Cyclocross Racing - When to roll with the B's?

I've done 8 races and generally place in the top half and it seems that the top 10 is always the top 10 because they're series races. Anyways, I have no interest in being a C superstar so is it stupid to just do the B race even though I have yet to dominate the C race? Thanks,

gz

no its not dumb at all. its not like you cant go back to the c's if you have a horrible time in the b's. race whichever class you have more fun in.

If you have no intention on being a C sandbagger superstar, then ride in Bs. It will be a lot harder and place lower but you'll get a better work out and get faster. Or you can double up and do both.

I was wondering the same. This has been my first year of racing cross, road and/or crits. I've raced Cat 5 in road races and C in Cross. In the three C races I've taken 6th, 6th and 5th out of an average of 20 entries. I have noticed that in cross races my race comes to me towards the end of the 30 minutes, when I usually pass a couple guys, so going the additional 15 minutes is doable. I go out too hard and get too high in zone 5 at the start of the C races trying to stay with the leaders, but, it seems that everyone does the same from reading race reports. Being a 55 yr old rookie with no experiance to draw from comlipcates the issue for me to an extent. Looking at race results and figuring my average lap time + 20 seconds vs those in the B races puts me in the bottom 1/3rd of the finish. I'm not winning anything now so I'm thinking riding the B race and beating a few young guys will be the better choice.:D

my team is full of guys at the back of the pack in the 3's races (our equivalent to B's). You don't get faster racing with the 4's, it's the 3's that will challenge you to ride faster and do more AND it's going to start getting you used to the extra 15 min of race time, which you'll need to do eventually anyway. Upgrade. When those sandbaggers finally move up you'll already be used to the longer race. Even if you're placing in the back of the pack, it's going to make you a better rider!

I was wondering the same. This has been my first year of racing cross, road and/or crits. I've raced Cat 5 in road races and C in Cross. In the three C races I've taken 6th, 6th and 5th out of an average of 20 entries. I have noticed that in cross races my race comes to me towards the end of the 30 minutes, when I usually pass a couple guys, so going the additional 15 minutes is doable. I go out too hard and get too high in zone 5 at the start of the C races trying to stay with the leaders, but, it seems that everyone does the same from reading race reports. Being a 55 yr old rookie with no experiance to draw from comlipcates the issue for me to an extent. Looking at race results and figuring my average lap time + 20 seconds vs those in the B races puts me in the bottom 1/3rd of the finish. I'm not winning anything now so I'm thinking riding the B race and beating a few young guys will be the better choice.:D

Race the B's with me in Copley!

Its my first season too and I netted myself a 4th place finish at Chagrin and a 2nd at Kirtland Park in the C races. I decided to step up to the B's to give myself more of a challenge. I got 23rd at states, so maybe I'm in over my head. But I'm figuring what doesn't kill me makes me faster.

Race the B's with me in Copley!

Its my first season too and I netted myself a 4th place finish at Chagrin and a 2nd at Kirtland Park in the C races. I decided to step up to the B's to give myself more of a challenge. I got 23rd at states, so maybe I'm in over my head. But I'm figuring what doesn't kill me makes me faster.

Since you said so, I'm in for the B race at Copley.

Are you going to Murrysville PA this weekend? I was planning to do the Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen Hill Climb on Saturday but it's shaping up not to be a good day for that. The Stark Velo site has a link to the Murrysville race.

I've got a frame in the mail. If it shows in time, I'd be in. Interested in a carpool?

I've got a frame in the mail. If it shows in time, I'd be in. Interested in a carpool?

Car pools are good. I live in Medina and would be riding past your area anyway. I'll PM you once I make a decision on which event to ride this weekend. We will be visiting family in the Pittsburgh area on Friday and would stay overnight if I'm doing the Dirty Dozen on Saturday. My wife is not too keen on visiting with my parents all day Saturday and missing out on shopping while I have the car parked somewhere else for 9 hours.

Hey Allegheny, So how was it at Murrysville and Copley?!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi. A buddy and I were a little late on our pre-ride so we rolled up to the line about 10 seconds before start. There was someone in front of me with a Stark Velo jersey on so I figured it was you, but I wasn't able to find you after the race. Very slick in the turns and requiring attention but a fun race nonetheless.

Hey Allegheny, So how was it at Murrysville and Copley?!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi. A buddy and I were a little late on our pre-ride so we rolled up to the line about 10 seconds before start. There was someone in front of me with a Stark Velo jersey on so I figured it was you, but I wasn't able to find you after the race. Very slick in the turns and requiring attention but a fun race nonetheless.


Jawn P,

I didn't race yesterday. I attended an indoor cycling session on Saturday that inclulded some hard lactate tempo intervals and carried the hurt into Sunday. I got up early Sunday still waivering on racing and decided to cancel. I couldn't imagine getting warmed up, then waiting for the start, in 19 degree temps., then go at it again.

How did not warming up work? I bet that gave the lungs even more "burn"!:eek:

As bad at is it, I've never put too much thought into too strict of a warm up. I did some intervals on the road outside leading up to the course and took a brisk preride to loosen myself up. Seemed to work well enough for me.

As bad at is it, I've never put too much thought into too strict of a warm up. I did some intervals on the road outside leading up to the course and took a brisk preride to loosen myself up. Seemed to work well enough for me.

Try that warmup when your 55 yrs old like me.:lol: