"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Why should I?

I'm thinking about not doing a road race in April that I've done the last two years. There were about 140 riders in the 26-mile race the past two years. No categories, just an open Wisport series event. It's been cold, windy, gray, and you're not in the best of shape because the season has just started.

I was 99th last year.
102 the year before in what was my first race ever.

But seriously, do I really need to go out there again to do the same thing this season?
Who am I kidding?

I'm not really a racer.
I'm a pretty good rec roadie who is 48 years old with a seven-year-old total hip replacement and visions of me being Basso in my head!

Maybe I should get my 'fast ride' buzz from a few group rides a year and stay away from organized races.

At the start, two years ago when I did this for the first time, I wanted to be able to say I was in an actually bike race....that I was a 'bike racer'....and I've done that now I guess.

You guys who are 'real' racers probably would prefer guys like me not clogging up the field anyway???

Because this year you could be 98th.

Because this year you could be 98th.

Right....I thought about that, and in fact, that WAS why I thought about entering again.

But now I'm thinking that's just silly!

Right....I thought about that, and in fact, that WAS why I thought about entering again.

But now I'm thinking that's just silly!

It's no sillier than what most of us do... I'm going to be busting my a$$ tomorrow afternoon and risking my neck for a $50 prize and maybe a T-shirt.

It's all absurd when you think about it. :D

Why shouldn't you?

It's no sillier than what most of us do... I'm going to be busting my a$$ tomorrow afternoon and risking my neck for a $50 prize and maybe a T-shirt.

It's all absurd when you think about it. :D

Why shouldn't you?

$50.00 prize?
Holy crap, that's big-time!

I am still amazed at, and have total respect for, all you guys that race in these Cat races for nothing more than personal challenge. Guys from around here like Mayo and Cromulent. I remember Crom racing in a Super Week event here last summer.

All by himself, with only me there as his cheering section in the middle of a weekday.
He busts his butt out there...dodges the geese in the peleton that took the guy next to him out...finishes the race...has a chocolate milk from the back of his vehicle....talks to me....packs up and leaves.

Glory?

There is no glory.

I'm not sure what there actually is at all. :o

http://www.truthdig.com/images/eartothegrounduploads/patton_slap.jpg

You're going back to the front, boy.

You may get shot, and you may get killed, but you're going back to the fighting.

Either that, or I'll stand you up before a firing squad. Why, I ought to shoot you right now, you...

End of thread.
How can we top that?

Thanks for killing it for us, Botto.

End of thread.
How can we top that?

Thanks for killing it for us, Botto.

is this the part when you yell at me?

http://www.wisport.org/Wisport07schedule.html

Saturday, April 21st.

WWTMD?

Do it.

You'll have fun and you'll learn something about yourself.

And if you don't, botto's gonna shoot ya...

End of thread.
How can we top that?

Thanks for killing it for us, Botto.

Seriously. I can't compete with that :lol:

I would do it.

Why do so many do the ironman? The feeling of self accomplishment is worth more than any trophy.
We do it because we love it! We get to get out there with all those other cyclists who love it as much as we do.
Plus there is such an adrenaline rush with riding in a fast peloton. It's like taking a ride in a F-14 Tomcat. It's true that only one can win, and there may be as many as 125 in the peloton. But the wolf climbing the mountain is always hungrier that the wolf on top of the mountain. So for all those racers who haven't ever tasted victory, they will be hungry for it, and they will come back week after week for more. It's not about prize money.

But having said that, it is pointless to go out and do it if you know your fitness level is not even going to allow you to keep up for 2-3 laps. If I go and do races, I want to have at least 6 weeks of base in my legs. That would include early season sessions on the trainer that gets me through bad weather when I can't get out. So, the season is long, and there will be more races. It's just pointless to show up and do one without any base training in the bank. Don't know how this applies to Hip? He did mention that it wasn't a sanctioned race, so maybe things are different.

I would do it.

Why do so many do the ironman? The feeling of self accomplishment is worth more than any trophy.
We do it because we love it! We get to get out there with all those other cyclists who love it as much as we do.
Plus there is such an adrenaline rush with riding in a fast peloton. It's like taking a ride in a F-14 Tomcat. It's true that only one can win, and there may be as many as 125 in the peloton. But the wolf climbing the mountain is always hungrier that the wolf on top of the mountain. So for all those racers who haven't ever tasted victory, they will be hungry for it, and they will come back week after week for more. It's not about prize money.

But having said that, it is pointless to go out and do it if you know your fitness level is not even going to allow you to keep up for 2-3 laps. If I go and do races, I want to have at least 6 weeks of base in my legs. That would include early season sessions on the trainer that gets me through bad weather when I can't get out. So, the season is long, and there will be more races. It's just pointless to show up and do one without any base training in the bank. Don't know how this applies to Hip? He did mention that it wasn't a sanctioned race, so maybe things are different.
Well said, the feeling you get while racing and fear you get reminds you that you are still alive and havent gave up yet.
Just because you post a thread about it shows that you have a tough time giving up, get out there! :)
and dreamtheater, do you do IM?

Don't do it just because you said you would. I waited a long, long time to get back into racing, and I'm getting into it pretty gradually now. I have a lot of reasons, but I'm doing it at my own pace, and I've found myself wishing I was racing more, which is a wonderful feeling compared to dreading a race.

EDIT: reminds me of a flight instructer I know. Students are disappointed to be grounded by weather, and he tells them "it's better to be on the ground, wishing you were in the air, than in the air, wishing you were on the ground."

Why?! Why?! Will someone please think of the children!!!
http://pressthebuttons.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/lovejoy.jpg

Dream Theater,

The way I figure it, most of the others don't have a lot of time in their legs yet at this point in the season either, so that's an equalizer and not really the point for me here.

A little history on this event and me....

Year One--
My first organized race ever. I wasn't sure I belonged at all. But folks like Penguin, Galen, and many others here encouraged me to do it and report back. My goal was to first and foremost be safe. Next, try not to finish last. But at least I would be able to say that I was in a race and call myself a bike racer.

Well, I finished, and it wasn't last. Close, but not last.
But it wasn't a satisfying race event at all. I took off in terrible howling wind, 32 degrees with flurries in the air. I fell off the back of the peloton by the first mile. I rode all by myself for 90% of that race. As it turned out, it felt like an average training ride in really bad weather with a fun start.

Year Two--
Last year I wanted to hang on to the peloton longer and improve my finish position. I had a much better racing experience last year. I hung on to the main group for about 3-4 miles. Then, on a climb, we splintered. I settled in with another group of about 20 riders that were in the middle. Later in the 26-mile race I actually bridged a gap to a couple, and I ended up finishing most of the race working with them together....lots of fun....better race experience, but still no hanging with the mass group.

I just think that's as good as it's gonna get for me in the racing crowd. They're all a lot faster, stronger, younger than me.

Well said, the feeling you get while racing and fear you get reminds you that you are still alive and havent gave up yet.
Just because you post a thread about it shows that you have a tough time giving up, get out there! :)
and dreamtheater, do you do IM?


blonde...

You can instant message me anytime. My address is....

No, just kidding! I have not done IronMan.

Hip, you did a century last year. How ya gonna top that this year?

blonde...

You can instant message me anytime. My address is....

No, just kidding! I have not done IronMan.
:lol: :p
( I walked right into that one:rolleyes: )

Hip, you did a century last year. How ya gonna top that this year?

Speed.

I found I don't really enjoy the real long rides.
I'd like to get a little faster doing rides in my mileage zone....25-35 miles works well for me.

Do it. I'm probably doing that race as my first race ever. you can teach me the ways of the OCP

Do it. I'm probably doing that race as my first race ever. you can teach me the ways of the OCP

If you're learning "the ways of the OCP" at a race, you're really screwing up bad at one of them.

Because it's a chance to get another shot at racing your bike, it's good practice for when you are in shape, it let's you see how your competition stacks up to you so far this year, and more.

If im gonna suck I might as well try to look good...

Do it because you might finish really high up in the field...possibly even win. You have to be hungry for it ;)

I'm thinking about not doing a road race in April that I've done the last two years. There were about 140 riders in the 26-mile race the past two years. No categories, just an open Wisport series event. It's been cold, windy, gray, and you're not in the best of shape because the season has just started.

I was 99th last year.
102 the year before in what was my first race ever.

But seriously, do I really need to go out there again to do the same thing this season?
Who am I kidding?

I'm not really a racer.
I'm a pretty good rec roadie who is 48 years old with a seven-year-old total hip replacement and visions of me being Basso in my head!

Maybe I should get my 'fast ride' buzz from a few group rides a year and stay away from organized races.

At the start, two years ago when I did this for the first time, I wanted to be able to say I was in an actually bike race....that I was a 'bike racer'....and I've done that now I guess.

You guys who are 'real' racers probably would prefer guys like me not clogging up the field anyway???

Do you need to do the same thing? No. But should you do it? Yes.

Not really a racer? sounds like you have raced two years in a row. That qualifies you.

This year, shoot for 98th. Or hell. 88th. What is stopping you.

Real racers prefer you not clogging up the field? I am going to say something harsh. It's not a categorized event. It's 26 miles. There are not likely to be a whole lot of "real" racers there...at least in the way that you are thinking. If they are, then they are understanding. You are not Clogging up the field. You ARE the field. You have some great accomplishments in the past (finishing with a hip replacement for one!) and you will continue to have more. Go out. Do it. Have fun. Write a report.

I actually bridged a gap to a couple, and I ended up finishing most of the race working with them together....lots of fun....better race experience...

Again, please, why don't you want to race this one?

Goal: hang with the main group longer than last year. You finished 41 riders up from the back. That puts you in the 29th percentile. Go for better.
Do it.

I love reading/lurking through race reports...I look forward to yours.

If the weather is nice then no excuse, you're in. If the weather bites then save your pasion for another day. Thats how I see your plight.

If you're learning "the ways of the OCP" at a race, you're really screwing up bad at one of them.

correctomundo!

If the weather is nice then no excuse, you're in. If the weather bites then save your pasion for another day. Thats how I see your plight.

hiro....

That is pretty much where I'm at on the issue right now.
I must say that some of the posts here encouraging me to do it and write about because you like reading the posts now has me leaning toward doing it.

I guess I knida thought nobody cares about reading how a guy is just lurking around the back of the field in a race. botto and other's posts about contending in a crit are a lot more exciting.

But hey...maybe I bring some balance to the racing forum....the perspective of the field fillers....yeah...that's it!

90% of life is about just showing up...I say go for it like a big dog