"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - 1st bike race speed?

Looking for some opinions from those with racing experience for a gestimate of the average speed for beginner level racing. I've conisidered entering a couple races locally where the beginners only go 1-2 laps - 30-45 miles. What would you think the average pace would be at the begginer level - moderately hilly?

This has been discussed over and over...

Crits - 22 - 28 MPG AVG

Circuits - 18 - 28 AVG

Road Races - 17 - 25 AVG...

As you can tell it all really depends...
My crit today was somewhere in the 25 - 26 MPH avg while some rr's that I have been in have been 20 AVG...

Of course like some have said avg speed means nothing in a race, only if you can hang and what place you take!

Don't worry about this. I did my first race a few weeks back, it was a little business park crit. Going into it I kind of wondered what the speeds would be like, but now I'm glad I didn't know.

You're just going to push yourself probably harder than you ever have on the bike and it's going to be a lot of fun. Just go and do a race when you get done you'll know what to expect and what you need to work on with your training for the future.

There are too many factors going into a race- the field, course, weather...- that means that we can't say what it will be like. Just go, don't be afraid, and have a blast. Good luck to you when you do get out there.

Agreed ^^^

I could absolutly not believe when I was cruising along at 28 MPH in my first crit, nack then I could only hold 22 MPH for any significant time (as opposed to 26 MPH now) in the wind.

Just go and race and see... the best advice we can give!

Looking for some opinions from those with racing experience for a gestimate of the average speed for beginner level racing. I've conisidered entering a couple races locally where the beginners only go 1-2 laps - 30-45 miles. What would you think the average pace would be at the begginer level - moderately hilly?

Too hard to guess...just make sure to stay near the front and out of the wind. In RR's, energy conservation is the key. Get ready to dig deep in some portions of the race.

Thanks for the feedback. Any advice on what to "strip" off of the bike, what to carry, and what not to do?

This has been discussed over and over...


I wonder by who...

I wonder by who...

I hope that this is not a veiled reference to the Oracle of Ontario, the King of Crits, the Once and Future King of American Road Racing.

I hope that this is not a veiled reference to the Oracle of Ontario, the King of Crits, the Once and Future King of American Road Racing.

That comment better not have been directed towards me :D

For a race, all you need is maybe your water cage. At cat 5, the races really aren't long enough to absolutely need it. But in the hot weather you just might. Other than that, if you have a bike computer, maybe take that off? I don't know, what is there to take off a bike?

pump? Bag with tube or tire levers? I figure with my luck I'll be 10 miles out in the race and get a flat.

Ahh I got ya. If it was me, I wouldn't, but then again I'm 19 and semi-tarded that way. Maybe to save weight take a spare tube and some C02?

Nashville Man - You cannot have a pump or a bag on your bike for any USCF road race. They are not allowed because officials are worried they will fall off and cause an accident. All you need is something to drink.

Do not worry about the speeds so much. Riding in a pack is much easier than riding on your own. Just have fun be relaxed and do not put so much pressure on results.

If you want to tell us what is on your bike, we can tell you what is not allowed. Tri Bars is another example.

Do not worry about a flat. If it is a normal USCF race, they will have support vecihles that can pick you up.

I hope that this is not a veiled reference to the Oracle of Ontario, the King of Crits, the Once and Future King of American Road Racing.

Judging by this smart ass comment... he is refering to me.

Everyone asks this questions who wants to start racing, it is about as common as "why do you shave your legs", etc.

All you need for a race is yourself, your bike and a small water bottle with some water... expecially for road and circuit racing. Most crits in cat 5 are 30 - 45 minutes so water is only needed in the warmest conditions... like yesterday in ontario.

ewitz... if you have nothing nice or constructive to say then why don't you get the f%$k of the forum, all you are doing is sucking up valuable bandwith and making more crap for other forum members to use. If I do well next week all I will hear is another of your smart ass comments... I am sick of them. You have been reported to the moderators...

Nashville Man - You cannot have a pump or a bag on your bike for any USCF road race. They are not allowed because officials are worried they will fall off and cause an accident. All you need is something to drink.

Do not worry about the speeds so much. Riding in a pack is much easier than riding on your own. Just have fun be relaxed and do not put so much pressure on results.

If you want to tell us what is on your bike, we can tell you what is not allowed. Tri Bars is another example.

Do not worry about a flat. If it is a normal USCF race, they will have support vecihles that can pick you up.

Thanks....I have tri bars and I was planning on taking them off. I did not know about the pump, bag, etc. With those off all that is left is my computer and bottle cages. Thanks again.

Judging by this smart ass comment... he is refering to me.

Everyone asks this questions who wants to start racing, it is about as common as "why do you shave your legs", etc.

All you need for a race is yourself, your bike and a small water bottle with some water... expecially for road and circuit racing. Most crits in cat 5 are 30 - 45 minutes so water is only needed in the warmest conditions... like yesterday in ontario.

ewitz... if you have nothing nice or constructive to say then why don't you get the f%$k of the forum, all you are doing is sucking up valuable bandwith and making more crap for other forum members to use. If I do well next week all I will hear is another of your smart ass comments... I am sick of them. You have been reported to the moderators...

What he is saying is instead of making the new comer feel uncomfortable, you should just answer the questions. Obviously this is a message board at its end life. many have been here a long time. but without new people, you'd all just argue over who did what wrong in a paceline. New people will ask many of the same questions. Hence them being 'new'. And everyone at some point was new to everything. Women, bikes, driving, drinking, college, etc. So this guy is wondering about speeds in Crits. He's not asking anyone to solve cold fussion.

No one in the Tri forum blasted you for your aero bar questions, which I have personally answered dozens of times. Perhaps some of that "helping the poor n00b" should be repaid.

What he is saying is instead of making the new comer feel uncomfortable, you should just answer the questions. Obviously this is a message board at its end life. many have been here a long time. but without new people, you'd all just argue over who did what wrong in a paceline. New people will ask many of the same questions. Hence them being 'new'. And everyone at some point was new to everything. Women, bikes, driving, drinking, college, etc. So this guy is wondering about speeds in Crits. He's not asking anyone to solve cold fussion.

No one in the Tri forum blasted you for your aero bar questions, which I have personally answered dozens of times. Perhaps some of that "helping the poor n00b" should be repaid.

Not to mention the you sometimes learn things you never even considered asking. Everyone can learn something, even from the answer to questions asked a thousand times.

pump? Bag with tube or tire levers? I figure with my luck I'll be 10 miles out in the race and get a flat.

Depends...is there a follow vehicle for your race? If not, carry a spare tube and a pump. You go lighter by carrying a CO2 inflator and carry a lightweight spare tube.
Just don't do what my teammate saw at a crit...some guy was attempting to open a Clif Bar in the last corner! Do your eating when the pace isn't so hard and save yourself some grief, preopen wrapper of the energy bar. Ain't nothing like trying to wrestle with a wrapper in the middle of a pack!

Thanks for the feedback. Any advice on what to "strip" off of the bike, what to carry, and what not to do?

I've found that I can save a lot of weight by stripping off my handlebars. Cornering is a little tricky using only the stem, but the weight advantage makes up for it! :p

Kidding aside, take off anything that isn't nailed/screwed/bolted down, and even some things that are, like your reflectors. Some people will tell you to lose the bottle and cage. I went to my first crit without a bottle cage or water and regreted it. Why? Because I was so nervous about the race that I had cotton mouth by the time I got up to the start line.

Its going to be a blast, no matter how you do. Focus mostly just on learning the nuances of pack racing. See how the pack accordians in and out of turns, how people fight for position, how the pack sprints out of turns, etc. You'll learn quickly that being in the first 25% of the pack is what you want. Now whether or not you can actually accomplish that is another story. But use it as a learning experience.

Lastly, make sure you have warmed up for at least a half hour before you get to the start line. Include a few sprints and short LT intervals towards the end of the warmup so that your systems are primed and ready to go from the gun.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! Let us know what happens.

Do you guys know what are the best shoes to use with dura ace pedals?

Too hard to guess...just make sure to stay near the front and out of the wind. In RR's, energy conservation is the key. Get ready to dig deep in some portions of the race.

Also, remember that almost everyone in the race will be trying to do the above! :D

Do you guys know what are the best shoes to use with dura ace pedals?
The ones that fit you best. If you get Sidis, you will need to get longer screw to mount the cleats with.

The ones that fit you best. If you get Sidis, you will need to get longer screw to mount the cleats with.
thanks, aren't carnac stiffer?

I just started racing this year. So far:

Crits: 24-30 MPH
TT: 22-24 MPH
RR: Hovering a little over 22 MPH

I am sucking in the Crits but getting better; I finish with the pack on my last crit. I am doing much better on RR and TT... but that is how I train.

thanks, aren't carnac stiffer?

No