umd

New sig

hairnet

Ah well I didn't go to prom. But now I race. So I am confused.

therhodeo

That would make more sense if I'd say I'm scared to race because I know I'll win and don't like attention.

ijunes

so then would being afraid to attack be the equivalent of actually forgetting your condom and end up making out for 3 hours?

umd

It seems like it would be more like making out for 3 hours because you are afraid the condom might have a hole.

Psimet2001 

I like where this is going.

botto 

you have the touch when it comes to making analogies between cycling and condoms.

Mose

Alright, you're confusing us new guys. You're saying sitting in for a whole race without attacking will cause you massive testicle hurt/blue balls? Funk that, I think I'd rather go off the back.

Dean V

You need to be in the front 1/2 of the pack at least, otherwise you are making it harder for yourself. The further back you are the more you end up slowing down for corners, then getting gaps, needing to accelerate more, and before you know it there is no one left to follow and you are off the back.

Caad 8

So getting her pregnant would be like winning the race? Or being dropped?

ridethecliche

I got dropped my first few races. Lapped over and over again till I was pulled off the course. This was as a 5.

Found my way onto the podium and in the money a few times the next year. This was as a 4.

Don't give up. Use the defeat as incentive to train and race harder. You got it!

Crack Monkey

Find a small crit to enter for your first race. Or, a training race (though most of those have passed for this season). Speeds will average 22-24mph, but at least at a smaller race, you're less likely to be pulled before you finish. And you won't be the only one that gets dropped. Cat 5 field is 50, and probably 10-20 will be off the back by the half-way point. Find somebody your speed and work to keep pace.

I mananged to hang on for about half of my first crit. Then, rode the rest mostly solo, but stayed close enough to avoid being pulled. It hurt. A lot. The hardest thing I've done on a bike. Mtn and cross were easier, because I didn't feel the same need to hang on to the leaders. Of course, now I know what real effort feels like, so I should be faster in mtn and cross.

My biggest mistake my first race was not working with anybody once I got dropped. There were several riders roughly my pace, about 100 yards ahead. And another at my pace. We played lead follow, usually switching out each lap - should have taken shorter turns and explicity asked him to help get to the group 100 yards ahead. Might not have worked - maybe he didn't have the legs, but I should have communicated something.

mr.smith.pdx

To the OP:

Did you warm up?

The best way to get spat out at the beginning is an insufficient warm-up. Especially in a crit where the pace will be high from the gun(or whistle, or horn).

waterrockets 

"it depends"

In my last crit I rolled out of the car, 150 meters to the line at 25W, and won the first lap prime.

Voodoo76

I've had similar experiences. Can remember more than a few times driving to a race late. Getting dressed in a panic, and rolling up to the line w/o even a number on (had somebody else pin it on while the officials gave there little talk). I think my HR actually went down on the first lap

Not saying dont warm up, but as a cause for being dropped perhaps it's a little over rated.

go4gr8

Not enough training will get you dropped. Happened to me this Sunday at the local crit. Got lapped twice. I'll be back for more pain next week!

Btw guys, slow in, fast out. LOL