Road Bike Racing - Being a Junior SUCKS

I'm 18 years old. I have buy a stupid junior cassete and chainring. I'm going with a 52x15. Dude WTF i'm i gonna do with that? This is going to cost me $$. Plus i don't use that tiny of a gear for anything above 14 mph. DAMN DAMN DAMN. i have to go 120 mile round trip to the LBS to get it. I can't wait till i can use what ever gear i want. PLUS - the cat 5 men that are not juniors can have normal size gears. I'm just gonna go for it though.

Only good thing is been a junior is your young.

:rolleyes

I think you can run 52x14. But seriously learn how to spin, and it won't matter. I get to use big boy gears this year and I've used my 13t cog almost twice. Its not a big deal.

seriously, the worst part about being a junior is the lack of maturity.

Adjust the derailer limit screws to lock out your 11-14t cogs and quit whining.

I do feel bad for juniors in the races I do, cuz a lot of em are strong enough to need more than a 52-14 top gear. Stupid rule, IMO.

I'm 18 years old. I have buy a stupid junior cassete and chainring. I'm going with a 52x15. Dude WTF i'm i gonna do with that? This is going to cost me $$. Plus i don't use that tiny of a gear for anything above 14 mph. DAMN DAMN DAMN. i have to go 120 mile round trip to the LBS to get it. I can't wait till i can use what ever gear i want. PLUS - the cat 5 men that are not juniors can have normal size gears. I'm just gonna go for it though.

Only good thing is been a junior is your young.

Then you would witness the wonderful and quite clear "POP" sound that would occur as the pack rode away from you on the very first acceleration. In addition, this would seem to indicate that even for flat training rides you use only 4 of 20 gears (53x14, 53x13, 53x12, 53x11)? Or do you prefer a 60t for the front?

Block your 12 and 13. Don't complain as much.

Let's trade places. I'll be 18, you can be 50, and I'll give you all my 11-23 cassettes too.

Deal or what kid?

Then you would witness the wonderful and quite clear "POP" sound that would occur as the pack rode away from you on the very first acceleration. In addition, this would seem to indicate that even for flat training rides you use only 4 of 20 gears (53x14, 53x13, 53x12, 53x11)? Or do you prefer a 60t for the front?

I've been spinning like a mad man in a 53X16 training for it. I can ride over 20mph but races go at more than 30 mph i'm going to be spinning out. for flat land the only gear i need is a 53x12. Accelerations are not a problem. some lady was walking 3 dogs in the middle of the road yesterday. I slowed to a walking speed. I took about 2 seconds to get back up to 27 mph.

Let's trade places. I'll be 18, you can be 50, and I'll give you all my 11-23 cassettes too.

Deal or what kid?

You don't look 50. I look more like 50.

You don't look 50. I look more like 50.

Kid, you just made my week.

I can't even do ONE push up.

Adjust the derailer limit screws to lock out your 11-14t cogs and quit whining.

I have a 53 tooth. so a 14 is to big. I would have to have the derailer blocked so far over that i don't think it's possible.

I've been spinning like a mad man in a 53X16 training for it. I can ride over 20mph but races go at more than 30 mph i'm going to be spinning out. for flat land the only gear i need is a 53x12. Accelerations are not a problem. some lady was walking 3 dogs in the middle of the road yesterday. I slowed to a walking speed. I took about 2 seconds to get back up to 27 mph.

I did a crit on Sunday with a compact crank (50) and never got into the 14, let alone the 11. I was there for the sprint. Im told that one can pedal up to and over 40mph with a compact. You should be able to ride 20mph in the small ring.

the other good thing about being a junior is the 18 year old girls

If you can't spin your 52/14 past 35 mph, you shouldn't bother racing.


I did a crit on Sunday with a compact crank (50) and never got into the 14, let alone the 11. I was there for the sprint. Im told that one can pedal up to and over 40mph with a compact. You should be able to ride 20mph in the small ring.
Yep, I frequently spin my 50/11 past 42 mph. Of course, this is going down a 7% grade for about 3 miles.

edit: Oh and 11-28 is my training and road race cassette. I use a 12-25 for crits and don't think I have used the 12 yet.

the other good thing about being a junior is the 18 year old girls
It's legal for any age man. The question is if the 18 year old girls would go for Botero or Pcad first.

It's legal for any age man. The question is if the 18 year old girls would go for Botero or Pcad first.

uk, you just made my month.

I was at the Third Eye Blind show in NY City last night and it was overflowing with 18 year old girls. They tried to avoid looking at me, much as they would avoid looking at their own Dads.

My delusions may indeed be grandiose, but they do not involve college age women.

If you can't spin your 52/14 past 35 mph, you shouldn't bother racing.


Yep, I frequently spin my 50/11 past 42 mph. Of course, this is going down a 7% grade for about 3 miles.

I'll try. I'll go out today and put it in my 53x16 and spin it up to 35.

Botero, if you can get ahold of a fixed gear bike, that would do wonders for your spinning abilities. I started racing on a velodrome, so that took care of it for me.

As a junior, I never lost a sprint due to gear restrictions. The exception, however, is when a junior enters in a senior race. Not much of a problem in flat crits, but anything with a hill leaves the junior with no way to keep up on the descents.

Tell me about it. On any descent on group rides every one flys by me like i'm standing still even with out gear restrictions. but i am very light and there fat. Like 170 pounds. I can't believe how they go down so fast.

Tell me about it. On any descent on group rides every one flys by me like i'm standing still even with out gear restrictions. but i am very light and there fat. Like 170 pounds. I can't believe how they go down so fast.

You think 170 lbs is fat?

I told you guys I'm too fat for this sport.

ok beefy.

You think 170 lbs is fat?

I told you guys I'm too fat for this sport.
I weigh 145 :p

Tell me about it. On any descent on group rides every one flys by me like i'm standing still even with out gear restrictions. but i am very light and there fat. Like 170 pounds. I can't believe how they go down so fast.

I have the same problem even without gear restrictions. Being 6' tall and 140 lbs will do that. I have almost the same cross-sectional area (and therefore wind drag) as larger guys but less mass. If the descent is technical I do ok but if it's straight or not very steep I have to stay in someone's draft if I don't want to get dropped.

If you're the same shape get used to grabbing a wheel at the top of climbs and tucking in for the descent.

Tell me about it. On any descent on group rides every one flys by me like i'm standing still even with out gear restrictions. but i am very light and there fat. Like 170 pounds. I can't believe how they go down so fast.
Sprint to get behind them (preferably before you run out of gear) and tuck into their draft. If you accomplish it, you will save tons of energy. I still do that on descents because I'd rather conserve my energy than pedal my biggest gear. If my competitor is coasting, I should try to do the same.

edit: I see I'm not the only one with that opinion, either.

we need a weight thread

we need a weight thread
You mean just a weight poll or a watts per kg pissing match?

what's a watt?

But all my daughter's friends think I'm emaciated already. I'll just have to get down to 150 so I'll look like this:

http://www.expat-at-large.com/pm/images/uploads/stickman.jpg

6' 140lbs. You friggin beanpole Wussyass.

You don't look 50. I look more like 50.


You're right. I would have guessed at least 75.

But all my daughter's friends think I'm emaciated already. I'll just have to get down to 150 so I'll look like this:

http://www.expat-at-large.com/pm/images/uploads/stickman.jpg

6' 140lbs. You friggin beanpole Wussyass.

P-cad, My mom thinks your a "young stud-muffin". you don't need to lose wieght your just very dense i guess. You don't look 170 pounds.

the internet takes off at least 10 pounds.

It's legal for any age man. The question is if the 18 year old girls would go for Botero or Pcad first.

pcad definitely has the advantage with the grandpa fetish and anna nicole smith crowds.

:p

I have to admit that I feel bad for the juniors in some of the P/1/2 races around here. We did one with a long downhill stretch with a tailwind. At 45+ mph, it must be real tough to keep up with the pack using junior gears. I'm glad that I can use an 11.

Adjust the derailer limit screws to lock out your 11-14t cogs and quit whining.

New rule says that's not allowed me thinks.

Edit: being a junior ****ing rules dude.

blocked gears are allowed except for nationals

I am indeed a stud-muffin. Ask Mrs. Pcad.

I'm 18 years old. I have buy a stupid junior cassete and chainring. I'm going with a 52x15. Dude WTF i'm i gonna do with that? This is going to cost me $$. Plus i don't use that tiny of a gear for anything above 14 mph. DAMN DAMN DAMN. i have to go 120 mile round trip to the LBS to get it. I can't wait till i can use what ever gear i want. PLUS - the cat 5 men that are not juniors can have normal size gears. I'm just gonna go for it though.

Only good thing is been a junior is your young.


I do feel bad for juniors in the races I do, cuz a lot of em are strong enough to need more than a 52-14 top gear. Stupid rule, IMO.

Hi,

About the only advantage of being the same age as pcad and having started racing when I was 16 is that I can remember when Juniors didn't have a gear restriction and why the ABLA (Amateur Bicycle League of America -- Pre USAC / USCF) adopted the rule. :rolleyes:

Regardless of how immortal you feel at 18, you may or may not have matured fully from a physiological standpoint. Way back in the day (as you kids phrase it) Junior racers were damaging their knees by riding too large a gear. The gear restriction was supposed to, in part, minimize the possibility of a young racer doing permanent damage to their knees. Of course this doesn't stop someone from climbing a steep grade in a high gear. :crash:

Anyway, I hope that Botero was kidding about his gearing at speeds above 14 MPH. I also agree wholeheartedly with the comments about developing a good spin.

Hope this helps and good luck with surviving your last year as a Junior.

OP, using restricted gears might teach you something very valuable: Race with your HEAD not your legs.

It will also teach you to be comfortable spinning. It will prolong the useful life of your knees, hips and spine. It will allow your ligaments to catch up to the muscle growth and strength increases you've probably experienced in the last 2 years.

I know it's very hard for someone 18 to see the long term picture here but think about what you will gain from restricted gearing over the next several years and try not to get hung up on the limitations (it will suck, sometimes).

Now go and race.

Edit: 170lbs fat? Now your just pissing people off.

I have to admit that I feel bad for the juniors in some of the P/1/2 races

Yeah, I feel bad for those 17 year old cat 2...




oh wait.

OP, using restricted gears might teach you something very valuable: Race with your HEAD not your legs.

It will also teach you to be comfortable spinning. It will prolong the useful life of your knees, hips and spine. It will allow your ligaments to catch up to the muscle growth and strength increases you've probably experienced in the last 2 years.

I know it's very hard for someone 18 to see the long term picture here but think about what you will gain from restricted gearing over the next several years and try not to get hung up on the limitations (it will suck, sometimes).

Now go and race.

Edit: 170lbs fat? Now your just pissing people off.

Notably Boonen and Cancellara.

On to the gears - the only times it'll handicap you in races will be long descents and flat/downhill sprints. 120rpm in 52/14 is ~35mph. Most crits won't be exceeding that too often.

what's a watt?
You're joking, right?

WATT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt)

Takes me back to my junior years. All the time in the world to train, guilt free. Eat whatever you want, always have energy and never gain an ounce. Never have trouble sleeping. Recover completely from a 120 mile ride in 36 hours. Bones that flex instead of breaking. Yes, being a junior sucks.

Oh, and the gear restriction. That's not for you. It's to level the field for the other kids who aren't as strong as you so you don't just ride away from them at 27 miles an hour ;)

GB

I think the real reason this rule exists is to prevent some hot shot junior from winning all the races and showing up the older guys.

We had a junior on our group ride once. I hadn't seen him before, so had no idea if he knew the area or not. Anyway, he hit a big, well known pothole and ejected his bottle. I stayed with him, thinking I would help him back to the group and show him the way to go. Oops. He was helluvafast.

Let's trade places. I'll be 18, you can be 50, and I'll give you all my 11-23 cassettes too.

Deal or what kid?

only if the schwagg comes with it

6' 140lbs. You friggin beanpole Wussyass.

6' 135. And I look normal for a biker.

Junior races are fun though! Hills rock.

ok, I'm back from my ride.In a 53x16 I could pedal at 35mph but it was too fast for me to ride at for long.25-26mph was the fastest cadence i was comfortable in a 53x16 on flat ground. any faster and i would go to a bigger gear and there was no wind so 26 mph was not a workout.37mph in a 52x15 out of the saddle sprinting is my max.

Edit: 170lbs fat? Now your just pissing people off.

No, I agree.