How fit does one have to be to participate in a CAT5?
03-05-09, 07:13 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Modesto, CA
Posts: 266
Bikes: 2017 Giant TCR Advanced Pro/2015 Trek Emonda SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Race and find out...........it will motivate you to ride more 
03-05-09, 07:16 PM
#27
C3 H6 O3 ACID
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Old Peoplesville
Posts: 1,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll be in my first CAT race next weekend.... doing this for the experience.... hoping not to get smashed... just going to go out there... try to keep in the pack and have some fun!
https://tampacrit.com/
https://tampacrit.com/
03-05-09, 07:17 PM
#28
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
First cat race I went to, mine got a hairball and DNF'd.
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
03-05-09, 07:34 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Denver
Posts: 619
Bikes: Road and Mountain
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm am beyond scared of competing in any sort of bicycle race, but I really want to try it out - and soon! I was never much of a competitive sport fellow, and I have no idea what sort of skill level to expect riders in the 'starter' category to have.
For that matter, what is generally the average length/speed of a cat5 race?
What are some red flags to look out for before I decide to participate?
For that matter, what is generally the average length/speed of a cat5 race?
What are some red flags to look out for before I decide to participate?
good luck and let us know how your first race goes.
03-05-09, 07:39 PM
#33
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times
in
250 Posts
They have training crits near me, you should see what is available in your area. One of the classifications is called "freak"...single speeds, mtn bikes and road bikes together. Your fear is very common, so don't sweat it too much, just get out there. I would get the cyclist training bible by Friel, this should help I think. The advise I was given was to join a local team accepting beginners, this was great advise...user on BF was Merlinextralight, or something like that.
good luck and let us know how your first race goes.
good luck and let us know how your first race goes.
03-05-09, 07:41 PM
#34
Senior Member
03-05-09, 07:42 PM
#35
Peloton Shelter Dog
I'm a Cat V in Cat IV 35+ Master's clothing.
It's silly, but it's fun.
It's silly, but it's fun.
03-05-09, 07:43 PM
#36
Elite Fred
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Edge City
Posts: 10,945
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 43 Times
in
19 Posts
03-05-09, 07:47 PM
#37
sidelined
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 342
Bikes: 2005 Scattante R660, Kona Race Light SS conversion, 2007 Schwinn Fastback CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-05-09, 08:55 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Looking for my right leg muscles.
Posts: 1,202
Bikes: 2000 Cannondale CAAD3 Triple 105/Ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For some reason I thought this thread was 4 pages just a second ago...
03-05-09, 09:00 PM
#40
Ho-Jahm
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 4,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good.
I'd like to do the whole fast group ride thing first, but it seems like there haven't been any fast group rides in western Massachusetts in February...
First crit is in a month, I think I'll be able to hang on.
I'd like to do the whole fast group ride thing first, but it seems like there haven't been any fast group rides in western Massachusetts in February...
First crit is in a month, I think I'll be able to hang on.
03-05-09, 09:04 PM
#41
Bears on Bikes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northeast, PA
Posts: 67
Bikes: 2007 Fuji Team Pro, 90's Trek 1000 to be turned into ss
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-05-09, 09:05 PM
#42
Realist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 3,083
Bikes: Roubaix, Tarmac, Fixed Gear
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
There will be in a few weeks. Do you ride with the NCC. Plenty of hammer heads in that group. If you want training go to Joe's bike garage and do the comptrainer rides. Plenty of action in WMA if you know where to look.
03-05-09, 09:16 PM
#43
bf is my facebook.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,156
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you are not already doing fast group rides, you will not be able to hang on in a CAT 5 race. You should be comfortable doing A rides if you want to finish with the pack in my experience. Once you get some fast group rides under your belt, race! Getting dropped is just part of the initiation into bike racing. If you're always at the front, then it's time to find a faster group. Don't take this to be discouraging but you can't just come out of nowhere and be hanging with the pack. I hope this actually answers your question. And people hate to talk about avg speed in races but expect 23-26 in a flat CAT5 crit.
03-05-09, 09:35 PM
#45
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Too bad all the fun throwdown was cleaned up... 
03-05-09, 09:58 PM
#46
Bears on Bikes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northeast, PA
Posts: 67
Bikes: 2007 Fuji Team Pro, 90's Trek 1000 to be turned into ss
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
More like too bad I didn't get the chance to see it hah
03-06-09, 06:11 AM
#47
sidelined
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 342
Bikes: 2005 Scattante R660, Kona Race Light SS conversion, 2007 Schwinn Fastback CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-06-09, 07:21 AM
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 377
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I can't believe I'm the first to say this. Absolutely do not race. Yet. Go find a LBS ride, do that until its boring, then race. Otherwise you're spending $30 to ride with people way faster than you when you could do that for free every saturday morning. Not to mention if you have fears of riding in a group, you'll be a hazard to everyone in a race.
I'm not trying to be mean, but seriously. Don't race yet.
I'm not trying to be mean, but seriously. Don't race yet.
03-06-09, 08:23 AM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Beantown
Posts: 1,546
Bikes: 2011 Tsunami, 2004 Fuji Team Issue and More!!!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My handling isn't too bad, but I have no experience with pack riding. Which I guess just occurred to me as being pretty key haha.
Would I gain these skills from club riding or something? Cause that's another problem of mine. I'm having a hard time finding a group to ride with.
Not to mention I'm afraid of that too haa
god im a wreck
Would I gain these skills from club riding or something? Cause that's another problem of mine. I'm having a hard time finding a group to ride with.
Not to mention I'm afraid of that too haa
god im a wreck
I started riding in May of '05 with my first group ride in July of '05. I've been doing group rides ever since going with faster and faster groups. Some of the group rides were training rides where I was eventually dropped. Last year I did my longest ride yet...150 miles with nearly 8000ft of climbing.
Next weekend will be my first training crit and I'm stronger now than any previous year. Yesterday I did 4x5 minute intervals at 294w each; I'm sure there will be Cat 5 riders who are much stronger.
This should put things into some sort of perspective.
Last edited by FormerBMX'er; 03-06-09 at 09:13 AM.
03-06-09, 09:58 AM
#50
One speed: FAST !
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL
Posts: 3,375
Bikes: Ebay Bikes... =)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Down here in south florida, to compete in cat 5 you'll need to be very fit. You'll have to be able to handle a race length of approx 50 minutes at an average speed of 25 mph with constant surges, accelerations, and high speed / tight corners. clicking the 30 mph mark many times during the race is normal.
=)
To get a feel for criterium racing without actually being in one, I suggest you try out the training dvd named " Race Day ".
This is an on-bard camera training dvd with a virtual dashboard that shows you what cadence and effort you should be applying and it is the full length of a typical criterium race. It helped me a bit and it should be of some use to a beginner to get an idea of the demands of racing.
=)
To get a feel for criterium racing without actually being in one, I suggest you try out the training dvd named " Race Day ".
This is an on-bard camera training dvd with a virtual dashboard that shows you what cadence and effort you should be applying and it is the full length of a typical criterium race. It helped me a bit and it should be of some use to a beginner to get an idea of the demands of racing.
Last edited by fordfasterr; 03-06-09 at 10:04 AM.