"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Riding to Races

What are your thoughts about riding (instead of driving) to a local race?

- How far would you ride?
- Does the terrain between you and the race influence the previous decision?
- How do you facilitate carrying stuff (nutrition, extra clothing, trainer?, etc.)?

I've never ridden to a race but know people who have used it as a "warm up". Just curious as to other people's experiences and thoughts.

Used to ride about 17 (dead flat) miles pretty regularly to get to track races (the track bike was in a locker there). It was a great warmup, and we always picked up gatorade and fig newtons at the store about a half mile from the track.

Rode to local crits, too.

Now that I'm in sprawling LA I don't ride to races.

I've ridden my bike for 25-30 miles to race (as in 50-60 mile round trip) on more occasions than I care to remember.

A messenger bag carried what I needed.

The terrain was never taken into account. I wanted to race, and that was where the closest race was at that given weekend.

As far as bringning a trainer - why?

I've done this for races within 10 miles of my house. It's pancake flat in all directions so that's not a consideration. On the other hand, if it were really cold or wet, I might drive just so I don't get soaked and miserable before the race.

As far as carrying stuff, I just throw it into a backpack. You could even bungie-cord your pit wheels to your backpack if you want, but that's more of a hassle than it's worth.

I ride to some weeknight races that are a couple miles from my house. I wear a pack with extra clothes, water, food. I usually race on tubies, so I worry about getting a flat while warming up and not having a spare wheel to throw on. But for a weeknight race, I'll take the risk and I could probably bum a wheel from a team mate if I really needed one.

As far as bringning a trainer - why?

My original thought was that if you ride to the race and get there too far ahead of time, then the "warm up" achieved from riding there would have been lost. Having never ridden to a race, I thought some might bring a trainer to warm up closer to their start time.

Doesn't seem economical or practical, but I wanted to cover all my questions.

My original thought was that if you ride to the race and get there too far ahead of time, then the "warm up" achieved from riding there would have been lost. Having never ridden to a race, I thought some might bring a trainer to warm up closer to their start time.

Doesn't seem economical or practical, but I wanted to cover all my questions.

do you bring a trainer to every race you do? sounds like OVERKILL.

How do you facilitate carrying stuff (nutrition, extra clothing, trainer?, etc.)?



I would think that the ride to the race would serve as plenty of a warmup as to not have to bring a trainer.

What are your thoughts about riding (instead of driving) to a local race?

- How far would you ride?
- Does the terrain between you and the race influence the previous decision?
- How do you facilitate carrying stuff (nutrition, extra clothing, trainer?, etc.)?

I've never ridden to a race but know people who have used it as a "warm up". Just curious as to other people's experiences and thoughts.

I've done it a few times and its been a great experience. One time I rode 20+ miles for an early season local crit, rode the cirt, and rode home. Needless to say it was a solid day of training, and a great warmup.

Years ago I rode to the start of a long, point-to-point RR stage at the Killington SR. I had to do some climbing, a long descent, and a 10 mile ride on rolling terrain, but it was a blast! At least 4-5 cars asked me, as they were passing me, if I wanted a ride. I was having way too much fun to load up the bike and take a free ride.

When all was said and done I logged almost 100 miles for the day w 60 or so miles of hard racing. I wasn't a GC contender so it wasn't a big deal for me to expend the extra energy.

If I were a contender or if the race was an "A-race" I might think differently, but if I could, I'd choose to ride to a race as a warmup vs ride a trainer any day.

gene r

ive considered doing this a bunch of time from as far as 30 miles but each time I thought the better of it and drove. It just seems like too much of a hassle.

That said if the race is super close (like the silver spring gp that is less than a mile from me) I will ride.

overall, I imagine the ride home being the worst part.

do you bring a trainer to every race you do? sounds like OVERKILL.

Every race I've done has gotten me there well ahead of my scheduled start time. For the road/circuit races I generally didn't warm up on a trainer, but for the crits and time trials I did.

There are a bunch of guys who regularly ride to the series I hold, I think the round trip is 50 or 60 miles. They do perhaps 30 miles at the race.

I prefer to drive as I like having everything I might need at the race.

I bring a trainer when I remember it, in certain glass strewn areas it's a good thing to have. A LOT of people bring trainers to races around here. Personally I get too hot too quickly but it beats flatting a tire. If it's really cold it's nicer too.

cdr

Every race I've done has gotten me there well ahead of my scheduled start time. For the road/circuit races I generally didn't warm up on a trainer, but for the crits and time trials I did.

how many races are you talking about?

honestly, TTs I can understand, and I guess crits.

Otherwise, it just seems as unnecessary as a cat 5 owning a TT bike.

There are a bunch of guys who regularly ride to the series I hold, I think the round trip is 50 or 60 miles. They do perhaps 30 miles at the race.

I prefer to drive as I like having everything I might need at the race.

I bring a trainer when I remember it, in certain glass strewn areas it's a good thing to have. A LOT of people bring trainers to races around here. Personally I get too hot too quickly but it beats flatting a tire. If it's really cold it's nicer too.

cdr

yep.

i remember seeing one or two on the way to bethel, when i was back visiting, and doing the sunday sleeping giant ride.

yep.

i remember seeing one or two on the way to bethel, when i was back visiting, and doing the sunday sleeping giant ride.

I should add that it's normally in the low-mid 30s when they're riding. Personally I think it's a bit much but then again they're a *lot* better than me.

cdr

how many races are you talking about?

Three crits, a couple circuit races, a TT, and a TTT. I used the trainer for the crits and the time trials, but not for the circuit races.

Do it man, riding to races is green and a good way to get some more zone 2 TSS in and also to get a proper cool down which is something I skip all too often.

If it's an A crit or TT that you really want to kill at then drive and take the trainer.

Do it man, riding to races is green and a good way to get some more zone 2 TSS in and also to get a proper cool down which is something I skip all too often.

If it's an A crit or TT that you really want to kill at then drive and take the trainer.

I'm not sure how many races are close enough that I could ride to (without having to take a heavily trafficked road) but I'd definitely like to try it.

I ride to most of the races I go to. About 20 miles is probably the max.

Does suck if you realise you're running a bit late and need to sprint in the last three miles, only to start the race like five minutes later.

Otherwise, it just seems as unnecessary as a cat 5 owning a TT bike.

HEY!

Now that I'm in sprawling LA I don't ride to races.

That's not an excuse.

HEY!

Truth is truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.

Otherwise, it just seems as unnecessary as a cat 5 owning a TT bike.

Should you actually ever successfully identify the necessary part of any amateur bicycle racing, be sure to share it with us.

A bike is a pretty necessary part of amateur bicycle racing.

Truth is truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.

Not so much, actually. If I actually wanted to be successful (rather than enjoy myself), I'd stop even bothering with the crits and RR's and just TT.

Should you actually ever successfully identify the necessary part of any amateur bicycle racing, be sure to share it with us.

http://www.evanscycles.com/large_images/Y5071B_BIG.jpg

that's easy Pcaddy: a well maintained bike that fits, a license, and a helmet.

http://www.evanscycles.com/large_images/Y5071B_BIG.jpg

that's easy Pcaddy: a well maintained bike that fits, a license, and a helmet.

shoes? shorts? Maybe not, but definitely at least shoes.

http://www.evanscycles.com/large_images/Y5071B_BIG.jpg

that's easy Pcaddy: a well maintained bike that fits, a license, and a helmet.

Oh. I thought you meant a Cannondale.

Oh. I thought you meant a Cannondale.

i was going for a utilitarian, non bling kinda bike. i.e. caadwhatever w/105

I'm planning on riding to as many as feasible. I know some of the crit series have a drawing out of those that came by bike and the prizes are nice.

When I was car-free I rode about ten miles to a triathlon because there was no bus service early in the morning on a Sunday. I was worried that carrying my equipment in a backpack would hurt me (maybe it did a little because my swim was slower than expected) but it worked out fine. I also decided to just ride home instead of taking the bus, which was running by that time of day.

This was in Seattle, so it wasn't an easy, flat ride.

i was going for a utilitarian, non bling kinda bike. i.e. caadwhatever w/105

What about the Zipps?

What about the Zipps?

unnecessary.

What I'm saying is that amateur bicycle racing falls between Friday Night Bowling and Fat Guy Softball in importance, and far below them in the respect of the public at large. So keep it in perspective while you're being a Road Nazi. At the same time continue to trash Freds whenever possible.

What I'm saying is that amateur bicycle racing falls between Friday Night Bowling and Fat Guy Softball in importance, and far below them in the respect of the public at large. So keep it in perspective while you're being a Road Nazi. At the same time continue to trash Freds whenever possible.

I seem to have forgotten how this has anything to do with riding to a race.

As far as bringning a trainer - why?

I thought the OP mentioned the trainer as an attempt at humor. :)

I thought the OP mentioned the trainer as an attempt at humor. :)

It would be funny if anyone actually road to a race carrying a trainer. I never advocated, nor would attempt, doing such a thing.

What I'm saying is that amateur bicycle racing falls between Friday Night Bowling and Fat Guy Softball in importance, and far below them in the respect of the public at large. So keep it in perspective while you're being a Road Nazi. At the same time continue to trash Freds whenever possible.

Nonsense, my bike racing is earth shatteringly important and gives me the right to be amazingly self-important and arrogant. I have a nose and I'll look down it at the general populace.

:p

What I'm saying is that amateur bicycle racing falls between Friday Night Bowling and Fat Guy Softball in importance, and far below them in the respect of the public at large. So keep it in perspective while you're being a Road Nazi. At the same time continue to trash Freds whenever possible.

http://www.pbase.com/image/63272240/original.jpg

how about

http://static.flickr.com/33/47642324_24a599d1b1_o.jpg

^^ Oh my.

I've ridden and all I do is pretty much the Botto plan: pack a small shoulder bag with a few essentials and go. Bicycles are a form of transportation, ya know.

That's not an excuse.

I pretty much only race on the track now, too, and have two different tracks to get to regularly so I can't leave my bike. (and I'm not going to ride my track bike from Altadena to Carson [or even encino] and back, along with the tools and spare wheels).

What I'm saying is that amateur bicycle racing falls between Friday Night Bowling and Fat Guy Softball in importance, and far below them in the respect of the public at large. So keep it in perspective while you're being a Road Nazi. At the same time continue to trash Freds whenever possible.


Disagree, ROI is a lot higher Bowling with all the pots and side action.

how about

http://static.flickr.com/33/47642324_24a599d1b1_o.jpg

That got Pcad's attention.

I've only ridden to local training crits that's about 10 flat miles from me. I find it works out really well - the easy spin back home seems to loosen things up before showering, etc. I'm usually running late, so the hurry to get to the crit is usually a good warm up too :o

If I may suggest, bring more fluids and food then you think you need. Just put everything in a back pack or a combination of your pockets and saddle bag - jusr don't forget to remove it before getting to the start line ;)