I figure the best way to start this out is to thoroughly review the last (and my first) race season. Here are some statistics…
- 17 Mass Start Races (4 Cat5, 5 Cat4, 8 Collegiate Men’s C)
- 13 Mass Start Finishes
- 3 Crashes (2 Crits, 1 Road Race)
- Highest Placings: 9th (UCD Crit), 12th (EB Road Race), 12th (La Mirada), 17th (Ontario 4)
- Primes: 2 (Paramount), 1 (UCSB Crit)
It’s been a heck of a learning experience. I started the season having never raced before and I am now very comfortable in fast packs. I’ve crashed, been dropped, and had (small) tastes of success. There are definitely things I need to work on… cornering, descending, and my training consistency during the collegiate season. I think I was too busy building a base level of fitness during the collegiate season to really focus on becoming faster. Now that I have a solid year of riding and racing under my belt, I think the regimented training plan will benefit me much more. In addition, I have a better understanding of what my body can handle — I know when I need to rest and when I can push it a little bit more.
Overall, I’m happy with my first season of racing. I moved up from the slow end of the Cat 5 pack to somewhere in the middle of the Cat 4 pack and gained plenty of experience along the way. Let’s hope I can build on this next season. Bring on the base miles!
