Best Amateur Race of the Year
06-15-15, 11:46 AM
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Best Amateur Race of the Year
Watching some of Tulsa Tough this weekend got me thinking. What is the best/your favorite race of the year for an amateur in the US? At a minimum has a category for 3's, but ideally Cat 4's can race as well (Clearly because I'm a Cat 4). This is a race you would recommend someone from across the country to travel to because it offers something they might not be able to get close to home, not just a race that is your favorite because it suits your strengths.
Criterium
Road Race
Overall Omnium/Stage Race Event
Criterium
Road Race
Overall Omnium/Stage Race Event
06-15-15, 11:58 AM
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Nevada City.
06-15-15, 12:04 PM
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I'd agree that GMSR belongs on the list.
I'd also add Battenkill, since there isn't anything else like it. As long as it stays as well-hyped it will be a lot of people's only chance at racing in an event with thousands of people. There are other dirt-paved-combo road races, but this one, due to the competition level, goes beyond. Personally I avoided it this time because the price was a bit too high, but I still feel it belongs on the list.
And of all the races I have personally done there is only one which is truly epic and ranks above all other race memories in terms of how indelible it was:
Everest Challenge.
I'd also add Battenkill, since there isn't anything else like it. As long as it stays as well-hyped it will be a lot of people's only chance at racing in an event with thousands of people. There are other dirt-paved-combo road races, but this one, due to the competition level, goes beyond. Personally I avoided it this time because the price was a bit too high, but I still feel it belongs on the list.
And of all the races I have personally done there is only one which is truly epic and ranks above all other race memories in terms of how indelible it was:
Everest Challenge.
06-15-15, 12:05 PM
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Probably Sea Otter or Tulsa.
Its really an objective question, there are probably 10 or so that could make the claim it just really depends what you're looking for.
Forgot about Everest...as far as 'extreme suffering' that's got to be up there. Guys that have done it don't come back happy and excited, they just say its miserable and they'll never do it again (at least for the first few months).
Its really an objective question, there are probably 10 or so that could make the claim it just really depends what you're looking for.
Forgot about Everest...as far as 'extreme suffering' that's got to be up there. Guys that have done it don't come back happy and excited, they just say its miserable and they'll never do it again (at least for the first few months).
06-15-15, 12:15 PM
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red kite office park crits
this is the 41-ist thread that still directly references bike racing
this is the 41-ist thread that still directly references bike racing
06-15-15, 12:22 PM
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I'd also add Battenkill, since there isn't anything else like it. As long as it stays as well-hyped it will be a lot of people's only chance at racing in an event with thousands of people. There are other dirt-paved-combo road races, but this one, due to the competition level, goes beyond. Personally I avoided it this time because the price was a bit too high, but I still feel it belongs on the list.
06-15-15, 12:23 PM
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Also, what's the best finish placing? Sure, first wins the race, but it's sort of pretentious. Third is just barely on the podium, so that's kind of sad. I feel like second is really the ultimate place.
06-15-15, 01:14 PM
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San Rafael or the Cascade crit are my faves, for the atmosphere - the courses are meh, but it's the crowds/etc that makes the race special.
Oh and the Ballard Crit in Seattle is one of my faves, my first win was there.
Anyway this is a pretty pointless discussion, people will just list their fave races which are meaningless to anyone that hasn't done them. Ain't nobody traveling that far for one-day crits anyway.
Oh and the Ballard Crit in Seattle is one of my faves, my first win was there.
Anyway this is a pretty pointless discussion, people will just list their fave races which are meaningless to anyone that hasn't done them. Ain't nobody traveling that far for one-day crits anyway.
06-15-15, 02:23 PM
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06-15-15, 03:02 PM
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Probably Sea Otter or Tulsa.
Its really an objective question, there are probably 10 or so that could make the claim it just really depends what you're looking for.
Forgot about Everest...as far as 'extreme suffering' that's got to be up there. Guys that have done it don't come back happy and excited, they just say its miserable and they'll never do it again (at least for the first few months).
Its really an objective question, there are probably 10 or so that could make the claim it just really depends what you're looking for.
Forgot about Everest...as far as 'extreme suffering' that's got to be up there. Guys that have done it don't come back happy and excited, they just say its miserable and they'll never do it again (at least for the first few months).
Oddly enough from what I've read, Sea Otter kind of sucks. It's in my hometown (ish) and I haven't had an opportunity to race it, but all things I've read haven't moved me to do it. Poorly organized, start times and overlapping fields during crits/circuit races, and so on.
I'm hoping Cascade is a great experience since I'm slated to do that in a month or so.
06-15-15, 03:11 PM
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It is more who shows up than the course. VOS is big for juniors because of who shows. Otherwise - I wouldn't drive there.
Any CR on a raceway riders say they have fun.
Cascades is great -Bend and Beer. Also post race in the river is good. Seen enough Cat 1s @ Worthy Brewing to know they think so too.
Any CR on a raceway riders say they have fun.
Cascades is great -Bend and Beer. Also post race in the river is good. Seen enough Cat 1s @ Worthy Brewing to know they think so too.
06-15-15, 03:29 PM
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06-15-15, 03:46 PM
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Yeah, the nice thing is that there's a water spray just after the neutral bottle zone.
06-15-15, 04:05 PM
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sea otter is a state fair of bike racing. big, dirty, sort of unpleasant and the racing is definitely an afterthought
06-15-15, 10:15 PM
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Tuesday Night Worlds
It is close, low cost, all your friends are there, and the atmosphere is (hopefully) relaxed. Sure prizes are small,there is only a small crowd to cheer us on, and no one at the office cares how you placed... but it is racing!
It is close, low cost, all your friends are there, and the atmosphere is (hopefully) relaxed. Sure prizes are small,there is only a small crowd to cheer us on, and no one at the office cares how you placed... but it is racing!
06-25-15, 02:16 PM
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Another vote for Tour of the Gila, there aren't that many stage races for us amateurs that run for 5 days.
