"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Stepping up to the "A" race....training crit

I'm racing with the A's tonight for the first time. Last week the B's avg. was 24 and the A's was over 27. I'm not worried about being dropped as that's probably a givin. Besides, I train with a lot of guys in the A race and going off the back is just part of my life.:lol:

What I am a little nervous about is the faster cornering. I'm sure we'll be flying through the corners, probably over 30 at some points and I've just never tried it that fast. I guess one way to look at it is, if they can do it, so can I.

So how should I approach this race? Try and just sit in and stay out of the way? Or knowing that at somepoint I'll be OTB, attack like a pit-bull chasing a fat mailman.

I think you are talking about the East Hartford crit, if so I did the A race last week. My advice is get a good warm up before the race, the first 4 of 5 laps will be over 30mph
After that it will slow down to 27/28mph. if you are planning on just sitting in you will be OTB, this is because of the slingshot effect coming out of the corners, expect 35mph sprints to catch back on. I say go for it lots of fun and it is a training crit. Good luck.

The common crit advice holds true - stay near but not on the front.

As said above, if you hang out in the back the accelerations will be more painful, and more frequent. Just be prepared for the accelerations to be nastier - but also for the cornering to be much smoother.

Mentally - do not go in there thinking you're going to get dropped. I can promise you it will hurt...the day I upgraded to 3 I did my first "A" race. It was tiny, probably only 20 guys - but included a sprinter from Bissel. Every time he'd attack and the field would have to respond I thought I was going to die. You can't give up though, just keep following wheels and be ready to hurt. It'll come to an end eventually :D

You want training advice on how to race in an imaginary race? That's a big ask.

Go to the front early and make sure you pedal through all the corners. They will love you.

If there isn't money involved then its not a race but a farken parade. If you aren't in the drops then its not training. If you aren't out of the saddle then its not a sprint. If you aren't Australian then its not racing its touring, commuting and harbouring dreams of winning stella events like RAAM.

^
You can do better. Close...but the time off the bike has diluted your surliness. You farken nancy. Didn't you get dropped in all your local A races anyway?

:D

It's the Team Dayton crit. And no it's not a REAL race. It's just for training, no upgrade points or anything. No prize money, but sometimes they'll have a coupon or two for Dairy Queen. It's amazing how people will sprint for free ice-cream, myself included.

Just remember that this is training. Take risks by burning little matches when needed to maintain your position. If you do overcook it, at least you'll have experienced some fast crit position defense. Honestly though, it's just more efficient to ride it like that, and you're more likely to stay with them.

^
You can do better. Close...but the time off the bike has diluted your surliness. You farken nancy. Didn't you get dropped in all your local A races anyway?

:D

I got absolutely slaughtered in my last State Open. William Walker, Pell, Chessum, all the AIS boys et al. First hour went at over 50kmh. I had no one at the feed zone. Tough gig.

This isnt about me though. My name isn't waterrockets. :p

My point was to make a very important distinction between training and racing. 'Training Race' is a planet from the Oxymoronian galaxy.

'Training Race' is a planet from the Oxymoronian galaxy.

What do they call them over there? Say an auto race track is reserved for this, weekly. You have to pay $10 and show a license, or buy a 1-day license. There's an official or two, and a lap card. There are primes.

What is that?


This isnt about me though. My name isn't waterrockets. :p

I'm going to start pm-ing you my graphs, so you don't miss anything.

First thing: relax. Channel your energy to the pedals, not to tension where it's not needed. This begins hours before the race!

Corners aren't as scary as you're making them out to be. I think they're actually easier at higher speeds. Don't panic. Look ahead. Breathe.


'Training Race' is a planet from the Oxymoronian galaxy.

I disagree with this. In a training race, I'll try stuff I would never attempt in a real race. It's also a good place to work on things with your teammates. There's a huge difference between a training ride and a race; the rules are completely different, so it's good to have a place to sharpen your tactical skills.

You can do better. Close...but the time off the bike has diluted your surliness. You farken nancy. Didn't you get dropped in all your local A races anyway?

I think he's just sore that the Great Aussie Hope, Cadel Evans, has all the testosterone of a My Little Pony. Aussies ... real hardmen ... Riiiight.

Shayne: I've only done the TD crit a couple times, but both times IIRC it blew into smaller groups. So two thoughts -- learn the cast of characters. When the strong guys go, try and be in it, but let the weaker ones or unknowns away. If you play it right, you just might end up in a group a bit over your head, which is cool. Hard, but a sign you played your tactics well. Second, if you do find yourself in a small group (hopefully up the road, but maybe chasing), try and avoid the rookie and not-so-rookie mistake of overcooking your pull then not being able to catch onto the back. Through and off.

PS - helmet in the mail today.

What do they call them over there?

Over here is different. Only because we arent seppo. Anything we do is just a lot better.

I will throw it back to curveship (mainly because he is a farktard)...who is the HARDEST man in cycling at the moment?

Easy. Stuart O'Grady. Oh look he is an aussie. What a surprise. :D

I disagree with this. In a training race, I'll try stuff I would never attempt in a real race. It's also a good place to work on things with your teammates. There's a huge difference between a training ride and a race; the rules are completely different, so it's good to have a place to sharpen your tactical skills.

You are either racing or you are training. If there is money involved then its racing. If its just blokes going around at speed then its a parade. Whatever. If everyone's goal isn't to arrive at a designated destination first to claim money then its just a training ride. Surely? Whatever. You seppos are all zork and mindy to me anyway. :p

Go eat your orange (http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjFc8CR_HBA) d^ckhead. :)

Depending on who is there will dictate how you will end up riding. If Kyle is there, look for him to attack, oh, about 3 seconds into the race. Look for Rodney S (team Dayton) to ride threshold and kill you. You know how Jamie rides and when he shows up, it hurts.

Remember, it is a training race. Give it hell and if you get dropped, you are welcome back to the group when they come back around (as long as you don't try to join the break). Since it's a training race, don't look for much team tactics. Encourage team Dayton guys to chase each other down. ;)

I wouldn't look for the speed to be that much higher than the B group. I don't remember ever averaging 27 and I've raced the A race a few dozen times.

Depending on who is there will dictate how you will end up riding. If Kyle is there, look for him to attack, oh, about 3 seconds into the race. Look for Rodney S (team Dayton) to ride threshold and kill you. You know how Jamie rides and when he shows up, it hurts.

Remember, it is a training race. Give it hell and if you get dropped, you are welcome back to the group when they come back around (as long as you don't try to join the break). Since it's a training race, don't look for much team tactics. Encourage team Dayton guys to chase each other down. ;)

I wouldn't look for the speed to be that much higher than the B group. I don't remember ever averaging 27 and I've raced the A race a few dozen times.

Thanks Bryan, and everyone else too.

Talking with Nick and Dan at the TT last Sat., they said they couldn't remeber the last time the A race was that fast. Just the right mix of people, with everyone fighting for the front to get in some work. Stan said that Nick and Kyle were attacking through the entire race.

Stan said that Nick and Kyle were attacking through the entire race.

Nick? Who the **** is Nick? Cartman, shut the hell up.

http://tillstrom.net/fredrik/humor/kyle_stan_kenny.jpg

Thanks, now I'll be laughing will trying to hold his wheel.:lol:

You are either racing or you are training. If there is money involved then its racing. If its just blokes going around at speed then its a parade. Whatever. If everyone's goal isn't to arrive at a designated destination first to claim money then its just a training ride. Surely? Whatever. You seppos are all zork and mindy to me anyway. :p

Go eat your orange (http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjFc8CR_HBA) d^ckhead. :)

aren't you a 5 that couldn't pack finish? 2 laps you'd be shelled OTB to race with the sheilas, but thanks for playing:thumb:







oh I forgot - Cadel still sucks kangaroo dlck.

aren't you a 5 that couldn't pack finish? 2 laps you'd be shelled OTB to race with the sheilas, but thanks for playing:thumb:



SM stepped up to the plate and was racing with our equivalent to Cat 1's, including some national reps and the odd European based pro, with very limited experience. He took that step too early IMO after getting a few placings in the lower levels, but he had a crack at it. He is also one of the few people on this board to have actually competed in any sport (Aussie rules footy) at an elite level. Is SM a PITA? Definitely. Soft or hopeless? I doubt it.

Go eat your orange (http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjFc8CR_HBA) d^ckhead. :)

"Straight, it's the new gay" :lol:

aren't you a 5 that couldn't pack finish? 2 laps you'd be shelled OTB to race with the sheilas, but thanks for playing:thumb:
oh I forgot - Cadel still sucks kangaroo dlck.

Yep total cat 5. One of the worst to ever take up the sport. I was a little overweight though coming into it.

http://buckeyebanter.com/myspace/fat_guy_in_girl_underwear.jpg

"Straight, it's the new gay" :lol:

LOL. I know its gold!:D

Who says zork anymore?

What planet are you from anyway?

If everyone's goal isn't to arrive at a designated destination first to claim money then its just a training ride.


No wonder the Olympics have always been so tough for the Aussie's. :D

No wonder the Olympics have always been so tough for the Aussie's. :D

Athens games

gold medals for Australia

mens madison
mens keiren
mens sprint
womens road race
womens 500m time trial
mens team pursuit

gold medals for the USA

mens TT , tyler hamilton, a doper.

thanks for coming Jayhawken.

LOL. I know its gold!:D

Dude, that is some funnay ****. Now I'm gonna be on YouTube all night.

Eating oranges.


Athens games

gold medals for Australia

mens madison
mens keiren
mens sprint
womens road race
womens 500m time trial
mens team pursuit

gold medals for the USA

mens TT , tyler hamilton, a doper.

thanks for coming Jayhawken.

Yeah, see JayhawKen flubbed the joke. What he meant to say is "No wonder Aussies win so much at the Olympics. They're just training rides."

:thumb:

All in all it was a pretty positive experience.

The race/parade is 50 min. plus 3 laps. About 20 min. in, I was closer to the back than the front. Guy two bikes up lets a gap go. He stands to close it but can't. He pulls left and waves us by, problem is the guy in front of me had just went to the left to pass. Once we got that a sorted out there was about a 50 meter gap. Put in a big effort with 2 others and we caught back on, took a lap to do it though. At that point I was gased. They jumped and I poped. Sat up, caught my breath and jumped back in when they came around.

This time I was more focused and when a small gap formed I jumped on it. I also started experimenting with my cornering technique. I would let a small gap form and then close it going through the corner. I would take a line a few inches off the wheel I was following, then if he lifted I had a place to go. When this worked it was great, like getting a free corner. A few times I didn't do so well and had to sprint back on.

Had a team mate tell me to grab his wheel on the last lap. He took me to the front, but he had no steam left. I had to go early and didn't have much go power either. Ended up 6th in the sprint.

It was a lot of fun. Just as much as winning the B race. I can't wait until next week.