Road Bike Racing - First Cat5 road race report.

Today's race was my first ever, the Race for Humanity in Dade City. I've only been riding road bikes since Dec 2006, so I had no idea what to expect of a road race other than what I've experienced in the local group rides. It was a hilly course of 2 17mi laps. I have been training alot for the past two months and figured I was ready for this one. The start went well, I made my way up into the top fifteen to avoid the acordian, and it worked. I then made my way into the top ten and stayed there for the rest of the race. I made a break with three other guys on the first lap, but no one wanted to pull so we rejoined the pack. I was leading the pack into the last 1000m of the course, but got blocked by someone who came up on my left and he prevented me from sprinting out ahead to make another break. Then the sprint commenced, and by the time I got around this numbskull I was right at about 9th or 10th place when I crossed the line, can't say for sure. I figure this is pretty good for my first race ever, and I'll have to come up with a new strategy so that I can possibly win my next one. Racing is alot more fun than I thought it would be!

Today's race was my first ever, the Race for Humanity in Dade City. I've only been riding road bikes since Dec 2006, so I had no idea what to expect of a road race other than what I've experienced in the local group rides. It was a hilly course of 2 17mi laps. I have been training alot for the past two months and figured I was ready for this one. The start went well, I made my way up into the top fifteen to avoid the acordian, and it worked. I then made my way into the top ten and stayed there for the rest of the race. I made a break with three other guys on the first lap, but no one wanted to pull so we rejoined the pack. I was leading the pack into the last 1000m of the course, but got blocked by someone who came up on my left and he prevented me from sprinting out ahead to make another break. Then the sprint commenced, and by the time I got around this numbskull I was right at about 9th or 10th place when I crossed the line, can't say for sure. I figure this is pretty good for my first race ever, and I'll have to come up with a new strategy so that I can possibly win my next one. Racing is alot more fun than I thought it would be!

On completion of your first road race. Mine is in March, the numbskull was probably a teammate and checked you so his buddy could win. Thanks for the report on your first race.

NFields

Great job and congrats. The 5's are for learning and you got a good finish and learned something, not a bad day I'd say!

Sounds like you did pretty well for your first race.

What was the average speed? ;)

--Steve

Congrats. I remember getting shelled out of the pack in the last lap of my first race due to me being convinced everyone was just too slow in early laps. I turned race #2 into 3rd place ;) Good job keeping it somewhat conservative.

No more leading out the pack! :D

Congrats! Tough race. Tough course.

As has been pointed out, Cat.5 races are for learning. (OTOH: You never stop learning, no matter what Cat. you're in, or how many races you've done).

What you learned yesterday was that you are fit enough to compete. Now you need to get smart enough to compete. More often than not the real race doesn't start until the last km or so. Then, it's all about positioning and awareness.

Consider this: In a pack finish, there's usually only about 5 to 15 seconds time difference between 1st place and 30th place, even after 90 minutes of racing. i.e. The "average speed" of the winner and the last place pack finisher will be virtually the same. What separates the winner from the loser will be which one saved the most matches during the race; which one avoided getting boxed in at the finish; which one grabbed the right wheel for a lead-out; which one was in the right gear to match the "jump" when the final acceleration came; which one paid attention to the grade and wind direction on the last km so as to be able to time their sprint just right. It's a combination of luck and good decision-making.

That comes with experience.

Once again. Good job!

Bob

Thanks everyone! The average speed was right about 22mph according to some of the other guys. My computer crapped out, so I can't say for sure. I really did learn alot, and got alot of good advice from reading threads on these boards. Here's a pic my girlfriend took of me at the finish.

That's me on the yellow TCR:

http://www.usfbs.com/UserData/GangsterOfBoats/Images/20070218115333.jpg

^^^^ Nice shot! Looking blurry, as you should in a bike race. I think every bike looks better blurry.

For next time, don't lead the pack into the last K of the course :) you will never ever win that way unless you are out and out stronger than everyone else in the field. They can chill in your draft and come by you easily.

Going on that break was a good idea, too bad it didn't work. How far out were you when it went? If tehre was enough time to take a decent pull and then pull off and be rested enough for a sprint, you may want to try that next time too. One big pull by you can inspire the others into thinking the break can make it. If they dont want to, then just sit up, wait for the pack, and get on the wheel of a good sprinter. Hopefully you'll be rested enough to sprint at the end :)


Congrats on your first race!

You've only been riding for 3 months? You certainly accumulate bikes quickly. And that's a rather impressive finish for someone so new.

I've been riding my Homegrown for 10 years, but not much racing. Also have done some Tris. I bought my first modern road bike in december and started riding seriously then.

I've been riding my Homegrown for 10 years, but not much racing.

so how is this your first race ever...

It was my first road race, and I haven't raced a mountain bike since Spring of 2000. Even then I raced in the Juniors category. So it was all new to me again.

great result!

Dade City is a very difficult course! (i did 35+ earlier that morning)


one thing you find is- being in shape only gets you in the game...

now you have to learn how to play the game.


keep it up. you'll find a steep learning curve ahead of you.


congrats again!