Keith Ends the Season with a WIN at Oakland

Sunday September 25, 2011
Oakland GP M35+ 1/2/3
drizzly, rainy, wet, and very slick course
1st place

Anytime you win a race, you should write a report. Although the field was tiny (12), the guys' hearts in this race were huge. We watched the previous field slide and crash on the course in the rain. It was gutsy to start and race. Since I had previously finished 3rd and 7th in p/1/2 on this course, I thought I would be at advantage.
I treated it like a lunchtime crit and rode aggressively. I took two of the 4 primes. I led or rode 2nd wheel much of the race because I was trying to get away, break up the field, win primes, or ride my line through slick turns. My rear wheel slid many times in two particular oily turns, the first and the last. Hitting the white paint was treacherous. At times, it felt like more of a short-track skating contest. I channeled my inner Ohno. I dove the last turn a few times even though a few others overcooked it. I rode my tubulars at an aggressive 110psi. several of us kept attacking and marking each other until 3 laps to go when a crazy guy crashed just behind me. we dropped down to only 6. keith d. from cccx actually rode off the front gently and the rest of us were watching each other. when we caught him, we ramped it up and I took 2nd wheel through the last turn even though I wanted to be first. sprint was solid and I won by about 1/2 wheel length over Robert Windsor and David Avila followed with a fist pump. I got a nice podium shot and some prizes.
This was a good way to finish the year. I decided to not do p/1/2 and ruin the day even though legs were good and warmed up.

If you want to sprint well at the end of a crit, I feel you should go for a prime or two and practice. It works out the kinks.
small fields are silly crazy. you never know what to expect and you are better off attacking than being attacked.
riding rainy crits takes some skill.
podium shot with and of the son is priceless.