Road Bike Racing - Crit Tactics for the 1st Timer!

In a few weeks, I'm going to my 1st race, a crit in Chicago. It's Citizen's/Cat 5, and I really have no idea what to do.

I am on a team that hosts weekly training crits, but there are only two groups: a Cat 1/2 'A' group, and a Cat 3, 4, & 5 'B' group. Since there are 3s & 4s in B, I tend not to see much from the rear end of the paceline. I did read Aerow's thread, but it wasn't all to informative.

So, what should I do to make myself at least competetive, if not a winner? (Other than watch my front wheel, and don't give the finger to the officials?):D


On a seperate note, I was going to either shave my legs before or after said race, but I wanted your guys opinion: Shave before, as a way to pump myself up for it, or after, once I've done a 'real' race?

shaving - i pretty much ONLY shave the night before a big race - it's mostly mental so do it before!

as for tactics... i think i could write a ton on winning tactics, but as you first race, i think your goals are more 1) to ride in the main group and observe and 2) not wreck, 3) not get dropped 4) and learn how to conserve energy while getting and holding positon

since you're with a team, best case i'd try and find a buddy or 2 and ask him if you can ride with - try and pick someone with some experience and someone a little better than you (but not the team star as he'll be more active)... then just stick his wheel and do what he does... if you get dropped, then find someone else and stick his wheel --- as a beginner DO NOT ride out of wind shadow/pace line UNLESS you get dropped... if you find yourself off the back, team up with others and share the work to get back on --- if you're off the back it's almost impossible to catch back up by yourself (if you were so strong you wouldn't have gotten dropped to begin with), so if you pass someone, tell them to "hop on" and then after a bit, let them pull, etc. most guys will work w/ you --- it's usually only the guys in front who will act like a$$holes b/c they want the other guy to use use up energy and do all the work... off the front the most guys help each other...

so basically, you ride the wheel of someone and the only real question/problem comes when that person starts to drop either b/c he's weak or the group makes a break/attack. then you have to decide whether to switch to someone else's wheel or jump/bridge a gap if the lead group is taking off.

other than that, ride assertively, but safely --- hold your line in corners, speak up if someone's drifting and taking your line in a corner, be assertive when your're riding 9 abreast and you have to brake and go down to 3 or 4 abreast for a corner.

then, IF you are in the front at the end, don't sprint with the first group, but wait and wait until you know you can go all out w/o burning up... the end sprint can also be dangerous... again, stay on a wheel UNTIL you must get out of shadow b/c you're too fast for the guy in front of you... otherwise, just stay there!

if the lead group is too fast, try and find another group to ride with and do what you can in that group --- with cat3s and cat5s i would think you might have this unless it's a slow race and you get one huge pack... if you have a heart-rate monitor, use that to decide when you drop, when you go with the jump, ect... in general, if you're more than about 5 beats over your LT and you're already in windshadow, DON'T go with a jump b/c you're already near you max and you'll burn up... on the other hand, if you're well below LT, consider moving forward to a better position and be ready to jump with any attacks- the guy in front of you may be toast and when the jump comes you should break out and go around and stick the wheel of those attacking (only if you have the energy!)

good luck and don't worry about placing in the top 15 or whatever - aim to finish at the back of the front group or in another group if the cat 3's are WAY too fast... main goal: learn how to conserve energy and while getting and holding a good positon for the end sprint

I shave all year round so i suppose i am a real cyclist, but all i would say about crits in Cat. 5 is watch for crashes. Stay in the front 1/3 of the pack and suck wheel. If you want to win find a strong wheel and make that rider pull you to the final sprint, then come around him at the end. Not only does it work but it looks way more dramatic, so at least you'll look cool for trying if your sprint isn't exactly perfect.

I also agree with a lot that nathank said and man he said a lot.

peawee - which crit is it?! i would consider myself a beginner cat5b - i have to enter one for the experience sometime soon... i went (as a spectator) to one a few minutes from my house ( www.arlingtonbikerace.com ) and was checking out all the competition.

Shaving. . . If you're shaving for the first time, do it at least 2 days before the race. The feeling of bare legs against your sheets will be so foreign that you probably won't sleep well the first night.

I raced my first two crits this summer as a Cat 5 master.

Read my first crit race report here. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10315)

Have fun and good luck.

Originally posted by WoodyUpstate
I raced my first two crits this summer as a Cat 5 master.

Read my first crit race report here. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10315)

Have fun and good luck.

Great race post, Woody!! :D