"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - 3/4 and 1/2/3?

So in 3 weeks, their is a crit with the following classes (at least that I fit into)

1:10, Cat 3/4 race, 40 minutes + 3 laps
2:00 Cat 1/2/3, 60 minutes + 3 laps

The course is about .6 miles, so I would say the last 3 laps will take less then 5 minutes. So that gives me ~10 minutes to cool down for the next crit.

Should I race the second one?

both.

next question?

yes, good experience

Both......always both. Especially if you're driving as far as I think you are.

Do both, but forget about that "cool down" stuff. You need to stay as "hot" as possible.

Do you have teammates in the P/1/2/3? Is there any strategic advantage for your team to have someone "all lathered up" during the early stages (attacking, working the front, covering every break, etc.)? You could be that guy. Sometimes a DNF is an awesome thing for the team.

Do not expect a 10' break. The second race may start before you finish one cooldown lap.

Note of caution. I had done back to back races last month. I thought it would smart to pin both my numbers on and just have someone rip the top one off. I'm not that smart. The paper wouldn't tear. They had to get a knife. I held up the race.

My friend had pinned numbers on two different jersey and swapped it out quickly. Smart.

Note of caution. I had done back to back races last month. I thought it would smart to pin both my numbers on and just have someone rip the top one off. I'm not that smart. The paper wouldn't tear. They had to get a knife. I held up the race.

My friend had pinned numbers on two different jersey and swapped it out quickly. Smart.

+1. unless you didn't buy two jerseys. in that case, borrow one from a friend.

Do both, duh. Then thank the promotor.

If you don't do both, then apply for a downgrade.

Hell yes. Race the first one, and ride for fitness in the second.

Both......always both. Especially if you're driving as far as I think you are.

I'm in the Detroit area, so its not that bad compared to my last two locations (houghton, MI up in the U.P., or Youngstown OH area)

And yep, its the EcoCrit in South Bend, IN.

Looks like two it is.

Note of caution. I had done back to back races last month. I thought it would smart to pin both my numbers on and just have someone rip the top one off. I'm not that smart. The paper wouldn't tear. They had to get a knife. I held up the race.

My friend had pinned numbers on two different jersey and swapped it out quickly. Smart.

Huh.

In Florida we use the same #'s. I guess our guys are able to figure that out.

asmallsol, did you race West Branch? I may have raced with you. I also live in the detroit area and race Cat 3. I ride for the Wolverines.

yep. west branch was one of the best races i've ever been to. Such a cool venue.

I'm on MCG (Midwest Cycling Group) riding an older s-works. Ended up finishing 13th.

Interesting. Do you have the oval chainring? I finished 10th. That was a brutal finish. Awesome race though. I was the kid riding the white madone wearing the wolverine kit. http://i39.tinypic.com/kco5yt.jpg
on the right.

nope, that was my teammate Mark Bush.

I love that type of finish. Makes for more of whats left in the tank, vs kinda luck of position in a sprint.

any more pictures.

Yeah, do both races. You'd be surprised how the 2nd race will come together.

In January I won a Cat 3 crit and started a 1/2/3 fifteen minutes later. I threw up between them, and the legs were heavy at the beginning of the 1/2/3. After about 20 minutes, I started to feel better. After 40 minutes, I felt normal and improving. In the last lap (60 minutes), I moved to the front and chased down a couple of last-lap breaks/gaps for our sprinter.

Yeah, do both races. You'd be surprised how the 2nd race will come together.

In January I won a Cat 3 crit and started a 1/2/3 fifteen minutes later. I threw up between them, and the legs were heavy at the beginning of the 1/2/3. After about 20 minutes, I started to feel better. After 40 minutes, I felt normal and improving. In the last lap (60 minutes), I moved to the front and chased down a couple of last-lap breaks/gaps for our sprinter.

I'm the opposite. In the P123 today after my 3s race I felt awesome for the first 20 minutes, almost awesome enough to attack. It went down hill from there though and I was dropped with 4 to go.

I've been racing doubles and quadrupals (2days) just about every weekend this season. They are almost always back to back. I did that today as a matter of fact. I find I feel better in the second race and don't feel like I am working hard at all after the first few minutes.

I pin both numbers on. The second number goes on first with my normal 8 pins. The second goes on top of it. I pin the second number to the first with a second set of pins....only 4 though. I usually have a teammate undo and pull the pins and number between races. Takes about 20 seconds.

I also have them trade me bottles and I take in a gel during the cooldown lap of the race before.

Granted they are both usually in the 30-45 minute range each and they're not 1/2/3 hour long torture sessions...

did two today with about a 5 minute break in between. no time for a cool down lap just enough time to pee and pull off the first race number.
3s (45 minutes) and pro1/2/3 (70 minutes). 20th in the 3s and 7th in the pro1/2/3 with plenty of masters national champs and some rock racing guys.

masters in socal often race 2 or 3 races a day. today was our masters district championships. my friend raced 4 races today, the 40+, 30+, 35+ and then the pro1/2/3. he finished 5th in the pro1/2/3 as well as placing is some of the other races

I pin both numbers on. The second number goes on first with my normal 8 pins. The second goes on top of it. I pin the second number to the first with a second set of pins....only 4 though. I usually have a teammate undo and pull the pins and number between races. Takes about 20 seconds.

Not a bad idea.

My method was to pin both numbers with the same set of pins, then swing by medical and have them quickly cut off the first race number. Worked fine, but if someone had been hurt in medical I'd have to find another pair of scissors...

Hell yes. Race the first one, and ride for fitness in the second.

this. let it all hang out in the 3/4 race, hold nothing back, that's your "results" race. do the second one to learn from better racers and to push your fitness. if you get popped and dont finish, dont sweat it.