Anyone ride Wells Ave Training Crit in MA
08-25-06, 01:38 PM
#1
NE Roadie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Live Free and Ride
Posts: 178
Bikes: 2006 Colnago C50, 2003 DeRosa Merak, 2001 Litespeed Vortex, 2001 Lemond Buenos Aires
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Anyone ride Wells Ave Training Crit in MA
I have been planning to ride in the weekly Cat5/C race in the Wells Ave. to improve my riding. I did a crit race once before in the Concord NH Criterium where I got dropped badly. I realized that I was in no shape to ride and maintain a 25 to 27 mph pace. Since then I tried to improve my intervals and strength. Are the Cat5/C races in Wells less intense ? Is it really a training race ? Are stragglers common in the C races where I could pick up and ride with if I get dropped. I'd like to avoid racing around the course by myself. I have ridden in club rides quite often so I am quite comfortable riding in a pack.
08-26-06, 08:05 AM
#2
Pack Fodder
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Keene, NH
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What town are these training races in?
08-26-06, 12:23 PM
#3
NE Roadie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Live Free and Ride
Posts: 178
Bikes: 2006 Colnago C50, 2003 DeRosa Merak, 2001 Litespeed Vortex, 2001 Lemond Buenos Aires
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Its in the Newton area in Massachussets. Here is a link if you are interested.
https://www.bostonroadclub.com/wellsave.asp
https://www.bostonroadclub.com/wellsave.asp
08-26-06, 04:49 PM
#4
Pack Fodder
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Keene, NH
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would love to give it a try, But it is 2 hours from my house in Southwest NH
08-28-06, 07:48 AM
#5
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have only raced for one season, but in my experience so far Wells Ave. is the best place to race when you are starting out. The pavement is in good condition and the course is pretty wide and safe (no crashes in the cat 5 race in my 6 races there).
I did not do Concord, but Wells is the easist race to hang with the pack that I have been to, the course is pretty flat and there is only one corner that requires slowing down for. The major chalange for a new rider is probabaly going to be the accelleration out of that corner and the little rise that is after it, but it is not that bad. With that being said, however, the pace is still 25 MPH average, so don't think that it is too slow.
As far as people getting dropped, I have never been, so I am not totally sure of the rules, but I am pretty sure that it is OK to try to hop back in after missing a lap. There do alwase seem to be a few people there who cannot hang for the whole race, and you do seem to run accross them still going around.
Anyway, bottom line, I would higly reccomend it for a new racer. The drive would suck from NH though.
I did not do Concord, but Wells is the easist race to hang with the pack that I have been to, the course is pretty flat and there is only one corner that requires slowing down for. The major chalange for a new rider is probabaly going to be the accelleration out of that corner and the little rise that is after it, but it is not that bad. With that being said, however, the pace is still 25 MPH average, so don't think that it is too slow.
As far as people getting dropped, I have never been, so I am not totally sure of the rules, but I am pretty sure that it is OK to try to hop back in after missing a lap. There do alwase seem to be a few people there who cannot hang for the whole race, and you do seem to run accross them still going around.
Anyway, bottom line, I would higly reccomend it for a new racer. The drive would suck from NH though.
08-28-06, 08:02 AM
#6
NE Roadie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Live Free and Ride
Posts: 178
Bikes: 2006 Colnago C50, 2003 DeRosa Merak, 2001 Litespeed Vortex, 2001 Lemond Buenos Aires
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Its great to hear first hand information from someone who actually has ridden in Wells. I surely will give it a try but unfortunatly there is only one more Sunday left a Wells (I think it only goes up to labor day). Its about a 45 minute commute from where I live. Probably next spring, I will definitly check it out. Thanks.
