"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Will I lose my first cat 5 of the season

Two summers ago and went out on a limb and toured the Camino de Santiago, 700 miles, in Spain with my brother on a Trek 520. With the training involved and the trip itself I fell in love with road cycling.

Last summer I didn't get to bike very much, but at the very end of the season I decided to try my first Cat 5 race on my Trek 520 (literally around ~40 lbs). I only did four training days, 1 hour each day. Out of 13 I placed 6th. I loved it though!

As a background into my fitness. I a big year round soccer player so to stay in shape for that I run 5 miles at 6:30 mile pace three times a week, as well as my 1-2 soccer games a week. I'm also a gym freak so I hit the weights too. I can squat 225 lbs for three sets of 20 reps, which I think is very good. I also did a lot of eliptical machine and at one point I could keep up 260 watts for 35 minutes, but I know this is not the same as biking. My mhr is 190 and I can keep up 175 for 35 minutes when I'm running. I'm 5'10 and 162 lbs.

This winter, I'm lucking to have a decent job, I splurged on a Cervelo R3 2007. I got to ride it twice so far and I've also done four 1/2 sessions on an indoor bike in the last two weeks.

I signed up for a cat 5 crit this weekend. Given my current fitness level, do you think I'm way too undertrained to even keep up? I'm not expecting to win, but do you think I'll be dropped?

If you ain't first, you're last. Shake 'n Bake.

http://www.codeodor.com/images/magic_8ball_outlook_not_so_good.jpg

Umm...

I think you'll find that the other training you've been doing doesn't translate very directly to cycling/racing fitness. Too many variables (length of race, who the other riders are, etc.) to know if you'll be able to hang. Good luck, though. Let us know how it goes.

only one way to find out. be sure to report back!

If you have to ask...

Why does it matter? Pin your number on and you'll find out soon enough.

As long as you don't crash I am sure that you will beat people who did very little training of any sort. Though it is true that there is only one way to know for sure.

There is a reason there is Cat5. Go out and have fun. As long as you don't hurt yourself or someone else, you did fine.

As long as you don't crash I am sure that you will beat people who did very little training of any sort. Though it is true that there is only one way to know for sure.

That's the thing about bike racing. I guess there are always guys to prove me wrong, but you don't line up unless you've put in some miles.

Even at the cat5 level, it's taken pretty seriously -- cue merlinextralight and the triathletes

... I run 5 miles at 6:30 mile pace three times a week...

Prediction: You will lose horribly or you'll go off the front and lap the field solo. Strong runners do very well in lower categories because they are physically well beyond their "peers". When you get to the 3's in 1 season, be prepared for a rude awakening.

And as the others have said, just pin on a number and go have fun.

Prediction: You will lose horribly or you'll go off the front and lap the field solo. Strong runners do very well in lower categories because they are physically well beyond their "peers". When you get to the 3's in 1 season, be prepared for a rude awakening.

And as the others have said, just pin on a number and go have fun.

Sorry, but I was much faster than that, and that ain't true.

Takes a lot of work on the bike to approach the fitness levels to lap any field solo.

Well does soccer have to do with cycling?

Well does soccer have to do with cycling?

?

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/startracks/070723/david_beckham.jpg

That should have been 'what.'

endurance.

First off, just relax and enjoy it. If you get all pent up about winning or doing good enough for people to respect you, then you're only adding another stressor.

The less stressors you have before and during the race, the better. For you and everyone else in the field.

endurance.

Yes, cycling would be good training for soccer.

I keep losing cat 5s. Cat 4s and some 3s also. they're mis-placed all over the DC area. I dont really care if I find them though.

Yes, cycling would be good training for soccer.

I don't know, dude. Are you being glib? Good soccer takes good running, and running is hard. I suck at it and hate doing it. But everybody I know who has ever been committed to running has said that running fitness crosses over to cycling more so than anything else.

XC skiing is about the only thing that actually maps over to cycling. Running and cycling have little to nothing in common.

XC skiing is about the only thing that actually maps over to cycling. Running and cycling have little to nothing in common.

I have a friend that was a professional skier (not sure how recently); did very well in his cat 5 races (road races anyway), winning a few and some second places (to a guy that was apparently an ex-pro from Mexico, ha!), and did ok in his first cat 4 races over the weekend.

Those guys are the pinnacle of hardcore athletes.

Edit: speed skating uses the same muscle groups, but most of the races are too short, and really how many folks speed skate?

Those guys are the pinnacle of hardcore athletes.

Edit: speed skating uses the same muscle groups, but most of the races are too short, and really how many folks speed skate?

in holland they have marathon skating, with teams, tactics, and drafting. there's plenty of guys who do both.

by the way, don't forget eric heiden.

XC skiing is about the only thing that actually maps over to cycling. Running and cycling have little to nothing in common.

The guy that Chris Horner carried to the top of a mountain in the Cascade Classic or Mt. Hood Classic won the f***ing World Championship in Nordic Combined this year.

:twitchy:

Ya know, in Cat V, once you roll a wheel over the start line, you've satisfied all the necessary requirements. Nothing else matters until race #11.

I never thought I'd get so many responses. Thanks for your input.\

I'd have to disagree that running and cycling have nothing in common. I know you need the leg endurance to bike, but you need a good cardio base to go far. As for soccer, yeah, I know, random.

One thing I might add. I've been reading up a lot on how cat 5 racing go, especially on crits. I've read there is a huge accordion effect around the corners as the lead bikers try to drop some people. One of the running sessions I do training for soccer is interval training. I run 1/4 miles at 5:30 pace, then 30 pushups, another 1/4, 50 situps, and repeat 12 times. My heart rate goes from 185 to 140 back up to 185. Hopefully this will help me deal with that accordion effect.

I'll keep you posted on how I do tomorrow.

Maybe I missed it... did you say where this race is?

I never thought I'd get so many responses. Thanks for your input.\

I'd have to disagree that running and cycling have nothing in common. I know you need the leg endurance to bike, but you need a good cardio base to go far. As for soccer, yeah, I know, random.

One thing I might add. I've been reading up a lot on how cat 5 racing go, especially on crits. I've read there is a huge accordion effect around the corners as the lead bikers try to drop some people. One of the running sessions I do training for soccer is interval training. I run 1/4 miles at 5:30 pace, then 30 pushups, another 1/4, 50 situps, and repeat 12 times. My heart rate goes from 185 to 140 back up to 185. Hopefully this will help me deal with that accordion effect.

I'll keep you posted on how I do tomorrow.

Running is totally transferable, especially the kind of interval training you've done.

Cat 5 races are "jumpy" it's all about covering the surges and being able to cover in time for the next one.

Watch out for the random braking for no apparent reason.

Just stay out of the wind, don't overlap the wheel in front and try to hang on.

Running is totally transferable, especially the kind of interval training you've done.

Cat 5 races are "jumpy" it's all about covering the surges and being able to cover in time for the next one.

Watch out for the random braking for no apparent reason.

Just stay out of the wind, don't overlap the wheel in front and try to hang on.


Thanks for the advice. The race is in Princeton NJ. I'll keep you posted.

I never thought I'd get so many responses. Thanks for your input.\

I'd have to disagree that running and cycling have nothing in common. I know you need the leg endurance to bike, but you need a good cardio base to go far. As for soccer, yeah, I know, random.

One thing I might add. I've been reading up a lot on how cat 5 racing go, especially on crits. I've read there is a huge accordion effect around the corners as the lead bikers try to drop some people. One of the running sessions I do training for soccer is interval training. I run 1/4 miles at 5:30 pace, then 30 pushups, another 1/4, 50 situps, and repeat 12 times. My heart rate goes from 185 to 140 back up to 185. Hopefully this will help me deal with that accordion effect.

I'll keep you posted on how I do tomorrow.

I've got to say, if anything is transferable, that is. Also, if you get stuck being gapped off or have to come around someone -- don't go at 5:30 mile pace for a minute to close the gap. Go at 100 meter dash pace for 5 seconds. You'll be much better off.

Two summers ago and went out on a limb and toured the Camino de Santiago, 700 miles, in Spain with my brother on a Trek 520. With the training involved and the trip itself I fell in love with road cycling.

Last summer I didn't get to bike very much, but at the very end of the season I decided to try my first Cat 5 race on my Trek 520 (literally around ~40 lbs). I only did four training days, 1 hour each day. Out of 13 I placed 6th. I loved it though!

As a background into my fitness. I a big year round soccer player so to stay in shape for that I run 5 miles at 6:30 mile pace three times a week, as well as my 1-2 soccer games a week. I'm also a gym freak so I hit the weights too. I can squat 225 lbs for three sets of 20 reps, which I think is very good. I also did a lot of eliptical machine and at one point I could keep up 260 watts for 35 minutes, but I know this is not the same as biking. My mhr is 190 and I can keep up 175 for 35 minutes when I'm running. I'm 5'10 and 162 lbs.

This winter, I'm lucking to have a decent job, I splurged on a Cervelo R3 2007. I got to ride it twice so far and I've also done four 1/2 sessions on an indoor bike in the last two weeks.

I signed up for a cat 5 crit this weekend. Given my current fitness level, do you think I'm way too undertrained to even keep up? I'm not expecting to win, but do you think I'll be dropped?

If I read this correctly (which is a stretch), you did 4 training rides and came in 6th last year. Now you have done 6 training rides, so you should come in 4th. Go race and have fun.

I've got to say, if anything is transferable, that is. Also, if you get stuck being gapped off or have to come around someone -- don't go at 5:30 mile pace for a minute to close the gap. Go at 100 meter dash pace for 5 seconds. You'll be much better off.

this. Kill yourself to bridge. The shorter the better.

you're in like flynn if you have to jump off your bike and do 30 pushups mid race

this. Kill yourself to bridge. The shorter the better.

A lesson I still haven't learned, even though I know it.

If you get gapped, put your head down, your hands in the drops, and just start pedaling as hard as you can until you see a tire in front of you again.

Don't try to time trial back on, you won't make it.

A lesson I still haven't learned, even though I know it.

If you get gapped, put your head down, your hands in the drops, and just start pedaling as hard as you can until you see a tire in front of you again.

Don't try to time trial back on, you won't make it.

Also as you approach the group you can usually coast in the last few seconds because your speed will be much greater than theirs, and you are starting to get their draft. I can often get a good 15 seconds of recovery or so before I have to start pedaling again. Usually bidging up though, not trying to get ungapped, but it should still apply.

Those guys are the pinnacle of hardcore athletes.

Edit: speed skating uses the same muscle groups, but most of the races are too short, and really how many folks speed skate?


Lots of folks do.... Like me.


Lots of famous quad, inline ice speedskaters have transitioned over to cycling.

A lesson I still haven't learned, even though I know it.

If you get gapped, put your head down, your hands in the drops, and just start pedaling as hard as you can until you see a tire in front of you again.

Don't try to time trial back on, you won't make it.

Yup. No matter how much it hurts, it will hurt more if you're dropped.

Lots of folks do.... Like me.


Lots of famous quad, inline ice speedskaters have transitioned over to cycling.oh c'mon, there's no such thing as a famous inline skater

oh c'mon, there's no such thing as a famous inline skater

Even this guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Hedrick

How about this guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolo_Anton_Ohno

Need a girl instead?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Rodriguez

If you get gapped, put your head down, your hands in the drops, and just start pedaling as hard as you can until you see a tire in front of you again.

That's not exactly what I would call good advice... Worst crash I ever saw was from when I got a flat and somehow managed to claw my way back on only to get a bit gapped off the back on a hill a few seconds later. The guys in front of me just "put their heads down and pedaled as hard as they could" only...when the pack slowed... they plowed right into it.

That was ugly. Bikes flying through the air ugly. Ambulance carrying people away ugly.

Must keep head up...

Other than that, I agree completely. Close that gap as quick as you possibly can.

lol at buying a sweet new bike and then racing in your first crit... what a BAD idea... unless you can afford to replace the frame/wheels??

Ok, here's what happened. The race was a 0.9 mile circuit with a small hill after the first right. We started out fast and I was trying to figure out who was going to keep up with the group and who would get dropped quickly. My first race I had drafted a guy that ended up dropping early and I had trouble catching the pack again. This time I decided to focus on staying in the middle.

I kept up pretty well and I was actually passing some people up the hill to get better position around the 5th lap. Then at about the 7th lap, I crashed! It was wet at the corner, and the pavement was uneven, and all I can say is that I'm a total noob. It wasn't horrible and I didn't hit anyone, but my right palm was bleeding pretty badly and getting blood all over the handle bars. I got back on the bike quickly with the thought to catch the pack, but now they were about 20 seconds in front.

I found a straggler to draft, I thought we could work together to try to reach the pack again. But it turns out though my cardio is all there (I never got winded), my legs definitely are not in bike shape. It was all I could do to keep behind this guy. And we actually stayed around 20 seconds behind the pack for about 10 minutes. Slowly we fell behind, and I was feeling bad because I didn't have the legs to take a turn at pulling the guy I was drafting.

With about seven minutes left we got lapped by the leaders. For the last four laps I did my best but my legs were going fast. We passed about two people before the guy I was following pulled away. I finished the last two laps solo. I placed 19th out of 26. If I didn't fall, who know...maybe 15?

After the race I realized not just my palm was bleeding, but my whole forearm down to my wrist. My right sock was ripped at the ankle, and I knew then I was burned on the outside right thigh. The winner of the race, a guy named Mike, saw me bleeding and basically forced me to come to his truck where he had medical supplies. There, a woman name Paula helped me clean everything up, along with another guy named John. Thank you to Mike, Paula, and John.

One thing I didn't mention for fear I'd be made fun of. I had a 50 minute soccer game at 10pm last night, and two 40 minute games the night before. All in all, with the fall, the lack of training, the three soccer games the two days before, and this being my second race, I'd say 19th out of 26 isn't too shabby.

Sorry if I wrote too much and thanks all for the great advice.

glad you didnt get banged up worse. the pre-race activities you did (soccer games prior days) definitely take their toll on the legs.

have your equipment get a look over by someone who knows what their looking for to make sure everything is safe, then go out and practice handling your bike, it'll help. just as the ability to kick a ball hard is only a small part of being a successful footballer, being able to pedal your bike hard is only a small part of being a successful bike racer.;)

Sounds like you learned some. Next time listen to the pre-race instustions. They should says up in til when you can take a free lap. If you crash/mech go the the pit and take a free lap. That way you get to jump in to the peloton.

Also all the advice about closing gaps. Watch the other races like you were before the crash to find the strong ones. Let them close the gaps. Follow their wheels.

Also all the advice about closing gaps. Watch the other races like you were before the crash to find the strong ones. Let them close the gaps. Follow their wheels.

To a certain extent that doesn't really work. Gaps for too easily in the 5s and you won't necessarily have someone around who can close it or someone who looks like they could might not be able to. As soon as you see a gap form you have to go around. Be attentive and don't let them form in the first place. Don't focus on drafting the guy ahead of you, focus on what the pack is doing. But don't run into the guy ahead of you either.

Even this guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Hedrick

How about this guy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolo_Anton_Ohno

Need a girl instead?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Rodriguezohno's a speedskater, not an inline skater, so there are no FAMOUS inline skaters

Congrats on the race experience...you don't need to make excuses...you raced and battled through a crash...pretty good.

Congrats on the race experience...you don't need to make excuses...you raced and battled through a crash...pretty good.

Actually, being the competitive person that I am, I'm pretty disappointed at where I finished and I think I'm just trying to self-justify the performance. Every shower I take is literally a painful reminder of that =D

Next race, I promise I'll be in the top half. With daylight saving begun there will be sunlight for me to train after work. Watchung mountains will be perfect training I think.