Last Early Bird crit, this time for points.

WARMUP
Warmed up for 30:30 on the trainer, average HR 147, peak HR 165. Wore shorts, sleeveless tank, DV jersey, and arm warmers (which I grabbed at the last minute... glad I did).

COURSE MAP
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111595589290795032781.00045fc1a020f37e4d0ac&ll=37.548167,-122.063684&spn=0.009731,0.019205&z=16

COURSE DESCRIPTION
1.4 Mile (~2200 Meter) Circuit; Turns 1,2,3 @ Right Handers; Turn 4
Sweeper

WEATHER
Sunny, ~60 degrees. Light wind heading into Turn 1.

TEAMMATES
James Berry, Jon Stephens, Chris King, Zach Starnes, Jim Gordon, Steve Olhaber, Brandon Gallagher

7 (!) other Dolce Vita teammates in a field of 60.

OVERVIEW
Usual bit of planning, but not overly worked out beforehand. We all lined up early, after watching Luther grab 5th in the 1/2/3 race.

Spent time moving around the pack a lot more today, and my heart rate stayed lower in general. Consciously rested a bit, but also had to push up to the front more deliberately at different times, when I was worried about getting caught in the crowd. Dolce Vita teammates were all around, thoughout the race.

With a lap to go, I went up to the front, just behind the leaders. San Jose Bicycle Club had 2 or 3 folks come to the front, too. After Turn 1, Brandon and Chris tucked in right behind the leader. After Turn 2, Brandon and Chris took over the lead. I shouted to Brandon to keep pushing, since I knew James was right behind me. He did a big pull, and then Chris led out for a long time, but we (other DVs) were a few riders off their wheels.

Didn't know where Jon S was, but he'd been near the front all race, so figured he was nearby. Going down the backstretch between Turn 2 and Turn 3, I went to the left, probably 6th or 7th wheel, creating a second line just off the lead line.

Through Turn 3, pushed up along the outside. Into Turn 4, I worked to come up alongside the main line, and then the sprint started for real. James came around on my left, and I tried to go with him. Didn't catch his wheel, but didn't fall too far off. He went left (and got 5th), and I went straight, trying to catch folks all the way to the line. Some folks went by me, mostly on the right (including Jon Stevens, who got 7th), but I caught a few between the turn and the line. Finished 11th, although the official results have UNKNOWN RIDER in that spot (wrote organizers).

Two things I could do to improve:
* More patience. Always more patience. So far, I've been strong enough to get to the front when I need to. So on a course which allows the room, wait as long as possible.
* When I do go for it, don't hesitate. Because I didn't make it all the way to the line last week, I didn't go all in around Turn 4... and by the time I did, others had jumped. Might not have caught them anyway, but would have been closer. I don't have a huge jump, so need to trust my sustained power.

Avg HR 157, Peak HR 192
Z3 133-152 11:18 (avg 146)
Z4 152-171 25:08 (avg 159)
Z5 171-190 5:58 (avg 176)