"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - first road race pacing

I looked in the search and couldn't find what I was looking for so I apologize if I may have missed it.

I just got back from riding the course to my first ever road race. I was wondering what you think the pace will be for the course? I know that pace is largely determined by attacks, how many are racing, etc etc, but I was hoping for a ballpark guess.

Course description (all hills based on start of loop and lengths are guesstimates):
2 miles into 3 10.2 mile laps

Hills at: 0.5 miles (~10-15% for 1/2 mile)
4 miles (~15% for 1/4 mile)
7.5 miles (~5% for 1 mile)
9.5 (20% for 200 yards)
9.75 (15% for 200 yards)

I rode the course in 1:45 at 17.6 mph average. I know avg mph doesn't do anything but how much energy can I expect to save from drafting and what not? Any input is much appreciated.

you'll find out soon enough.

faster than your body wants to go...at all times.

faster than your body wants to go...at all times.+1.

The draft isn't going to help on the hills where you will probably need around 5-7W/Kg to keep up. If you don't have a powermeter time yourself and use an online calculator to estimate your output.

+1.

The draft isn't going to help on the hills where you will probably need around 5-7W/Kg to keep up. If you don't have a powermeter time yourself and use an online calculator to estimate your output.

alternatively, just ride faster.

I looked in the search and couldn't find what I was looking for so I apologize if I may have missed it.

I just got back from riding the course to my first ever road race. I was wondering what you think the pace will be for the course? I know that pace is largely determined by attacks, how many are racing, etc etc, but I was hoping for a ballpark guess.

Course description (all hills based on start of loop and lengths are guesstimates):
2 miles into 3 10.2 mile laps

Hills at: 0.5 miles (~10-15% for 1/2 mile)
4 miles (~15% for 1/4 mile)
7.5 miles (~5% for 1 mile)
9.5 (20% for 200 yards)
9.75 (15% for 200 yards)

I rode the course in 1:45 at 17.6 mph average. I know avg mph doesn't do anything but how much energy can I expect to save from drafting and what not? Any input is much appreciated.

My first road race was a hilly 30 miler. My average pace was also in that 17.5-18.0 mile range. I finished about 60th and 15 minutes off the leaders. I had some mechanical issues that cost me a few minutes and maybe 10 spots, but were not the difference between keeping pace and falling off.

Local (cat 4) RR's seem to come out in the 21-23 mph range I think.

But don't be discouraged, it's all about the draft. I never average much over 20 mph for extended periods of time, but can hold my own in the races.

Draft, draft, draft, just hold a wheel and never give up.

Dig deep on the steep bits to keep in contact with the lead group. If you have the "goods" and are hurting, then everyone else is too. Don't quit because it hurts. Go longer because it hurts.

Dig deep on the steep bits to keep in contact with the lead group. If you have the "goods" and are hurting, then everyone else is too. Don't quit because it hurts. Go longer because it hurts.

yes.

Dig deep on the steep bits to keep in contact with the lead group. If you have the "goods" and are hurting, then everyone else is too. Don't quit because it hurts. Go longer because it hurts.

Awesome quote.

To answer the original question, just go to last year's results (assuming it was run last year on the same course) and see what the finishing times were.

can't...this is the inaugural race

can't...this is the inaugural race

It doesn't matter

To answer the original question, just go to last year's results (assuming it was run last year on the same course) and see what the finishing times were.


can't...this is the inaugural race


It doesn't matter

I'm pretty sure this being the inaugural race does preclude looking up last years results...

I'm pretty sure this being the inaugural race does preclude looking up last years results...

I meant it doesn't matter what the pace is. Even if you could look up last year's pace, what would it really tell you?

I meant it doesn't matter what the pace is. Even if you could look up last year's pace, what would it really tell you?

that it was fast?

I worried about the same thing before my first race. My advice? Stop worrying, show up, and try to hang on. Like UMD said, It doesn't matter if you knew what the pace was going to be. You're either going to be able to stay with the pack or not.

I rode the course in 1:45 at 17.6 mph average. I know avg mph doesn't do anything but how much energy can I expect to save from drafting and what not? Any input is much appreciated.

Not trying to insult you or anything, but if you don't know that, you're probably in for a beat-down.

Good luck; keep training.

Not trying to insult you or anything, but if you don't know that, you're probably in for a beat-down.

Good luck; keep training.

That's one answer, another one is "around 30%".

Not trying to insult you or anything, but if you don't know that, you're probably in for a beat-down.

Good luck; keep training.

Not many group rides I know of in the area that I can easily get to, so I haven't had much experience using the draft and seeing the benefits. All I know is if I'm able to use the draft it's because I hook onto the back of a group that I run into when I'm riding on my own, but that usually ends before I can really see any benefit (2-3 miles max)

And before someone adds that not much group riding = think about not racing this one, I'm not worried about feeling comfortable in or moving through the group. I raced triathlons where I was moving through large packs of people who were all fighting to get around each other...talk about needing to be alert.

And before someone adds that not much group riding = think about not racing this one, I'm not worried about feeling comfortable in or moving through the group. I raced triathlons where I was moving through large packs of people who were all fighting to get around each other...talk about needing to be alert.

You're over thinking this.

It sounds like you're going to do the race and believe you have the skills to participate. I think the people here would be interested in your observations after your first race. If you're used to time trials the best advice given above is to do whatever it takes to hang on to the pack. The bursts of speed in a pack can really push your level of fitness even if you're in great shape...once you're dropped there's no getting back.