KantoBoy

I'm going to my first race alone tomorrow. Training went really well and I think I just "peaked" at the right time.

I got this on my checklist:

1. get there early
2. register
3. washroom break
4. warm up
5. lower expectations

Couple of questions:

1.How soon before the race should I stop warming up?

2.Err, is it normal for people like myself who are going alone in a race to set up their trainers in the parking lot? lol I know silly question, but I need to trainer to warm up.

PS
Going to watch some M-SR 2013 highlights as it's a "risk of thundershowers" tomorrow. I'm really getting christened tomorrow.

chasm54

Your checklist needs to start earlier. Pack your kit the night before, and doublecheck that you have everything. I turned up for a race without a helmet this week, fortunately a teammate had a spare.

Around here it is normal to see people warming up on rollers, sometimes trainers, beside their cars.

I usually finish warming up about ten minutes before start time.

Do you have an opportunity to ride the course? If so, take it. If not, and it's short enough, walk it. It'll help.

Looigi

Those are all good things, but do you really need a checklist for them? Be that as it may, you might want to make and use a detailed list of all the items you need/want to have with you (documents, equipment, spares, riding apparel, tools, nutrition items, stuff for when not riding, etc.) You'll modify the list over time adding and subtracting things as you gain experience, and tailoring it for different types of events.

gsteinb

that checklist is a bit silly

a real check list is

glasses
pump
helmet
shoes
spare shorts
gloves
food
bottles
water
spare wheels

etc


I load my car the day before.

riding a trainer is normal. I always warmup on one. Opinions on warm ups vary. I tend to button it up 15 minutes or so before the start. I'm old and need several pre race pee chances.

KantoBoy

I did a recon twice. Can't really pre-ride the course. It's a 50mi route.

As for the other stuff spares, food, etc yes I already got that down

I hope it doesn't rain before the race. I don't know if it's a bad idea for the trainers to get wet.

Thanks guys. Everyone's welcomed to put their .02 in.

HMF

There are only 3 things you need to start a race.

1 Bike
2 Helmet
3 Shoes

Even #3 is optional, just ask RacerEx.

To get credit, you should probably have a Race Number. To not look like a doofus, you should probably pin it to a kit. Although, I did a Cat 5 race with a guy in a T-shirt once. He's a Cat 1 now. So, even that is optional.


One thing I find that helps is to have a "Race bag" with lots of pockets. Use the same pockets for the same things, that way all you have to do is check the pockets. Gloves and HR strap in one pocket, shoes in one Pocket, Kits in another pocket, food in another pocket, Saddle bag with the flat fix stuff in another pocket, bottles on the side mesh, helmet strapped to the bag.

Anyway, it sucks racing alone. Make some friends before the race.

carpediemracing 

With a 50 mile course you may not need to warm up very much. Depends on how the race starts out in terms of terrain, course features, and the pack's mentality.

mattm

People definitely warm up on trainers in the parking lot.. that's how I know where to park! Just look for shirtless dudes on trainers in a parking lot.

And fwiw even on a short crit course, I often don't have time to do a recon lap or to walk the course.

So I use the first lap as recon, just get up near the front so you can see any interesting features like potholes in corners, etc.

Best of luck!!

island rider

I've found on training rides and in races that it takes a while for me to like the bike again. I need at least a half hour easy warmup (z2). Without it, if we hit hill or big surge right away I'm going to have trouble with now warm up.

canam73

Try this checklist:

1. Read: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...s-a-tip-or-two

UmneyDurak

Yep. For me general rule of thumb shorter the race longer the warmup. For RR I jut ride around a bit, but it depends on terrain. If it starts with a big ass hill that I know everyone will be drilling from get go then more time for warmup.

shovelhd

If this is your first race, you are most likely to get popped, so bring some food, extra water, and a flat kit.

i go to races alone almost all the time. Fine by me.

RoadMike

Racing alone is how you make friends that also race alone.

KantoBoy

The course is pretty hilly (nothing serious, 2 big hills) but there's a strong-ish wind tomorrow.

I'll just race my race and try not to get carried away. I've already set my times alone and know how fast the 1st placer was last year...not aiming for that especially the dude who placed 1st last year had 4 people helping him out (he gapped them by 4 mins!).

Thanks guys.

merlinextraligh

I'm assuming you now understand how this makes no sense.

It's a race not a 50 mile TT. How fast you can do it by yourself just isn't relevant. What is relevant is whether you can stay with the leaders on the climbs, or at toher times when there are surges and attacks.

Hope it went well for you.

waterrockets 

FWIW: I train against this a couple times every training block. Heading out to do my ride with zero warmup. I've gone out of my driveway into a full-on 1' interval. I think it helps. One time I got to a crit later than planned (hectic at home), and didn't have time to get cash I needed later that busy day. I roll to the line, temp at 40F, with only a 25 yd coast to the line in my legs. Ref announces a first-lap cash prime. I got the prime and the cash I needed. Stayed off the front for another lap.

topflightpro

It's a cat 5 race (or at least I assume that since it's his first race), so someone is going to try to win from the starting line.

johnybutts

How is that any different than any other race?

caloso

My general rule is the shorter the race, the longer my warmup. For a RR over 50miles, my warmup might just be riding from my car to the line.

island rider

That's a good idea. I've been shelled when I didn't properly scout a road race stage and the first climb started about 5 min in and it was basically downhill to there. The next 68 miles were lonely.

cycledogg

If you have pre-paid the entry, don't forget the print out of receipt. And, plaeezzzzz don't forget your licence.

himespau 

So how did it go?

mattm

Is that really necessary?

Fat Boy

Only if you need it.

FWIW, I have an Excel checklist that I print out for any real race and check things off as I pack it the day before. On race morning, I grab the cold bottles out of the fridge and roll. It saves me from the small pre-race aggro and/or second guessing. That alone is worth hitting 'print'.

caloso

Registrations get lost, computers lose power, etc. Better to have proof you've signed up and paid rather than having to argue with the poor volunteer at reg.