"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Big Brother is Watching and Pulling (and a race report)...

First race of the season. Here in Montana, that's how we roll. Ah, how I miss the NCNCA.

I raced the the "C"s at the Missoula training race, which is 4 laps of an 8 mile course. The C race was 4's (me) and 5s, and the B race was 3s and 4s. I guess I figured I didn't feel like maybe getting dropped if I was a little sluggish on the day. The course features 4 or 5 nasty lumps but no real hills. A majority of these little kickers were on the backside into a headwind.

I experienced something totally new in this race, and I still don't know how I feel about it. They had two guys in our race who rode along and dispensed advice/marshalled our race. It was very odd. One of them actually orchestrated a pace line at the front of the group. Worse, the other one was involved in a lead-out train at the end. Both of them pulled some peeps who were in danger of getting dropped back up to the pack.

With a little over a K to go, I saw a rise which I thought was the finish. I took off full gas only to discover it was not the finish. What kind of idiot doesn't know where the finish is after 3 laps? Also, When I took off I was sitting 4th wheel in the aforementioned train headed up by one of our minders. In other words, I was in perfect position and blew it. All in all, good workout.

First race of the season. Here in Montana, that's how we roll. Ah, how I miss the NCNCA.

I raced the the "C"s at the Missoula training race, which is 4 laps of an 8 mile course. The C race was 4's (me) and 5s, and the B race was 3s and 4s. I guess I figured I didn't feel like maybe getting dropped if I was a little sluggish on the day. The course features 4 or 5 nasty lumps but no real hills. A majority of these little kickers were on the backside into a headwind.

I experienced something totally new in this race, and I still don't know how I feel about it. They had two guys in our race who rode along and dispensed advice/marshalled our race. It was very odd. One of them actually orchestrated a pace line at the front of the group. Worse, the other one was involved in a lead-out train at the end. Both of them pulled some peeps who were in danger of getting dropped back up to the pack.

With a little over a K to go, I saw a rise which I thought was the finish. I took off full gas only to discover it was not the finish. What kind of idiot doesn't know where the finish is after 3 laps? Also, When I took off I was sitting 4th wheel in the aforementioned train headed up by one of our minders. In other words, I was in perfect position and blew it. All in all, good workout.

I read this a few times and cannot figure out who "they" were that were advising/marshalling your race. The B's?

Sorry, the race organizers. Not sure what cat the minders were.

I read this a few times and cannot figure out who "they" were that were advising/marshalling your race. The B's?

They (CRCA) did that with the C's in Central Park. I thought it worked out fairly well over all as it let them explain the obvious crap like staying in bounds and not shooting across the pack.

But then they (the "coach") were trying to tell a handful of riders strung out off the front how to work together to put together a break and I was like huh?

But it's all good... It was just to get the newbies off to a safe start. I don't think they'll be doing that all season.

Yeah, the advice part I thought was fine. It was when they were having an effect on the race that I was a little miffed.

Yeah, the advice part I thought was fine. It was when they were having an effect on the race that I was a little miffed.

Then don't race with the 5s.



(where does that fall on the bitterness scale?)

I did some races last year where they had some guys "mentoring" and it was more than welcome advice but they didn't get involved in the race. I wouldn't have a problem with that though, pulling people back to the pack etc. it's cat 5. can't learn much if you're OTB.

I did some races last year where they had some guys "mentoring" and it was more than welcome advice but they didn't get involved in the race. I wouldn't have a problem with that though, pulling people back to the pack etc. it's cat 5. can't learn much if you're OTB.

I'd have to agree after my first race 3 years ago.