"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - My first Crit. Is this normal?

Just competed in my first Crit Cat-5
My average speed was21.3mph and my max speed was 27.7mph (sprint)
I got laped 3 times is this normal? Or is that way fast for Cat 5?
4th of July crit Davis Ca
Thanks

Sounds normal for a first crit. Many get lapped their first time - though it doesn't happen to everyone.

Congrats on the first race, and keep it up!

You did great. Finishing your first race without any major incidents is a good sign. Keep up the good work!

Yup it's normal...Keep working at it...

Yeah, that sounds about right.

And don't be surprised if the next two or three crits go the same way.

Congrats on the race. Sounds about right. More importantly is try to learn something in every race. GL

+whatever.

Work on your own personal maximum speed. That helps deal with the surges. If you raise your max speed from say 30 mph to 40 mph, suddenly going 30 mph isn't quite so intimidating. The surges get you (and me) shelled so you have to work on handling those.
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-to-working-on-sprinting.html

Work on not letting a gap go (gap = anything like 5-10 feet). Gaps = less draft = you have to work harder. You can work on this forever, the gap just gets shorter as you get more experienced. "More experienced" means the gap might be 5-20 inches at normal speeds (25-30 mph) in a pack and perhaps less in a small group (1-3 inches).

Finally, to work on drafting you'll need to get good at adjusting speed without grabbing a handful of brake. Focus on easing on the pedals a half second early so you coast, feather (don't grab) brakes if you get too close, and initially ride 6-12 inches to one side of the rider in front so you can get closer to that rider's rear wheel (don't overlap wheels but you probably won't feel comfy overlapping anyway).

These are generalizations but they work for a new racer.

Congrats for taking the plunge and good luck going forward.

Davis is on a technical side of crits, and tends to be on a fast side. Since there are corners that come in rapid succession, it's less about average speed and more about that drive out of the corner. Specially if you are at the back. Since you have to brake harder going in, and accelerate harder going out. CDR gave great advice. Invest in some training books. After this season start building your base, and towards the beginning of next season start bringing up your power.

Work on your own personal maximum speed.

41

Substantial percentage of people get dropped in their first crit.

Typically it's either because 1) they don't have the fitness/training to deal with the repeated accelerations, 2) they don't know how to race, and get dropped by being in the wrong place wrong time, expending unecessary energy etc., or 3) a combination of 1 and 2.

Doing some races takes care of the second reason. Training, particularly doing some short intervals on short rest, takes care of the first.

Its not unusual for people dropped in their first race or two to be competitive after they get a few under their belt.

Welcome to the club. :)

Work on training and try to get out to as many crits as possible. Before you know it you'll be the one dropping other riders!

Echo.....totally normal. You will be faster if in the group. Bury yourself if it looks like you're going off the back. Alone is a death wish.

Around here....I think the slowest cat 5-4/5 race I have been in was around 23. Most are 24-27 avg

Btw- now you know where the phrase, "you can't train to get ready to race. You just have to race. Until you race you will never fully realize exactly how fast or how deep you have to go just to stay in contact. "

Racing Crits is a violently intense effort.

Thanks to all!!! More saddle time!!!

Lapped? I am surprised that weren't pulled in a technical crit, but around here we almost always race with the 4s.

also ... What CDR said.

I did my first crit a couple of weeks ago (cat 3-5, I'm a 5). The laps were pretty short, a little over a minute, so we got pulled if we got too far behind the pack. I definitely was not prepared for the constant surging after the corners, and repeated 30mph+ sprints after each corner made me blow up after about 10 minutes. It wouldn't have been as bad if I didn't get stuck in the back because of the rubberbanding, but if I had positioned myself better at the start I still dont' think I would have lasted the whole 45 minutes.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one

I did my first crit a couple of weeks ago (cat 3-5, I'm a 5). The laps were pretty short, a little over a minute, so we got pulled if we got too far behind the pack. I definitely was not prepared for the constant surging after the corners, and repeated 30mph+ sprints after each corner made me blow up after about 10 minutes. It wouldn't have been as bad if I didn't get stuck in the back because of the rubberbanding, but if I had positioned myself better at the start I still dont' think I would have lasted the whole 45 minutes.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one
Yeah it would have....trust me. ;)

I can position like nobody's fool. I frequently amaze people with how easily and how well I can get into and stay in prime spots from lap 1. My problem is I still don't last....physical fitness. Most around here refer to me as "the best damn 2-lap crit racer I have ever seen"

Yup, everyone gets dropped. No worries, there; just keep at it. I would add that you should not have the mind set to train for a certain mph. Train with intervals that are meant to increase your race fitness for your respective discipline (crit, RR, HC, etc). If you need help figuring out what those intervals are, your first stop is the Friel Bible and blog.

Welcome to racing!

Yeah it would have....trust me. ;)

I can position like nobody's fool. I frequently amaze people with how easily and how well I can get into and stay in prime spots from lap 1. My problem is I still don't last....physical fitness. Most around here refer to me as "the best damn 2-lap crit racer I have ever seen"

Psimet I'm telling myself lies so that I think I could still have a chance if I train harder and ride smarter. You aren't helping. :thumb:

Davis is technical and fast. It's also smack in the middle of race season so a lot of guys, including the 5's, are at their peak fitness. It makes for a tough first race, but you did fine, and the next one will be easier, if only because you'll have a better sense of how the pack surges.

Welcome. Keep coming back!

I did my first crit last weekend also. Our avg speed was 25.1. Without a doubt the hardest part was the accordian through the corners because I was at the back most of that race. Speeds dropped down to around 20 in the corners and then I had to surge back up to 30 to catch back on---this was particuarly true of one corner. Had to do that for 45 minutes plus 5 laps. I loved every minute of it. :)

Can't wait to do more and I'm definitely doing cyclocross this fall.

I did my first crit a couple of weeks ago (cat 3-5, I'm a 5).


mix of cat 3,4,5s? thats gotta be tough for a first race

mix of cat 3,4,5s? thats gotta be tough for a first race

Yeah It was pretty brutal, a lot of 5s got dropped but I really wanted to get out and quit making excuses about why I wasn't going to any of the local crits. It was still fun, though!

We probably rode close together since I was in the back some of that same race. I was in the black Absolute Racing kit. There were two of us in the race. I finished 13th and my teammate finished 5th.

This was only my second crit, but felt like the first one since I was dropped so early in my first. :)

I had no idea crits could be that much fun! Prior to the race, I had been thinking of doing only road races because I thought they'd be safer. After reading some of the what folks here have said about crit safety and then being in one, I'm totally ready for more. Lots of fun!

I am still so timid and nervous about moving up in the pack. My legs felt great the entire time, and I could have finished better if I'd had the guts to move up. Everyone says that comes with experience. Guess I gotta just do it. :)


I did my first crit last weekend also. Our avg speed was 25.1. Without a doubt the hardest part was the accordian through the corners because I was at the back most of that race. Speeds dropped down to around 20 in the corners and then I had to surge back up to 30 to catch back on---this was particuarly true of one corner. Had to do that for 45 minutes plus 5 laps. I loved every minute of it. :)

Can't wait to do more and I'm definitely doing cyclocross this fall.

Yeah It was pretty brutal, a lot of 5s got dropped but I really wanted to get out and quit making excuses about why I wasn't going to any of the local crits. It was still fun, though!



I am still so timid and nervous about moving up in the pack. My legs felt great the entire time, and I could have finished better if I'd had the guts to move up. Everyone says that comes with experience. Guess I gotta just do it. :)

You guys are off to a good start.

We probably rode close together since I was in the back some of that same race. I was in the black Absolute Racing kit. There were two of us in the race. I finished 13th and my teammate finished 5th.

This was only my second crit, but felt like the first one since I was dropped so early in my first. :)

I had no idea crits could be that much fun! Prior to the race, I had been thinking of doing only road races because I thought they'd be safer. After reading some of the what folks here have said about crit safety and then being in one, I'm totally ready for more. Lots of fun!

I am still so timid and nervous about moving up in the pack. My legs felt great the entire time, and I could have finished better if I'd had the guts to move up. Everyone says that comes with experience. Guess I gotta just do it. :)

I finished 15th, so I was right behind you. The corners and moving around the pack are the most intimidating part. I was unattached wearing a red hincappi jersey on a black bike with Boyd Wheels. That race was a lot of fun. Sadly I'm not seeing many more races that I can make this year, so it's time to try cyclocross.

I finished 15th, so I was right behind you. The corners and moving around the pack are the most intimidating part. I was unattached wearing a red hincappi jersey on a black bike with Boyd Wheels. That race was a lot of fun. Sadly I'm not seeing many more races that I can make this year, so it's time to try cyclocross.

I remember briefly seeing a Hincapie jersey. All a flurry....

There is an Omnium in Oxford, MS on August 4-5. Not too far from you, and well attended last year. Also, there is talk of a race in Tupelo, MS, but I'm not sure if it'll actually take place. We keep hearing that it will be.

I'm already thinking of next race season, planning to do the Memphis area races as well as some in LAMBRA. Will definitely try to be at Tuscaloosa again next year. That was a great crit course. Maybe we'll get a chance to say howdy one of these days.

We probably rode close together since I was in the back some of that same race. I was in the black Absolute Racing kit. There were two of us in the race. I finished 13th and my teammate finished 5th.

This was only my second crit, but felt like the first one since I was dropped so early in my first. :)

I had no idea crits could be that much fun! Prior to the race, I had been thinking of doing only road races because I thought they'd be safer. After reading some of the what folks here have said about crit safety and then being in one, I'm totally ready for more. Lots of fun!

I am still so timid and nervous about moving up in the pack. My legs felt great the entire time, and I could have finished better if I'd had the guts to move up. Everyone says that comes with experience. Guess I gotta just do it. :)

Hey John,

I do now see your name on the list, sorry I missed a chance to introduce myself. I had the 'guts' to move up the pack only to be told I didn't know how to race, when I asked this fellow how does one race he replied 'in line'. Got in the top ten prior to the sprint but a rider that overcooked it and went out of the cone line decided to come back in right in front of me! did manage to get around him but then I was blocked, I didn't even get into my sprint gear, ended 8th.

I will do the Oxford crit, hopefully I see you then. How's the course on that one? technical, fast?

No worries about the intro...a lot of stuff happening on race day. Good job on the finish!

I'm not sure if I'm gonna do the crit Sunday (church is more important to me than racing). But planning on being there Saturday for the road race. Possibly Sunday if I can work some details out.

A few of us might be going this Saturday to ride the RR course. And we'll probably go drive the crit course. If so, I'll let you know what it looks like. I do know it's not the same as last year. I wasn't there, but apparently it was quite dangerous. Lots of wrecks on a steep downhill/immediate curve...broken bones, etc. Supposed to be much safer this year.


Hey John,

I do now see your name on the list, sorry I missed a chance to introduce myself. I had the 'guts' to move up the pack only to be told I didn't know how to race, when I asked this fellow how does one race he replied 'in line'. Got in the top ten prior to the sprint but a rider that overcooked it and went out of the cone line decided to come back in right in front of me! did manage to get around him but then I was blocked, I didn't even get into my sprint gear, ended 8th.

I will do the Oxford crit, hopefully I see you then. How's the course on that one? technical, fast?

OP, if it makes you feel any better, there were 2 pretty fast CAT 1 mtb guys in your race that placed out of the top 5. Cat 5 is kind of crazy with fitness levels all over the map.