Golden State Crit and Circuit Races 2024
Race: 2024 Golden State Series Criterium - Women’s 40+ P123
Date: May 4, 2024
AVRT racers: Chris Davis
Top Result: Chris Davis (4/4 for 40+)
Course: Clockwise 0.9mi office park loop. Flat, smooth, 3+ lane road with five wide, gentle turns. Rain had stopped by the time we raced, but the roads were still very wet with puddles.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/11334665129
Nutrition: Fluid Performance and Beet Elite Powder
Race Summary:
I signed up for this weekend a month early in hopes that it would be well attended as it usually is. The rain put a kabash on that. Turn out was super low and those that did sign up shifted back and forth from P123 to 40+. There were eight of us total, split evenly between the two fields offered (P123 and 40+). The race started out with a bang since Shannon Gaffney has plenty of bullets to shoot. Every lap or so she would attack the field with Karen from Chico quickly following. They both had signed up in the P123 so I was sure to jump on that train, hoping for a break. After about eight attacks and the last of the primes, the pack settled into conserving for the sprint since nobody could get away. My derailleur was making my chain jump in the back cogs when I applied pressure so I was nervous about standing up to sprint the whole race. Therefore, I did not even sprint for the finish and came in 8 out of 8. After the race I took my bike to VeloFix to have a look. The mechanic tried a couple of adjustments, but was obviously limited in what he could with my DI2 shifting given he was working out of a van. I took a couple of sprints afterward to see if it was better and the chain did not jump so I thought I would be good to go for Sunday’s Circuit.
Photo Credit: Greg Beliera
Race: 2024 Golden State Series Circuit - Women’s 40+ P123
Date: May 5, 2024
AVRT racers: Chris Davis
Top Result: Chris Davis (4/4 for 40+)
Course: Counter Clockwise 2.9 mi office park loop. Flat, smooth, 3+ lane road with ten wide, gentle turns and a chicane. Bright sunny day, but chilly!
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/11334665129
Nutrition: Fluid Performance and Beet Elite Powder
Yeah this was pretty much Groundhog’s Day! Same people, same time, but different course. The circuit course is fun because there are about 10 turns with a chicane. I thought it would go better for me since my bike was not skipping. I sat in and decided to try something after Shannon fired off all her shots. With just one and half laps to go, I decided to motivate Shannon while some of the Masters were having a conference. I was able to get a jump, but was chased down and my chain jumped AGAIN! So no sprinting for this race either. Therefore I came in last again, but was able to stay with the pack until the last KM. Yes, my bike is with my mechanic now. It was great seeing Hannah Chen there racing like champion!