"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - "Making it to the starting line is half of the battle"

I was riding with a VC guy named Greg a few weeks ago. Old guy with LOTS of race experience. We were talking about crits and racing in general then he lays that little gem on me. "You know, making it to the stating line is half the battle..." And it kind of sunk in...and has continued to.

Tomorrow is the last night of our local crit series. A gem of a night and I can't go. Too much stuff to do in my non-cycling life. And this weekend there is a race in Cold Springs - the last for quite a while around here. Again, I can't go because of other obligations.

Hmmm - I think Greg just might know what he's talking about....

Except in the case of the NY City Spring Series 6:30AM start races, where making to the starting line is 90% of the battle.

Except in the case of the NY City Spring Series 6:30AM start races, where making to the starting line is 90% of the battle.

you'd know better than me. I don't have your creaky back old man... ;) :D

i think that advice is spot on. thanks. (nice to know that it's not just hard for me)

you'd know better than me. I don't have your creaky back old man... ;) :D

It's not the sore back. It's the 3:30AM wake up bell, the 1+ hour drive to the venue, the 25ºF temps, the wind, the rain, and of course, getting that last bathroom business completed in time for the start of the race. Pre race jitters? Get the F outta here. By the time you get to the starting line after all that crap the race is the relaxing part.

Spring Series my ass. More like the Yukon Series.

It's not the sore back. It's the 3:30AM wake up bell, the 1+ hour drive to the venue, the 25ºF temps, the wind, the rain, and of course, getting that last bathroom business completed in time for the start of the race. Pre race jitters? Get the F outta here. By the time you get to the starting line after all that crap the race is the relaxing part.

Spring Series my ass. More like the Yukon Series.

I know - I'd have all of the same minus the creaky back, old man. ;)

Hell, my season hasn't even really started yet. I've done two races. TWO. I woke up at 10:30 or so each day, I believe.

And I have 30+ more to go. The earliest starting time I know of is 12pm. Most are at 3, 4, 5 or even 6pm.

You know, this reminds me of my gym rat days. I'm warming up on the treadmill one day which looked down on the fee weight area. I see this guy - I'd seen him a dozen times before - working out. A dude in a wheel chair. Never gave him a second notice because he didn't want anyone to and worked d@mn hard at it too. Anyway, I was thinking to myself I didn't really want to be there. I was tired from a long day. I had a lot of stuff to do. Then I look down, and just happen to catch this dude flippin' himself outta his chair and onto the bench. Then grabbin' a pair of big f'ing dumbells and start doing presses. F'ing hell I say - if anyone has an excuse to not work out today its this guy. And he's totally kickin' my @ss.

It struck me then as it did when Greg said what he did - just showing up and putting forth the effort is a helluva thing sometimes.

I know - I'd have all of the same minus the creaky back, old man.

Pcad has your gallon of whoopass right here ravenwuss. Come and get it.

Pcad has your gallon of whoopass right here ravenwuss. Come and get it.

ah hell - say when and where old man. ;)

I have dipped into my bag of excuses early and often this year causing me to miss a road race I really wanted to do and every training race so far. Actually, most of the excuses have been pretty legitimate, but frustrating nonetheless. Glad I'm not alone, and I really hope to make it to a few this summer.

Pcad has your gallon of whoopass right here ravenwuss. Come and get it.

Hard to be scared of this guy:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/DadSamCrashedOBXBeach.jpg

You old softy.

A great and time-proven cliche. Right up there with "just get on the bike for 15 minutes" and "you can't win if you don't finish" in the wisdom of the sport.

I would only add, I can kick any Junior's ass with a 39x15.

Oops, wrong thread.

Hard to be scared of this guy:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/DadSamCrashedOBXBeach.jpg

You old softy.

It's that killer dog you have to worry about.

I would only add, I can kick any Junior's ass with a 39x15.

.

you're a better man than me. :D D@mn those kids are fast these days...

Holy hell! I didn't know there was an end to the series!! I thought it would go all the way to the end of daylight saving time.

I missed the whole entire thing? Because of soccer coaching? :mad:

I agree with the OP though. Whenever someone credits me with training so hard, I always say that "The hardest part of any ride is swinging your leg over the saddle." I have to dodge and decline meetings, skip team lunch trips, etc. etc....

I hadn't heard the series was ending. Where did you hear that? It looks that way on the TXBRA calendar, but I figured that was just a computer thing.

I hadn't heard the series was ending. Where did you hear that? It looks that way on the TXBRA calendar, but I figured that was just a computer thing.

I'm starting to think this too. Often, the organizers just do a couple months of them at a time. They missed some entries on the calendar last year, but still had the races those days. If there wasn't an announcement, then I think it's still on. (please)

I've been in Redmond on business, too busy to keep completely forumed-up :)

btw - in all seriousness most of you guys would kick my butt in a race (although I've thought it would be fun to race with/against a lot of you guys just for the h3ll of it). The reason is that you all have a ton of experience. I've developed a profound appreciation of that. I wish I could get there, but its not going to happen if I can't get my butt to the race. :mad:

Yeah, from what I've heard they're ending the series today. Also, they opened up the full track last week, so the circuit is a lot bigger now.

ah hell - say when and where old man. ;)

Hey raven, let's go to Bermuda and have a race to the bar for Tiki drinks.

^

bajan rum punch ftw.

http://recipes.caribseek.com/Barbados/images/barbadian-rum-punch.jpg

Hey raven, let's go to Bermuda and have a race to the bar for Tiki drinks.

Lol - you're on! That's a race I stand a chance of winning... ;)

btw - in all seriousness most of you guys would kick my butt in a race (although I've thought it would be fun to race with/against a lot of you guys just for the h3ll of it). The reason is that you all have a ton of experience. I've developed a profound appreciation of that. I wish I could get there, but its not going to happen if I can't get my butt to the race. :mad:

Yeah, from what I've heard they're ending the series today. Also, they opened up the full track last week, so the circuit is a lot bigger now.

+1. We need to have a 1st annual BF TX roadrace where we watch RacerEx and Waterrockets ride off into the distance.

I was riding with a VC guy named Greg a few weeks ago. Old guy with LOTS of race experience. We were talking about crits and racing in general then he lays that little gem on me. "You know, making it to the stating line is half the battle..." And it kind of sunk in...and has continued to.

Tomorrow is the last night of our local crit series. A gem of a night and I can't go. Too much stuff to do in my non-cycling life. And this weekend there is a race in Cold Springs - the last for quite a while around here. Again, I can't go because of other obligations.

Hmmm - I think Greg just might know what he's talking about....

What crap are you going on about? Thats not a little gem that is one of the stupidest comments I've ever heard. Making it to the start line is half the battle? Whoever said that is a certified idiot who has never come close to be being at the top of any sport anywhere in the world.

Stop posting rubbish.

** Walks away shaking head muttering...'getting to the start line is half the battle...fark me I've heard it all now'...**

And once again seppomadness saves us all from pansydom.

Well played, sir.

lollers

What crap are you going on about? Thats not a little gem that is one of the stupidest comments I've ever heard. Making it to the start line is half the battle? Whoever said that is a certified idiot who has never come close to be being at the top of any sport anywhere in the world.

Stop posting rubbish.

** Walks away shaking head muttering...'getting to the start line is half the battle...fark me I've heard it all now'...**

hey, I didn't say say it was the most important part... :o

no worries raven, he just got his ass kicked by a junior in a 39x15.

What crap are you going on about? Thats not a little gem that is one of the stupidest comments I've ever heard. Making it to the start line is half the battle? Whoever said that is a certified idiot who has never come close to be being at the top of any sport anywhere in the world.

Stop posting rubbish.

** Walks away shaking head muttering...'getting to the start line is half the battle...fark me I've heard it all now'...**

Aw jeez seppo if you really do take yourself and this bike racing idiocy that seriously why not just blow your brains out and get it over with kid? Put a drop cloth down so you don't leave such a friggin mess. Newsflash: it's amateur bicycle racing for fun. Nobody's going to be getting to the 'top of the sport'. And of course at this level the top of the sport involves <$100 prizes, lots of driving and entry fees and strained marriages as wives wonder why the F their husbands are so obsessed with this juvenile bike crap.

I don't know hardly anybody else who gets up at 3:30 friggin AM like I do in March and April and drives 60 miles to ride his bicycle @ 25 mph in the freezing cold at the crack of dawn, risking injury and humiliation and paying for the privilege. The only people that stupid are on this Forum and next to me in the peloton. So yes, getting there is half the battle. At least.

Aw jeez seppo if you really do take yourself and this bike racing idiocy that seriously why not just blow your brains out and get it over with kid? Put a drop cloth down so you don't leave such a friggin mess. Newsflash: it's amateur bicycle racing for fun. Nobody's going to be getting to the 'top of the sport'. And of course at this level the top of the sport involves <$100 prizes, lots of driving and entry fees and strained marriages as wives wonder why the F their husbands are so obsessed with this juvenile bike crap.

I don't know hardly anybody else who gets up at 3:30 friggin AM like I do in March and April and drives 60 miles to ride his bicycle @ 25 mph in the freezing cold at the crack of dawn, risking injury and humiliation and paying for the privilege. The only people that stupid are on this Forum and next to me in the peloton. So yes, getting there is half the battle. At least.

Spot on, Pcad.

My wife is wondering what the F this whole thing is really about. Am I that insane and/or childish? She wonders why I am so obsessed with my diet, my bike, my training, my sleeping, and racing. Sometimes I wonder myself. Then, when I am on the verge of collapsing from pain and exhaustion, my legs are cramping so bad I have to unclip and walk to stretch them out, and the colorful field of riders shrinks in the distance, it hits me. It becomes so f'ing clear that there is no other way to describe it:

I really have no clue. :)

Yeah, from what I've heard they're ending the series today. Also, they opened up the full track last week, so the circuit is a lot bigger now.

Good news, it turns out the Thursday crits are on all summer. Love the new course!

Yep, it's official (http://www.txbra.org/forum3/message.asp?forumID=15&msgID=64087).

heh - I took seppo's post to be kind of tongue in cheek. Kind of a "HTFU ;) " post. Surely he wasn't serious. :)

Yep, it's official (http://www.txbra.org/forum3/message.asp?forumID=15&msgID=64087).

Rock on! Thanks for posting that - now maybe I will get to race with a couple of you guys at least. ;)

I was cruising home last night and was joined by one of the female UT riders - we were both bummed about missing the crits last night since we thought it was the last one for a while.

Nah. You'll be sick of them by October :p I am looking forward to racing with you though!

Next week I'm wrenching kids bikes for donation to a needy school, so I can't make it.

I was riding with a VC guy named Greg a few weeks ago. Old guy with LOTS of race experience. We were talking about crits and racing in general then he lays that little gem on me. "You know, making it to the stating line is half the battle..." And it kind of sunk in...and has continued to.

Tomorrow is the last night of our local crit series. A gem of a night and I can't go. Too much stuff to do in my non-cycling life. And this weekend there is a race in Cold Springs - the last for quite a while around here. Again, I can't go because of other obligations.

Hmmm - I think Greg just might know what he's talking about....

Rav I totally agree with you. I have much more respect for the guy who races and gets dropped than the guy who may be faster but talks trash about racing and racers and is afraid to go mix it up. BTW I think you know who I'm talking about ;)

Rav I totally agree with you. I have much more respect for the guy who races and gets dropped than the guy who may be faster but talks trash about racing and racers and is afraid to go mix it up. BTW I think you know who I'm talking about ;)

Heh - actually if its who I think it is he is racing now and just moved up into the 4's I think. :p He's actually on my team.

edit: just realized you were probably talking about Groovylotion (for everyone else - guys last name is some Sweedish name thats hard to say so someone nicknamed him that as it sounds close) and not Scott, lol. Man, wish I had Steve's raw talent though - total waste to not race with the abilities he's got.

Nah. You'll be sick of them by October :p I am looking forward to racing with you though!

Next week I'm wrenching kids bikes for donation to a needy school, so I can't make it.

I hope I get to race them that much! If you don't mind my plan might be to mark your wheel(and/or maybe Greg's) and just try to hang on. You guys have a boat load of experience and frankly at least for a bit I just want to watch and learn and try not to get dropped. I've got the horsepower in my legs but if I'm going to hang in the 3,4's race and the open race I'm going to have to get better with my head.

Heh - actually if its who I think it is he is racing now and just moved up into the 4's I think. :p He's actually on my team.

edit: just realized you were probably talking about Groovylotion (for everyone else - guys last name is some Sweedish name thats hard to say so someone nicknamed him that as it sounds close) and not Scott, lol. Man, wish I had Steve's raw talent though - total waste to not race with the abilities he's got.

Winner!

yeah - he hasn't been around in a while so it took me a sec to remember...

I hope I get to race them that much! If you don't mind my plan might be to mark your wheel(and/or maybe Greg's) and just try to hang on. You guys have a boat load of experience and frankly at least for a bit I just want to watch and learn and try not to get dropped. I've got the horsepower in my legs but if I'm going to hang in the 3,4's race and the open race I'm going to have to get better with my head.

Yep, Greg was in the final 5 with me in Manda. He's strong and smart. It was strangely comforting to have another steel bike in the break too -- even his classic box section rims were pleasant to see in there.

Definitely feel free to mark me. I hope it's worthwhile :p

Yep, Greg was in the final 5 with me in Manda. He's strong and smart. It was strangely comforting to have another steel bike in the break too -- even his classic box section rims were pleasant to see in there.

Definitely feel free to mark me. I hope it's worthwhile :p

Last time I saw him at the Thurs crits he was sporting a brand new Crumpton. Pretty spectacular looking bike. His old Merckx is classic though.

Aw jeez seppo if you really do take yourself and this bike racing idiocy that seriously why not just blow your brains out and get it over with kid? Put a drop cloth down so you don't leave such a friggin mess.

Hey I'm working on it. I don't have a gun....yet. These things take time and much planning learned elder.

Hey I'm working on it. I don't have a gun....yet. These things take time and much planning learned elder.

All it takes is a hand gun and a drop cloth. Do it seppo, do it. Listen to 3EB's 'Jumper' first.

I was riding with a VC guy named Greg a few weeks ago. Old guy with LOTS of race experience. We were talking about crits and racing in general then he lays that little gem on me. "You know, making it to the stating line is half the battle..." And it kind of sunk in...and has continued to.

Tomorrow is the last night of our local crit series. A gem of a night and I can't go. Too much stuff to do in my non-cycling life. And this weekend there is a race in Cold Springs - the last for quite a while around here. Again, I can't go because of other obligations.

Hmmm - I think Greg just might know what he's talking about....

I'm going to Coldspring for the first time tomorrow... hoping for a not-last place finish. Just think, all you would have to do is make it to the starting line, and you would have beaten me!

I'm going to Coldspring for the first time tomorrow... hoping for a not-last place finish. Just think, all you would have to do is make it to the starting line, and you would have beaten me!

Hey, good luck! Houston_Biker is going to be out there too, racing Cat 5 (Lone Star Racing, on a Litespeed with a PowerTap)

Rav, I know exactly how you can HTFU.

Splash bar tape ftw!

Everyone will be trying to get away from you so fast that you'll have no choice but to get better to keep up ;)

All it takes is a hand gun and a drop cloth. Do it seppo, do it. Listen to 3EB's 'Jumper' first.

You are right. Stuff the planning. Some things are more beautiful when they shine around the corners of life. I will do it tonight.

You are right. Stuff the planning. Some things are more beautiful when they shine around the corners of life. I will do it tonight.

Post about it here afterwards.

The thread will then be moved to Foo.

Do it seppo, do it.

The irony of you calling him a seppo... it's rich.