"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - My First Race

I have read through many of the newbie forums and they were very helpful. I have a race this Saturday in the morning and is only 1.6miles long but is a 6% grade, called the "Oregon Trail Days Hill Climb." I am really looking forward to this race for many reasons, but mostly because I beat last years competition the other day on the same hill. Any last minute advice? Thanks!

warm up for at least an hour.

pace yourself, ride faster than everyone else.

Expect to make at least one stupid mistake. Learn from it--don't let it bother you. Mostly, have a good time.

Same advice as above, warm up for a long time, 45 minutes at least, go a lot easier at the beginning than you think, and have a good time.

You need to hit the line hot, warm up for 1.5 hours if you can. Use a trainer; you'll warm up better than if you warm up on the road.

You need to hit the line hot, warm up for 1.5 hours if you can. Use a trainer; you'll warm up better than if you warm up on the road.

Maybe someone can chime in here, but how much more performance is a new racer going to get by doubling their warmup from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours? How long do pros warm up for prologues?

Maybe someone can chime in here, but how much more performance is a new racer going to get by doubling their warmup from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours? How long do pros warm up for prologues?

His race is only 1.6 miles at 6% grade, maybe 8 minutes, maybe. You bring up a good point about him being new, though. He should be so hydrated that he goes to the john 2-3 times during the Warm up, so add that time to your 45 minutes.

Warm up for 6 hours, Drink several pots of coffee and pee ON the start line.

It makes you lighter.

It makes you lighter.

Now that's the truth.

Make sure you have plenty of food for the race, in fact take a musette bag.

Thanks for all the advice! I took 1st place in my division (16-18 Male Road) and I am very satisfied with the results! I DID make several mistakes, one being not resetting my bike computer before the line and having to reset it about quarter through the climb. Overall I am very happy! Thanks again

by the way, the climb was a TT and each racer was started in 1 minute intervals, and i passed the two 30ish men on expensive Felts and wearing decked out gear. they didnt like the idea of a 16 year old passing them on an old steel Centurion LeMans RS :P

A+

Warm up for 6 hours, Drink several pots of coffee and pee ON the start line.

It makes you lighter.


:eek:

by the way, the climb was a TT and each racer was started in 1 minute intervals, and i passed the two 30ish men on expensive Felts and wearing decked out gear. they didnt like the idea of a 16 year old passing them on an old steel Centurion LeMans RS :P

Great work!

Can you post pics of your bike? That was the first race bike I ever owned back in 1985/86. Wish I still had it.

Thanks for all the advice! I took 1st place in my division (16-18 Male Road) and I am very satisfied with the results! I DID make several mistakes, one being not resetting my bike computer before the line and having to reset it about quarter through the climb. Overall I am very happy! Thanks again

This was your first race and you won, congrats. I did a hill climb earlier this year and got 4th from last. :( :(. Mind you, I am not the climbing type. I am still jealous.

Yeah here is a pic of me waiting for my turn to go not a very good pic of my bike though