The Bat City Classic at Apache Pass

Type
Road Race
Date
Saturday, 27 Feb, 2016
Sanctioning
USA Cycling
$
30-
$
40
/ Adults
Start Time:
9:00 AM, 9:10 AM, 9:20 AM, 9:30 AM, 9:40 AM, 9:50 AM, 1:10 PM, 1:20 PM
Distance:
28 - 84 miles
Registration
Description
Formerly The Walburg Classic, the Bat City Classic is brought to you by the same organization on a similar course. This is a true spring classic bike race involving wind, rolling hills, false flats and a 2-mile stretch of "Texas cobbles" (CR 302) around historic Apache Pass, just outside Rockdale, Texas.
 
Packet pick-up will be held at The Peddler Bicycle Shop, 10526 W Parmer Ln, Austin, Tx 78717 on Friday 2/26, between 4-7pm (no race day registration will take place).

Race packet can be picked up on race day at Apache Pass.
 
More
Links
Fees
Category
Class
Gender
Age
Start Time
Distance
Deadline
Fee
Prizes
Field Limit
ProAdultsMen9:00 AM
84
 miles		2/25/2016
$
40		1100
100
Cat 2AdultsMen9:10 AM
84
 miles
$
40		800
100
Cat 3AdultsMen9:20 AM
84
 miles
$
40		550
100
Cat 4AdultsMen9:30 AM
56
 miles
$
40		450
100
Cat 5AdultsMen9:40 AM
28
 miles
$
40		Prizes / Awards
75
Pro
Cat 1
Cat 2
Cat 3
AdultsMen9:50 AM
56
 miles
$
40		900
100
Cat 4
Cat 5
JuniorsMen
9 - 14
12:15 PM
10
 miles
$
15		Overall Prizes / Awards
50
OpenJuniorsWomen
9 - 14
12:15 PM
10
 miles
$
15		Overall Prizes / Awards
50
Cat 1
Cat 2
Cat 3
Cat 4
Masters
Men
Women
40 +
12:30 PM
56
 miles
$
40		250
100
Cat 4
Cat 5
Masters
Men
Women
35 +
12:40 PM
56
 miles
$
40		250
75
Cat 1
Cat 2
Cat 3
Cat 4
Masters
Men
Women
50 +
12:50 PM
56
 miles
$
40		150
100
OpenMasters
Men
Women
60 +
12:55 PM
56
 miles
$
40		Prizes / Awards
75
Cat 5AdultsMen1:10 PM
28
 miles
$
40		Prizes / Awards
75
Cat 4AdultsWomen1:20 PM
28
 miles
$
30		Prizes / Awards
75
Cat 3
Cat 4
AdultsWomen
40 +
1:20 PM
28
 miles
$
30		Prizes / Awards
75
Cat 4
Cat 5
Open
JuniorsMen1:30 PM
28
 miles
$
15		Overall Prizes / Awards
50
OpenJuniorsWomen1:30 PM
28
 miles
$
15		Overall Prizes / Awards
50
Routes
The Bat City Classic at Apache Pass - Course Information
Terms & Conditions
  • All USAC rules are in effect. Wheels will be neutral. Event held rain or shine. Unlicensed Riders will be required to purchase a one-day license ($15.00). This is a TXBRA- endorsed State Cup Series Event where State Cup points are calculated.
  • Riders holding foreign licenses must present a valid 2015 UCI license in order to be eligible to race. Expired licenses will not be accepted.
  • Field limits of 100 racers per race. Cat 5 Men and Cat 4 women races are limited to 75 racers per USAC regulations. Cat 5 racers cannot enter the 40+ or 50+ field.
  • Field sizes below 20 riders may be combined at promoter’s discretion.
  • Texas Cup points will be reported to TXBRA separately for combined fields will compete for one set of Prizes/Awards.
  • Junior restricted gear ratios will be enforced per USAC regulations.
  • Cat 5 Men: there are two (2) races at different times! Make sure you know which one you enter. You can enter both. You must have a USAC license or buy a one-day license.
1 comments
Write a Comment
The goal was to race in my second Cat 5 race in 10 years after doing couple collegiate races while @ UT Cycling some time ago. Registration went easy. Got the number pinned and went to staging. Tried to warm up but there was no paved road to go on just a gravel section. Was not about to go off road on my road bike. Anyways the race started easy. Nothing exciting to report. Took one pull trying to ... more warm up. Once we turned on 302 it was a mess - gravel, pot holes, flat tires & stones flying at random. Once we turned to the right off that road, it was all in the sprint for me. Trace went hard 2-3 miles before the finish. I decided that he’s strong enough and chased him from the middle of the pack. Too much headwind. He relented. Saw the 200 meter sign and waited my turn to sprint. Was looking for white finish line and a black tent. Saw it and went for it. As I got closer I started thinking. Where the hell is the finish line? Apparently I sprinted towards the feed zone. What an idiot! To my defense there was no white line. It was black and without the usual orange cones or half circle canopy. Somehow I still managed to get 3rd. Also there was this issues, Andrew Callan said I cut him off in the sprint. I was passing on a guy on the left and he was on the other side probably. I obviously didn't see anything and apologized in case I did cut him off. Later the official told me that they forgot the white tape and only had the black one. Apparently I wasn't the only idiot that missed the finish line.Anyways there was another Cat 5 race in the afternoon for $10. Redemption please! I got Trace to sign up as well and we chilled until 1:10pm. The second race started a bit faster. Nothing exciting happened until 302. Then 2 guys went off the front. Nothing crazy. We were going at pretty easy pace. Couple people yellin' “let them go”. I figured they knew what they were talking about. Couple miles passed and nobody was chasing them. I figured that was pretty stupid. Why the hell did we let them go? So I got to the front and started chasing. Turned around and saw 5-6 bike length gap. Realized, we are f$%ed! I slowed down and tried to organize some pace line once we got off 302. It was Trace, myself and older dude in black/blue doing the pulls. The problem was a massive head wind of 15 mph almost head on. And any increase in speed at that wind is almost exponentially(~3rd power) harder compared to the chase on 302. So we really had to work hard to get those guys. A mile or two passed and a fourth guy came to the front to help. As he got to the front the official’s car pulled up next to us. Yelling: “30 seconds”! Exactly at the same moment I started to feel pressure on my back wheel! I didn't turn around but heard everything I needed to know. Massive crash! Took everybody out. He was probably overlapping wheels because of the wind. So now, it was just me and the new guy and we needed to close 30 seconds on the two guys at the front in that massive headwind in the next couple miles. We started working. After couple pulls the new guy said he’s spent. So, I got to the front and dug deep. We were closing. I saw a split at the front. One of the front guys was being dropped. My companion was still there. Last effort, I bridged the gap 300 meters to go to the second guy that just got dropped from the break. Turned around and my guy was dropped as well. Took 100 meters to rest. And went for it for. Won the sprint and got 2nd.
2nd place - second cat 5 race.
Reply
4
0

We'll train in the dark if we have to.