"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - What you wish you'd known about crits when you started.

I'm doing my first crit on sunday and just wanted to see how you guys reflect on your first crit. I've read a bunch of CDR's blog entries, and I'm actually racing the event he helps to run.

I'm going to be rocking my 84 trek 760 steelie because my CAAD9 doesn't fit me right and I'm waiting on a new frame from the dealer. I might swap my wheels for the lighter wheelset for the race.

I just wanted to see what you guys learned that was indispensable to your crit experience. I just want to go and have fun and ride my heart out.

It's my first CAT 5 race but I've done two collegiate races so far. Got any tips for a crit noobie?

Thanks! I figure this will be a cool reflection thread for all you folk!

Don't flub clipping in.

Some quote I read on here. Train hard, race easy

Always: Keep your eyes up the road. Focus on the wheel in front of you and you'll end up one of the 20 or so guys that goes down in "that" crash.


And ignore the "stay at the front 1/3 of the pack but never go to the front advice".

Attack like a pitbull on meth.

The most valuable thing to me was pre-riding the course. Understanding corning lines, braking points, how the tarmac undulated, and where folks were going to crash.

As a result I knew which corner to 'cook' and which one to enter alone if possible, and which one to drop a cog for exit.

What do I wish I knew? That some hotshot would do the first lap at 32mph and I, nor anyone else, couldn't hold that pace for another 28 minutes.

i'm going to the same crit race you are. and we'll prolly be in the same race. um, the best things i was told about cat 5 crits are try to stay in the top 1/3rd of the pack, that way you avoid the majority of the crashes, which are usually in the back. what else...? there's a hill in the race at bethel, and i've found that don't hammer it, just take it relaxed and you'll have much more energy saved at the end. you can always make your moves on the gradual downhill right after it, lil easier on the lungs and legs. other than that, i say just go out and race and watch yourself. def have fun

Seems like every crit I've ever done is flat out from the word go. :eek: The pace should settle down after a few laps, just hang on. :D

Get a good warm-up in, get to the line with a sweat going.
Start as near the front as you can get.
Clip in fast, but relax and don't fumble it.
Expect a "leg check" for the first few laps which weeds out non-hackers and people who didn't warm up.
Don't stare at the dude directly in front of you.
Watch out for guys who can't corner for ****.

Seems like every crit I've ever done is flat out from the word go. :eek: The pace should settle down after a few laps, just hang on. :D

+1. Warm up hard. Do a couple of maximal efforts a few minutes before the start. You can't warm up too hard for a short crit.

Get a good warm-up in, get to the line with a sweat going.
Start as near the front as you can get.
Clip in fast, but relax and don't fumble it.
Expect a "leg check" for the first few laps which weeds out non-hackers and people who didn't warm up.
Don't stare at the dude directly in front of you.
Watch out for guys who can't corner for ****.

Saw one of those guys fly into the bushes during my first race. I shouted to an official to check up on him as I passed one, but it was really hard not to laugh...

Seeing someone take a corner too fast in the wet is scary, but so weird... I wanted to stop and make sure they were ok, but I realized that it was a race...

+1. Warm up hard. Do a couple of maximal efforts a few minutes before the start. You can't warm up too hard for a short crit.

I'll be sure to take a trainer with me and try to be there early to pre ride the course. I'll be wearing an HRM too just to see what I do during the ride to use it for future interval training.

Always: Keep your eyes up the road. Focus on the wheel in front of you and you'll end up one of the 20 or so guys that goes down in "that" crash.


And ignore the "stay at the front 1/3 of the pack but never go to the front advice".

Attack like a pitbull on meth.

+1 on attacking.

But, don't be afraid to attack, and slowly move your way backwards to the rear of the pack if and when you get caught. Sometimes, you need to recover, and hard, and trying to stay up front isn't going to make that happen. Because if the pace jumps up a bit, while you're still struggling for air, you're done.

That, and the ability to work your way smoothly through the pack is something that everyone needs, and there's no better way to learn than to do it in a race.

At a crit last year, one of the best racers I know was either off the front, working his way up quickly, or sitting at the back end of the race. Eventually he got in a break that stuck, and he got there by being smart with his abilities and limitations, and knowing when/how to use them.

I couldn't ride today because I have a HUGE lab report due tomorrow and there are two more days left before the race.

What should I do tomorrow and day after for rides? I thought I'd do a 25ish mile ride tomorrow and throw in some hard efforts and sprints into the mix. I do an LBS sponsored group ride on saturday morning and I think I'll take it easy on that and put in some hard efforts so I get to ride hard without overdoing it. It'll be about 30-35 miles long. Sound about right?

+1 on attacking.

But, don't be afraid to attack, and slowly move your way backwards to the rear of the pack if and when you get caught. Sometimes, you need to recover, and hard, and trying to stay up front isn't going to make that happen. Because if the pace jumps up a bit, while you're still struggling for air, you're done.

That, and the ability to work your way smoothly through the pack is something that everyone needs, and there's no better way to learn than to do it in a race.

At a crit last year, one of the best racers I know was either off the front, working his way up quickly, or sitting at the back end of the race. Eventually he got in a break that stuck, and he got there by being smart with his abilities and limitations, and knowing when/how to use them.

how do you exactly move through the pack? i remember my last race, for a whole lap, i was just completely boxed in the middle. Maybe i was simply too scared to make a move but i don't know.. same people were kinda sitting around me and it was a 70 person field with tight roads. Only way i ever stayed up front in that race was from pushing through the wind on the side, not very efficient. I just wonder what the fine line is between being an a hole and putting people in danger and swiftly moving through the insides of the pack.

I really want to go to one of those clinics and bump into people all day until im comfortable bumping them

I couldn't ride today because I have a HUGE lab report due tomorrow and there are two more days left before the race.

What should I do tomorrow and day after for rides? I thought I'd do a 25ish mile ride tomorrow and throw in some hard efforts and sprints into the mix. I do an LBS sponsored group ride on saturday morning and I think I'll take it easy on that and put in some hard efforts so I get to ride hard without overdoing it. It'll be about 30-35 miles long. Sound about right?

if its a single race that sounds good, i mean in collegiate you get to hammer once a day two days in a row, so you'll be fine i think.

The lap after you drop out the pace slows down, always.

Be ready to jump out of every corner

I wish I knew what an attack was. my first cirt I did well, but figured that they would all be stonger than me in a short sprint. So instead, the last lap I got on the front and pushed as hard as I could. Of course, all I managed to do is pick up the pace and string out maybe five guys and give them a great leadout. I took 12th and was happy, but If I had understood a little about how to get separation on that last lap, it may have been different.

ATTACK like you are a Russel Crowe holding a telephone.

I wish I had the discipline to make more time to train. I feel that my biggest problem is feeling really burnt out after riding for a couple of days straight. I need to get better at recovery and that won't happen if I sleep only 5-6 hours every night because I stay up till 2am studying every night. I guess I should work more earlier and get up at 6 to put a few hours of saddle time in the morning so I can actually train and do everything else I need to as well. I need the discipline!!!

Thanks for all the tips so far! I'll try my best to hold onto a wheel and stay there and attack whenever I feel like an opportunity comes up and even when it doesn't. I attacked too early on my 2nd race and got dropped like a bad habit. I wasn't warmed up at all though. I'll make it a point to do that this time around!

work smart, not hard. think of the wind as a hail of gunfire and the pack as a reinforced concrete wall. pretend you have a gun with one bullet. you could wait for the right moment and take a good shot or you just use it to shoot yourself.

I'll be sure to take a trainer with me and try to be there early to pre ride the course.

You're in the Cat 5 race, which goes off first. You have plenty of time to warm up on the course. Since it's your first crit race at Bethel, which can be a challenging course, I wouldn't waste my time on the trainer. Warm up hard as others are saying...it's been freakin' cold at 8 AM there the past few weeks. If enough riders show up, there are two Cat 5 races at Bethel too, so keep that in mind. You may warm up, then find out you're in the second race. Then the trainer might come in handy.

Bethel is not a great place to attack...unless you're pretty strong, or have some help in a break. I'm not just saying that because I might be in the same race with you :-) With winds calm (0 mph) within a 10 mile radius of Bethel, you'll feel at least a 10 mph headwind somewhere on the back stretch. Guaranteed. And this past weekend was one of the RARE times the wind was calm. Most days, you're getting at least 15-20 mph in the face for the ENTIRE back stretch, which is 1/3 of the course right before the finishing hill.

The Cat 5 field is pretty strong at Bethel this year. There are some strong riders (both young and older). There are also some wheelsuckers. They won't work, but if you attack, they'll be happy to let you fry yourself. The current points leader hasn't attacked once this series. I don't think he's even taken a pull yet in three races.

My first races were at Bethel this year. Advice? The whole first race I was in a daze. If you're like that, just focus on the wheel in front of you. Most important though, don't make any sudden movements...there will ALWAYS be someone on your wheel who won't appreciate it. In the first turn (90 deg), hold your line. That means, don't start on the inside and end up on the outside, or vice versa. Again, someone is going to be right on your wheel. Finally, if you're braking, you're doing something wrong. One, the whole brake-accelerate-repeat cycle is a waste of energy. And second, someone is always on your wheel in a crit. (Have I mentioned that before?)

Oh, and the Cat 5's and the women I think are the only groups NOT to have a crash this year at Bethel.

how do you exactly move through the pack?

You learn it over time, but its basically about being persistant and opportunistic. When a slight gaps opens insinuate your way in. When others are attentive for a second that's your opportunity.

You don't have to bump people out of the way, but when a gap opens, they've got to know, you're not going to be intimidated from filling it.

Also when the race slows down just a touch, its a good time to hammer for just a bit and move up multiple places.

A tactic I like is when the race slows just a bit, I'll go up one side all the way to the front, and then just sit next to the 3rd or 4th rider, and wait for them to let just a little gap open,and then I move in. If they really contest me for the spot, I'll pick on the next guy.

Anticipate the accelerations out of turns, and be faster out of the corner.

You learn it over time, but its basically about being persistant and opportunistic. When a slight gaps opens insinuate your way in. When others are attentive for a second that's your opportunity.

You don't have to bump people out of the way, but when a gap opens, they've got to know, you're not going to be intimidated from filling it.

Also when the race slows down just a touch, its a good time to hammer for just a bit and move up multiple places.

A tactic I like is when the race slows just a bit, I'll go up one side all the way to the front, and then just sit next to the 3rd or 4th rider, and wait for them to let just a little gap open,and then I move in. If they really contest me for the spot, I'll pick on the next guy.

Anticipate the accelerations out of turns, and be faster out of the corner.

good points, actually i feel like i've been doing that and been sitting on top of large packs fairly well. I was just reading a carmichael link someone posted and he was talking about efficiently moving INSIDE of the group and i just could not imagine it all that well. Guess it is, as you said, something that comes with experience...

how do you exactly move through the pack? i remember my last race, for a whole lap, i was just completely boxed in the middle. Maybe i was simply too scared to make a move but i don't know.. same people were kinda sitting around me and it was a 70 person field with tight roads. Only way i ever stayed up front in that race was from pushing through the wind on the side, not very efficient. I just wonder what the fine line is between being an a hole and putting people in danger and swiftly moving through the insides of the pack.

I really want to go to one of those clinics and bump into people all day until im comfortable bumping them

It's a matter of getting comfortable moving in the field.

You have to get used to passing someone, and by passing i mean getting most of your front wheel ahead of theirs, and just drifting over. If you're on the left hand side, and it's two wide, coming up to a left hander, you get your bars ahead of theirs. Then, you just move over, firmly but gently. You don't want to take anyone down, and they don't want to go down, so more than likely they'll back off a bit, or move over to the right a bit, the guy to their right will move back or to the right, and things will reshuffle like that. In the field, that will happen thousands of times in a race.

"If you ain't movin' forward, yer movin' backwards."-How a friend put it, with regards to the shuffle.

It's a matter of getting comfortable moving in the field.

You have to get used to passing someone, and by passing i mean getting most of your front wheel ahead of theirs, and just drifting over. If you're on the left hand side, and it's two wide, coming up to a left hander, you get your bars ahead of theirs. Then, you just move over, firmly but gently. You don't want to take anyone down, and they don't want to go down, so more than likely they'll back off a bit, or move over to the right a bit, the guy to their right will move back or to the right, and things will reshuffle like that. In the field, that will happen thousands of times in a race.

"If you ain't movin' forward, yer movin' backwards."-How a friend put it, with regards to the shuffle.

ah interesting... im gonna start doing that after i get a pro fitting for my bike or something... sometimes i just feel so sketchy. My bike was in the shop all week, and i borrowed someone's beater. It's heavy and the headset is not well lubed... but wow this thing feels amazing. i can ride without hands for days and i just feel so much more confident on it.

any tips on that? specifically.. the "twitchyness" of the headset/fork

ah interesting... im gonna start doing that after i get a pro fitting for my bike or something... sometimes i just feel so sketchy. My bike was in the shop all week, and i borrowed someone's beater. It's heavy and the headset is not well lubed... but wow this thing feels amazing. i can ride without hands for days and i just feel so much more confident on it.

any tips on that? specifically.. the "twitchyness" of the headset/fork

Touring bikes/bigger bikes with a longer wheelbase will handle better that way. But in a race you're looking for the bike that you can get to fit you while still keeping that snap. You're not going to be riding no handed in a race so might as well not worry about it.

You bought a bike on BD and you've been having fitting issues. I went with a bd bike and didn't have fit issues. I sold that bike and got fitted and then had fitting issues. It's all relative. I really like the idea of the serotta fit cycle though, where the entire bike is adjustable and you can dial it in exactly to what is comfortable. Definitely something to think about before buying your next bike. I'm faster on my trek than on my cannondale, and even if I'm not, I'm more likely to be less fatigued on it over longer distances. I'm not riding my dale again until I've been fit on a different frame. Now that I've felt relative comfort, I can't go back.

All you might end up needing is a new seatpost and or stem, so that might really help out. A fitting is never a bad idea. Or you can try doing what I did and take pictures on a trainer to see what people have to say.

+1 to attacking.

Don't worry about the pace at the start or hanging on. Be the one that drives the pace at the start and strings it out. Get to the line sweaty, with your tire on the paint. String it out, they'll come around, and you can recover for your next attack or to follow one.

I've found that I work best at a heart rate of about 166-170 based on what I've seen in harder rides I've done. I'll try to hold it at the higher end of that spectrum for a bit and attack, but I'll make sure not to go over it too much otherwise I'll fatigue too fast. This way I'll be able to keep attacking and recovering till something either sticks or I keep buzzing around like a bee without losing energy. I'm not scared to attack, I just don't want to go too hard too soon and blow early on in the race like I did during my second race.

I think I'll get comfortable moving around the pack for the first couple of laps while still attacking every now and then, just to get used to the course. Then use what I've learnt to my advantage. There's more than 1 lap for the race, and just going off the front without knowing a good deal about the course isn't going to help!

OH! The signups for the race are closed, I wonder who signed up!

Does anyone want to interpret my E-Stilbene and Dibromostilbene NMR's for me. This is getting old ;)

Edit: Only 16 people signed up for the CAT5 race. What gives??? I figured there'd be atleast 30 since I heard CAT5 races fill up fast... What a bummer!

CDR, What gives?

if its anything like collegiate, lots more people show up than sign up online

im doing a practice race this sunday.. its a "C" race.. im really thinking about just attacking off the bat and trying to breakaway

always wanted to try :)

i don't even have a clue how strong this field will be, and it is a crit

I forget that the older folk have to ask for their wifey's permission before coming out and playing ;)

but they got powertapz :<

but they got powertapz :<

True dat!
:-(

I'm going to have weigh CDR's suggestion of buying zipps or other aero wheels of a reasonable weight with a powertap hub. It would completely RUIN me if I crashed in a race with that wheelset. I think it'd be simplest to just a PT to an open pro or something because busting that rim wouldn't be a big deal in comparison to busting a zipp wheelset. It's kinda silly to buy that kind of wheelset for training and not use them in races because I'd be too paranoid haha. That wheelset would be worth a third of my yearly income. Probably more actually...

I'm kinda scared to get a powertap. Looking at those pathetic numbers would probably make me want to quit haha.

you should probably just get a decent wheel for the powertap. i mean, worse than a zipp but better than an open pro.

i myself am trying to get a hub so i can stick it into my american classic 420 wheel. Its light and a tiny bit aero, and whatever it will do.

and don't be scared, it's probably great tracking our process in actual numbers. and about crashing, i dont know would be odd to destroy the rear wheel, but you never know. After my crash which involved hitting someone hard enough to blow out the tube, both of my wheels were perfectly true haha. my bike was also about 20 ft away from me when i sat up from the crash.

even after all my recent expenditures.. im still trying to get a powertap (my credit card just doesn't know it yet ;) )

You don't need expensive stuff for crit racing. It'll all get broken anyways. There's a few different ways to race crits. If you know you're stronger than the majority of the group, it's always fun to attack off the front on a course with lots of turns. You can really cause a race to fall apart for many people that way, since everyone will chase you in a CAT V race. I've done that a few times. I watched a 30 person race dwindle down to 8 once. If you aren't strong and balsy, stay toward the front of the pack but find a good draft. Then save all you're energy for the final lap. It'l lall come down to the sprint.

I just did my first crit a few days ago. Things I wish I knew before were how to corner. It's really nerve racking going into a corner at 25 mph with people all around you. I would try to start cornering on the outside, and then slowly make your way towards the inside of the pack as you get more comfortable with cornering.

One other thing...you don't need a $5000 bike with aero wheels to win. For most riders (especially new ones) just 1 week of hard training will give you more benefits than virtually any bike upgrade. Plus, if you crash and damage your bike...you're $5000 in the hole.

And finally, don't be afraid to attack. That's all. Good luck racing. 9 more races to cat 4!!

You don't need expensive stuff for crit racing. It'll all get broken anyways. There's a few different ways to race crits. If you know you're stronger than the majority of the group, it's always fun to attack off the front on a course with lots of turns. You can really cause a race to fall apart for many people that way, since everyone will chase you in a CAT V race. I've done that a few times. I watched a 30 person race dwindle down to 8 once. If you aren't strong and balsy, stay toward the front of the pack but find a good draft. Then save all you're energy for the final lap. It'l lall come down to the sprint.

Great! I've lost already!

Hahahaha... I haven't been training for my sprint in forever... I've just been trying to get stronger and ride harder longer. I haven't done any actual sprint training in months. I probably have a sprint that tops out in the mid 30's right now, without a draft. I've never had the chance to sprint in a draft so I have no idea if that'd actually put me up faster.

I've also never raced with a computer so I have no idea what my numbers look like!

Great! I've lost already!

Hahahaha... I haven't been training for my sprint in forever... I've just been trying to get stronger and ride harder longer. I haven't done any actual sprint training in months. I probably have a sprint that tops out in the mid 30's right now, without a draft. I've never had the chance to sprint in a draft so I have no idea if that'd actually put me up faster.

I've also never raced with a computer so I have no idea what my numbers look like!

i'd say thats a fast sprint without a draft

how do you exactly move through the pack?

I really want to go to one of those clinics and bump into people all day until im comfortable bumping them

Bumping is a good skill to have but not one you should use in a race. In fact, in most Cat 3 races, I don't touch anyone. However, if I get slammed, I won't go down. To wit:
Hartford Crit helmet cam (http://youtube.com/watch?v=RtcUmptsA_U) - someone bumps me in a turn, moves me out a bit, and someone slams into me from the outside.

Moving up through the field - you'll be surprised at how much room there is in a "curb to curb" race. At the same time, you'll also be amazed at how little room there is:
2007 Nutmeg Classic helmet cam (http://youtube.com/watch?v=h-gqK3VKNqs)
There is a lap where I move up a lot, but in the last two laps moving up even 10 spots is a challenge.

I lack the strength, usually, to move up next to the field. Therefore I learned how to do it while still in the field. Excellent arrow for your racing quiver.

cdr

CDR, What gives?

lol a few things and suggestions from someone that's been racing there a long, long time, and has watched a bunch of Cat 5s and 4s work through the ranks.

1. Sign up numbers don't reflect who shows up, not until Thursday night or whenever registration closes for a race. Most people who pre-reg wait until Thursday to register after verifying the weather will be decent. We get more on day of, since either people don't want to use their credit cards or paypal or they figure the $2.xx they save by pre-reg is not worth it (bikereg fee wipes out most of pre-reg savings). Since we schedule two Cat 5 races, no worries (usually) about being blocked out of racing (we typically have 50-80 Cat 5 racers, depending on weather and conflicting rides/races). Finally we comp some riders for sweep etc. I don't know if they're included in the list. I didn't even know we had the list public because we normally keep it invisible due to the riders it doesn't list.

2. Tactics at Bethel specifically.

The course is basically a kidney shaped course, no turns to speak of, with a 150 meter hill that peaks at 6%, finish line at top of hill. Big ring hill if you roll into it, a cross chaining hill if you go into it slow. I prefer big ring to avoid dropping the chain, but if you find yourself bogging down, use the small ring.

It is ALWAYS windy there, typically 20 mph winds. Last week was a dream like exception. In the P123s they were going 18-20 mph when trying to get clear of the field the second week of the race (50 mph gusts). Breaks rarely succeed in such conditions simply due to the fact that a small group has to work exceptionally hard, except when the racer has a lot of prior athletic experience (i.e. top triathlete or pro mountain biker, both of which we've had this year). They both tend to pull like mad though, rather than attacking, so just hang on.

With less than 50 racers, being at the front is absolutely not necessary. Maybe 10-15 from the back is fine. This is because 10 back gets you out of the riders who are in danger of being shelled, but that's still only 35-40 from the front. In a big Cat 3 race, that's the front third of the field that everyone talks about. Just turn around every now and then to make sure you haven't drifted into the last 5 or so riders. If you have, use your judgment to decide if it's necessary to move up. Oftentimes I look around, no one is behind me, and I'm content with 100 guys in front of me because the field in front is tightly knit and there are no gaps.

Most dangerous thing in Cat 5 Bethel races are gaps left by tired riders. If you get gapped off due to a rider in front of you leaving a gap, you need to close it. Gather yourself for 10 or 15 seconds and go where you feel strongest - the hill, after the hill, the flatter sections. Make your gap bridging effort short and hard, don't spend 5 laps closing a 10 yard gap.

Based on who has been showing up, the pro triathlete guy (I call him pro, he's just a really strong rider, sub hour 40k on a standard road bike) is by far the strongest, but no one works with him, so if you can hang on while he pummels the field, you'll be fine. To give you an idea of his strength, he was at Plainville, attacked at the gun, rode to about a half lap lead, then, after 15 or something minutes, flatted. He had no wheels in the wheel pit so had to drop out.

Sprint - most Cat 5s wait too long to sprint. I'd go at about the driveway to the left at the bottom of the hill. That's about 150 meters to go. You should be able to go in a 53x15 or equivalent. My speed in the uphill sprint with being boxed in every week (grr) has been 30-32 mph. I haven't gotten a good jump yet. If you're around for the sprint and you feel good, try and get into, say, between 7th and 15th spot before the bottom of the hill. Stay out of the wind or you might as well not even try, but this way you have a shot at doing well. I haven't watched too many Cat 5 sprints this year but normally 1 or 2 riders go clear and the rest is kind of tight. So if you're in the running, you'll probably stay in the running.

Warming up - I think warming up is critical for the 5s. Staying warm is important too, esp in the cold mornings. I'd bring something for your neck, head, ears, even face (as a precaution). Cold weather gloves, jacket or other windproof top, good tights, booties. If you have a flappy windproof top (think wind jacket that puffs out like the Michelin Man) then I'd wear it under your top layer so it puffs out less. Drink hot coffee or hot tea. Warming up from inside works well too. Finally wear lots of cold weather things when you go register etc. No sense in being cold before you get onto the bike.

Pre-race prep (training). If you were going to take a day off, I'd have taken Thursday or Friday (today) off. If not, go easy. Saturday do a moderate day, 1-1.5 hours, not too many efforts. This is my old standby schedule. To be open/honest I'm trying something new so instead of resting today, I'm going the direct opposite - intervals today, race Plainville tomorrow, then race Bethel Sunday. This is a higher workload than normal for me.

hope this helps,
cdr

Be ready to jump out of every corner

best advice here. most guys say they got dropped because of the surges. the back will be much faster than the front becauser it's reacting to what the front is dictating, so you see bigger gaps form that need bridged or you solo.

Crits are about cornering and recovery.

Recovery is a by product of your training. It's a bit late in the day to offer advice on that for this race.

For cornering, I see many riders go into the corner, through the apex, stand on the way out AND THEN SHIFT!

It may take a few laps to get it right but shift as you are entering the corner. That way you can just spin up the gear as you exit the corner instead of getting up and trying to accelerate too big a gear or trying to shift and sprint at the same time.

This will also save you a ton of energy over the course of the race, produce smoother cornering and allow you to move up a few places coming out of a turn (if the course allows it).

Oh yeah, attack like it's 1999.

Crits are about cornering and recovery.

Recovery is a by product of your training. It's a bit late in the day to offer advice on that for this race.

For cornering, I see many riders go into the corner, through the apex, stand on the way out AND THEN SHIFT!

It may take a few laps to get it right but shift as you are entering the corner. That way you can just spin up the gear as you exit the corner instead of getting up and trying to accelerate too big a gear or trying to shift and sprint at the same time.

This will also save you a ton of energy over the course of the race, produce smoother cornering and allow you to move up a few places coming out of a turn (if the course allows it).

Oh yeah, attack like it's 1999.

Also, go easy on the brakes coming into the corner. Too many people allow themselves to brake too much and lose too much momentum.

Lastly, stop listening to all this advice and just give it a go. Bike racing is about first-hand experience. Don't over analyze anything in your first five years.

if you are not constantly passing people you are moving backwards

if you *think* you are in the middle of the pack you are probably at the back

My first races were at Bethel this year. Advice? The whole first race I was in a daze. If you're like that, just focus on the wheel in front of you.

This is great advice if you want to go and get your first crash out of the way. If the dude in front of you isn't paying attention either and has to slam the brakes on hard...and as a result, you do too...this can turn into a bad thing.

This is great advice if you want to go and get your first crash out of the way. If the dude in front of you isn't paying attention either and has to slam the brakes on hard...and as a result, you do too...this can turn into a bad thing.

I've been in a couple races where I've been stuck in a jam-packed field, unable to move. The only thing you can see is the rider directly in front of you, and the ones to the front right and left of you. If in that position, you have to rely on those riders to pay attention anyway.

Perhaps a better way to say it is just don't lose concentration. Pay attention.

if you *think* you are in the middle of the pack you are probably at the back

So. Effing. True. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=397817)

Onto my lessons learned:

Downshift before the corner
Look around - avoid tunnel vision
Warm up well - on the course if possible
Don't carry two bottles
Try and avoid the middle (laterally) of the pack - much harder to move up in the middle
Know your field and know which wheel you need to be on during the final 2 laps

I've been in a couple races where I've been stuck in a jam-packed field, unable to move. The only thing you can see is the rider directly in front of you, and the ones to the front right and left of you. If in that position, you have to rely on those riders to pay attention anyway.

Perhaps a better way to say it is just don't lose concentration. Pay attention.

Let me guess, your frame size = < 54cm? I can ALWAYS see the front of the pack ;)

I crashed in my first crit. It was the final stage of a "road race, TT & crit" trifecta. I was in 2nd place on GC due to my time trial. I had no idea there was such a thing as a free lap. So after my crash I spent the rest of the time a half-lap back trying to catch the field. Ended up 9th on GC as a result. My team mate kept yelling at me to stop at the finish line - I thought he wanted me to quit.

Cost me $100 which was the 2nd place prize. All I had to do was finish with the field (time based stage race).

I'm still mad about that.

Let me guess, your frame size = < 54cm? I can ALWAYS see the front of the pack ;)

I ride a 54 and find it really tough to see the front.