Gas is expensive and my normal limit to race is 100 miles total (i.e. for me that would be any race in LA) even though I will make exceptions for important races. I am not upgrading this year (will beginning of next year, unless I start winning :D ) and I already have 6 races under my belt this year with many more to come. I am racing in LA this weekend and I am feeling much more confident after todays crit practice about my performance this weekend.
Next weekend is the Chuck Pointus criterium in velencia. For those of you in So Cal that would be next to Magic mountian. It is 80 miles each way from my house for a 8:15 am 30 minute flat criterium. Not only that but it is 20 dollars to race plus the 160 miles translates to about 20 dollars in fuel + food... etc. I will also have to get up about 4:30 am and I do not get off work until 2 am.
I would like to go race an "easier" crit but all the factors (plus trying to save for my tt bike) make me think that I will not do this crit. Plus I can do a hard anaerobic workout after my group ride to make for it here.
Would you go? Does the race experience make it worth all the negatives?
The_Convert
04-22-05, 12:19 AM
Come on man, how many threads are you gonna start? This may be one of those things where you can decide for youself.....
my58vw
04-22-05, 02:50 AM
Two actually on two different topics... I was hoping that someone could make the decision easier for me :D (i.e. if someone says don't go then I do not feel so bad about going)
RacerX
04-22-05, 03:49 AM
dont go
berny
04-22-05, 04:12 AM
don't go. 2hrs ain't enough sleep.
ZackJones
04-22-05, 05:16 AM
If the race is important enough to classify it as an "A" race for you the go; otherwise stay home.
Grasschopper
04-22-05, 06:04 AM
I am not telling you to go to this race or not...you need to make that choice for yourself but what I will say is that you need to find a ride buddy or two. Get with another guy or two and drive to the races that are farther away together (ie in one car, van or SUV) that way you can split up driving times if it is far and gas prices. Full size van works best and if you can find a roadie (someone's girlfriend or little brother works great in my past) to drive for you all the better as you can sleep in the van. You are on a team right? The guys on your team don't go to races together like this? Or in a caravan? When I raced MTB we did this all the time...
jfmckenna
04-22-05, 06:56 AM
Put it to you this way. If I limited my races to 100 miles then I would do one race the entire year!
Anything over a three hour drive I budget in hotel expenses.
Voodoo76
04-22-05, 08:34 AM
Travel as much as possible, ride with/against as many different people as possible. Nothing cooler than pulling up to the start line in at some local race, in the middle of nowhere, wearing team colors nobody there knows, and going out hard. Better yet is doing this with a couple of team mates.
You only go around once!
my58vw
04-22-05, 08:51 AM
Looking at next year I would definitly consider it, 80 miles is a long way (or course I will not be working at this security job then so I will get some sleep) but it is doable. There are so many local races that most of our guys will not drive 80 miles (even 40 for some) each way to race so team support is small for some races. Only a few guys actually race the "full" schedule here is socal which is about 22 - 30 possible weekends of racing or so (I plan on doing about 16 or so). With so many races so close (i.e. I can ride to about 8 of them) it is hard to get the team to come out to the far ones.
Plus until I can hang and have energy left for the sprint I run the risk of being pulled early anyway. 50 dollars for a crit (even with a partial reimbusement) that I may not hang in is quite alot of money... (of course no one is saying I can not hang yet... that will be determined this weekend...
travis200
04-22-05, 03:44 PM
My limit is 200ish miles round trip to race. The only ride I really do over that is the Death Ride.
MacMan
04-22-05, 06:14 PM
Do you dress yourself?
TheKillerPenguin
04-22-05, 06:33 PM
My first race is in Binghamton....120 miles away. :D go for it man!
my58vw
04-22-05, 06:37 PM
Do you dress yourself?
que?
I decided not to go, the money went to other things. I am looking at the schedule and some nice fast group rides I think will do good at this point. Can not do all of them anyway!
R600DuraAce
04-22-05, 07:07 PM
Money really isn't an issue because you can bring your own lunch. Race fee is cheap and gas probably won't cost more than $30 round trip. I know people who are into video gaming and they smack down $100 a week for new games. The issue is actually with rest and sleep. Getting 2 hours of sleep before the race is stupid.
climbo
04-22-05, 07:08 PM
Do you dress yourself?
ROTFLMAO
roadbuzz
04-22-05, 07:11 PM
You're racing cat 5 this year, and will easily get your 10 mass starts this year. Getting up at 4:30, spending 160 miles on the road, and then race on less than 4 hrs sleep is a good way to go to a lot of expense and trouble for a short race and a bad result. I think you're making the right choice.
Haufigga
04-22-05, 07:36 PM
I need an opinion here...
Gas is expensive and my normal limit to race is 100 miles total (i.e. for me that would be any race in LA) even though I will make exceptions for important races. I am not upgrading this year (will beginning of next year, unless I start winning :D ) and I already have 6 races under my belt this year with many more to come. I am racing in LA this weekend and I am feeling much more confident after todays crit practice about my performance this weekend.
Next weekend is the Chuck Pointus criterium in velencia. For those of you in So Cal that would be next to Magic mountian. It is 80 miles each way from my house for a 8:15 am 30 minute flat criterium. Not only that but it is 20 dollars to race plus the 160 miles translates to about 20 dollars in fuel + food... etc. I will also have to get up about 4:30 am and I do not get off work until 2 am.
I would like to go race an "easier" crit but all the factors (plus trying to save for my tt bike) make me think that I will not do this crit. Plus I can do a hard anaerobic workout after my group ride to make for it here.
Would you go? Does the race experience make it worth all the negatives?
Stay home and ride in a fast group ride.
80 miles to race for 30min is not worth it. There are plenty of races in socal.
The_Convert
04-22-05, 07:47 PM
Do you dress yourself?
Luckily for his rides he has a uniform.
As for the rest of the day, I'm sure he consults another forum.
my58vw
04-22-05, 08:18 PM
Luckily for his rides he has a uniform.
As for the rest of the day, I'm sure he consults another forum.
The forum of common sense... :lol:
Wait... did someone say naked cyclist :lol:
Hey I ride so much I could just stay in cycling clothing all day... :roflmao:
Tak962... comming out to the CBR race this weekend? If so see you there.
The_Convert
04-22-05, 08:33 PM
The forum of common sense... :lol:
The point was to use that one more often... :rolleyes:
Haufigga
04-22-05, 08:54 PM
Tak962... comming out to the CBR race this weekend? If so see you there.
I'll be there! Rain in the forecast...could be interesting.
my58vw
04-22-05, 09:23 PM
I better bring my rain coat... that will be fun, never raced in the rain before.
(Will see how long I survive this time... if this week has been an indication I should have a good race.)