Today was the Punggol Criterium. I participated (the word 'race' does not apply) in the Men's Category B event.

Before I go into the details, the lead up to the event wasn't ideal either. Well I've not cycled for 2 entire weeks (crawling to work once does not count) so I cannot even hope to call it a 'race'. Anyways I did a recce of the route on Saturday myself, and confimed that the ciruit was basically just a straight stretch of road with 2 U-turns. Certainly, getting accustomed to the right-turns would play a part. I did a couple of laps, which reaffirmed my inability to ride any pace that even felt remotely fast. Well, I was so ill-prepared for even the recce that I had forgotten to transfer my spoke magnet when I swapped to my race wheels. I guess this is what the whole point of recceing / rehearsals are for. So I was just cycling with no idea of speed, but just by feel as per running or kayaking.

Later in the afternoon my trusty 2nd hand Topeak Joeblow Sprint Floor pump gave up on me. I think there's something wrong with the check valve that prevents a back flow of air into the air cylinders from the tire. So essentially I was without a means of inflating my tires up to pressure (I have a frame pump but it has no pressure indication). So it was a trip to TEF bikers junction just down the road, where the mechanic Jasni told me that my problem was not an isolated case and 2 customers had already turned their pumps back in. Yay. Anyways I proceeded to pump up my bike to 130 psi. WRONG move. haha. I had earlier felt that 120 psi wasn't doing the job, and clearly the pressure max inflation pressure was 130psi... 50 meters out the shop and down the curb and "poom"! Rear tire blow out. Tire bead was out of the rim. Yeah, so I now owe TEF juntion $7 for changing a tube for me because I was without cash at that point.

Cat A race in progress.

Ok, finally about the race! Cat B was 60 mins + 3 laps, which means we ride around the circuit for 60 mins, upon which when we next pass the line, the bell will ring and the first one across the line 3 laps from then wins! Along the way lapped riders are DQed and every 15 mins the bell rings to indicate an 'intermediate sprint' (ie, the first rider across the line after that round wins something). My category started and consisted of about 60 riders. Well, the turns were only 2 lanes wide, so you can imagine that the group is a little strung out, and those behind really have to sprint to catch up after each round. So the idea was to stay near the front, which I did (somwhere near the 30% from front bah) for the the first part of the race). Speeds were around 45kmh, which left me at about 80%. There was one crash (luckily everyone avoided the guy) and one bail out (think Jiansheng-style dismount from the bike).

Anyways, I decided after about 20 mins into things that I was not going to be able to do anything in the race: No strength to break away, and well, I could never sprint to start with. So...... I decided to go for the 2nd intermediate sprint. The plan was to gap the peloton as they were in lala land and hold it for 1 lap to the line, exploting the advantage a small group has at conrnering. True enough, at the 2nd bell people slowed (they like to take it easy till later so they can open up the sprint), and I took off. This was going to be the only thing I was to do the whole day. Someone shouted something. I think I had a small element of surprise became I went from far out, so they couldn't just jump on my wheel right away. I made it out the first corner maybe with a gap of 40 metres, rode my lungs out at 46kmh, and made it out the 2nd corner with the group on my tail. They opened the sprint to the line and I was subsequently destroyed. Heard later that it was won by a team mate of mine though, so at least I made the others chase for his benefit i think.

And that was it. I spent the remaining 30 mins plus 3 laps at the very rear end of the group, never really recovering from that earlier effort. I was 87% (175bpm) just to keep there. Squeezed my way somewhere near the middle to finish in the middle of the group.

It was pretty crowded on this narrow walkway.