"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Help! My first crit... what do I need to know?!?!

This is very late notice, I know, but it's the best I could do. I just decided today to enter a crit (Citizen's Race) which is the final race of a series of races here in Nashville, TN.

They guestimate about 20-30 entering the race. It is a short loop course around 2 one-way streets in downtown. It looks fast and furious.

What do I need to know to stay upright? My wife has encouraged me to finally do this, but tells me that if I come in last, she gets a shopping spree at Kohls!

Help! What have I gotten myself into!?!?!!?:eek:

Good luck and have fun!! I would give you some pointers but as I have to race with C grade guys in crits I get spat very quickly. The only thing I can say is do'nt clip wheels cause it hurts!!

RACE REPORT

I did it!!!! My first crit!!!!

Nashional Elite Championships and Military Cycling Championships in Nashville, TN

I raced in the Citizen's race which closed the event this evening.

It was fun! I came in 4th! I think there were 10 racers. Being that this was my first race, I'm very happy with that. The top 3 were seasoned racers who obviously knew what they were doing. Here's the run down...

I led the first lap, which was cool for my family 'cause they got me into this to begin with. My wife threatened that if I came in dead last, she would go on a shopping spree to Kohls. So I had incentive to at least look good!

Then I moved myself to 4th position, because I didn't want the other 3 to suck my wheel the whole race. Soon they began to pull away, but I caught them on the 4th lap from the finish. I burned a lot of energy catching them and I think that's what killed me. Had I used a little more effort to stay with them in the middle of the race, I think I would have had more at the end. They were also better in the corners than I was.

On the 3rd lap from the finish, we broke out of a corner at the top of a hill, and two of the leaders sat up in their seats. I saw an opportunity there for a break away and took it. I opened a good lead in front of them and kept it for a lap. Then I jumped back on the wheel of the third place finisher and rode it out with him. All three outsprinted me in the end, but my wife was very impressed with my placement! (and we all know that's what really matters!!!!!) ;-)

Anyhow, I may try it again, but I need to learn strategy. I could tell by the home video footage that I had no strategy. I was all over the place. In the lead, in 4th on my own, in 4th on someone's wheel, in the lead, then in fourth with no chance in the final sprint.

I think Lance is really onto something with this patience thing!

:rolleyes:

Thanks!

Aerow

Cool! :) Way to take the initiative when you saw your chance to bridge up :D Got your next race on the calendar yet?

workin' on it!

Congratulations! and well done!

The hardest part in racing is getting the courage up for the first race. Once you've overcome your own self-doubt racing becomes even more fun.