My first race is this Saturday.

[56/12 and 22/28]

The Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium.

I'm in the 17-19 USCF age group.

Any tips? Suggestion? Reminders?

[Snuffleupagus]

Do a long/hard warmup, don't crash, and have fun.

[Cypress]

Do you have any info on the course?

+1 on the warm up.

[urbanknight]

17-19 group? Never heard of such USCF category. Anyway, you want to warm up for about an hour. 15 minutes of light spinning, 15 minutes increasing the pace gradually, 15 minutes intervals (sprint/rest/sprint/rest/etc.) 15 minutes cool down (light spinning) then race. Don't get dropped unless you're about to pass out, it will be worth the pain.

[Cypress]

Stay towards the front, it's easier there.

The first 10 mins will be the hardest you will ever ride your bike in your entire life. It calms down after that.

[jrennie]

Stay towards the front, it's easier there.

The first 10 mins will be the hardest you will ever ride your bike in your entire life. It calms down after that.
Being new to racing, WTF? Why do crits always start with a sprint for the first couple of laps just to drop the pace after? anyone that fell off in the first couple of laps can usually ride back on when the pace slows.

[El Diablo Rojo]

Being new to racing, WTF? Why do crits always start with a sprint for the first couple of laps just to drop the pace after? anyone that fell off in the first couple of laps can usually ride back on when the pace slows.

True but the weaker riders and those who didn't warm up properly will feel this effort later. There is one axiom of racing that always holds true...the pace always slows the lap after you (a) get dropped or (b) quit.

[DrWJODonnell]

Being new to racing, WTF? Why do crits always start with a sprint for the first couple of laps just to drop the pace after? anyone that fell off in the first couple of laps can usually ride back on when the pace slows.

I do this to teach people to warm up. Plus, most do not in fact get back on. Once the fat is trimmmed, a smaller peloton is a safer peloton and usually the people who can keep up also have some bike handling skills. After I have shredded the pack I will either sit in knowing that I have done my fair share of work and can rest without fear of a crash, or I can attack and not worry that everyone and their mother are going to try to chase me down.

THATS why.

[IKYR]

The Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium.

I'm in the 17-19 USCF age group.

Any tips? Suggestion? Reminders?

The Rochester Crit is a very technical course especially the first turn into the hairpin so I hope you can handle yourself in a pack. I imagine your group will be pretty small but you never know. All the other tips are good but most importantly KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN... that is all...

Wayne

[Bobby Lex]

Crits usually have "primes" (pronounced "preems"), which is a small prize for the first rider to cross the line on a random lap. Primes kinda spice up a race. But they make you waste energy. Many riders blow up after sprinting for a prime. Save your energy for the finish.

Also, crumple up your number before you pin it on (nothing says "newbie" like a smooth number).

You only need one water bottle if the race is less than 40 minutes.

Don't brake in the corners.

No matter how good you feel, conserve energy. You'll be glad you did when the pace gets crazy.

Be in the top 6 on the last lap if you hope to podium.

What the other guys said, especially about a good warmup.

Racing can be very humbling. Especially if you get dropped in a crit, and experience the "polite applause" from the fans each lap as you ride all by yourself. But hang in there. It does get better. The adrenalin rush of racing is addictive.

Bob

[56/12 and 22/28]

There is no money for this race, only stupid medals.

It's 30 minutes on a .9 mlie course.

[popdelusions]

Also, crumple up your number before you pin it on (nothing says "newbie" like a smooth number).



All good advice, but do your crumpling discreetly and out of eyesight of the officials. Rule change recently technically forbids this, everybody does it anyway, but you'll get yelled at and possibly (though this would be VERY unlikely) disqualified if there's a particularly zealous official on hand.

[56/12 and 22/28]

Do you have any info on the course?

+1 on the warm up.

http://www.rochestercrit.com/images/map_big.gif

Here's a video, so you can see the elevation changes.

http://www.rochestercrit.com/images/preview.wmv

[Cypress]

Looks like a hellishly fun course. It goes from nice office building to ghetto fabulous in 3 seconds.

If you can corner well, you'll do fine.

[56/12 and 22/28]

Looks like a hellishly fun course. It goes from nice office building to ghetto fabulous in 3 seconds.

If you can corner well, you'll do fine.

I'm good at the ghetto corner, so I think I'll be able to carry what little momentum I will accrue onto the start/finish straight.

[Jose R]

Also, crumple up your number before you pin it on (nothing says "newbie" like a smooth number).


All good advice, but do your crumpling discreetly and out of eyesight of the officials. Rule change recently technically forbids this, everybody does it anyway, but you'll get yelled at and possibly (though this would be VERY unlikely) disqualified if there's a particularly zealous official on hand.

I don't understand this? Why would this matter, why should I care if my number is crumpled or smooth?

It just seems retarded to me.

[IKYR]

I don't understand this? Why would this matter, why should I care if my number is crumpled or smooth?

It just seems retarded to me.


Two things

1. The alley that you turn right on after the first left of the course has some nasty pavement.

2. The race is next Saturday, June 24th

wayne

[DrWJODonnell]

crumpled is supposed to be more aero...don't worry about it. I will see anyone one on one crumpled number against my nice smooth one, and it inspires no fear. It is illegal as well. I stopped doing it last year when I was repremanded by an official (they don't care when you are pack fodder, but start winning and the rules start applying).

[zzzwillzzz]

+1 on what mothra said. i usually use 6 or 7 pins. 4 corners and the middle of the front, top and bottom edge. a reason to not crumple you numbers is to make it easier for the officials to read. the main thing is for your number to be secured and not flap in the breeze like a sail. you work really hard to place in a race, do you really want to show up in the results as 'rider unknown, number not visible'?

[El Diablo Rojo]

I use Grizzygrip number tape. It works great, I only use two pins on the top corners as back ups. Heads up about this stuff it won't stick to a skinsuit.

[Bobby Lex]

The crumpled number thing is urban-legend and bad logic.

No.

The crumpled number thing is tradition.

Like shaving your legs.

Never said it affects your performance.

Bob

[urbanknight]

There is no money for this race, only stupid medals.

It's 30 minutes on a .9 mlie course.
Yep, that's the world of junior racing. The feilds are usually too small to warrant a prize purse, and the promotors know (think they know) children like medals more than cash (what world are they in?)

I never crumpled my numbers, and don't see how that can be aero. I did pin the leading edges really tight (who cares if you rip the fabric a little, your team is going to change colors or you will change teams in a year or two anyway) and did not pin the back edges so wind wouldn't get caught. If the numbers were too large, I would fold/tear an unimportant side or two, or pin the numbers together if they issued two.

[recursive]

No.

The crumpled number thing is tradition.

Like shaving your legs.

Never said it affects your performance.

Bob

I don't shave or crumple. These things say n00b, yes? Good. That is my sleeper strategy.

[hi565]

Be sure to post pictures!

[SilentShifter]

Nothing says pride like crumpling your number. Keep 'em clean.

[San Rensho]

Don't overlap wheels, don't use your brakes, try to stay in the top 10-20 riders at all times.

[recursive]

Don't overlap wheels, don't use your brakes, try to stay in the top 10-20 riders at all times.
I think brake use should be avoided if possible, but sometimes, it is quite necessary. If you must use the brakes, it is better to do it smoothly than try to avoid them at all cost, and end up in the ditch or rubbing wheels.

['nother]

Also have someone else pin the number on you after you've put the jersey on and are bent over in the riding position. Jerseys stretch and you want to pin the number on a stretched jersey. If you pin the number on yourself with the jersey off the body, when you put the jersey on, the stretching will end up bunching up the number in spots and causing it to stick out and catch wind.

Whoever pins it on, make sure it's not upside down. :o :o :D

[56/12 and 22/28]

Thanks to all who have contributed.

Now, on to my ultimate question:

Which bike do I take?

The Dream? Or the Boron?

[Hipcycler]

Be sure to post pictures!

...especially from during the race!

[Doctor Who]

Thanks to all who have contributed.

Now, on to my ultimate question:

Which bike do I take?

The Dream? Or the Boron?

Whichever one is nicer, leave that one at home.

There's a reason that criteriums have earned the unfortunate nickname of "cra****eriums".

[urbanknight]

Whoever pins it on, make sure it's not upside down. :o :o :D
More importantly, make sure you trust whoever pins them onto you to not stick you in the @$$, and make sure you're comfortable with them looking at you closely while you're bent over. When you return the favor and pin their number on, tell them to spell RUN out loud.

[celticfrost]

...especially from during the race!

.... When you return the favor and pin their number on, tell them to spell RUN out loud.

Ha! You guys suck!!
:) :D

[Bobby Lex]

More importantly, make sure you trust whoever pins them onto you to not stick you in the @$$, and make sure you're comfortable with them looking at you closely while you're bent over. When you return the favor and pin their number on, tell them to spell RUN out loud.

Even MORE importantly, make sure they don't pin through your bibs!

Bob

[hiromian]

Looks like a hellishly fun course..
+ 1 to that. Good luck tomorow and have fun and remember to let the adrenaline rush work for you. Give your bike a little kiss too. Can't hurt and worked for me.

[56/12 and 22/28]

Whichever one is nicer, leave that one at home.

There's a reason that criteriums have earned the unfortunate nickname of "cra****eriums".

So... Boron, for sure.

[hi565]

...especially from during the race!

Yeah!

Or have your mom take em...that works too :D