"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Soggy racers, I need a little help

Living in the desert I dont have to worry about rain to much(like once or twice all spring/summer) the races in nor-cal this weekend look to be in for some bad weather, what do you change for crits in the rain? More air, less, different tires or just run what ya brung?

A little less air will help with traction.
Since you're doing crits, I would recommend taking corners on the inside. If someone loses it on a corner they will take out everyone outside them.

Michelin Pro Grips at around 95 psi.

Little less air if you're going to do it.

Personally, I don't race Crits in the rain. There are lots of races, no one pays me to do this, its not fun for me, and the added danger makes it an easy decision. So I'd ask, why do you want to do it?

About the only way I think I'd race a crit in the rain is if it was part of an omnium, and I was doing well in the overall.

Living in the desert I dont have to worry about rain to much(like once or twice all spring/summer) the races in nor-cal this weekend look to be in for some bad weather, what do you change for crits in the rain? More air, less, different tires or just run what ya brung?

My strategy for rainy crits - well, all crits really - line up early, get on the line, go from the gun and protect your position near the front (top 5) of the race. I use Mich pro race 2s for racing, maybe a little less air for wet weather. Cornering - light pressure on the bars, maybe a little with your inside hand, loose upper body, weight - all of it - on the outside pedal, so much so that you almost "float" above the saddle, eyes on the line you want (i.e. look where you want to go).

Rain? Attack. No one likes to chase in the rain.

keep your fingers away from the brake levers while cornering.

If you need to slow in the corners, slow first, take your fingers away from the levers, and accelerate out. If you brake in a corner you're much more likely to slide if it's wet, especially if there are things like paint stripes or manhole covers.

And if you flat and get a neutral wheel, don't count on it having the same traction as the ones you brought-- I found that out the hard way last summer.

Rain? Attack. No one likes to chase in the rain.

+11,002

Thats the plan for the next rainy crit. Off the front or out the back - but I'm not playing the wait for someone else to crash in front of me so I can go to the hospital and wreck my frame/wheels/helmet/face game again this year :lol:

I did that in my first crit you know. I also went down after skidding on a manhole cover. Went from being off the front to being off the back in 5 seconds :D

Rain? Attack. No one likes to chase in the rain.

yep - rainy day races often turn out to be really fast. someone will attack so it might as well be you.

yep - rainy day races often turn out to be really fast. someone will attack so it might as well be you.

Prob be the safest thing you can do :D

Yep, rainy crits break up really fast, which is safer anyway. But, you might as well be the one in the front and not the one off the back or chasing.

I did that in my first crit you know. I also went down after skidding on a manhole cover. Went from being off the front to being off the back in 5 seconds :D

Yep. Definitely need to ride the course beforehand and make mental notes of any particularly slippery spots: grates, manholes, crosswalk lines, mud, train tracks (not so much in a crit, but road races).

I try not to go so hard in the corners and keep my bike as upright as possible. "Hanging off" works well, but not too well if you need to pedal through the corner. Other than that, standard crit racing tips apply.

I did that in my first crit you know. I also went down after skidding on a manhole cover. Went from being off the front to being off the back in 5 seconds :D

I had a guy go down in front of me and even though I didn't go down myself, I got left behind trying to avoid him.

Stay in front!

I did that in my first crit you know. I also went down after skidding on a manhole cover. Went from being off the front to being off the back in 5 seconds :D

Anything metal or painted is as slippery as ice when its wet. I refused to race in the rain once where the course went over a drawbridge that had one of those see through metal grates over the span. Guys called it a "cheese grater" because if you fell on it,the gashes in your skin looked like you went over a giant cheese grater. I got a glimpse of a guy that fell on the bridge and it was not pretty.