"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Calling on penguin, pete, recursive, crom, others who race crits

More info just released on this big event coming to the Milwaukee area on Saturday, June 16th.

The organizers have added a celebrity support race into the program.

Here is the course: (http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=90868)

I have never been in a crit before, and probably won't ever do any either after this event. It's too dangerous for me with my hip. I don't want to chance it.

BUT...for this one lower-level event...I have to participate.

So I need your help with some specifics on how to take these corners, because that's something I have very little exerience doing with people around me.

I figure there will be some non-cyclist type noobs that will be dropped right from the start and I'll never look back.

But there will also be some serious riders I suppose.

Start time is 4:10 that day, and from the looks of it this is a 15-minute event on a course that is just under a mile.

Talk to me about how to approach these corners...go through them...finish them.

I'm already getting a little nervous about this.

Thanks....

I don't do crits all that often, so I'm not terribly familiar with their dynamics.

I'd think the same rules that apply for cornering in road races apply for crits. Try and stay near the front, hold your line, look through the turn at where you want to steer your bike. Try to brake before the corner starts and hold your speed through the turn. I prefer to take turns in the middle of the pack, as the inside needs to sprint more to get up to speed and guys on the outside seem to lose position because of their wider turning radius.

I hope that helps, I'm sure others will be in to offer better advice. Good luck :beer:

Tight turns. Good luck.

If this is a truly mixed crowd and a 15-minute race, get a good warmup (I mean 45min or so) beforehand and arrive at the line sweating. Right at the whistle, freakin' GUN IT for a good minute (don't look back, don't think, just hammer the hell out of that first minute) and see who's left. That'll separate most of the folks with whom you don't want to be cornering in close quarters.

As far as the turns go, take a smooth line around the course and start each turn from as far outside as you can. Dive all the way inside as you go through the turn, and finish outside, i.e. make the turn as wide and gradual as possible. Watch out, though, for jokers who don't understand this and try to cut to the inside. As KP already said, avoid braking IN the turn.

Especially for the tight 120-degree turn, make sure you downshift a couple gears going into the turn and hammer for a couple seconds coming out. A good drill for this is to do "cornering sprints" somewhere familiar. Practice sprinting for 3-4 seconds before a turn, take the corner, then sprint 3-4 seconds out of the turn and recover.

If the field is as noobalicious as it sounds, an early attack and smart, smooth cornering will let you put some serious time into these guys.

Excellent advice...keep it comin'

On that straight section....just ride hard up until the corner then drift through...huh?

...And how do you sweep to the apex without cutting off people?

-in theory- everyone should realize the apex is the quickest way through the turn and will take it through the turn. -in practice- you'll probably wind up taking whatever line the leaders and the rest of the pack take, unless you're up front.

-in theory- everyone should realize the apex is the quickest way through the turn and will take it through the turn. -in practice- you'll probably wind up taking whatever line the leaders and the rest of the pack take, unless you're up front.

All the more reason for the early attack, especially in a 15-minute race.

If you stay in the pack, there will be much braking, slow cornering, and sprinting. Out on your own you'll be able to take the turns the right way and put serious time into the field. From your description of the field and knowing that you will probably be the strongest guy out there, getting out by yourself would seem to be the way to go.

I don't know how much announcing you'll be doing at this race, but try to take some time to watch the other races too, just to get a feel for how folks are getting around the course.

(edit) don't forget to hit some 1-minute intervals in the next few weeks. A 15-minute technical crit is all about quick, hard jumps followed by short recoveries. This ain't knave-slayin'. :D

If you find yourself not able to keep up with the pace letup a little on the straight before the sharp corner, especially if its downhill.. then catch the pack by taking the corner faster, that will give you a nice break once a lap.

where's coach jerry when you need him?

one piece of advice: find an empty parking lot. set up some dixie cups, or something similar, into a slalom course. ride it. turn using your body, not your bars.

where's coach jerry when you need him?

He'll show up next time Hip needs to be talked out of buying *****. :D

Excellent advice...keep it comin'

On that straight section....just ride hard up until the corner then drift through...huh?

...And how do you sweep to the apex without cutting off people?

Vino's advice for staying safe in something like this:

Assume no one in this event knows how to actually race a bike

Get a couple of practice laps so you feel comfortable

If you're at or near the front, stay off the brakes unless you really need them. If you're not up front keep your eyes way up the road and a couple of fingers on the brakes.

Look where you want to go, not where you don't (ie: don't stare at the pot hole you're trying to avoid)

Don't overlap your front wheel with anyone's rear if you can avoid it. 95% of crashes happen because of this.

Just before you start your turn glance under your "inside" arm to make sure no one is trying to kamikaze the inside line (see your question above)

Again, keep your eyes way up the road.

Talk nicely to folks around you (I'm on your left) .

Assume someone will be agro enough to want to win this thing. Ride with this in mind.

Nothing wrong with being OTB if all you're trying to do is survive and things look sketchy.

I know of at least a couple of media-types that are pretty solid riders....a tri-athlete or two as well. So I don't think this will be a cakewalk or wanything like that, but I'm not sure WHAT to expect.

And yes Pete....once a week now I am going to do some intervals. I'm finding a flat spot where there are no stop signs so that I can get up to speed....as fast as I can hold....and then try to hold that for a minute....turn around and ride back as recovery....repeat.

^^ I believe in you, Hip, but Vino is right too. If you're not strong enough to get away and things look sketchy, remember that you're probably racing for bragging rights. Knowing your concern for your hip I'm sure you know this, but testosterone can run high in crits. ;)

where's coach jerry when you need him?

one piece of advice: find an empty parking lot. set up some dixie cups, or something similar, into a slalom course. ride it. turn using your body, not your bars.

Well, he doesn't want me to do this....that's where he is.
But he realizes I got a fever....and the only prescription is more cowbell....well that and ah...my one chance here to perhaps get a taste in an amateur level race I guess.

P.S.
Jerry was great with that new Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow I tested.
He's letting me just keep the tester, since it's already perfectly setup on my bike and I have pretty many miles into the break-in already.

Plus...he found a buyer for my old Campy Vento G's too!
I'm buying the saddle with money left over!

I'd add something, but smarter people have already offered solid advice. The sprint, corner, sprint drill is really good.

As far as the turns go, take a smooth line around the course and start each turn from as far outside as you can. Dive all the way inside as you go through the turn, and finish outside, i.e. make the turn as wide and gradual as possible. Watch out, though, for jokers who don't understand this and try to cut to the inside. As KP already said, avoid braking IN the turn.

This works only if the race is single file. In a crit, most of the time, it's not. I try to avoid going all the way to the inside unless it's really really strung out. Usually, I leave at least 5 feet in case someone ends up there.

Weight the outside pedal, but then start pedaling again AS SOON as you are upright enough to do so without scraping. This might mean pedaling all the way through the corner in some cases, especially if you're toward the back. You're going to need to accelerate to keep your wheel. The farther back you are, the more it will cost.

I know of at least a couple of media-types that are pretty solid riders....a tri-athlete or two as well. So I don't think this will be a cakewalk or wanything like that, but I'm not sure WHAT to expect.

And yes Pete....once a week now I am going to do some intervals. I'm finding a flat spot where there are no stop signs so that I can get up to speed....as fast as I can hold....and then try to hold that for a minute....turn around and ride back as recovery....repeat.

never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever sit on a triathlete's wheel, especially if it's a crit!

Don't be nervous. Your doom in this race seems a near certainty. Be fatalistic. Like Marie Antonette proceeding to the guillotine. Do it with grace.

http://www-sop.inria.fr/meije/personnel/Andrea.Valente/img/wallpapers/Guillotine.jpg

This reminds me of my warm-up before the High Point TT. It was a beautiful road on a perfect spring morning and it reminded me of the scene in 'Glory' where the young officer played by Matthew Broderick is on the beach before the battle he knows will result in his death and he sets his horse free.

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/12340000/12345558.jpg

But the race turned out to be fine. So will yours.

never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever sit on a triathlete's wheel, especially if it's a crit!

Botto actually understates the importance of this advice.

Botto actually understates the importance of this advice.

correct.

watch out for dive bombers in corners and be very vocal. Let someone know your on their inside or outside.

Find someone who races and go to a large Walmart-type parking lot before it opens or after it closes. Bring some cones or just use the painted parking dividers that are already on the ground. Have your racer friend show you how to manage the corners while you follow closely behind.

15 minutes is a VERY short event so you need to be prepared to go very hard. You should have some sort of idea going into it how hard you can go for 15 minutes, but remember that it's not going to be a steady-state effort but a serious of surges and coasts.

I may be underestimating the racing experience of your competition but there may be some folks who are strong bike riders who will be happy to just pull you around thinking they will ride you off their wheel not realizing how much more work they must do at the front. It goes without saying that you don't want to be that guy either. If you go hard and can get a gap that's great but as soon as someone catches you then you need to freewheel until someone pulls around.

Expanding upon botto's point... Don't follow directly behind anyone who appears at all sketchy.

--Steve

Where are the triathletes protesting Botto's advice?

never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever sit on a triathlete's wheel, especially if it's a crit!


Oh-oh....
Well, I know of one, and she's a TV anchor here....and a very serious competitor. I think she might enter.

I'd sit on a triathlete's wheel, but I am crazy.

Oh-oh....
Well, I know of one, and she's a TV anchor here....and a very serious competitor. I think she might enter.

you just want to sit on her wheel to look at her cottage of wattage.

trust me. in 17 years of riding, i've only felt safe behind one - 1 - triathletes wheel.

Oh-oh....
Well, I know of one, and she's a TV anchor here....and a very serious competitor. I think she might enter.

I certainly wouldn't sit on her, but depending on a couple of factors I might let her sit on me.

--Steve (sorry, really I am)

you just want to sit on her wheel to look at her cottage of wattage.

trust me. in 17 years of riding, i've only felt safe behind one - 1 - triathletes wheel.

Perhaps.

http://intranet/Portals/0/photos/milwaukee/gerrishc.jpg

Oh-oh....
Well, I know of one, and she's a TV anchor here....and a very serious competitor. I think she might enter.
If I'm thinking of the same anchor, she's fallen off her bike a few times, yes?

If I'm thinking of the same anchor, she's fallen off her bike a few times, yes?

Yes....

Yes....
Then make sure she doesn't show up with her Tri bike. And get to the front and ride away. Practice the sprint, corner, sprint drill. The better you corner at the front, the more gas you can give to the accleration out of the corner, the better off you'll be.

Then make sure she doesn't show up with her Tri bike. And get to the front and ride away. Practice the sprint, corner, sprint drill. The better you corner at the front, the more gas you can give to the accleration out of the corner, the better off you'll be.
Not the front, but front-ish. That is, unless you can TT away from the pack of triathletes. Maybe they'll all crash into each other.

This will be worse than any Cat 5 race you ever seen. I definitely like Dr Pete's advice. I would attack from the gun as hard as I possibly could, and essentially turn it into an indivudual time trial.

For this to work you need to hold nothing back for the first 1 minute. Very sharp acceleration so you don't tow anyone with you. After a minute, settle into a pace you can maintain.

Several possilbe outcomes: 1) You solo wire to wire for the W, 2) you get caught dropped, and go OTB, (but hell you tried); 3) you shave the field down to people who can actually ride, and then you can make adecision whether you're comfortable dropping in with them and duking it out, or you can decide to just finish your time trial and see where you place.

The last thing I would want to do is sit in a pack with the majority of the field.

The one time I did a corporate/charity bike race, I pretty much adpoted the above strategy, and whittled the field to 2 guys. Me and a guy who was a Cat2. (I ended up second.)

Criteriums for people who don't race are a really bad idea. i would definitely do what it takes to seperate yourself from people who have no idea what they're doing, even if you risk blowing up and going off the back

Did someone say triathletes? In a crit? I have some photos of that....

http://vega.soi.city.ac.uk/~abbf806/redpolitix/explosion%2022.JPG

Not the front, but front-ish. That is, unless you can TT away from the pack of triathletes. Maybe they'll all crash into each other.
I'm saying he can sprint out of the corners and drop the triathletes while they're confused as to why the road doesn't go straight.

Then make sure she doesn't show up with her Tri bike. And get to the front and ride away. Practice the sprint, corner, sprint drill. The better you corner at the front, the more gas you can give to the accleration out of the corner, the better off you'll be.

This course will make a sketchy triathlete crap themselves.

I'm saying he can sprint out of the corners and drop the triathletes while they're confused as to why the road doesn't go straight.

Oh yes, that. Ok. Very sneaky.

This course will make a sketchy triathlete crap themselves.
Yes, yes it will.

Triathletes can be very fast, but they tend to not have the snap/accelleration/experience to respond to fast surges in races like crits. That's generally the case, but there are exceptions to every observation. Of course if the triathlete's wheel you grab is not one of those and you get shelled, oh well. Not his problem, eh?

I'd sit on a triathlete's wheel, but I am crazy.
What? You're just askin' to lose your other spleen, aren't you?

:p

Whaddya mean I only have the one?

Triathletes can be very fast, but they tend to not have the snap/accelleration/experience to respond to fast surges in races like crits. That's generally the case, but there are exceptions to every observation.
+1 The triathletes that I have ridden with have been really strong, but not much in the snap/accelleration department as you say.

Whaddya mean I only have the one?

Some people have more than one... the extra spleen is often mistaken for a tumor or something else...

+1 The triathletes that I have ridden with have been really strong, but not much in the snap/accelleration department as you say.

probably because most tir-guys/gals make sergie gonchar look like he's spinning.

probably because most tir-guys/gals make sergie gonchar look like he's spinning.
Heh. A bit. And those are just the guys I've ridden with. I didn't mention the ones I've ridden past. ;) Not that I've ever passed anyone ever on a bike. Those things are just not done.

Hey those media types are so tough. I beat Kelly Tiilghman, and Brandon Chamblee of the Golf channel in a triathlon once.

Did someone say triathletes? In a crit? I have some photos of that....

http://vega.soi.city.ac.uk/~abbf806/redpolitix/explosion%2022.JPG

It's never that quick and painless DP. If only.

It's never that quick and painless DP. If only.

I think encountering a triathlete in a mass-start race and and exposure to nuclear weapons can burn off roughly the same amount of skin, though.

Hey those media types are so tough. I beat Kelly Tiilghman, and Brandon Chamblee of the Golf channel in a triathlon once.

i rode with Storm Field a (http://www.medialine.com/medialineUBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007363;p=) few times, about 14 years ago. :)

Do yourself a gigantic favor and don't be anywhere near triathletes at any time during this event. Don't talk to them, look them in the eyes, breath in their scent, or take in their aura. All of these can draw you in and make you more susceptible to whatever it is that makes them miserable @ss bike handlers. And, do yourself another favor, and go out of your way to report anyone who shows up anywhere near the line with aerobars. If they and the race officials are that inept, you need to take the initiative and save some people some skin by making sure they don't start the race with them on.