He thought that he'd missed the race and happened to be at registration to get his number for the p12 race. When he saw the group on the start line and realized he hadn't missed the race he got in the race.

I was mistaken. The number in question wasn't 853, since the 2 on 852 was so wrinkled I certainly couldn't read it well, many riders would be unable to, and the moto official certainly couldn't the first few laps. I told the moto ref during the race the number couldn't be seen. Anyway, if this rider had registered earlier, why not have the number on already? THERE WAS A 90 MINUTE DELAY!! Numbers on riders are necessary to score finishes, but also to record leaders, etc, on different laps and to enable accurate reports of what went on during a race. I apologize for yelling at him, but not for reminding him of the need for a number. We ALL should wear one.

I was one of the riders who had to "Swerve," as I tail gunned, attempting to warm-up after spending an extra 90 or so minutes relaxing... and I can say that my opinion is not influenced by how "Big" a rider is... unless of course, he is a trackie and weights enough to crush me like a twig.. but seriously I swerved more because I was trying to key my eye on the rider in question because I was so damn impressed by his skillZ. He was doing it at the back of the field and was IMHO it was ok -- my moto guy did see this so...

My 2 cents.

I sure hope all that suffered from Sundays event recover soon and recover well.

Will

I was relaxed, as matter of fact I was at home taking a nap during the Wente Crit.

Thanks for taking a bullet with this juicy topic George. I owe you one.

-R

Speaking of riding behavior, the 35+ cat 4 was an absolute joke...braking into turns, not holding lines and everyone seeming very uptight. With the eventual crash with 2 to go that had us ride neutral 1 lap and then got the bell with one to go...that was a joke. The 45+ race was refreshing as guys just raced their bikes and did not act like a bunch of knuckleheads. Come on 35+...relax, your Masters?!

Pegman wrote:What was not mentioned was that the prior two laps the same rider hung it out and was attempting to pee at 30+ mph going down the back straight.

It wasn't mentioned because it's inappropriate to talk about the members of the M123 field in such a manner on these forums.

But since you brought it up, what exactly was going 30+, field or pee? Unless it's more like 50+ you don't cancel out the headwind enough.

One more! One more! Maybe he just wanted to show that it's impossible to pin your number on during a race, without a prick!

R4L

mcKinley's a big poofter.

i didn't see anything unsafe happen during the 35 1/2/3 race. Hell, after the 4 ambulances that came in the time i was there spectating ... i was pretty impressed with all three of the final races having no touch downs (geezers, W4/45+, and p1/2 men). safe, fast racing.

i did see a specialized rider peeing on the back stretch during the geezers ... which i thought was very ballsy. but, it was a desolate part of the backstretch were no fans or business owners were present ... so, hopefully no harm, no foul. But, we really do need to be aware of how our 'casual' pees can be misinterpreted by the locals.

i know i've been guilty of that ... AND of taking too casually some of the rules of the road.

anyway, mcKinley will be on time for the next race. it's cat's hill and he always likes to show his meat there, too.

see you all there!
m

GFMeilahn wrote:Strange thing happened in the 35+1/2/3 race. Given Much too my suprise, the number he had pinned on was INDENTICAL to mine (#853).

The real #853,
George Meilahn

No! The real #853 is Aaron Lombardi w/Rio Strada Racing in the 35+4 :P

Yes that was quite a bit of bike handling and I glad it was him and not someone else attempting it. What was not mentioned was that the prior two laps the same rider hung it out and was attempting to pee at 30+ mph going down the back straight. I'm sure there are some rules against doing that especially in a crit!

GFMeilahn wrote:Strange thing happened in the 35+1/2/3 race. Given that our start was delayed 90 minutes, it may have been possible that registration reopened to allow last minute entants. When we we AT THE START LINE, a rider from a big team called over to his teammate as to whether he was entering that race (he was heading over to the registration table). He had just received his number as we rolled out. He joined the field opposite the officials (while clipped in and hopping over the curb-- Rule1M4) and was soon riding with us.

He didn't start with his foot on the ground. Scandalous.

Quote:
Much too my suprise, the number he had pinned on was INDENTICAL to mine (#853). Maybe if you're on a big enough team or have a big enough name the rules don't apply, but I don't see why.

The rider in question was in fact pre-registered. If you look it up on Sportsbaseonline you will see that his assigned number is very close to your #853. I didn't pay attention to the number he put on, but perhaps you misread?

I didn't see the number pinning and/or swerving so I can't comment on that. Though on at least some level I have to be impressed. I can not imagine being able to pin my own number on while racing in a crit.

Kevin Metcalfe
rides for a "big team"

Although I saw this move as well, I thought it was a nifty piece of bike handling. And given the hour-plus delay in the start of the race, I really didn't think much of some informality at the start. (Heck, many of us started from a comfy position on the shady sidewalk).

I'll tell you what bothered me, George. That was watching you, a lap down, come tearing up from the sidelines to a hard-working four-man chase group in the middle of the race to shout down the guy!!

I had no idea what it was about, but I couldn't fathom any justification for disrupting a race that way. And even having heard your vituperations about the guy, I still can't. You were not the race official, and once dropped you stay dropped. You must have been a hell of a disruption to the other three guys who were focused and killing themselves in the heat to catch the break.

Please reconsider your method.

I saw this happen also. At least the going over the curb to get into the race part. I didn't see the number pinning part but I did look for his number as he was hopping into the race and couldn't see it.

Did you report this to an official after your race?