The rest of the time I spent in the top half, just mixing it up and trying to get a clean line out of the turns because some knuckleheads were spoiling my fun not to mention my line. I love sticking those turns by the way, putting the power on just a bit and powering through, it's so much fun, why the heck would you brake? I have no idea but they're missing out. Oh, on another note, the bots dots, the blue ones in particular, had a sharp, nasty ledge on them. It was skipping my back and launching me for some sweet air. Sorry guys, no superman seatgrabs this time around but it did make things interesting, woohoo, more fun! Ed later told me he would watch my backend come up off the ground as I would get bounced around. I kinda liked it.

Ah so last lap, the straight leading into 4 was utter chaos as usual. I pulled off as I was sure something was going to happen with everyone jockying for position. Hold a line? What the hell is that, everyone was ALL over the place and I wanted NO part of it. They must of been 8-10 wide going into the final turn. Sure enough, some guy stands it up mid turn with one foot out and beelines it not only off the apex but into *gasp Wendy. I slowed immediately and wanted to stop for Wendy but saw that he was relatively okay and getting up. I picked it back up with Ed in my sights but never did catch up to him, way to go Ed! I rolled through, happy to have the rubber side down and my skin intact.

In the future, I think i'll try to get up front well before the final turn instead of pulling back to steer clear of any trouble. At least if I gas on the final straight, they can all go around me safely.

I feel for Wendy, if anyone deserved to finish, it was that guy. Thankfully he was relatively unscathed as was his bitchin' Wilier.

Thanks for the race guys, it was fun. I say we kick ass and take names in the Fremont Crit. Who's up for that? Git' you sum FFBC!

Great,exciting racing by all in the other cats. Awesome job Tim, do you think the helmet had anything to do with your stellar performance?

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Category: 35+ 1/2/3 and E3
Result: DNF & Pack finish
Teammates: Garry

Garry did the M45/55 race prior to joining me in the 35+ 1/2/3 event. It was very impressive seeing Larry Nolan go off the front of the M45/55 event. His breakaway partner didn't contest the final sprint, presumably because Larry had been the motor of the break and to sneak a win in such circumstances would be churlish. Larry joined us in the M35+ 1/2/3.

After a relatively leisurely first lap, this race was on from lap 2. I won't pretent to being comfortable, but at least I was hanging in there. Blimey! there is some horsepower in this field: 15 minutes in those at the front turned it up to eleven and those of us in the cheap seats sufferred.

This continued for several laps. At 20 minutes in Garry blew a gasket and bowed graciously and gracefully out of the line several places ahead of me. The hammer remained down for precisely one more lap before a significant group was recaptured. The next lap was a positive breather before combat was resumed. At 30 minutes (half-way) it was my turn to blow a gasket and I detatched from the back of the field. I gave vain chase for a lap before retiring.

I averaged my highest ever power output for 30 minutes in this race - significantly above the level required at Morgan Hill last Monday.

Oh yes - Larry got into the winning group in this race too, and attacked out of turn 3 to win it comfortably with a very nice 500m effort. Monster!

E3
After some food and recovery, I span spun around for 10 minutes in a small gear before lining up. My legs were feeling the earlier effort, but fortunately, I think we were all tired. This was a much easier race, but though I wanted to make moves to the front in the finale, I didn't have the legs to do so, so rolled in at the back. There was one rider who was obviously well rested when starting the race - the winner was a solo breakaway.

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Category: Various
Result: Various
Teammates: Richard

The Sunday after the Saturday crits. I was not intending to race these, but they being so close to home (15 minutes ride), I felt compelled to get out there and give it a whirl.

Much prefer the course to the IC3 choice, and slightly less windy helped a bunch.

Masters 45/55 unlimited cats
Once again Mr Nolan fed off the masses. He went away with one other rider at mid distance and was never seen again. I sprinted at the end and the official result gave me 6th. This is a mistake, it's more like 26th. I let you know.

Masters 35+ 1/2/3
OMG, this was mind boggling fast. About two laps in it winds up to a frenzy and stays there. I last 20 minutes of the allotted 60. RB continues but is shelled 10 minutes later. And yet again (getting boring now) Larry Nolan forces a break of two, which becomes 6, with a chase group of similar numbers pursuing. The sprint at the end was impressive. Brian Bosch (CVC) goes before turn 2, very early, and leads the whole of the straight. Lar is on Chris Wire's wheel (Safeway). The other three are hanging by a thread. Leading into 3, Lar goes under Bosch and he blocks Wire, Lar stamps on the gas and maintains 53x11 at 110 rpm all the way to the finish. These bad boys average 47.7 km/h (Lars numbers) for the race.

I only hope Nolan gets a flat at Nevada city (I mean on the car on the way there)

Thanks for reading

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