Mountain - Plains - Take me racing!

The competitive side of me is starting to surface and I was thinking of trying a little road racing (cat 5, from what I can tell, for n00bs). I think it would revive my need to train harder. Problem is I don't know ***** about it, where to go, or what I even need. I'm posting in the regional section so I can get someone locally to show me the ropes.

Someone wanna help me out?:) Data you should join me in my quest!

You should look on Active.com. There should be tons of info on that site. :)

Info should be buried on USA Cycling's website.
I believe they provide the license.

http://www.usacycling.org

Are you gonna join me?

Probably the wrong time to ask me. I can barely make it up the stairs without wheezing like an old man.

I don't know. My training as of late has been more tailored to long distances at slower speeds. Racing is a wee bit different and requires different training. So, you got me. I have no idea.

You mentioned racing. What kind of racing were you thinking of?

What I have been pondering off and on is what you are asking about. Road racing... crits, road races, or TT.
I have been more focused on long distance non competitive riding that Bill and Machka are into.

My training has been tailored more towards the latter than the former. Not saying I can't race. Just not sure as of yet. I am a wee bit wishy washy so I need to focus on one at the moment.

ACA has a bunch of events too:

http://www.americancycling.org/documents/2008ACACOCalendar.htm

I'm hoping to be ready for something by the end of April.

Oh, and did anyone besides me go the crit in City Park on Sunday? Tyler Hamiton, Hank Vogels and some other fairly big names raced. Not a bad way to pass a few sunny, Sunday afternoon hours.

EDIT -- and here's USAC's Colorado races:

http://www.coloradousac.org/road/schedule.php

What all do I need to race? I assuming some type of membership is required somewhere.

Ok, heres the deal.

ACA is the main org for Colorado, there are few USAC events here, mostly collegiate events that have a few USAC Categories. I think the City Park race was a collegiate event that had three USAC men's categories (P/1/2, 3s, and 4/5s).

It costs $10 for a one day, $45 for a year license.

In ACA beginner men start out at Cat4, or Cat4 35+, there is no Cat 5

There are a few races in March but it really starts up in April.

A great place to learn is the training crits on Tuesday nights in Golden. You don't get pulled if you get dropped and you can catch back on when you get lapped, don't ask how I know this. I belive these start up in May.

A few road races have newbie categories I think one at the end of April and another at the end of May. I am very interested in these, BF team??

There are a few races mid summer that have citizen categories that are another nice way to try it out. But they are late July/early August.

There are weekly TT series at Cherry Creek in April May already sold out and another in Boulder/Lyons in May June.

I have done some of the practice crits, some of the TTs and a few citizen events the past few years. Even tried a few of the real crits/circuit races on the weekends.

PM me if you like or share the wealth and ask away here,

Nice BV. Thanks. What part town are you in?

Nice BV. Thanks. What part town are you in?

Golden

Pwnt -

Another thing you might try to see if you are ready to race are the Tues/Thurs Meridian training rides. They are in the Meridian office park right off of I25 and Lincoln. They start at 6 and go for an hour. Anywhere for 30 - 60 riders will show up. If you can hang for the whole hour, you are ready for a Cat 4 crit. Speeds average 23 - 25 mph or higher, depending on who is there. If you get dropped, you wait for the group to come around and hop back on. The course has some nice rollers and it is usually windy so it teaches you where you need to sit.

Hoff

Nice. 6am or pm? I'm assuming pm.

6:00 pm.

Let us know how the experience pans out. I used to see them when I worked at ICG many moons ago pre-road bike. Now I'm up in Longmont for work, drats! It sounds like a good ride.

Pwnt -

I was registering for the Lookout Mountain Hill Climb today and noticed that they have a citizens category. You should try that as a way to get into racing. The race is on May 3rd.

Hoff

^^^^^ Ouch ^^^^^


They have last years results on the ACA website, 10 guys were in the citizens category last year, 3 under 24 minutes, 8 under 27 minutes and then a few stragglers. That should give you a decent idea of where your fitness is.

I think I'm just shy of the world record.....by like an hour. :D

http://www.mines.edu/stu_life/organ/bike/racing.html#oredigger_classic

^^^^^ Ouch ^^^^^


They have last years results on the ACA website, 10 guys were in the citizens category last year, 3 under 24 minutes, 8 under 27 minutes and then a few stragglers. That should give you a decent idea of where your fitness is.

Yeah, if you really want to get depressed:

http://www.americancycling.org/results/2007/may/lookout-mtn.html

Anything under 30 minutes is pretty noteworthy in MY book, but even mid pack Cat4's are ~24 minutes!

So Pwnt, you going to do that Meridian ride tonight or are you all talk?

So Pwnt, you going to do that Meridian ride tonight or are you all talk?

Uh oh...

I don't think I will make it. I get off at 4:30, gotta go from downtown to 104th , get my bike, then turn around and drive all the way back down south. I should have brought everything with me, then I might have made it. I suck. :(

And just an side note: I am really mad that I forgot about this! I blame you! :D

God D@nm it, I am a punk@%% B!***!!!!!

I'm trying to leave work early!

Must have seen my Road Bike thread last week were I forgot to pump my tires, forgot my seatbag and was wondering whether to ride when, I can't remember if it was Celtic or cyclo pointed out I could just stop and get a tube and a CO2 at a local shop. What I didn't add was after deciding to do this, I got to our changing room and realized I had forgotten my biking shorts.

But at this point nothing was going to stop me so I rode in my boxers and tights over them, not a great solution BTW.

So I go out and it is 30-40mph winds into my face for the first hour, averaging 11mph, I turned around and made it back to my car in 30 minutes with the tailwind.

Went home and had a beer.

Can't wait to see what I forgot tonight........cause I did bring my bike, my seatbag, pumped my tires and made sure I had my shorts with me.

Be^$(^$tch

Haha! I truly forgot and I know you're not gonna believe me. I understand. So let the name calling begin. I deserve it. :(

Honestly, I wonder if these are started up yet??

BTW, it is freaking beautiful out right now, no wind, sunshine, and pretty darn warm

I Will Be There Next Tuesday! Promise!

BTW, it is freaking beautiful out right now, no wind, sunshine, and pretty darn warm

I'm riding in 20 mins :) WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D 7 DAYS IN A ROW!! Can't get much better then this!

Honestly, I wonder if these are started up yet??

You're referring to the Meridian rides, right? They definitely have. I was out there tonight. It was a good night as (for once) it wasn't very windy. Big group too, 23mph average.

You're referring to the Meridian rides, right? They definitely have. I was out there tonight. It was a good night as (for once) it wasn't very windy. Big group too, 23mph average.


Did you see Pwnt, ah wait, never mind...........


But good god, last night was the nicest ride of the year, nary a breeze and great temps, Spring fever has hit me.

You're referring to the Meridian rides, right? They definitely have. I was out there tonight. It was a good night as (for once) it wasn't very windy. Big group too, 23mph average.

OK, I think it's about time that do this (in order):

Get a health insurance policy
Be at Meridian next Thursday

OK, I think it's about time that do this (in order):

Get a health insurance policy
Be at Meridian next Thursday


Good idea on the health insurance. There are - and I'm not claiming to be the world's best bike handler - some sketchy riders out there. I had to lock up my brakes once yesterday when a guy just ahead of me decided he'd like to ride where I was riding.

Watch out for the potholes too. They roads haven't had their winter damage repaired yet and there are a couple of doozies.

Good strategies are to floor it on the downhill after the 'start/finish' line you can then get in a good draft and recover on most of that stretch before the next light. Watch for accelerations going up the small hill after that light, jump on those early so you don't get dropped.

L O L ! Got health insurance. But by the sound of it, I don't have to worry cause there won't be another rider even close to me.

Pwnt = Dropped! :D

and it will have to be tuesdays for me cause I have class thursdays. See ya on tuesday.

guy just ahead of me

decided he'd like to ride where I was riding.


"......before the next light."

"......after that light"

So the guy went backwards into you??:D


So kind of like a crit with stoplights in play - awesome............:eek::eek::eek:

So the guy went backwards into you??:D


So kind of like a crit with stoplights in play - awesome............:eek::eek::eek:

LOL...I was too his side and partially behind him!

Yep, the lights are fun as everyone decides whether or not the cars are going to try and go or not...then the group decides to keep going and everyone floors it. Great fun. It's sort of like that old arcade game, Frogger.

What kind of weather stops the Meridian ride from happening? I was hoping to give it a try today since I work close by. I was just going to ride on the back so that I don't get in the way the first few times. Anyways, it's looking cloudy, windy (20mph maybe) and cooler than earlier this week. Will people still show?

If it doesn't rain I'll be out there no matter what. Just curious.

What kind of weather stops the Meridian ride from happening? I was hoping to give it a try today since I work close by. I was just going to ride on the back so that I don't get in the way the first few times. Anyways, it's looking cloudy, windy (20mph maybe) and cooler than earlier this week. Will people still show?

If it doesn't rain I'll be out there no matter what. Just curious.

Yep, they'll be out there. It's actually clearing where I am right now (corner of Ulster and Tufts, right north of Belleview). Wind definitely doesn't stop that ride!

I'd advise against staying at the back...that's one way to get dropped for sure due to the slinky effect.

Thanks for the advice!

That was my first ever group ride this evening. Way different experience than riding with 2 or 3 others. Very fast on the downhill with lots more breaking than I expected. I hope I wasn't to squirrelly out there. Tried to stay out of the way as much as possible and look before trying to take a position to make sure no one was overlapping.

Super fun and I didn't get dropped! I'm sure the rides will get much harder than I'll be able to handle but I'll keep going at least once a week. Hopefully I'll learn something new every time.

Good job! I hope to do the same as far as not getting dropped. My plan is to try and stay outta the way as well but still hang with the group. I'm actually really excited about it. It should lots of fun.

Thanks for the advice!

That was my first ever group ride this evening. Way different experience than riding with 2 or 3 others. Very fast on the downhill with lots more breaking than I expected. I hope I wasn't to squirrelly out there. Tried to stay out of the way as much as possible and look before trying to take a position to make sure no one was overlapping.

Super fun and I didn't get dropped! I'm sure the rides will get much harder than I'll be able to handle but I'll keep going at least once a week. Hopefully I'll learn something new every time.

That's pretty impressive that you'd never ridden in a group before and you didn't get dropped, sounds like you've got good fitness.

Pwnt, when you say you want to stay out the way, I understand what you're saying but make sure you are trying to stay in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the group. Don't do anything squirrely of course, but you will learn more up there. The riders that want to go off the front and stuff will get around you if need be.

I wouldn't say it was impressive. I just took your advice and stayed in the front 1/2 to 1/3 of the group. Again, thanks!

Pwnt, When I said I stayed out of the way what I really meant was I picked a line and spot while in the middle of the group and kept it. No sudden moves or anything like that unless I had to make sure I didn't crash or make someone else crash. If that line was sucky that lap I just dealt with it and held on to try and get a 'better' spot on the next lap. I'm sure there are better strategies, but I had no idea what I was doing.

Is this just south of Park Meadow Mall? Or is it the Lincoln closer to downtown?

Is this just south of Park Meadow Mall? Or is it the Lincoln closer to downtown?


South of Park Meadows...just sent you a PM in response to yours...here's a map of the route...http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=FVXUPBDFCAESUHB

<---n00bsauce :D

Well my night didnt go quite like Iro's did. I made a few rookie mistakes, didn't know where the start was, didn't recognize attacks until it was too late, so on and so on.:p But overall I had a great time. You could never explain to a person the exiliration felt when you ride in large group like that, moving at that speed. Man, if I could bottle that feeling I would be a rich man.

See you next week!:D

Awesome.

Way to get out there.

Lets hear more, help us learn....