"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Fund Raising Ride

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curiouskid55
08-05-10, 03:51 PM
I have spent the last several years training and racing in Cat IV. But a lady at work corralled me into doing a fund raising charity ride. I have never done any of these organized rides before and am in need of some basic information.

Can I wear my team kit or do I have to buy cheap shorts and a jersey with a Sesame St character on it?

Can I abrubtly change line in a group causing a massive pile up behind me?

Is head butting allowed?

Do I have to point out and yell about every minor imperfection in the pavement?

Can I attack in a feed zone?

Is it a good tactic to identify the strongest riders and gang up with some other guys to mecilessly attack them?

What kind of upgrade points are available?

hammy56
08-05-10, 03:54 PM
Will there be other refugees there?
Shayne
08-06-10, 07:46 AM
Yes to all your questions. So it's really the same as any cat IV race. :-)

92degrees
08-06-10, 08:42 AM
If it's a big, well organized, charity ride then you will be reminded several times that it "is not a race." Ignore this instruction. You will be surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of riders -- many of whom are inexperienced/unfit/unused to riding in groups. Treat it like a cx race -- sprint for the holeshot, hope to find a nice little group to work with, and stay away.
substructure
08-06-10, 08:57 AM
If you are on the front hammering your guts out and someone breathlessly comes up to you and tells (not asks) you to slow down because we've dropped so-and-so, this is the best time to look deep into his eyes with pure contempt and pick up the pace even more.
mike868y
08-06-10, 09:19 AM
I blame umd.
mollusk
08-06-10, 10:02 AM
I can answer some of the questions.


Can I wear my team kit or do I have to buy cheap shorts and a jersey with a Sesame St character on it?

You need a full pro team kit or cargo pants and a t-shirt.


Can I abrubtly change line in a group causing a massive pile up behind me?

Sudden changes in line are a sufficient condition for causing a massive pile up, but not a necessary one. Often they happen spontaneously.


Is head butting allowed?

No head butting, but there will lots of butt heading.


Do I have to point out and yell about every minor imperfection in the pavement?

Yes.


Can I attack in a feed zone?

You mean cutting in line?
save10
08-06-10, 10:11 AM
The last time I did one of these rides a long time ago, it was not a mass start...you had to start between a certain period of time. so that mitigated the group ride effect. I think the "grand frodo" and 'sportif' events are mass starts

that being said never underestimate that danger of fluorescent green in large groups.