Hyde Park Blast / Criterion Bike Races

[Kahns Krazy]

Do any of you guys who are into BMX or whatever get into these races? It's pretty wild to see these guys fly around.

[Woodburn]

I'm a Cat 2 bike racer (2nd highest non-pro category), but I've not done the Hyde Park Blast before. I should. Crit racing is tremendously fun to watch!

[PM Thor]

They still do those? Man, I haven't been in one of the Hyde Park races in well over a decade probably. They were great, but pretty disorganized with some very inexperienced riders riding in the peloton. I hope that its changed since then, because there were some pretty vicious wipeouts due to guys just not knowing how to ride in a group. I used to race some, but never got into the competition thing too much, except for when I was on Xaviers club mountain bike team.

Back in the day I could hold my own, but now I doubt I could hang at all. I was a cat 3 for awhile but got burned out eventually. Ugh, now that I thnk about it, I think I qualify for "senior" racing....

I love cycling, it's a great way to burn off stress. I own 5 bikes, yeah, 5 of them, from a commuter, to my frontline downhill bike to my roadie, I love it.

Too bad I promised myself that I wouldn't ride until I finished off my kitchen remodel, which is sucking the life out of me.

I HATE dayton.

[Woodburn]

Yeah Thor, I hear you. For me - nothing like a bike ride to clear the head. Like you - I have several bikes (MTB, single speed MTB, racing track bike, fixed gear, race bike, wife's bike). I used to really love racing, including at Major Taylor Velodrome. Anymore, the time commitment required to be competitive on a Cat 1,2 level has pushed me (and most of my close buddies) out as life gets in the way. I'm still trying to stay in some semblance of shape now - but you know the drill.

If you ever want to ride MTB or road in Indy - let me know. There are some sweet sweet MTB trails in the Brown Co area that are a lot of fun.

[Fred Garvin]

Is this on wii?

[Kahns Krazy]

I heard that the pro level race this year has as many entrants this year as the past three combined. Should be entertaining.

[PM Thor]

I heard that the pro level race this year has as many entrants this year as the past three combined. Should be entertaining.

My plans for today fell through, so I am definitely heading over there for the crit races, think I'm going to jump into the Cat 4/5 race just for fun.

If you want to see a chubby guy in lycra wreck, come out to Hyde Park Square and check it out (starting at 5). I'll be the one in the CFD jersey off the back right off the start. This is going to be fun.

I HATE dayton.

[Woodburn]

My plans for today fell through, so I am definitely heading over there for the crit races, think I'm going to jump into the Cat 4/5 race just for fun.

If you want to see a chubby guy in lycra wreck, come out to Hyde Park Square and check it out (starting at 5). I'll be the one in the CFD jersey off the back right off the start. This is going to be fun.

I HATE dayton.

NICE! How did it go?

[PM Thor]

It was great. The races were fantastic, ended about 45 minutes ago, and the crowd was pretty huge by the end of the Cat 1/2 race. I suspect that it was that size because they were serving alcohol and the Rusty Griswolds were playing tonight.

I think that the whole event was a huge success. I was very, very impressed. Mitch (from Biowheels and a Xavier grad) put on a great shindig.

As for me, well, I didn't crash. So that was good. Ha. I got dropped off the back pretty much right after the 4th lap, and then I blew up. Lasted just under half of the race, which is exactly what I thought would happen in my first race in 16 freaking years.

I definitely got the bug back for racing though. Gotta get me some miles and get back in shape. What a freaking great time.

I HATE dayton.

[PM Thor]

I heard that the pro level race this year has as many entrants this year as the past three combined. Should be entertaining.

From what I heard there were over 90 Cat 1/2 starters, and over 70 Cat 3s, and 70+ 4/5 riders as well. It was very, very respectable numbers.

I HATE dayton.

[PM Thor]

Oh and last thought. Holy Mother of God this event was PACKED with beautiful women. Any single guys out there need to go to this event. Think about it, a street festival around Hyde Park Square? Holy crap. They were everywhere, and en masse.

I HATE dayton.

[GuyFawkes38]

I live close to Hyde Park Square and had no idea this event had a biking component to it. I wandered outside of my apartment on to Erie and almost walked right into the pace car.

As to Thors comment, yeah, there are some really attractive single women who live around Hyde Park. It all comes down to safety. There aren't many areas within the city limits that have such safety (single women crave safety).

[Kahns Krazy]

It was great. The races were fantastic, ended about 45 minutes ago, and the crowd was pretty huge by the end of the Cat 1/2 race. I suspect that it was that size because they were serving alcohol and the Rusty Griswolds were playing tonight.

I think that the whole event was a huge success. I was very, very impressed. Mitch (from Biowheels and a Xavier grad) put on a great shindig.

As for me, well, I didn't crash. So that was good. Ha. I got dropped off the back pretty much right after the 4th lap, and then I blew up. Lasted just under half of the race, which is exactly what I thought would happen in my first race in 16 freaking years.

I definitely got the bug back for racing though. Gotta get me some miles and get back in shape. What a freaking great time.

I HATE dayton.

I looked for you Thor, but it's hard to pick people out whizzing by with helmets and glasses on.

[Fred Garvin]

I looked for you Thor, but it's hard to pick people out whizzing by with helmets and glasses on.

In Snipe's neighborhood people whiz right on his stoop.

[Kahns Krazy]

They would be easier to spot.