"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Fingers on the BikeReg Triggers, everyone... Poolesvile RR opens in 10 minutes!

I'm gonna get so freakin' smoked in this race, but what the hell.

Anyway, registration opens at 8. This one has potential to go really fast...

Oops... I meant "fingers on the bikereg triggers..."

I'm gonna get so freakin' smoked in this race, but what the hell.

Anyway, registration opens at 8. This one has potential to go really fast...
The Race...or the Registration...

The Race...or the Registration...

Both. :D

Fixed thread title.

i didnt screw around on this one. combined 4/5 should go quick since the individual fields fill up super fast at the other races.

Thanks for fixing the title--I got all excited and what not. :D

....AAAAAND the men's 4/5 is closed. 7 minutes. :eek:

DAMN see my thread about DC races filling fast. competitive city

That's not even funny. What that means to me is that they're not charging enough money.

--Steve

they could probably start doing two 5s races at some of these events if they had the time.

That's not even funny. What that means to me is that they're not charging enough money.

--Steve

I think $28 is plenty :)

The field size limit is 75 for all races, so that's part of the problem. Great race... can't wait.

I cant understand why this race fills up so fast. I ride in that area daily and avoid two of those crappy roads on purpose - hate Westerly Road, and only ride that gravel section if I really have to take a nature break. That being said, I'm in for the 3/4, but if it wasnt so close to home and the team into doing poolesville this year, I'd be heading up to PA for the Turkey Hill RR - better (and harder) race IMO.

Roads are far too narrow for field sizes >75, it wont get permitted for larger field sizes.

id say part of the reason it filled up so fast is because all these other races are filling up so fast. combine that with the race being 4/5 there just arent enough races for the demand in the immediate area.

I think part of the reason it fills so fast is because it IS on crappy roads--kind of a Paris-Roubaix phenomenon on a smaller and more insignificant scale. After all, we all have some psychopathology that makes us enjoy suffering on our bikes, so I guess it's no surprise. ;)

I'm curious...what kind of race is this? The long and hilly RR's and the two big stage races are the ones that usually fill up fast here in New England. (Just trying to get a sense of the racing scene in the DC area since I may be moving there next summer...) Does the 3 and Masters races fill fast too?

It's a rolling course, with relatively rough roads and 1.4mi of hardpack dirt road per 10-mile lap. Not sure on the elevation stats, etc. The 4/5 race is 42mi, 3/4 is 53, and P/1/2/3 is 74 IIRC...

The 3/4 didn't fill up quite as fast-- 3 hours into it there are 51 riders in the 3/4 field, 8 in the masters, and 11 in P/1/2/3.

Did you get in the race Pete?

Did you get in the race Pete?

I did... I felt like I was sniping on ebay or something. :)

^^^^^

haha thats what I felt like too!

I'm curious...what kind of race is this? The long and hilly RR's and the two big stage races are the ones that usually fill up fast here in New England. (Just trying to get a sense of the racing scene in the DC area since I may be moving there next summer...) Does the 3 and Masters races fill fast too?

It's a road race. In DC area, which is MABRA, there arent alot of road races. It's a pretty congested area and it's difficult to get them permitted, so RRs tend to fill up quickly. For both RRs and crits, the Cat 4 and 5 fields fill up in less than 30 minutes for the earlier season races, say pre-june. There are ALOT of Cat 4s in this area. Cat 3 and masters, not nearly as fast unless the promoting club decides to combine fields. If a Cat 3/4 combined field, you've to be quick to register as it'll fill up after the Cat 4 or 4/5 field does. Masters, MABRA has 30+ and 40+ categories as opposed to 35+ and 45+. If it's a combined 30/40+ race, it'll fill up pretty fast, but not so much of they're split.

All promoting clubs have been looking for ways to give everyone who wants to compete a chance, but with so many 4s and 5s, and a growing contingent of 3s, it's tough, especially with time constraints and when you face public scorn if you were to add another Cat 4 or 5 race at the expense of Junior races or multiple women's races (neither of which fill up).

I did... I felt like I was sniping on ebay or something. :)

which one? 4/5, 3/4, or 1/2/3?

This race has built up a local spring classic type status. I'd love to do it but it conflicts with the Highland Rim race, a true test of mountain fitness :D

which one? 4/5, 3/4, or 1/2/3?

The 4/5. I'll let the 5's kill themselves up front and save my big a$$ for the field sprint. :D

The 4/5. I'll let the 5's kill themselves up front and save my big a$$ for the field sprint. :D

swissy. ;)

The 4/5. I'll let the 5's kill themselves up front and save my big a$$ for the field sprint. :D

Poolesville rarely ends in a field sprint - at least a sprint for 1st. Also, oddly enough, the gravel section rarely has a role in determining who wins the race, it only seems to have a role in who doesnt (flat tires and crashes on the turn in). Roads are narrow, so a small group can fly the coup. That's it, no more free pointers on Poolesville from me, but there lots more that can be had for a fee.;)

Wow, this sounds like the Mid-Atlantic version of Paris-Roubaix. Please post pics and race reports.

anybody else done this race before? this will be my very first and i'm interested in recommended tires, as well as any safety advice folks are willing to give.

i think im going to ride the course next week to see what to expect

I rode the course yesterday and the dirt section had a lot of potholes and loose gravel. The left side of the road was the better side to ride. Loose gravel at the bottom of the hill to make the turn onto River Rd. Better shape at the Elmer School Rd end than last year -- not as many big rocks. Other than a few big holes should be in decent shape for the race.

For tires -- 23's should be alright. I had a Specialized 23/25 on the front and 23 on the rear at 120 PSI and had no problems.

Tubulars would be the best. I ride gravel roads on clinchers size 23's at 110-120 PSI all the time. I do get flats some times of course but I wouldn't buy a set of tires just for one race. Just remember to try to get your weight evenly distributed front and back in the gravel sections if possible.

I'm entered!

Where is it again?

:)

Breakaways work very well in this race. It is a very out of sight out of mind course. And the officials are generally very good at giving time splits.
Position is very important as well. Preride the course and know where you need to move up. The roads are narrow, and sometimes it is tough moving up. Be in the first 10 into the dirt, and avoid the mess that will ultimately occur behind. If you preride the course, I recommend doing the right hander in the dirt quite a number of times to get it dialed. Brake hard coming down the hill and don't even touch them as you transition onto the dirt. People will freak and brake, and that is when you lose control of the bike.
If you make a break, be number 3 or 4 into the dirt, there are only 1 or 2 spots to change the front rider, so as number 3 + you will never have to pull through the dirt, this leaves you fresher for the pincher coming out of the dirt. That one will hurt a touch after a few laps.
If you are in the front on the dirt, drive it, you WILL lose people.
Take a bottle every lap you can, and drink it. Always have a second full on the bike, incase you lose one on the gravel.
Finally, don't be on the front up the feedzone hill on the last lap, you will get stuck dragging everyone behind you. And wait when you make that left, you still have at least 500m to the finish.

Personally, I didn't ride it w/ carbon wheels, just not worth the possible $$. Used a Sworks Mondo Clincher, the best for durability and performance, I think.

This is the best race in MABRA, imho!

awesome tips

yes, this is all very helpful and much appreciated. i'm not really looking to be competitive in this one, just get some experience and not crash. joshdcu posted some good tips when i asked about it in the regional forum:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=284536

i'm busy this weekend, but anybody want to head out to check out the course maybe next saturday?

So, my legs are mush from intervals during the week, but I was wondering if anyone was interested in a ride around the course tomorrow. Still trying to nail down a time, etc., but I was thinking I might go for a spin out there. Alternatively I might take some laps around the Carl Dolan course and wait for it to warm up a bit before I ride P-ville...

i work on saturday otherwise I would love to. if i cant get myself out of the bed and into the cold morning on sunday i might check it out later in the afternoon otherwise im going to check it out on monday or wednesday.

The gravel section takes out a lot of folks due to flats (me last year). A set of nice, fat sewups would be a good idea except I don't have any. So, I am gonna ride a set of Conti 28's off my tandem inflated to 125 PSI....

i dont like all stuff about flats. maybe i will put on armadillos.

I was thinking Roubaix Armadillo Elites or Roubaix S-Works too... Yay, Specialized sponsorship! Might want to wait till I get those, then...

i dont like all stuff about flats. maybe i will put on armadillos.


The flats are almost always pinch flats from running over a rock at speed in the gravel section, as opposed to a puncture from something penetrating the tire, though there are probably some side-wall punctures from running over rocks off-center of the tire.

So the trick to avoiding pinch flats is:

1) Us sew-ups (can't pinch flat)
2) Try to miss the rocks! (very hard to do nose-to-tail on a gravel road in the dust at speed)
3) Over-inflate your tires a few PSI
4) Use a larger tire with more air volume and a high pressure rating also slightly overinflated.

Latex tubes, perhaps?

Latex tubes, perhaps?

I don't know anything about latex tubes. But super-light weight tubes would be a no-no.

I can guarantee if you flat there is no way you are going to chase back up to the field, I don't care how fast a wheel change you get. So, light weight would have to take a back seat to puncture resistance....

Latex tubes, perhaps?


just be at the front each time you go into the gravel so you can pick a good line. :D

just be at the front each time you go into the gravel so you can pick a good line. :D

But I can't BUY that! :D

I was just thinking that since latex tubes are a bit more pliable they may be less prone to pinch flatting... Just thinking aloud.

if you dont use tubular wheels, this is the race for tufo tubular clinchers ...

just be at the front each time you go into the gravel so you can pick a good line. :D

Allways a good plan... but easier said than done.

Allways a good plan... but easier said than done.

I was *mostly* kidding. The easiest way to do this would be to divebomb the inside while the group goes single file setting up for the corner, but that would also be the easiest way to ensure that everyone in the race wants to kick your ass :)

i think i'm gonna try and head out there next weekend. you doing the capitol hill ride on sunday dr pete?

i think i'm gonna try and head out there next weekend. you doing the capitol hill ride on sunday dr pete?

It depends. I'm trying to join the heathen on the Sunday ride but I might lose out to family obligations... Definitely next weekend, though.

this weather is driving me crazy! I keep trying to get out to ride the course but the weather breaks me. ugh.