"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - If you don't know how to clip in, don't start at the front.

That's what I was informed yesterday as I struggled to clip in.

How embarrassing.

I'm still going to start as far forward as possible though. So there.

Yeah, all you can do is practice clipping in.

1-legged pedaling until you get clipped in :) Don't worry about it though. It could have been worse: in a race a while back I ran over a guy who fell over as a result of his inability to clip in.

I think everyone mucks this up from time to time.

I think I would have told the person: "If you don't know how to get around me, don't start in the back."

How did the race go besides that?
The juniors race averaged 16 mph for the first two laps, I got 15th

Meh, I started behind a guy who missed his clip-in in the downtown crit. I just ratchet-pedaled against the curb and passed him -- I was the 4th rider into the first corner. Those guys who are behind you complaining need to STFU and race.

This year at the Tour of New Braunfels I fell over because I couldn't clip into my TT bike. It was an up hill start and I didn't get enough momentum going and missed the pedal. I fell over and the time lost cost me a top ten finish.

Only a newbie would tell someone to start at the back for not clipping in asap. Everyone has that problem sometimes. Nerves usually cause the issue.

Meh, I started behind a guy who missed his clip-in in the downtown crit. I just ratchet-pedaled against the curb and passed him -- I was the 4th rider into the first corner. Those guys who are behind you complaining need to STFU and race.

you sir, are correct.

Clipping in fast is critical in crits. I have goofed up two races because of bad clip-ins (which I think really means bad nerves).

In both cases (short Cat 5 crits), I lined up near the front and lost 20+ paces, then I spent the first half of the race sprinting around every corner at the back and blowing up trying to get to the front.

How did the race go besides that?
The juniors race averaged 16 mph for the first two laps, I got 15th

I, also, got 15th.

Highlights:

There was a 2 man break for about 3 laps. The most they got was about 30 seconds. Impressive nonetheless
The sixth and penultimate lap was very slow. Not 16mph slow, but slow. I think we averaged about 24 mph for the day. (Remember kids: average speeds are not indicative of effort without taking other factors into account)
In the last lap, I stayed in the top 10, usually top 5. I probably burned a little too much energy doing this.
About a mile or two from the finish, there was a van stopped in the course, literally blocking the entire lane. Everyone should have had a yellow line DQ there. That would have been pretty cool.
On the uphill finish, my shifting sucked, I was out of gas, and I got passed by about 10 people.

Coming up that hill I had good position, abiut 5th and a good sprint, but there was a guy in front of me who decided to stop sprinting, and I had to grab the brakes and swerve around him, and there was another guy that was warming up and was in the middle of the road and I had to swerve around him too.

An easy way to learn how to clip in even under pressure is to put a foot down at every stop sign (yes sign!), light, anytime you have to stop. Yeah it kills your average, stopping might save your life, yada yada yada, but in the end, you'll race better because you practice clipping in a few dozen times a ride. After a few weeks of this, you'll clip in as fast as humanly possible without thinking about it.

Then you can work on your trackstands.

cdr

I got the trackstands. I almost never clip out.

Actually, my clipins are usually (80%+) quite smooth too. I just didn't have my LOOK juice flowing yesterday.

I did a race in Berkeley last year with an uphill start and couldn't get my damn left foot until the 3d or 4th try. By that time the lead was around the corner and the race was pretty much over for me. Suckx.

Funny, with my MTB shoes and SPD pedals, clipping in is about the only thing I seem to do very well in at any race. If I do miss my cleat catches enough of the pedal to get going anyhow. I am sure that the extra grams are the reason I usually get spit out the back, but I always seem to be up there in the beggining as I pass a half dozen missed clipppers.

So why would I want to buy road shoes again?

Funny, with my MTB shoes and SPD pedals, clipping in is about the only thing I seem to do very well in at any race. If I do miss my cleat catches enough of the pedal to get going anyhow. I am sure that the extra grams are the reason I usually get spit out the back, but I always seem to be up there in the beggining as I pass a half dozen missed clipppers.

So why would I want to buy road shoes again?

So you dont pull out of the pedal in a sprint and kill yourself

Funny, with my MTB shoes and SPD pedals, clipping in is about the only thing I seem to do very well in at any race. If I do miss my cleat catches enough of the pedal to get going anyhow. I am sure that the extra grams are the reason I usually get spit out the back, but I always seem to be up there in the beggining as I pass a half dozen missed clipppers.

So why would I want to buy road shoes again?

I used to think that until I broke my collarbone and lost my spleen. Now I know better. Please be careful.

That's what I was informed yesterday as I struggled to clip in.

How embarrassing.

I'm still going to start as far forward as possible though. So there.

I would counter-inform whoever busted your balls that they should blow you. That would be proper ettiquette in this situation in the NYC peloton.

That is all.

I used to think that until I broke my collarbone and lost my spleen. Now I know better. Please be careful.

Help me here becuase I have never been in a position to Sprint, though I did Sprint seated for 15th place in one crit, but wouldn't the cleat and pedal interact just the same on a MTB shoe vs road shoe?

Or is it that one needs a road specific cleat/pedal for sprinting that wouldn't fit on a MTB shoe?

Thank you for your clarification in advance, this may seem like ABCs to most roadies but I have to ask.

Clipping in fast is critical in crits. I have goofed up two races because of bad clip-ins (which I think really means bad nerves).

In both cases (short Cat 5 crits), I lined up near the front and lost 20+ paces, then I spent the first half of the race sprinting around every corner at the back and blowing up trying to get to the front.

I actually think starting at the front is a little bit overrated. If you've got the fitness and the pack skills, you can usually move up pretty quickly. If you don't you'll lose that front position quickly also.

I'd still rather start at the front, but I don't think it's as critical as its made out to be.

Help me here becuase I have never been in a position to Sprint, though I did Sprint seated for 15th place in one crit, but wouldn't the cleat and pedal interact just the same on a MTB shoe vs road shoe?




Some pedal/cleat systems are better at avoiding unintentional release than others. Some MTB pedals, particularly if they're designed for casual cycling, and walking around may have lower release tensions and be more prone to unintentionally release.

The almost impossibility of unintentionally releasing from a Speedplay pedal, and the ease of clipping in without looking, are the reasons I started riding them.

An easy way to learn how to clip in even under pressure is to put a foot down at every stop sign (yes sign!), light, anytime you have to stop. Yeah it kills your average, stopping might save your life, yada yada yada, but in the end, you'll race better because you practice clipping in a few dozen times a ride. After a few weeks of this, you'll clip in as fast as humanly possible without thinking about it.

Then you can work on your trackstands.

cdr

Supposedly, the U.S. National Team when the were coached by Eddy B, had to do this at every stop sign for the reason you suggest.

Help me here becuase I have never been in a position to Sprint, though I did Sprint seated for 15th place in one crit, but wouldn't the cleat and pedal interact just the same on a MTB shoe vs road shoe?

Or is it that one needs a road specific cleat/pedal for sprinting that wouldn't fit on a MTB shoe?

Thank you for your clarification in advance, this may seem like ABCs to most roadies but I have to ask.

If you're seated, you're probably not in any danger. The danger of unintentional clipouts comes to the fore when standing. And they don't interact the same way. Different cleat mechanisms are... well, different. I had my SPD tension dialed all the way up, and I pulled straight up and out on the upstroke of a practice sprint. My knee hit the bar, the bar hit my chest, and my shoulder hit the ground at ~28mph. After investigating the issue, I discovered that many other people have encountered this problem with SPDs. SPDs are just fine for most kinds of riding, but they are definitely not suitable for sprinting on the road.

I actually think starting at the front is a little bit overrated.


Wayyyyy over rated.

This year at the Tour of New Braunfels I fell over because I couldn't clip into my TT bike. It was an up hill start and I didn't get enough momentum going and missed the pedal. I fell over and the time lost cost me a top ten finish.

Don't you have a "holder" for your TT starts?

Wayyyyy over rated.

Agreed. But I'd still rather start at the front than the back.

seems like the fields around here are small enough that you could try starting behind the field clipped in and be rolling slowly toward the pack when te gun goes off. IDK if that is actually legal though

seems like the fields around here are small enough that you could try starting behind the field clipped in and be rolling slowly toward the pack when te gun goes off. IDK if that is actually legal though
I like that idea a lot. You could clip in right before the gun. They wouldn't stop the whole race just because someone in the back clipped in early. Hmm....

I actually think starting at the front is a little bit overrated. If you've got the fitness and the pack skills, you can usually move up pretty quickly. If you don't you'll lose that front position quickly also.

I'd still rather start at the front, but I don't think it's as critical as its made out to be.

It's one of many things that can make some races easier, though. For instance, I got stuck behind a guy who fumbled around while clipping in yesterday in a downtown crit and it cost me a good 20-30 places off the line. Yes, I should've been strong/smart enough to get back up to the front if I deserved to win, but it's a hell of a lot easier to start top 10 and stay there than it is to claw your way up the pack on a technical course. At least for me and my sucky technical crit skills and the local competition.

Either way, +1 to waterrockets. Dude needs to STFU and race. This stuff happens.

We all miss from time to time and seemingly always at a bad moment. Such is the nature of the beast. Having said that, I just can't stand being behind some yutzball who clearly just pulled the shrink wrap off his first cleats 10 minutes ago.

We all miss from time to time and seemingly always at a bad moment. Such is the nature of the beast. Having said that, I just can't stand being behind some yutzball who clearly just pulled the shrink wrap off his first cleats 10 minutes ago.

'yutzball' indeed. I shall add it to the ever expanding BF insult repertoire.

This is a silly discussion. If you can't deal with a guy who can't clip into his pedals at the start of a race (just one of umpteen reasons the rider in front of you may get off to a delayed start or actually go nowhere at all), it is YOU who has no business being in the peloton. The guy should shut the F up and race already. Of course about 20% of USCF participants are only there to yell at the other guys in the race or on the ride, and what fun would competitive cycling be without them?

My favorites are still the guys who sit 10th wheel and tell the pack to speed up.

If you're seated, you're probably not in any danger. The danger of unintentional clipouts comes to the fore when standing. And they don't interact the same way. Different cleat mechanisms are... well, different. I had my SPD tension dialed all the way up, and I pulled straight up and out on the upstroke of a practice sprint. My knee hit the bar, the bar hit my chest, and my shoulder hit the ground at ~28mph. After investigating the issue, I discovered that many other people have encountered this problem with SPDs. SPDs are just fine for most kinds of riding, but they are definitely not suitable for sprinting on the road.


similar thing happened to a friend of mine when he was in front of me. i ended up running over him and spilling it over the bars too.

My favorites are still the guys who sit 10th wheel and tell the pack to speed up.

That's just begging for some seriously bad ju-ju. :eek:

My favorites are still the guys who sit 10th wheel and tell the pack to speed up.

That is so true. A guy who was 12th or 13th wheel was yelling at the C race at Greenbelt last week to speed up. I said to him "Dude, if you want to go faster, go to the front."

That is so true. A guy who was 12th or 13th wheel was yelling at the C race at Greenbelt last week to speed up. I said to him "Dude, if you want to go faster, go to the front."

I learned never to complain about the pace. People that do usually end up getting dropped. pwned.

My favorites are still the guys who sit 10th wheel and tell the pack to speed up.

These are the 'cruise directors' of cycling who incessantly yell at guys for not 'riding right', not pulling through, etc.

First of all, half the time when somebody won't pull through it's because they are gassed. The half of the guys who are simply dogging it aren't going to dog it less because some loudmouth is screaming at them @ 29mph. In any event it can be hard to tell who is actually gassed vs. who is dogging it. After listening to this peloton idiocy for the better part of 20 years I don't hear it anymore. At the end of the day the good racers make their own position by jamming for it and not making excuses (not that there's anything wrong with excuses, see my earlier thread).

I would advise anyone new to the sport to adopt this attitude immediately, it's far less aggravating if you ignore the peloton screamers. Unfortunately USCF regs will not allow you to dial up your iPod to drown it out, but on competitive group rides that is always the recommended option. Just remember to dial it back down after it stops so you can hear important things like 'WATCH OUT FOR THE TRUCK!'.

I said to him "Dude, if you want to go faster, go to the front."

Yeah, that's my usual response. Funny how those folks usually say it in the first 5 laps at Greenbelt and then quiet down on the 15th thru 20th trips up the hill. ;)

There was a guy in a recent Tuesday Nighter *****ing about the slow pace. I backed off, put my hand on his back and told him to get up there and tear ***** up, and I'd follow. The funny thing is that he did, and ended up popping off on the next hill. I didn't follow him for that part :roflmao:

on starting at the front check out the beginning of this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtcUmptsA_U

In this race I end up starting at the front and the guy behind me jokingly threatens to run me over if I don't get in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-gqK3VKNqs

I usually start off of the back, even in races where "it's important to be in the front". Inevitably someone messes up the clip in and holds up part of the field. By starting 20 or 30 feet back (far enough that officials ask "Are you in this race") you can clip in and go flying through everyone struggling to clip in while not hitting anyone around them.

cdr

Agreed. But I'd still rather start at the front than the back.
I usually start at the back - even a few feet off the back. Then I can clip in and zip around all the guys wobbling around and bumping into each other. It never seemed to matter much to me where I started ... except perhaps when in a real pro 1-2 race against Davis Phinney and "Harvey" Nitz - but then I'd eventually be off the back anyway.

seems like the fields around here are small enough that you could try starting behind the field clipped in and be rolling slowly toward the pack when te gun goes off. IDK if that is actually legal though
I have done that a few times, but if the official sees you, they will probably tell you to start with one foot on the ground ... I assume it's a rule, and I wasn't about to mess with that official .... she reminded me of my 6th grade math teacher - scary !

Once when I whiffed on a race start clip in I felt a gentle hand on my back push me , I got in on the next stroke. Thanks for the sportsmanship whoever you are.

This is what I do at the start.

First, I put it in the smallest gear on the big chainring (the dreaded cross chaining will not ruin your bike). Its surprising to see the huge gears that some guys start off in. At the gun, I spin the crank once and then clip in immediately and I'm on my way. If I remember, I will practice the one spin-clip in routine a couple of times before I come to the line.

I actually think starting at the front is a little bit overrated. If you've got the fitness and the pack skills, you can usually move up pretty quickly. If you don't you'll lose that front position quickly also.

I'd still rather start at the front, but I don't think it's as critical as its made out to be.
+1

Often I see that the riders who are winning the crits have been sitting in the pack conserving their strength anyway. They move up with about 5-10 laps to go preparing for the finish. Moving up isn't the hardest thing in the world. I also find that when I sit near the front, it takes alot of energy to stay there.

I have done that a few times, but if the official sees you, they will probably tell you to start with one foot on the ground ... I assume it's a rule, and I wasn't about to mess with that official .... she reminded me of my 6th grade math teacher - scary !yes it's a rule. all riders must start with one foot on the ground.