"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Different bike for crits?

I'm racing my heavier aluminum C'dale for the crit this morning. When I got it out last night my wife said, "Are you racing that?" Like she threw up a little when she said it.

It's the second race this year. People are still sketchy, and I don't want to lose my carbon bike in a massive sprint crash today. My C'dale has been through hell and back and has withstood many crashes. She's come out of it alive and well - even when I had to be sent to the ER. It's going to be tough racing a 7lb heavier bike, but the peace of mind out weighs that.

Anybody else race a different bike in crits?

I plan on it for this season. E5/Carbones in crits, Tcube/808s in RRs

Yeah, this is my first crit - evar. I'm nervous and excited. But, crap man, I hope I'm not that guy. You know? The guy no one wants to be next to. So the blue babe (c'dale) is going. I'll post my results tonight.

Back in the day, when we had horizontal dropouts, there were screws set in the back of the dropouts that you could screw in or out effectively lengthening or shortening your wheelbase by just over a cm. I'd turn mine all the way in for crits and all the way out for a RR.

Now I use different wheels based on conditions but pretty much always use the same bike.

You'll kick ass man, don't let Scott Vitelli(aka big guy) ride off the front this time ;)

Being huge is a plus on flat stages.

You'll kick ass man, don't let Scott Vitelli(aka big guy) ride off the front this time ;)

Being huge is a plus on flat stages.

I'm staying in his draft, if he is.

Spank them.

I have one bike.

I race whatever my primary bike is, but then again, I've been doing crits for 25 years and for 10 years or so I don't think I've even entered a road race (1997 I think was my last one - and I count Prospects as circuit races, not road races). I use my best wheels for the race, i.e. if it's flat/fast I use aero, if there's any hill I use lightest aero I have.

My old backup bike rarely gets ridden but it's identically set up to my old primary bike - same size frame, bars, stem, seat, post, drivetrain.

I have no new backup bike for my new primary bike so my old primary is now my new backup.

cdr

First race? Ride a John Deere if you can.

1 bike for all races. I don't do many crits, though.

Good luck.

I dont understand why folks race on different/cheaper bikes for crits.

It's his FIRST CRIT. Give the guy a chance to see what it's like. He obviously holds his 'good bike' in high regard. He'll be too worried about it to even pay attention in his FIRST CRIT.

I see no problems in using a different bike for crits. In fact, why not be able to race every race-worthy bike you have?

I plan on running my 808s on the road races if the cross winds aren't too bad, and alum rims in crits. I don't wanna change pads around too much.

soooooo, like...uh...how'd you do??!!

I race whatever my primary bike is, but then again, I've been doing crits for 25 years and for 10 years or so I don't think I've even entered a road race (1997 I think was my last one - and I count Prospects as circuit races, not road races). I use my best wheels for the race, i.e. if it's flat/fast I use aero, if there's any hill I use lightest aero I have.

My old backup bike rarely gets ridden but it's identically set up to my old primary bike - same size frame, bars, stem, seat, post, drivetrain.

I have no new backup bike for my new primary bike so my old primary is now my new backup.

cdr

cdr ... are you feeling ok ?? Everything alright ?? Just checking 'cause you gave such a short reply :D

Top ten.

Guys were sketchy - bad. A lot of yelling and elbow throwing. I nudged a guy off my right while being crammed into a turn with no where to go. People were flipping out and acting like it was the first time they ever threw a leg over a bike. It takes energy seeing guys like that. I was up front on the last lap, about 5th wheel. 200 meters out me and another guy took off - TOO SOON. Gosh darn too soon. I was ate up at the line by 5 or 6 people. Top ten but no win.

And the camera and computer went out on our race. Teh suxor. No one knows placements at all.

cdr ... are you feeling ok ?? Everything alright ?? Just checking 'cause you gave such a short reply :D

lol at a family get together a couple hours away, meet a new nephew who cried a lot, etc. Had to get back to get a ride in too. And lift. Play with the kitties. Sometimes life gets in the way of BF :)

cdr

well done again, SS...pretty soon you'll eat those 200m sprints for breakfast and be chompin at the bit at 300-400m.

I heard the first weekend of Gainesville is always super sketch. My teammates in the 3 race yesterday said it was ridiculous and people were just happy to finish the race upright.

lol at a family get together a couple hours away, meet a new nephew who cried a lot, etc. Had to get back to get a ride in too. And lift. Play with the kitties. Sometimes life gets in the way of BF :)

cdr

I know what you mean ..... I'm in the same family situation. I'll probably do some of the Bethel races coming up.


Substructure ... good job ! I did a 4/5 race last year and it was pretty messy too. Some guy yelled at me because I filled a gap that he was too slow to fill. Then I got lucky as a guy caused a crash right behind me.

LOOK 595 for RR's and Orbea Asphalt for crits. I also run alloy Centaur levers on the crit bike as well.

I'm running the steel Ritchey for crits. Long wheelbase and all (62cm frame). I'm not limited by cornering ability ;)

ss - no crash and top ten and in a position to dictate sprint, those are all good signs.

Getting nervous for my first race for the year, next Sunday. Arg. I think I'll bring two bikes to the race (I normally do this). And buy a second dropout for the new frame just in case. lol.

cdr

I'm getting my ridley CX bike ready for crits, second chainring up front etc, not worried about the brakes, I have Paul brakes, which are excellent in all conditions.