Cyclocross Racing - 35 or 45 minutes?
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When you were first starting out, how much harder was a 45 minute race compared to a 35 minute? I've got a choice for my first race- 35 beginner class on a flat, fast course, so I'd want to use my geared bike. Or 45 minutes ss beginner. I've been trining mostly on my ss but honestly I don't know if I could handle 45 minutes at a race pace.
I know this is all subjective but let's say when you were starting out- never racing before- you did 35 minutes and then you went up to 45... was it like, a freaking killer or what?
shapelike
09-28-08, 10:28 PM
Either you'll have enough in you to race for 45 minutes or you'll race for 35 minutes and spend the next 10 nursing it home/begging for death. Try for 45.
flargle
09-28-08, 11:14 PM
Dude, man up. You are thinking about this way too much. All racing hurts.
In a 35' race I feel I can go very fast at the beginning and than just keep a decent speed to the end, on 45' I need to pace or I slow way down at the end, so I don't start as fast and keep more of a consistent effort, hoping to have something for the end. SS is also harder in general, especially if there are any hills in the course.
Can you ride your SS in the beginners 35' class?
Like I said it's a flat, fast course so I don't want to do ss in the 35min race because I'd be at such a disadvantage. I have my geared bike if I wanna do that, I just haven't been training on it much.
predat0r
09-29-08, 11:38 AM
Do the 45 minute with your single speed. If you are good you will probably race for about 38 minutes and if its a fast flat course you will do great. 35 minutes on a flat fast course will go by really quickly and you might even have energy at the end that you could have used to move up in the field.
dirtyphotons
09-29-08, 12:24 PM
do em both. then neither will seem all that daunting in the future.
92degrees
09-29-08, 03:37 PM
Personally I find longer races easier -- if by "easier" we mean that my results are better. I'm not fast but tend to fade less toward the end and reel people in.
if it's anything like the short track mtb bike races i've done, you'll be begging for mercy after 15 minutes regardless.
flargle's got it right