So THATS how the banking works
From: Sara Brokaw
Date: Aug 3, 2007 9:32 AM
Rolled up to the track in record time due to entering an empty freeway
at Stinson. This allowed MORE than enough time for a super-relaxed
warmup. Fresh off 6 days of racing where my warmup consisted of an
easy 30 minutes of spinning for a hr long crit, I knew I needed a bit
more intensity compared to that warmup to have a go in the first race
of the evening. 15 minutes of easy riding followed by 10 more of
increasing intensity, mild accelerations.
First race lined up with 11 women for a Tempo race (points 2,1 for
first riders across the line in every lap). For the first time ever I
was able to use the banking on the south end of the track to
accelerate away from the field, and I can tell you it really works!!
Opened up a nice gap but chased down by Dahlman sisters, one which
grabbed the win (I got 1 point). State Crit Champ rolls by & says hey
lets work together, but I couldn’t (warmup better but not ideal). I
try just to maintain my position rolling a good tempo. Alan comes by
& pulls for awhile. I yell at her to move up track so I can come
through & work together, but she won’t…she wants me to go around, so
I just sit on her monitoring chasers behind. With 2 to go I attack
her & hold her off for a final placement of 4th.
Lined up for the second race a miss & out with 13 riders (two racers
sat out the first race for match sprints finals…need to try this
match sprint thing next year). I’ve been successfull rolling around
the track in the sprinters lane on the front in this race before, just
setting tempo high enough that I make it through the first few
eliminations, so I ended up doing the same with Birchwood with a
Rodent connection (BWARC) on my wheel. Early in the race after one
elimination I think, I hear muffled chaos behind. The gun sounds
again stopping the race. Seemingy half of the field went down
(Grumpys, Bella, new girl in black, State Crit Champ. I think I
might be missing a few.). We start again with a few less riders, & I
use the same tactic. Eventually getting 3rd to the Dahlman sisters,
but not without valliant encouragement by Rodent Wheeler on the
backstretch of the track yelling, “Beat Them!” ! I think we might
have their number.
Last race of the evening was a 30 lap points race. Gathered a point
by using the banking again to accelerate away from our now 5-person
field (U of M sprinter, BWARC, Dahlmans). A split in the field (minus
one Dahlman) prompted me to roll tempo at the front to try to keep one
of them at bay. However, the race came back together. Later, it was
apparent they were on to me & my new-found use of the banking and
immediately neutralized an attempted attack. Hard race lots of
chasing, barely held off BWARC in the final sprint to obtain 4th in
the points, 3rd overall in the omnium (though of a depleted field).
If you’re looking for something to do Saturday evening, there will be
rodents racing at the track starting at 5pm. If the weather looks a
bit sketchy, call the track hotline before you travel: 763.785.5651.
Rodent Schueller looked to be having a good evening as well, so
hopefully he’ll have a rpt coming.
Sara