Amphibious Assault Criterium

Posted by Dan on 15. June 2009 03:17

Finally! Not since the Casey Auto Group Crit in April have we had a local crit. This weekend was the 11th annual Amphibious Assault Criterium on Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk, a race around the giant hover craft of the ACU4. This was my first year doing this race but I was all too familiar with the LCACs having hauled them around the Mediterranean for many months. Joining me to represent Team Fitness Together on this glorious day was Wick, Kyle and Steve Knott.

We were asked to provide a list of names of all guests accompanying riders (twice) along with the make/model and license plate number of any vehicles we would be bringing before race day. I rolled up to NAB's Gate 3 fully expecting a fully-body cavity search by MPs and dogs, but was surprised to be waved on after flashing a driver's license and saying "Bike race." Security schmecurity. We rolled into the parking lot with enough time for me to hit the registration table and get my number and complimentary pins (I'm building a scale model of a goth college student) before it started raining. The course was occupied by the unfortunate Cat 5 group which included our (soaked) man Steve. I didn't see much of the race as I was warming up for my own race, but I did catch Steve roll across the line just behind the bunch sprint. Results haven't been posted yet so I don't know what place he was in.



The rain subsided while Wick and I geared up for the Cat 4 race. The usual local faces were there plus those from out west intent on climbing their way up the BAR ladder. There was plenty of standing water to soak my new-ish Bontrager RXL shoes from East Coast Bicycles. Nothing like riding for an hour is soaking wet shoes. If only someone made some sort of Lycra shoe cover... The rain quit and there was just enough breeze to start drying course. Wick made a few aggressive moves that were quickly countered so he drifted back into the group and waited for the bunch sprint. After 20 minutes, I somehow found myself on the front chasing down a Tripower rider that had a small gap on the field. I convinced myself it was OK to chase as long as I didn't exceed my FTP, which I did not. We assimilated him, but I spent a total of 15 minutes on the front. Eventually, I too drifted back into the pack, staying near the front. I think I was in a short-lived break with a TNP rider, but we too were assimilated after a few laps. Long story short, I was on the front the last two laps and missed my chosen wheel in the sprint. After I missed it, I couldn't catch any and finished 15th. Wick's wise maneuvering landed him 6th place. The lesson here can be summed up with the Latin phrase "Primum non labor" or "First, do no work." I will have this embroidered on my bar tape and possibly etched into my sunglasses.



Next up was Kyle's Cat 3 race. The rain was on and off, the wind was there then not and the conditions were never optimal for super fast cornering. The Cat 3s looked like they were having fun, though. Their pace was faster than ours (because I wasn't the one on the front). A break of six went off with one of them eventually lapping the field. Another of them went off by himself and the remaining four did their own thing for awhile. The rest of the group was settled in for the long chase. They eventually sprinted for 7th place. Again, results not posted so I don't know how Kyle did.

Kyle stuck around for the 1/2/3 race that followed the women. Another blistering pace coupled with his tired legs had Kyle pull off and enjoy the rest from the comfort of the driver's seat of his truck. I can't say that I blame him.

Team Fitness Together is hitting everything that moves, sometimes with the intent on doing well and sometimes just to say, "Yeah, we were there. So what?" It's pretty safe to say we'll be there again next year. It was a great course and a well run race. If they'd throw in a kids race, it'd be even better. If they could convince ACU4 to fire up the LCACs and blow-dry the course, it'd be the best.

Pictures have been posted to our flickr page. Enjoy.