"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Superstitions?

Trawling pics of the Dauphine reminded me of some of the weird things racers do...

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&07dauphineSt2

Was wondering what people's racing "do's" and "dont's" were.

Not shaving on the morning of a TT? Left sock on before right sock? Cross yourself before the off??

I hear botto has an issue with releiving himself. Maybe he could enlighten us.

Never speak of your ambitions. Never. Ever. Say it in your head, mentally shout it as a fact, but never, ever, ever say it aloud.
When I decided to ride my bike to lose weight, I never said that aloud, but I lost a ton of weight.
When I wanted to dominate my track races, I said it in my brain, I might have joked about pillaging the cities the races were in, but I never said I'd win like I did.

I've only recently found this out, how much mental power the human has, but when I can properly clear my head and forecast something as a fact, nothing can stop me.


but besides that, mellow music like Grateful Dead to calm me down followed by sometihng unsettling like Mushroomhead helps, that worked once, it'll have to work again.

Mine? Visualization. Know what I am going to do. Not really so much a superstition as good advice.

One day a few months ago, the guys around the office got together to go to Moe's for lunch. If you don't know, Moe's is a sort of Americanized spin on Mexican food. Out of peer pressure, I joined in. I had a big ride planned later in the day, but I went anyways, thinking I'd just ride through it. I ended up having an amazing ride, feeling great after warming up in the first few miles. So now, before any big ride, I'll go to Moe's and eat an Art Vandalay. It's evolved, too, to the point that I have to go through the exact process every time I go; the other day, I was considering a different salsa but second guessed myself as I have not changed salsas since feeling great.

I don't shave my face the day of or the day before any race I want to do well in.

I'm starting to think that if I want to do well in a race, when people ask I shouldn't tell em I'm feeling good. A jinx, of sorts.

Other jinxes- don't talk about crashing, flatting, etc. when a race is coming up.

This is more of a habit than a superstition, but I always clip in right foot first.

I don't speak of past crashes the day of a race, and don't speak of the potential for eating it in future races. This can be discussed the day before a race, or at any other time during the week, just not on the race weekend.

Always clip in right foot first. Always start in the 53-21. Always race with my socks inside out. Always drink one serving of a caffeinated, carbonated sugar filled beverage 30-45min before a race.

Always wear gloves, not so much superstition, as caution I think. I don't want road rash on my palms.

If it's a morning race, I *must* have my post coffee constitutional beforehand.

Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing. Never ever talk about c r@shing.

Oh, and if any of you post pics of your road rash like the freds in road cycling - i'll kill ya.

http://montysbluff.com/francis.jpg



Oh, and I always race with one of these (st michael's medal) on my bike:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/botto/compy02.jpg

Always wear gloves, not so much superstition, as caution I think. I don't want road rash on my palms.

If it's a morning race, I *must* have my post coffee constitutional beforehand.
I seemed to do well without gloves, I think I'll keep it that way. I wore gloves the time I had to go through grass and curb-hop my bike.

I used to avoid wearing green - its bad luck IMO.

I used to avoid wearing green - its bad luck IMO.

aww crap! my team's kit is all green! I've gotta change squads, pronto :)

I never backpedal on the line for fear of dropping my chain.
Always right foot clipped in at start (like others I see).
I never let anyone else pin my number.

I had a pair of lucky socks that I always raced with. The first time I forgot them, I was taken out in the sprint when two riders came together in front of me. I may have to go back to wearing them despite the fact that they are winter weight, wool, and go past the ankle. F' fashion and comfort.

I have a small altar in the trunk of my car upon which I sacrifice a live chicken before every race.

I offer chicken and rum to Jobu. :D

http://detectovision.com/pics/jobu2.jpg

I don't shave the day of an event. When I raced cars I always got in the car from the left side and I always put on my gloves in the car right glove first.

I have a small altar in the trunk of my car upon which I sacrifice a live chicken before every race.

I offer chicken and rum to Jobu. :D


:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

The first rule of Fight Club is you never talk about Fight Club.

Never ever talk about c r@shing.

Botto sez:

http://myshavedlegs.blogspot.com/2007/03/lucky-charms.html

And

http://myshavedlegs.blogspot.com/2007/03/lucky-charms-ii.html

My own superstitions:

- I will not pump up my tires at the actual event. I pump them up the night before or at home right before I leave for the race. But NEVER at the actual race.

- Tell everyone who will listen that my legs don't feel quite right and that my goal is just to sit in for this race. It's not a lie, either. I get nervous before races and generally don't feel good until the race settles down a bit.

- Try to get laid the night before the race with the reasoning that it will help me do better. It has no effect whatsoever on race performance but after 15 years of marriage I'll use any sort of clever ruse I can.

--Steve

- Try to get laid the night before the race with the reasoning that it will help me do better. It has no effect whatsoever on race performance but after 15 years of marriage I'll use any sort of clever ruse I can.

....thanks for the tip Zim!

Oh, as for superstitions?
LEFT shoe goes on first, every single time. Race or ride.

My own superstitions:

- I will not pump up my tires at the actual event. I pump them up the night before or at home right before I leave for the race. But NEVER at the actual race.

- Tell everyone who will listen that my legs don't feel quite right and that my goal is just to sit in for this race. It's not a lie, either. I get nervous before races and generally don't feel good until the race settles down a bit.

- Try to get laid the night before the race with the reasoning that it will help me do better. It has no effect whatsoever on race performance but after 15 years of marriage I'll use any sort of clever ruse I can.
--Steve

Nice. I'll have to try that one, but with an infant at home, I might just be SOL.

After reading this post, I guess I dont have much in way of superstition, aside from liking to bite the head off of a live bat near the start line in full view of all my competitors.

My own superstitions:

- I will not pump up my tires at the actual event. I pump them up the night before or at home right before I leave for the race. But NEVER at the actual race.

- Tell everyone who will listen that my legs don't feel quite right and that my goal is just to sit in for this race. It's not a lie, either. I get nervous before races and generally don't feel good until the race settles down a bit.

- Try to get laid the night before the race with the reasoning that it will help me do better. It has no effect whatsoever on race performance but after 15 years of marriage I'll use any sort of clever ruse I can.

--Steve

that's not superstition, that's common sense.

I have to ride fast the day before the race. At least once. Not an interval workout or anything, but just a taste of speed and pain.

I cant race with out my lucky oakleys. If im not wearing my lucky oakleys my bike will collapse under me, my legs will explode, and some russian sattelite will fall out of the sky and crush me to death.

I have to ride fast the day before the race. At least once. Not an interval workout or anything, but just a taste of speed and pain.

That's called opening-up. We have a Fri ride that is 90' w/40' of fast paceline and a final sprint (20-30 riders). It's like a warmup for the weekend.

I have no superstitions. That would be akin to believing in witchcraft, so I'll plead agnostic.

I write my name 20x in red ink, watch black cats cross in front of me, eat non-kosher foods, run under ladders, with scissors, try to get #13, stay on the 14th floor of a hotel, drop salt everywhere, and curse every saint who ever lived.

That, ...and aromatherapy.

My own superstitions:

- Try to get laid the night before the race with the reasoning that it will help me do better. It has no effect whatsoever on race performance but after 15 years of marriage I'll use any sort of clever ruse I can.

--Steve

Yeah, but what does your wife of 15 years have to say about you trying to go and get laid? You don't actually mean WITH your wife do you?? Is that even physically possible after 15 years?

Yeah, but what does your wife of 15 years have to say about you trying to go and get laid? You don't actually mean WITH your wife do you?? Is that even physically possible after 15 years?

That's hilarious.

--Steve (defying physics whenever possible)

Is that even physically possible after 15 years?

I'm at 12 years, and still get my race-day good-luck charm. The poor gal has put up with so much cycling. I rode to her apartment so she could drive on our first date, because I didn't have a car. I guess she knew what she was getting into :D

You know, I couldn't find my "race socks" this past Sunday (still can't) and I got dropped for the first time ever. Maybe it wasn't my dumb "I'll tow the whole damn field back to the break" riding afterall...

I tap my top tube after every race. Sort of a thanks to the bike. Note sure exactly why I started doing this.

I tap my top tube after every race. Sort of a thanks to the bike. Note sure exactly why I started doing this.

Just make sure it's not CF or it'll explode. :D

Different colored socks. My best training races have been done in different colored socks.

unscrew the valve on rear tire.
unscrew the valve on front tire.
inflate rear tire.
inflate front tire.
screw in valve on rear tire.
screw in valve on front tire.

in that order.

anything less would be uncivilized.

Hmmm this has got me thinking. My two worst placings this year (both 12th) are the only time I have worn a certain pair of socks. Them suckers are not getting worn again on race day!

I started making a list of all the charms/incantations to implement before a race but after looking at the list I realized that between the sex, kit requirements, charms, Obsessive Compulsive acts and farm animals I'd be worn out before before I raced. Thats even if I could race with five pounds of charms and blood all over my hands from my sacrifices...I'm sticking to showing up and seeing what happens. :rolleyes:

I started making a list of all the charms/incantations to implement before a race but after looking at the list I realized that between the sex, kit requirements, charms, Obsessive Compulsive acts and farm animals I'd be worn out before before I raced. Thats even if I could race with five pounds of charms and blood all over my hands from my sacrifices...I'm sticking to showing up and seeing what happens. :rolleyes:

seems that some folk have mistaken habit for superstition.

I always shave my legs the night before a race. No matter what. I had a lot of mecanicals in race untill it started shaving the night before.

I offer chicken and rum to Jobu. :D




That's gold! :D :D a bit of Pedro Cerrano!!


"Hats....for bats."

That's gold! :D :D a bit of Pedro Cerrano!!


"Hats....for bats."

Jesus, I like him very much, but he no help with crit racing. :D

Jesus, I like him very much, but he no help with crit racing. :D


You no help me now, I say, fu** you, Joboo. I do it myself.

:D

Mark

I have a locket with both my kids pictures in it, I've tied it to my right shoe at any races, running or duathlons and I have a small pin that my brother gave to me before he passed away,I took the pin part off and wear the smooth surface in my shirt always where my heart is.
Im very sentimental and believe that those two things will keep me safe, I dont ask to win in my superstitions, I just ask to be kept safe.

I didn't follow these, but my teammates who did better than me did:

Take showers with your jersey on in between stages of a stage race.

Don't shave the day of a time trial.

seems that some folk have mistaken habit for superstition.

incorrect:rolleyes:

I'm at 12 years, and still get my race-day good-luck charm. The poor gal has put up with so much cycling. I rode to her apartment so she could drive on our first date, because I didn't have a car. I guess she knew what she was getting into :D
Now THAT'S a keeper!

Hmmm this has got me thinking. My two worst placings this year (both 12th) are the only time I have worn a certain pair of socks. Them suckers are not getting worn again on race day!
My best day of racing to date was done on a day that I didn't shave the legs, I always shave the morning of a race. I didn't shave this morning and I felt awesome, I could have easily done 150 miles at 21mph.

1 twinkie

rituals and superstitions are for the nervous. its usually to allay uncertaintly and fear. fear stems from the uncertaintly as to how you will perform. plan, practice and race enough and you will be confident as to how you perform.

How the hell do people end up pulling up old threads out of nowhere?!
Are we searching for these things, despite non-racing season?

I always shave my legs the night before a race. No matter what. I had a lot of mecanicals in race untill it started shaving the night before.

I do that as well, I've found that it's also a form of meditation for me, I bless myself at the start line of every race.

I borrow my buddy's duck, who is domesticated (named Stravinsky, but also I call it any Russian composer, like Moussorgsky or Prokofiev. What the f&&k, the beast doesn't understand anyway) to the race with me, and take the first two warmup laps with it on my shoulder, feeding it bread. I then leash the duck to my car doorhandle with 30 minutes to go to complete my warmup. After the race, I castigate, berate, insult, and, finally, remonstrate with the animal over my inevitable dismal finish, before cutting it loose. I guess I am the reverse of most in that my superstitions are not borne of any intersection of circumstance and success, but from a sheer love of absurdity.

And soy sauce -- I drink a bottle of soy sauce on the start line.