Road Bike Racing - youve gotta be fast around here

to even get into some races!

A road race in the DC area sold out in less than 5 minutes last night for the 4/5 field and an hour for the 3/4 field!

to even get into some races!

A road race in the DC area sold out in less than 5 minutes last night for the 4/5 field and an hour for the 3/4 field!

Most fields here never even fill up. Neener.

i may not race fast but i register fast for sure

You have to scalp tickets to get into the Bear Mountain race 40 miles north of NY City.

Poolesville?

I missed that too! Oh well, I shall focus on the working mans classic instead. I hope to get a flat cap and braces (suspenders) before I go, and rehears the python sketch about how tough life was :)

Wow. I don't understand - if its that popular why don't they race each category separately instead of combining them?

Wow. I don't understand - if its that popular why don't they race each category separately instead of combining them?

Not enough time in the day to race so many fields. Or in the case of a RR, maybe it is too many fields out on the course at a time.

Clearly the promoters should increase the entry fee. ;)

It's always like that around here. Every race is packed. Welcome to the MABRA.

You have to scalp tickets to get into the Bear Mountain race 40 miles north of NY City.

No doubt. I was the #100 registrant for the cat3 race. Feckin thing fills up quick.

Upgrade. I bet the Pro/1/2 field doesnt fill up so fast.

Does this mean cycling is becoming more popular?, or have races always filled up this fast?

No worries, there will be Cat 3 guys in the Lake Welch Parking Lot on race day yelling 'ANYBODY NEED A RACE NUMBER?'.

Glad you got in KP. Now suffer like the peloton dog you are. That 50mph to 10mph 180º U turn at the bottom of Lake Welch Drive. That's always a panic, particularly with 99 other uber-testosterone guys. Enjoy!

Does this mean cycling is becoming more popular?

Don't get carried away. It simply means the number of licensed racers deluded enough to think they are climbers keeps rising along with the expensive racing bikes they buy.

I know because I used to be one of them.

You have to scalp tickets to get into the Bear Mountain race 40 miles north of NY City.

True that.

I don't think there has been an unsold out cat 5 race here in a long time. Even when there are A and B fields. 4's usually fill up pretty fast too.

I will be in Japan for Bear. Alas, KP and DrW still have not done battle. (the real reason for sandbagging. I need to face the KP)

The way W. is riding he could get an email on his Blackberry in Japan telling him the race has started, fly to NY, take a taxi to Bear Mtn, catch the field, bridge to the break and win the race solo.

Comparing other racers here to him is like comparing Campfire Girls to a Navy Seal.

http://www.girlscouts-hawaii.org/atf/cf/%7B1545670B-9B80-4BCC-9508-AA3C1CC1116F%7D/Brownie%20Group.jpg

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/anzus50/images/usdod/navy_seal.jpg

Just one more reason why, though living smack in the middle of MABRA, I'm not racing the MABRA calendar.

Man you guys need one or more of the following:

1) Calendars
2) iPhone
3) Alarm clocks
4) Teams that remind you

The reason why so many people were caught out by Poolesville is the promoters did not send the email until the following morning (or the MABRA list serve held onto it until 10 am).

I check bikereg regularly just in case.

nyah nyah nyah boo boo I made it into Poolesville 3/4.

So is this race special or do all the road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast?

Man you guys need one or more of the following:

1) Calendars
2) iPhone
3) Alarm clocks
4) Teams that remind you

The reason why so many people were caught out by Poolesville is the promoters did not send the email until the following morning (or the MABRA list serve held onto it until 10 am).

I check bikereg regularly just in case.

nyah nyah nyah boo boo I made it into Poolesville 3/4.

i didnt have any trouble getting in and i dont think anyone is complaining so I dont know why people keep acting like it. and really what goods that email going to do when obviously plenty of people knew about it to fill an entire race in less than five minutes and have 40 others on the wait list shortly after? So if that email gets out when its supposed to what improves? The race sells out in 1 minute instead?

So is this race special or do all the road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast?

in the beginning of the season cat 4 and 5 races sell out really fast but as the season goes on its not so bad. This race is kind of special because its one of the closest road races to dc, its early in the season and part of it is on a gravel road to make it more "spring classic" like.

like many other parts of the country there is a huge glut of 4s in the area so anytime you have races combining fields like 4/5 and 3/4 those races typically fill fast.

Since this is a road race with a limited amount of time to shut down the roads there is less fields resulting in combined classes which sell fast.

i didnt have any trouble getting in and i dont think anyone is complaining so I dont know why people keep acting like it. and really what goods that email going to do when obviously plenty of people knew about it to fill an entire race in less than five minutes and have 40 others on the wait list shortly after? So if that email gets out when its supposed to what improves? The race sells out in 1 minute instead?

Yeah, I agree with you. What I meant to say was the email was used as an excuse to get pissed off even though in reality not much would have changed.


So is this race special or do all the road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast?

It's not that special. It's early race season, people want to race their new shiny bikes.

There are hardly any road races in Virginia (Jeff Cup + Giro di Coppi?). There are not that many in Maryland either. I think it reflects what the other guy said plus that. Who wants to do crits the whole time? + There is a huge biking population within reach of that race. All of DC plus Baltimore is a big catchment.

I will be in Japan for Bear. Alas, KP and DrW still have not done battle. (the real reason for sandbagging. I need to face the KP)

You and I shall do battle at Battenkill. I fully expect to take second place, and you to take first. Lets make a pact, we shall work together coming over the final climb. Its a nice, easy grade, the type that I am best at. In any event, it shall be epic.

KP: bring your oxygen mask, the EPO syringes, and a cell phone to call Mommy in the last 10 miles.

That 50mph to 10mph 180º U turn at the bottom of Lake Welch Drive.

Best part of the race. I wish I could do just that part over and over again. The one time I did the race I almost passed the pace car 3/4 of the way through the turn (think "urban sprint practice") but he floored it as soon as he could and took off. I tried to follow him, ended up "attacking", and got caught and passed by everyone before the top of whatever that stupid long hill is. Then I had to find my way back to the parking lot.

cdr

Most fields here never even fill up. Neener.

I've never heard of a sold-out race locally.

So is this race special or do all the road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast?

All early season races and road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast. After May/June, they still fill up, but not so quickly as folks are getting their burn out on, folks are upgrading, etc.

Poolesville RR is a unique race that has a big draw, and along with Jefferson Cup in VA, is always sold out quickly. It's on narrow, twisty turny rolling roads with a +/- 2 mile gravel section that gets people amped up. Also, because of the roads it's raced on, field sizes are limited to 75.

Another factor in races filling up quickly is that MABRA promoters make a point to have womens and juniors fields, which never fill up, but cost the promoter the same in terms of dollars and manpower. It's completely socially unacceptable to not have a W123, W4, and Jr. race when you're promoting, but would be way better cost/benefit wise to skip them and just put in another race that Men Cat 4s could do.

Other road races in the MABRA area that are upcoming:

Michael P. Murad on 5/31 (my club puts this one on, so be sure to put it on your calender):)
Tour of Washington County which will include last years Smithburg Road Race (very hilly) in June
Giro di Coppi in July

Unfortunately, as the MABRA area gets more and more populated, road races are becoming more and more difficult to get permitted, as are downtown showcase criteriums, which takes us back to the glorious days of racing industrial park crits.

to even get into some races!

A road race in the DC area sold out in less than 5 minutes last night for the 4/5 field and an hour for the 3/4 field!

I'll have the best seat in the house for this event. Im one of the moto officals for Poolesville. I just got an email from the cheif ref looking for more motos for Murad, but i wanna race in that one. What to do....

All early season races and road races in the MD/DC/VA area fill up fast. After May/June, they still fill up, but not so quickly as folks are getting their burn out on, folks are upgrading, etc.

Poolesville RR is a unique race that has a big draw, and along with Jefferson Cup in VA, is always sold out quickly. It's on narrow, twisty turny rolling roads with a +/- 2 mile gravel section that gets people amped up. Also, because of the roads it's raced on, field sizes are limited to 75.

Another factor in races filling up quickly is that MABRA promoters make a point to have womens and juniors fields, which never fill up, but cost the promoter the same in terms of dollars and manpower. It's completely socially unacceptable to not have a W123, W4, and Jr. race when you're promoting, but would be way better cost/benefit wise to skip them and just put in another race that Men Cat 4s could do.

Other road races in the MABRA area that are upcoming:

Michael P. Murad on 5/31 (my club puts this one on, so be sure to put it on your calender):)
Tour of Washington County which will include last years Smithburg Road Race (very hilly) in June
Giro di Coppi in July

Unfortunately, as the MABRA area gets more and more populated, road races are becoming more and more difficult to get permitted, as are downtown showcase criteriums, which takes us back to the glorious days of racing industrial park crits.


don't forget the inaugural page valley road race presented by page valley cycling and co-sponsored by racing union. :-D http://www.pagevalleycycling.com/Page_Valley_Road_Race.html

KP: bring your oxygen mask, the EPO syringes, and a cell phone to call Mommy in the last 10 miles.

PCAD: will you be on the escort motorcycle with the video cam??

don't forget the inaugural page valley road race presented by page valley cycling and co-sponsored by racing union. :-D http://www.pagevalleycycling.com/Page_Valley_Road_Race.html

Is there a date in here that I'm not seeing?

Is there a date in here that I'm not seeing?

august 24th.... the page valley team, and their site, is new, so not a ton of info there.

august 24th.... the page valley team, and their site, is new, so not a ton of info there.

Ah ok, so this is the state championship RR? I'm new to this whole scene, so bear with me. Do you need to have a certain number of points to race? Linking me to some info on this would be sufficient.

the MABRA site doesn't list it as such, but i'm pretty sure it is the state championship race. no pre-qualification is necessary... just register and race in your cat.

i heard the reston tri filled up in record time this year too... not to shift the focus

I've never heard of a sold-out race locally.

too bad for you.

when it comes to racing fields, generally less is less, and more is more.

too bad for you.

when it comes to racing fields, generally less is less, and more is more.

Eh, I've enjoyed both.

Another factor in races filling up quickly is that MABRA promoters make a point to have womens and juniors fields, which never fill up, but cost the promoter the same in terms of dollars and manpower. It's completely socially unacceptable to not have a W123, W4, and Jr. race when you're promoting, but would be way better cost/benefit wise to skip them and just put in another race that Men Cat 4s could do.




But then were would I race? For Poolesville, though, I could care less. It is too hilly and long for me. I can do 3/4 crits, flat to rolling 42mile RRs, but all combined factors make me sit this one out. I do love that I can sign up for a race around here last minute. Registering for those men's fields reminds me of setting alarms for course registration in college when your registration block sucked.

But then were would I race? For Poolesville, though, I could care less. It is too hilly and long for me. I can do 3/4 crits, flat to rolling 42mile RRs, but all combined factors make me sit this one out. I do love that I can sign up for a race around here last minute. Registering for those men's fields reminds me of setting alarms for course registration in college when your registration block sucked.

If you're a W3 or W4, you could do the Men's 4, or 5 race if no specific W field was offered.

FYI - I'm coached by a woman and am very supportive of women's racing. But, honestly, as a promoter of a race, I feel pressured to offer womens fields, even though it's a financial turd to do so. Also, MABRA is pressuring us to offer a Jr. field, which we're not doing because of timing and manpower, but it's been a discussion we've had to defend our position on. Our race is our club's primary fundraiser we're a club of about 10 dudes with jobs/families/and trying to race ourselves, and its a financial loss to offer W and Jr. fields vs. offering another M4 or M5 field, but we all do so anyway. Just sayin'.

Along those lines, your reason for not doing poolesville is weak, and is really supportive of a reason for promoters to bag specific womens races. The promoter has offered you a field to race in, why wouldnt you challenge yourself to see if you can compete?

As a comparison, I'm a Cat 3/35+ mens racer who has no delusions about my abilities on the bike. Jeff cup only offered me a P123 72 mi. RR to compete in, on a day where the weather was roubaix like. I raced it as a challenge to see if I could hang, I used many of the tactical tricks I could to hang on ... being top 10 at the start of every uphill section so I could slide back as the stronger riders put down the hammer, bombing every downhill section, being sure to ride on the non-wind side of the group where applicable, etc., etc., etc. Why would you not do the same?

^^^ MDCatV, was that you I saw yesterday on the W&OD out past Leesburg?

you saw an aabc guy out there?

^^^ MDCatV, was that you I saw yesterday on the W&OD out past Leesburg?

not me, not sure who might be out that way

I ride out on the w&od between sterling and leesburg often and ive never seen an aabc kit out that way.

Mebbe I misrecognized the jersey. I was out past mile marker.. mm... 35-36 coming back from the end of the trail. I'd just passed Bryan Vaughn going the other way and I passed a rider going the other way, we made eye contact and I think he said "Hi Tom" but I wasn't sure - iPod was too loud :P Great day for a ride out that way, 98.6 miles for me from work out and back to the house.

Cat 4 races up in lancaster county, pa are filling up fast as well. This saturday calls for rain and with 90 cat4's is bound to be a fun race. I should be a cat3 hopefully mid-season and I will be able to race masters 35+ next year, which although I may get smoked, the races should be smoother.

lots of dc area guys have been looking at those PA races. makes sense you would start seeing the over flow. I raced in PA once last year because i missed out on reg down here.

Along those lines, your reason for not doing poolesville is weak, and is really supportive of a reason for promoters to bag specific womens races. The promoter has offered you a field to race in, why wouldnt you challenge yourself to see if you can compete?

That's a bit like saying I should do every crit in Virginia, because they are offered. But I dislike crits strongly, and don't blame aicabsolut for not liking climbing. I do try to support local racing and challenge myself, but that's what cross season is for!

I think the only option is to encourage women to ride and fill the fields that way. If you book them, and they will come :)

Along those lines, your reason for not doing poolesville is weak, and is really supportive of a reason for promoters to bag specific womens races. The promoter has offered you a field to race in, why wouldnt you challenge yourself to see if you can compete?

As a comparison, I'm a Cat 3/35+ mens racer who has no delusions about my abilities on the bike. Jeff cup only offered me a P123 72 mi. RR to compete in, on a day where the weather was roubaix like. I raced it as a challenge to see if I could hang, I used many of the tactical tricks I could to hang on ... being top 10 at the start of every uphill section so I could slide back as the stronger riders put down the hammer, bombing every downhill section, being sure to ride on the non-wind side of the group where applicable, etc., etc., etc. Why would you not do the same?

I raced Jeff Cup, and I was pretty disappointed that the W4 race was only 20mi this year instead of 30mi, though I was racing in the collegiate field.

I'm more of a crit racer, not one for an epic road race with lots of climbing, so Poolesville isn't really for me and my style. However, I have many friends who excel at that, and I would hate for them not to have a field. I'd probably do the Murad RR, because I'm more comfortable with those roads and that distance, but I still have no expectation of glory on those roads versus a fat and fast crit. '

It's unfortunate that many of my male friends can't make it into the races around here in the 3/4 or 4 or 4/5 fields, and I'd hate for part of that to be my fault at an event that I don't have much interest in. Still, it would suck not to have any racing options. If I wanted to race back home further south, I'd be faced with Women's Open fields pretty much exclusively. That's a deterrent for me. I know I cannot hang with cat 1/2 women, so I wonder if those races are worth the entry fee. Last summer when I had those races to choose from instead of MABRA 3/4 races, I didn't do them. I did training races and just trained. When faced with an upgrade between me and collegiate As after all this training, I was screwed, because I was far away from being a 3. Racing around here this season gives me a chance at an upgrade and gives me an incentive to race in general....it just might not be at Poolesville. The suffering isn't worth it to me there.

i know its not the same but it sounds like you WOULD have an option to race the mens 4 or 5 field if there were no womens races so you wouldnt be totally shut out.