First Road Race
Discussion
Don't sit right at the back, especially on a crit, the constant jumping out of corners gets worse the further back you are. More likely to get caught up in a crash at the back as well. Sit midfield maybe to the outside of the bunch, don't be heroic, sit in, sit in, sit in. If you have anything left that's what the last few laps are for. Watch out for the bunch speeding up on prime laps.
If you have never competed in a road race what will come as a surprise are the changes in pace...sat on the back is the worst place to be, it's easier said than done but try to hold your position in the front 3rd of the group. One minute you'll be doing 20mph & the next nearer 30mph.
Don't feel compelled to sit on the front driving the bunch. The same applies if a break gets away. Let someone else do the chasing, you could blow yourself to bits & either get spat out or have nothing left for the finish.
Being a 4th Cat circuit race a break is unlikely (but not impossible) so prepare yourself for a bunch gallop. You're either strong & confident enough to contest this or not. I wouldn't bother going eyeballs out for 20th position.
Follow the wheel infront, especially in the corners. Don't switch wheels, this can cause carnage & a mistake near the front can have repercussions at the back of it.
Have fun with it...good luck.
Don't feel compelled to sit on the front driving the bunch. The same applies if a break gets away. Let someone else do the chasing, you could blow yourself to bits & either get spat out or have nothing left for the finish.
Being a 4th Cat circuit race a break is unlikely (but not impossible) so prepare yourself for a bunch gallop. You're either strong & confident enough to contest this or not. I wouldn't bother going eyeballs out for 20th position.
Follow the wheel infront, especially in the corners. Don't switch wheels, this can cause carnage & a mistake near the front can have repercussions at the back of it.
Have fun with it...good luck.
Good luck. Ive been training with some racing snakes recently and the way that they can turn the power on is quite unbelievable really. Its actually woken me up to how much work I need to do to get to their level. Granted some are Cat 1s but even the Cat 4s are good for bursts of pace.
4th cat racing is a bit manic. Just be ready for constant changes in pace and try and stay near the front, but don't do too much work.
It will probably come down to a final sprint. Try and find a good wheel to follow. In your first race you might not know who is good to follow and who isn't, but thats all part of the learning curve.
It will probably come down to a final sprint. Try and find a good wheel to follow. In your first race you might not know who is good to follow and who isn't, but thats all part of the learning curve.
In typical fashion I gave in to signing up after a couple of beers. This am it is starting to dawn on me what I have let myself in for, especially after reading the above!
There are a few from the club so I will try and stay with them and stick with the middle, I am sure everyone will also want to do this so it's going to be interesting. Pace wise I think I am going to struggle quite a bit over the distance but I am a decent (in relative terms) sprinter which if I have anything left might work out.
If anyone has a moment can you explain prime laps?
There are a few from the club so I will try and stay with them and stick with the middle, I am sure everyone will also want to do this so it's going to be interesting. Pace wise I think I am going to struggle quite a bit over the distance but I am a decent (in relative terms) sprinter which if I have anything left might work out.
If anyone has a moment can you explain prime laps?
prime laps are just sprints. Lets say you have a 30 lap race, with primes at the end of laps 10 and 20 (just an example).
The winners of those laps usually get some prize money.
To be honest, as a new racer I would just completely ignore prime sprints, but be aware when they are so you can anticipate the extra sprint that usually happens.
The winners of those laps usually get some prize money.
To be honest, as a new racer I would just completely ignore prime sprints, but be aware when they are so you can anticipate the extra sprint that usually happens.
Edited by matt-ITR on Wednesday 30th November 11:48
Would say more than anything else, get very comfortable riding close to people - same things you do in a normal paceline, but amplified ten fold - no snatching your brakes, hold a line etc. A bit of touching (especially in a mixed cat crit) is more than normal - don't overreact to it or you will end up wrecking and bringing half the field down. If you get dropped, stay out of the way when you get lapped - nowhere near the racing line.
4th cat races can be carnage with people who have no idea how to ride in a bunch.
I know this sounds a bit "f
king newbies" but it is very often true - people with no bunch riding experience suddenly feel very uncomfortable and end up causing accidents when they have people all around them at 30mph.
Your first race you should not be worrying about anything but riding safe.
4th cat races can be carnage with people who have no idea how to ride in a bunch.
I know this sounds a bit "f
king newbies" but it is very often true - people with no bunch riding experience suddenly feel very uncomfortable and end up causing accidents when they have people all around them at 30mph. Your first race you should not be worrying about anything but riding safe.
Unless you're an undiscovered World Champ your first race is likely to go like this (despite the advice above):
1. You'll start off full of energy and enthusiasm and within 2 laps think you have a chance to win.
2. You'll then remember the advice and decide to sit in a bit, but soon those in front will have moved out and back and you'll be on the front, doing the work for the whole group.
3. After a couple of laps on the front (looking and feeling great) you'll start to tire a little and drop back.
4. The pack will accelerate aggressively for no apparent reason leaving you at the back, hanging on for dear life.
5. They'll then slow again, allowing you to get back into the pack.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 about 20 times. This is draining your energy....
7. Eventually you'll drop off the back and finish the race on your own, or maybe in a small pack of dropped riders.
8. You'll be back a week later for more pain, just a little better prepared.
9. Repeat step 8 until you get good enough to stay in the bunch until the end and contest the sprint.
Good luck. Just remember that you're racing for the fun of it, especially when you can't breath any harder, your legs are burning, there's snot all over your chin and the 16 year old kid with the crappy bike is kicking your @rse.
1. You'll start off full of energy and enthusiasm and within 2 laps think you have a chance to win.
2. You'll then remember the advice and decide to sit in a bit, but soon those in front will have moved out and back and you'll be on the front, doing the work for the whole group.
3. After a couple of laps on the front (looking and feeling great) you'll start to tire a little and drop back.
4. The pack will accelerate aggressively for no apparent reason leaving you at the back, hanging on for dear life.
5. They'll then slow again, allowing you to get back into the pack.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 about 20 times. This is draining your energy....
7. Eventually you'll drop off the back and finish the race on your own, or maybe in a small pack of dropped riders.
8. You'll be back a week later for more pain, just a little better prepared.
9. Repeat step 8 until you get good enough to stay in the bunch until the end and contest the sprint.
Good luck. Just remember that you're racing for the fun of it, especially when you can't breath any harder, your legs are burning, there's snot all over your chin and the 16 year old kid with the crappy bike is kicking your @rse.
Edited by mikee boy on Wednesday 30th November 15:58
Mate you'll love it.
I did a mock race with my club at the weekend at hillingdon that was a right old mix of ability (a fair number of second cats, few three's loads of newbies).
I knew I probably had the pace to live with the fastest guys there, and PROBABLY had more firepower than most when it came to sprinting (again from riding with faster guys than me), because I've been doing a lot of fast riding and fitness stuff. But it is nearly all about being in the right place when you get to the last lap or two.
I was not great at pushing myself through the pack, so I went with the rather noob option of be at the front, and I did a lot more work than I should on the last lap.
BUT don't discount yourself, we did two mock races with a huge bag of mixed ability, including an ex pro and I won both races the first by about 20 bike lenghts... So although I would imagine that is fairly rare, get in the mix and go for it!
A few people from my club are in the winter race this saturday (lukcily I can't make it
) so have fun!
I did a mock race with my club at the weekend at hillingdon that was a right old mix of ability (a fair number of second cats, few three's loads of newbies).
I knew I probably had the pace to live with the fastest guys there, and PROBABLY had more firepower than most when it came to sprinting (again from riding with faster guys than me), because I've been doing a lot of fast riding and fitness stuff. But it is nearly all about being in the right place when you get to the last lap or two.
I was not great at pushing myself through the pack, so I went with the rather noob option of be at the front, and I did a lot more work than I should on the last lap.
BUT don't discount yourself, we did two mock races with a huge bag of mixed ability, including an ex pro and I won both races the first by about 20 bike lenghts... So although I would imagine that is fairly rare, get in the mix and go for it!
A few people from my club are in the winter race this saturday (lukcily I can't make it
) so have fun!Edited by okgo on Wednesday 30th November 14:30
Thanks for all the advice guys.
I am in no doubt that I am very much a beginner and some of comments here are exactly what I was planning to do. Narrowed down to;
1. Don't crash
2. Don't crash
3. Try to stay with the club riders
4. Hold position where possible
4. If I get dropped wait for lungs to start co-operating again and get on the back of the pack as they come through
Time to get the winter hack ready
I am in no doubt that I am very much a beginner and some of comments here are exactly what I was planning to do. Narrowed down to;
1. Don't crash
2. Don't crash
3. Try to stay with the club riders
4. Hold position where possible
4. If I get dropped wait for lungs to start co-operating again and get on the back of the pack as they come through
Time to get the winter hack ready
Oh, forgot to mention, there's a good chance it will be cold and/or raining (British winter and all that). I used to race in 'wet weather clothing' but I soon realised that the best solution was to just ignore the rain. Just take more care in the wet.
Oh yeah, finally, try to take in as much info as possible through the race as this will help you improve faster. For example, if you reach your limit, why did you reach your limit? For me, once a surge extends for more than a minute I start to get burning thighs from the lactate. It means that I now train to try to avoid this so I have a better chance of remaining with the pack as long as possible. Whether you win, stay in the pack or get dropped you can always learn something to improve.
Good luck and don't forget the warm clothes and hat for afterwards. And tell us how you did.
Oh yeah, finally, try to take in as much info as possible through the race as this will help you improve faster. For example, if you reach your limit, why did you reach your limit? For me, once a surge extends for more than a minute I start to get burning thighs from the lactate. It means that I now train to try to avoid this so I have a better chance of remaining with the pack as long as possible. Whether you win, stay in the pack or get dropped you can always learn something to improve.
Good luck and don't forget the warm clothes and hat for afterwards. And tell us how you did.
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