Before it flows out of my mind...

A crit report:

Torrance Sunday

Any of you ever race this course? As nascar as it gets. .5 mile course with 4 big-wide no-brakes corners. Average speed was 44k/h. In addition to the classic dizziness-inducing course, the composition of the field was pretty good as well. No huge teams, just a ton of mostly amateurs going for it. I had Alejandro racing alongside. Not a huge field, perhaps 60? I made the mistake of casually starting in the back. It took a while to see the front...course like that the only place to move is in the corners, and you don't move much. Anyhow, finally saw the front after 10 minutes (or 10 laps), and went with a move. Nope. Went nowhere. I think the largest break of the day had 10 meters on the field. It was that kind of race. I read it as such, and just kinda hung out in the field. 5 laps to go...which is really only 3 or so minutes. I had great position...perhaps 10 back? Pace was deceptively slow, and the inevitable swarm came and did away with that good position in .2 seconds. 4 to go. La Grange skids off in turn 3. 3 to go. More booms and broken bike parts. 2 to go was the worst...crash near the front in turn 4, but I gave it a ton of gas here with the idea that the race would be in fragments behind. Had a great line with half a lap to go, but the guy right in front of me, with an even better line than me completely sat up! Annoying. Scrambled for a wheel, nothing came, and I was pipped for the last $ spot by super-master Mark Noble. Unlucky. 11th.