"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - The "BF Virgin Crit Racer Training Program" update:

OK...just back from a session after reading your advice about cornering in my earlier thread.
Here's what I tried today:

After doing seven, one-minute intervals, I rode back to find a place where there was a 4-way stop and no traffic.

I proceeded to do laps, making right turns at speed as my practice.
I did the first few at 20 mph on the hoods. After that I did a batch of laps in the drops doing 21's. I used the sweep method.

I approach out wide enough that I am just into the opposite direction lane of traffic, then sweep into the turn hitting the apex and sweeping out as wide as I came in just about....accelerating out of the turn.

The scariest part for me is actually while I am still going straight and setting up for the turn. It seems like it's all happening very fast and there's no turning back. Yet while executing the turn, I feel fine. It was good to feel how the bike reacts and to see what it's like going that fast around a corner.

I guess now it would be good to practice this further...do some left turns too...and then maybe find someone who would ride with me to practice this alongside, so I get the feel of not only doing it, but doing it with others around me, huh?

Hip

Just remember to shift back in the saddle and think of England.

Shift back in the saddle?
Explain please....

This is about as good of explanation as there is:

http://synergycycling.com/coach.php/?page_id=13

Essentially, by shifting your weight back you're lowering your upper body, thus lowering your center of gravity. Or at least that's how it was explained to me.

Once you go through a couple turns in the crit, you'll have it figured out. Just stay smooth and supple, and follow the line of the rider in front of you. If you have to make adjustments, make them gradually so you don't wobble around.

Just "hold your line" in the race. You will find that the other racers in the low cats are going really slow through tight corners. Sweeping wide through the corners is OK if you're up front, but no good if you're in the middle of the pack, in my very limited experience.

^^^ on the contrary... in lower-cat races there is much ground to be gained in a tight corner by going out wide while everyone else is trying to dive-bomb the turn.

....if up front or close to it, this is a no-brainer....I do it just like I am practicing it.

If however I find myself in a pack of riders, then I would worry that they won't realize the sweep approach and they or I will clip them.

So, if I'm in a group, then perhaps it's just best to do as the group is doing....stay on a wheel in front of me and don't do anything drastic through....

Isn't this a group of 'celebrities' or something like that?

Hip, you'll be off the front!

Isn't this a group of 'celebrities' or something like that?

Hip, you'll be off the front!



I repeat my original advice. Take a flyer from the gun, and win solo, or die trying. May not be the highest odds of winning but best odds of staying upright.

Just "hold your line" in the race. You will find that the other racers in the low cats are going really slow through tight corners. Sweeping wide through the corners is OK if you're up front, but no good if you're in the middle of the pack, in my very limited experience.


MY expeirence is the exact opposite, my fellow Cat 5's are flying through the turns at unsafe speeds!!!! Almost got taken out once becuase an idiot carried WAY too much speed into a 180 turn and of course lost it.

Isn't this a group of 'celebrities' or something like that?

Hip, you'll be off the front!

...this is my hope, but you never know, and just in case I want a Plan B.....I just want to be prepared for whatever. Besides, this is kind of fun training for something a little different like this...shakes up the routine of just going out and riding my usual 26 or 35 miles.

I appreciate all the advice from those who are already experienced at this here....

MY expeirence is the exact opposite, my fellow Cat 5's are flying through the turns at unsafe speeds!!!! Almost got taken out once becuase an idiot carried WAY too much speed into a 180 turn and of course lost it.

I guess if you are in a Cat 5 race and you don't see the squirrelly idiot, it's like being in a poker game and not being able to spot the chump... but my limited experience has been: way too slow on the tight corners, and unneeded swooping in and out out the fast corners.

Isn't this a group of 'celebrities' or something like that?

Hip, you'll be off the front!


Plus, if I'm reading the schedule right, its a 15 minute race! Hip, can solo off the front at the gun and hold that to victory!:D

Plus, if I'm reading the schedule right, its a 15 minute race! Hip, can solo off the front at the gun and hold that to victory!:D

^That's how it works in my dreams anyway! :)

Shift back in the saddle?
Explain please....

explanation here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_back_and_think_of_England).

^That's how it works in my dreams anyway! :)


It all depends on the other celebs. Any idea who else is going to be there? Courtny Gerrish (http://www.todaystmj4.com/about/people/anchors/5111371.html) might be some actual competition!

if that's the tri-chic that has hip all hot and bothered (;)), then chances are she'll crash out in the first 100 meters.

btw - i hope for her sake that she's better looking in person http://images.todaystmj4.com/images/courtnygerrish.jpg

I know....I hope she's there. I've asked her but have not gotten an answer yet.

...what....I missed that...I was lying back and thinking of England just to practice.

Ah England....warm beer and bad food....what more could you ask for?

bad weather?

bad weather?

Oh yeah, I forgot that one!
Good point.

Hip, just think to yourself, "I am the master of the crit. I am the crit commander!"

I have no idea why your thread made me think of this movie clip from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, but it did--must be getting delirious with all this editing. :) Just imagine him saying "crit" instead. :D

(this is definitely an R-rated clip and rather raunchy. You've been warned.)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YO7BSCxb0-8

if that's the tri-chic that has hip all hot and bothered (;)), then chances are she'll crash out in the first 100 meters.

btw - i hope for her sake that she's better looking in person http://images.todaystmj4.com/images/courtnygerrish.jpg

I think it's spelled "Garish." :D

I think it's spelled "Garish." :D

she's Mantastic!

she's Mantastic!
She's also Mannoying.

she's Mantastic!

Dude, quit being a creepy stalker! :D

Dude, quit being a creepy stalker! :D

f'tak

she's Mantastic!


She's also Mannoying.

Oh man! Look what I started! :p

At least now we'll have a "before" picture when Hip breaks her spirit. :D

Oh man! Look what I started! :p

show a little bit of faith why don't you.

I repeat my original advice. Take a flyer from the gun, and win solo, or die trying. May not be the highest odds of winning but best odds of staying upright.

+1 This is esp. effective if these are local celebs who will wave and pose as it's starting. Go from jump and go hard.

Yo, hip, I'll probably be racing the 4/5. I'll stick around to watch the celebrity drama unfold.

As I will too Hip. I preregistered 4/5. May be I'll get some pictures.

Can't wait to hear how you do Hip. I will live vicariously through you until my first crit on July 14th.

juniors and 4/5 that day
I'm prepared to be destroyed

We've got 4% of the 4/5 field here then. Anyone else?

We've got 4% of the 4/5 field here then. Anyone else?

EXCELLENT!
We've got the BF WI Racing Crew on board for this deal. This will be way cool. I'll certainly shoot photos for you guys.
(Mrs. Hip is coming too, so I think I'll turn her loose with the cam corder as well)

Now we need to hear from Cromulent and Mayo to add to the list.

Dave 342--Who rode in my century last Aug. and is, as Sherwin would say, "A beast of a man"
recursive--Who is quick like a fox, when he isn't dropping his chain on the bell lap
frunkin--Our next generation young rider with potential oozing out of his red Specialized
Hip--The PR man 'pretender racer' spokesperson for the group
Cromulent--Or his nickname, "GOOSE"...ask him, he'll explain the story of when we first met
Mayo--The FIB transfer, but we let him in because the dude is perhaps the best of our bunch and he likes Wisconsin