Road Cycling - Road racing is fun

I just did my first road race; It was fun.

Opps..

My question...

I've read a lot about various tactics and strategies, but to be quite honest, I think that racing with cat 4/5s the tactics and strategies are highly influenced by the packs lack of experience.

Anyone have good tactics to use while I'm racing with 4/5's? I'm on a sizeable team with the strongest 4/5 riders in the area. (We took 1st,2nd,4th,6th, and 7th. Along with putting 8 riders total in the top 15)

I don't personally have any tactics for you, but check out the website (below) by the Mew Mexico coach, Carl Cantrell. He gives lots of advice on lots of aspects of racing. He is opinionated, so use your critical thinking skills as you evaluate what he has to say. Also, he has kind of an anecdotal style which may or may not suit your taste. And you have to read most of his sub-topics in order to get the full explanation. But, I think that you can learn something from the page.

http://hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/Index.html

Cheers,
Jamie

Being a cat. 5 involves little tactics for the most part, yes. But, since you have a strong team, it's not that hard to practice team tactics. Try sending some people off the front while others control the front of the pack, set up a lead out for your top sprinter, etc.

I would recommend racing with another group (like a master's age group) where the pack would be larger and tactics would be more important, but looking at your age in your profile that won't happen. Unless...you go to a race that has a espoir category. Definitely try that if it's available.

But, until you have enough experience to move up a category hang in there! Race so you can move up as soon as possible. In my opinion, and many others, cat. 5 is the category you want to spend the least amount of time in. That's where you can get bad habits (like not learning any tactics!).

Glad you enjoyed the race though! By the way, what kind was it? Road race, criterium? How long?

velo

Originally posted by velo

Glad you enjoyed the race though! By the way, what kind was it? Road race, criterium? How long?

velo

It was a road race, and very flat until the finish, which was on a hill.

I've done a race since then, which had rollers all along the way, and a couple climbs a few miles in length.

Not to brag, but I won both races. And I did upgrade to cat 4. If I win the next 2 races I can upgrade to cat 3, which is where I'd like to be for a while.

I've found the best way to succeed is to get orginized early, and keep the strong guys out of these orginized groups. The pack spends too much time messing around.

Congrats! Im going to go watch a few races this month, and plan on racing a few next month :)

Best strategy:

Cat 4/5: Move to cat 3 asap or risk being called a sandbagger
Cat3: learn some tactics
Cat2: Oh crap, should have stayed a 3 (because most of the time you're stuck racing the elite riders)

Originally posted by RacerX
Cat2: Oh crap, should have stayed a 3 (because most of the time you're stuck racing the elite riders)

Maybe you just will turn into one of those elite riders...:eek:

And, Joe, you gotta race! Do it! Do it!