www.nscsports.org/sports/cycling/events/grass_track.htm

I'm sure Matt and Eric will attest to how fun this is.

Sunday nights
9 - 11 pm
Jan 15, 29
Feb 12, 26
National Sports Center
Blaine

The front page link doesn't work because of the / in the title.

Yeah, that is an "Undocumented Feature" of this site. I keep thinking I need to fix that, but I also keep thinking I need to fix my waistline. Hmm...which to spend time on.

Thanks for bringing this up -- I have edited the title of the post so now it works.

Now, as for the event itself [instead of site talk] I like to think I will make it but in reality probably won't. Call it a function of being from the Middle-Ages.

Those who plan on going, please put a shout out on this forum so that if we are on the fence there is a chance we can get knocked to one side or the other. And, definitely post results/recaps so we can all live vicariously through you -- and get excited for the season ahead.

Would there be good photo ops there? Kinda sounds like fun, so if people are going, let me know and I might grab my camera and show up.

I am planning on being there. I did a few of these last year and really had fun. There is a wide range of abilities that attend, so don't be intimidated to give it a try. One guy last year showed up on an old 10 speed and and gym shorts, so all are welcomed! I think that the more the merrier. Hope this helps any of you who are fence teetering.

E--
I knew I could count on you to try to intice me to race.

Dan-
I have not been out there to know how well photography would work, but I do know that people really appreciate your work and they would love some action shots.

If anyone is planning on going (that I could carpool with) - to race or shoot- please post it here. It just might sway me.

Timbo,

I am leaning towards going. I got a new camera body a couple weeks ago (now I have my own camera and not just borrowing my wife's! Still working with borrowed lenses though... ) and haven't gotten much time to play with it, so this would be a good excuse. This is not a firm commitment, just a statement of inclination. But if I go, carpooling would be bueno!

Bummer, I am out for the first race. I forgot about family stuff (that was even on our calendar)

I am planning to do the Jan 29 and Feb 12 races

I'd like to race on Sunday. It may come down to either the Saturday morning spin OR the Sunday night races.
Tim, I'll keep in touch in case we can carpool!

I am out as well with family plans. Maybe next week.

January 15th race recap..."bringing a knife to a gun fight!"

Since no other IC3'ers were able to attend, I'd thought I'd give a little report from the first night of indoor racing. I decided to bring my single speed CX bike and give it a go, my overall conclusion.... gears definately have their place. I threw my hat in the A race ring and went up against the likes of Timmer and Dan Casper along with some other strong Cat 3 cross racers. The first race was a scratch race (meaning you obtain points for your overall finish, 1st place 10 pts 2nd 9 pts etc.) we went 10 laps and I ended up finishing 6th out of 10 riders. I felt good for the first 4-5 laps, but really started to fade over the last few laps, my legs felt like lead tree trunks afterwords. I could only attribute this to pushing 1 gear really hard non-stop.

I spun around while the B racers did their 2nd race and just when my legs started to feel back to normal it was time to race again. Race 2 was a points race where the 1st 3 riders to cross the line after the bell was rung got points and lapped riders could still be in the mix. I think we went at least 12-14 laps with the bell being rung every 2-3 laps. I tried to hang with the 4 leaders but just couldn't keep in contact, so I changed my stategy and started to drift back and let off the gas. I let myself get lapped and then tried to hang with the leader and did get in on some points by lap 9. I just tried to conserve after that, but the legs did start to feel a little better.

Race 3 was another scratch race and it saw the usual suspects hammering at the front with me trailing in 5th place, I think I did hold my position for this one and improved by one place at the finish. The final race was for all racers with the B riders getting almost a lap head start and the course changed from an oval to have a couple of 90 degree turns. This actually suited me best as I could really let the bike go in the turns and I just tried to keep a steady pace for the 20 laps. Not sure how I ended up, somewhere in the top 10. Overall I definately felt better towards the end, got a great workout, got to race along side of a world champion, what's not to love about that. Hope to see a few of you out there next time.

Side note, the indoor soccer field is a really, really, really dry enviroment. My mouth was like a desert despite drinking 1.5 water bottles during the event. If you come, bring plenty of hydration, your own race number and of course a bike with more than 1 gear!!

Looks like I have a "hall pass" for Sunday night! I assume a road bike would be better than my Salsa Fargo? Please advise.

Hawk, if you are up to photograph, (or anyone else) I might be able to be talked into a dinner & race evening.

I definitely want to get up to one of these and snap some pics, and a little pre-race fellowship would be awesome!

Next race isn't til the 29th though, right?

The next race is indeed the 29th [THIS SUNDAY]. I am 80% in. Who else is more than half way there?

And no one ever answered my road bike Vs. Fargo question. I don't want to bring silly putty to a gun fight.

I'll see your 80% and raise you 1%... I'm 81% percent in!

Bring your road bike with 25mm tires or bigger if you have em. The road tires will fine, just might not hook up as well when cornering, it's a fast enough pace that you'll want the road bike.

Looking forward to seeing some IC3 orange on Sunday night!

Road bike it is. And I will raise you 2% to 83%. Don't know if 28s will fit in my frame [they didn't in my old frame], but will check it out. May go with a 28 front with 25 rear. I don't know if it will matter much, though since I am still silly putty at any kind of a fight. But like I always say... "bring it"!

On_A_Mission wrote:


Does that look like this?

I'll raise you all and put my bet in for 90% certain that I will be there. However for me, it is either Saturday Spin or Sunday race. So my plan is Saturday Spin one wkd, Sunday race the next wkd.

BTW, great write-up Eric! And good job on a SS....that would be tough in that crowd. Way to man up!

Matt you are in luck (kind of). I totally forgot that we do not have a room this Sat for spin, so now you have no excuses for Sun. I better get that posted...

Ready to rip it. After only pinning a number on once in 2011 I am beside myself STOKED to get dropped. And it gets even better since there are no hills. My kind of course!

Who else is in? For those coming up 169 can wee meet at the Depot (or somewhere) and carpool?

I believe I have the spousal approval for Sunday night.
What time do you want to meet at the Depot?
Any other takers to fly the IC3 colors tomorrow night?

Im not sure i have an extra #. Can i get one at a local shop? Still working on my lovely spouse and a pass...

I have numbers galore. I have saved them all. For a while I thought that since I have no trophies to remind me of my exploits I might as well save some remembrance. Now I think I have too many. You are free to have at em

Oh, I am talking about race numbers, not spousal approval. Thought I should clarify.

Whew. Numbers i can use...