"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - How often do you want to quit a race?

There's often a point near the beginning of a race where I am not having fun. On saturday's race it was some time on the first of two loops. I am not sure where or when it was, probably not long after I saw the lead group go up the road without me. I distinctly remember thinking "I hate this #&$^&. Why the &*^@ am I doing this?"

Then half an hour later, and for the next two hours, I was enjoying myself. It wasn't because I caught the leaders or had a chance to win (I didn't), or because it hurt any less.

It's happened to me in other races too. I've never quit a race since I started racing again- it'd be a waste to drive out there and then quit early. But I sure have thought about it. I have always found something to enjoy and been glad that I didn't, even when I finished close to last.

Do you ever want to quit and then wind up enjoying the race, or is it just me?

I've never wanted to quit and ended up "enjoying it", but I have wanted to quit and didn't a few times. At Bakersfield I almost pulled out but pressed on and got caught by a few guys who had been dropped before me and we got to work together at least to the end. At San Dimas on Sunday I wanted to quit but pressed on to try to make the time cut so I could race on Sunday. At Sea Otter last year I wanted to quit and did because it was too damn windy. Kim had begged me not to even race and was standing out in the cold and wind waiting for me so as soon as I was OTB I said f-this and pulled out and we went home.

I don’t think I’ve ever made it through a race without a few negative thoughts.

“Why do I do this to myself?” is pretty minor. Wait until you're praying for a flat…

I hate bike racing about 10 minutes into any hard crit/cyclocross/short track/xc mtb race. I like it again around 20 minutes.

There are sometimes points where the pain starts to get to me, but I never really want to quit. I want desperately NOT to quit. And that's why races are often such amazing workouts. I get pushed harder than I can possibly push myself.

I want to quit every time trial about 2 minutes in. Every one.

I want to quit every time trial about 2 minutes in. Every one.

Yeah, I get the same thing, but it only lasts until I cross the finish line 30 mins. later, so it's not so bad.

not just you! First, at the start line of every race I ever do/have done. I then forget that part and want to pull over at at least one or two points within the first few laps. After a while, I'm happy--or at least suffering passably well.

I hated every second of the first three laps of the Grant's Tomb criterium in NYC last year. I was extremely grumpy and pessimistic for some reason, no idea why. At the end of the first or second full lap (must have been the second), they rang the bell for a prime. No WAY was I sprinting for that prime, I grumbled to myself. I was already miserable enough, and hurting. I'd had a decent warm-up, but hadn't done any real openers, and I was feeling it. Lo and behold, at the end of the prime lap, I found myself up at the front, and before I knew it, I was going for it. I won the prime by a good bike length and more, and realized abrubtly that I was stronger than anyone else in the race. That restored my confidence, and I ended up finishing second. I wanted the win, sure (and could have had it with smarter racing, I really was strongest), but second place after starting in such a pessimistic mood was pretty cool.

The other race that I wanted to quit that year didn't get any better, it actually got worse and worse, but it was a single 50-mile lap, so there really wasn't any point. Spasming lower back muscles, a numb groin and a bonk made the last half of that race the worst 25 miles of my life. I still finished something like 34th out of 60, which is scary to think about - a lot of those guys had a worse race than I did, and I've never been so miserable on the bike.

I don’t think I’ve ever made it through a race without a few negative thoughts.

“Why do I do this to myself?” is pretty minor. Wait until your praying for a flat…

^^^^^this

My rule is that I don't make any decisions about continuing (race, group ride, etc.) during the hard part. I wait until the top of the hill, or when the break gets caught (or stays away), or when the finish line goes under my wheel before I decide to quit anything. It's like shopping for groceries during a bonk -- not a good time to make decisions, so I wait until I can think clearly, and pretty much end up only quitting due to injury... sometimes.

I have never done a race where I DIDN'T want to quit. It has taken me a while to realize that is my signal telling me that I am doing it right and that it will pass.

I read somewhere something that said that most likely the overwhelming majority of "mechanicals" during TT's are made up. A direct result of the rider giving in to the overwhelming urge to quit.

The first time was this weekend. Weird feeling.

I've had a lot of my best races when I wanted to quit about 1/3 of the way in but stayed in anyway and ended up in the top few.

Greg Lemond almost pulled out of the 1989 World Championship Road Race. He said he felt horrible.

A 3/4 crit down in (Troy?) Ohio when I was a 4. 95*F with a little bit of wind. Most of the race, I was dieing to not get spit off the back. It was probably one of the fastest races I've been to. My HR was 180+ for the majority of the race. Towards the middle of the race, I started to get chills. I said next lap, I'm out. Then I said that the next lap, then the next. Finally there was only 3 to go, so I said F-it, just finish. The last lap and a half, I started to make way towards the front, attacking in each corner. Gave it all I had plus 200% in the sprint. Not only did I finish in the top 10, I also was the first 4, which earned me this "blingin" watch which I soon sold on ebay...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/asmallsol/festina_22843.jpg

I can't think of one where I wasn't ready for it to be over about a third of the way in.

I really had to pee at the start line this weekend but couldn't make it to the port-a-potties in time. I soon discovered there was nowhere on the 7 mile course that I could safely let it rip, so after about a half hour in and hypoxic, I started deluding myself into thinking I was getting a flat and could relieve myself waiting for the wheel car. No such luck, I soldiered on...

... I ended up holding it painfully for 2 hours and won with an angry sprint :lol:

most races, at least once.

Weekly.

I considered stabbing my tires with whatever sharp rock I could find on the side of the road last weekend. But I had wheels in the truck, so I would've had to stab them twice, and that's just too much work.

I hated every second of the first three laps of the Grant's Tomb criterium in NYC last year. I was extremely grumpy and pessimistic for some reason, no idea why. At the end of the first or second full lap (must have been the second), they rang the bell for a prime. No WAY was I sprinting for that prime, I grumbled to myself. I was already miserable enough, and hurting. I'd had a decent warm-up, but hadn't done any real openers, and I was feeling it. Lo and behold, at the end of the prime lap, I found myself up at the front, and before I knew it, I was going for it. I won the prime by a good bike length and more, and realized abrubtly that I was stronger than anyone else in the race. That restored my confidence, and I ended up finishing second. I wanted the win, sure (and could have had it with smarter racing, I really was strongest), but second place after starting in such a pessimistic mood was pretty cool.

The other race that I wanted to quit that year didn't get any better, it actually got worse and worse, but it was a single 50-mile lap, so there really wasn't any point. Spasming lower back muscles, a numb groin and a bonk made the last half of that race the worst 25 miles of my life. I still finished something like 34th out of 60, which is scary to think about - a lot of those guys had a worse race than I did, and I've never been so miserable on the bike.

Wait, was the question "Am I an amazing talent?" or "How often do you want to quite a race?" ;)

I usually want to quit for the first 2/3 of every race.

... I ended up holding it painfully for 2 hours and won with an angry sprint :lol:

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/5898.jpg

Wait, was the question "Am I an amazing talent?" or "How often do you want to quite a race?" ;)

I usually want to quit for the first 2/3 of every race.

Heh. It's not much to brag about - Collegiate D race. I was strongest, yes, but that's like being the smartest Teletubby. ;) Did you see that part about that other race where I got wrecked? No special talent am I!

That was just a particularly lopsided example, to illustrate the point. I've felt like crap in the beginning of most of the races I've done, at least circuits and crits. Usually I do all right, or finish with the pack anyway. That was just one where I felt absolutely horrible, then almost won. It seems that it's about finding the moment where you can hit the switch, psychologically, and go into racing mode. Even in the club TT I did once, I didn't want to quit by the end, I wanted to finish - as soon as possible, natch, but it's a different thing.

I don’t think I’ve ever made it through a race without a few negative thoughts.

“Why do I do this to myself?” is pretty minor. Wait until your praying for a flat…

Snelling RR I had that thought; a flat meant I was out and not due to my suckage, I could save face. Then I realized how lame that was and kicked into gear. Not a high-enough gear to do any good, but enough to get me in the frame of mind to quit thinking of quitting.

Except for time trials I have an inner monologue beginning the night before the race that begins "WTF are you thinking?"

At the end I forget that I had those thoughts, and wonder why I don't race more often.

In most races I'm fine, and am just thinking about position and strategy, but there are those days (usually happen a few times a year), this weekend for example where I was just looking for an excuse to pull out. Would have too if I didn't have teammates that could've benefited from me staying in. There are always those times though that I wish I carried a little razor to cut my tires with so I could just drop out already.

Every lap of every race.

On the couple of times I have quit, always, always, 5 mins later I'm thinking, "Why the F*** did I do that?"

santa cruz. ugh.

every single time i race.

mainly because the results aren't coming, and i have busted my ***** this year.

if a break goes away that i can't get to, or if the weather is crap, then i almost always want to quit.

Almost every single race. Probably the first 10 min after it gets difficult. (This sucks. I don't belong here. I'm unprepared. I'm old. This course is terrible. I hate riding in close quarters like this. Flat, flat, come on flat.)

Usually it passes after a while, but occasionally I have succumbed and just sat up

not every race, not even most, but sometimes yes I do want to quit. I've found myself thinking that crashing couldnt hurt as much as this - but it was during a crit and I would've been forced to take a free lap.

I've quit races before finishing a few times, but only 1 was when I just didnt want to hurt anymore. although I was last in a single file 30+ field being driven by some big motors and was going to get popped in a few laps anyway, I actually feel bad about just mailing it in. Other times I've not finished were due to leading out where my car was closer than the finish line and 90th place wasnt a priority.

if a break goes away that i can't get to, or if the weather is crap, then i almost always want to quit.

*****

It used to be every single race for me too, especially any circuit with the slightest hint of an incline.
After reading all these posts, it makes me wonder if "legs feeling like crap" is more mental than anything. How many times do you show up at a race and hear people say "I don't feel very good today"? It seems that no one ever shows up saying "I feel AWESOME today, ready to rip some legs off." Its like we're making up excuses for ourselves right off the bat. And then the same teammate who says they feel like crap ends up hammering the field and taking top spot.

*****

**** ***. :p

Seems the worst races are the ones in which, once I persevere, I do well.

- 85 or so deg F, high humidity, races were later than I thought, had no food. Ate two hotdogs from a street vendor a few minutes before the start of the crit, had some Coke, and started the race. My leadout man, who ate the same food, got sick within a few laps. I was a bit green but okay. Dropped both my bottles in the first two laps (got ride of those cages afterwards). Decided to do just a few more laps, a few more laps. Suddenly it was like 5 to go. On the last lap I watched a friendly rival attack just before the last turn and thought, "Hey, Steve's gonna win!". Then I realized, wait, I want to win. I took off after him but got pipped at the line for second. One of my friends told me just the other day that it was a 2-3 race, hence everyone was so happy for me. I thought it was a straight 3 race until now. I have no idea how I made it.

- 3 weeks ago I thought about stopping at the Bethel race. Friends asked if I wanted a tow to the front, I declined. I was sick, felt bad, didn't feel good at all. Then an old friend coaxed me to the front, and I couldn't let him down. I was about to quit at 2 to go, literally started moving over to stop pedaling. But I decided I could keep riding for two more laps. In the sprint I was too far back to win but got 4th behind the 3 strongest sprinters in the race.

- Many of my good races come with a mechanical, a minor one. Unraveling handlebar tape is usually a good sign, so is a brake rub (2 Sunday's ago's win my bike had brake rub). I'll focus on the mechanical, zen out on the racing, and then get back in focus with 3 or 4 to go. With my attention elsewhere during the race, I start the final bit of the race mentally fresh.

I used to want to quit a lot of bike races, when I was getting schooled by strong Juniors and strong Seniors. Now, with racing not as important as it was before (no idea why it was important before, I was just a 3), it's okay if I don't finish.

I suppose one of the things about bike racing is that it teaches you to hang in there, that you don't necessarily get immediate results. It's like learning how to play the guitar or violin. I stay with my Dad/bro/his-family before Bethel. My bro is a good guitar player, knows music theory, did almost all the music on my helmet cam clips (wrote lyrics, composed music). He was messing around with a guitar, playing background to a movie we were watching (Josie and the *****cats - don't laugh, my 5 year old nephew loves that flick). He could spontaneously play all the music. It seemed easy but I know that he was practicing for 2-3-4-5 hours a day in high school, college, etc., and doing crazy hours on the guitar while working as a consultant for a big accounting firm.

I played violin, didn't practice nearly as much (2 hours usually max, except when I didn't want to study, then it was more). I was much, much better at the violin than I am at cycling - probably a Cat 2 violinist. The wife of a couple we know recently picked up the violin, she plays guitar and sings, and wanted to learn the violin. I hadn't played in years (not seriously in 20+ years), so I asked if I could play something. Luckily she had some sheet music so I just played whatever she had. After about 15 minutes her husband yelled to her (she was downstairs), "Hey, I don't think the problem is with the violin!". lol. Again, though, you don't see 12 years of practice, of listening to classic music for 3-4-5 hours a night so your intonation is good, etc etc. You just see someone pick up a fiddle and play it.

Bikes are like that. It's a good thing.

cdr

Greg Lemond almost pulled out of the 1989 World Championship Road Race. He said he felt horrible.

Ya know, the crappier I feel (when not actually sick or something), the better I do. It's weird.

Seems the worst races are the ones in which, once I persevere, I do well.


cdr

I believe the races where I feel weak at the start, I tend to sit in and focus on conserving every bit of energy. I really make sure I am always in the best draft and low in the drops. Then I do well late in the race. When I feel good near the beginning of a race I burn a lot of energy attacking, chasing or just staying at the front. Maybe I don't worry about moving out into the wind to move up, or I sit up on the hoods so I can see everything going on.

I have never done a race where I DIDN'T I read somewhere something that said that most likely the overwhelming majority of "mechanicals" during TT's are made up.

I've done two races so far this year, first two crits of my life. The first one I wanted to quit every time I made it to the top of the hill, my car was parked next to the course and I kept thinking, "I could just pull off and throw my bike in and nobody from my team would know". But I didn't and stuck it out. But to your point, at the top of the hill on probably the 6th lap I swore I heard my chain pop off, I pulled over and it was still on...wtf. Some guy ran up to me and asked me what was wrong and if I wanted a free lap, I was dumbstruck and physically spent, I think I mumbled something like “bike, broken…legs hurt…”. I jumped back in. In my second race I was downright bitter throughout.

kind of sounds like a violation of the free lap rule, actually. unless I'm wrong, unless you flat or get taken out in a crash everything else is your responsibility.

santa cruz. ugh.

truth, that race is brutal.

The worst pain I've ever been in on a bike was a "crit" (La Mirada for SoCal people) with a nasty climb in it on what was likely the hottest day of the year. I'm too fat to put up with the climb every lap, and was just about dead by 2 to go. Just as I was about to be dropped from the front group (which was down to about 15 guys), the last guy in the group came up to my wheel and said "come on, almost there, don't give up". It took every watt I had to get up to his wheel and hold it to the top. I ended up being the first person to jump going into the uphill sprint, only passed with a few meters to go by the guy that had encouraged me earlier. I damn near fell off my bike from exhaustion after crossing the line.

kind of sounds like a violation of the free lap rule, actually. unless I'm wrong, unless you flat or get taken out in a crash everything else is your responsibility.

There's a few others, but yeah, thinking you had dropped a chain would be your fault (as would dropping your chain, depending on the official). Doesn't sound like he took the lap though.

There is way too much freedom in the free lap rule in my opinion. It's open to interpretation by the official.

Examples: I've heard that being behind a crash gets you a free lap. I've also heard that being behind a crash DOESN'T get you a free lap.

Dropping a chain does sometimes, doesn't sometimes.

Loose parts (bars coming loose, seatpost slipping, etc) sometimes are, sometimes aren't allowed.

Broken cleat does (not sure what you do about it though)

Rolling a tubular doesn't (from what I've heard)

Breaking a spoke can sometimes, others not.

See the problems?

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/5898.jpg

HAHA, that's awesome, thanks so much for the pic(s). Serious lack of composure there and unrehearsed victory salute -- is he celebrating 10 upgrade points? :p

HAHA, that's awesome, thanks so much for the pic. Serious lack of composure there and unrehearsed victory salute -- is he celebrating 10 upgrade points? :p

You should see the smirk on your face in the next picture :p

A local officials specifically says if the free lap is related to a crash he wants to see blood.

In the old days rolling a tubie got you suspended. Now it gets you a free lap.

In the old days rolling a doobie got you suspended. Now it gets you high.

Fixed.

Fixed.

I'll bet I could get this whole friggin thread moved over to the MTB Forum.

Whoah.

santa cruz. ugh.


Which cat did you ride in kudude?
I rode men's C for Humboldt State and I wanted to quit after about 5 laps.

I did way too much work for no good reason on the front pulling downhlll and such (dumbass) for the first few laps and then tried to attack on the kicker at the top with a berkeley dude and a davis dude. We only stayed away for 1/2 lap, and then some Santa barbara dude kinda countered by setting a hard tempo once we got swallowed.

I spent 3 or 4 laps trying to stick with the break and getting slightly farther back at the top of each lap with no draft for the downhill portion, trying to chase each time :mad:

After I realized that the 10 or so guys were gonna go up the road without me I sat up and let the chasers catch me and finished at the front of that pack.



Its Really disheartening once you realize that you aren't going to win the race. I wanted to quit around lap 5 or 6 out of 12, but my attitude got better and i re-focused on getting upgrade points.

Coming into the last lap of my first race Saturday, I seriously thought I might throw up all over my handlebars, but I was boxed in and figured I'd just see how it would go. Got through it, held my oatmeal down, and finished 19th.

A local officials specifically says if the free lap is related to a crash he wants to see blood.

I hear this and think of a crash I had at wilmington gp a couple years ago. turn 3->4, I'm 5th wheel, 3rd wheel goes down, takes out my team mate who was at 4th wheel, and I landed directly on top of my team mate. never touched the ground except for my shoes, but got way closer to that team mate than I ever wanted to.

Which cat did you ride in kudude?
I rode men's C for Humboldt State and I wanted to quit after about 5 laps.

I did way too much work for no good reason on the front pulling downhlll and such (dumbass) for the first few laps and then tried to attack on the kicker at the top with a berkeley dude and a davis dude. We only stayed away for 1/2 lap, and then some Santa barbara dude kinda countered by setting a hard tempo once we got swallowed.

I spent 3 or 4 laps trying to stick with the break and getting slightly farther back at the top of each lap with no draft for the downhill portion, trying to chase each time :mad:

After I realized that the 10 or so guys were gonna go up the road without me I sat up and let the chasers catch me and finished at the front of that pack.



Its Really disheartening once you realize that you aren't going to win the race. I wanted to quit around lap 5 or 6 out of 12, but my attitude got better and i re-focused on getting upgrade points.

Try doing 20 laps on that course and you'll know what hell is really like. :twitchy: