BattleRabbit

I'll be honest, I've run one other crit ever before I did one last night in Troy, NY. My riding was AWFUL. I was so upset with myself that I loaded up both my bikes today and re-ran the course solo. The streets weren't closed for the actual race, and they weren't when I re-ran today. If there was traffic you stopped, if there wasn't you were supposed to just run the stop signs. It was patently unsafe, and if it weren't for the fact that we only encountered two cars during the race it would have been a feat of stupidity.

Anyways, I reran the course tonight under the same conditions on my Motobecane and my Schwinn and came away again faster on the steel. Over the 1.4 mile course my times were about 8-9 seconds per lap faster on the Schwinn than the Motobecane.

Interestingly, as I tired out from the repeated laps my times on the Motobecane degraded more than on the Schwinn. I'm going to lay out a similar course in Albany soon and repeat this experiment. If I continue getting these results I'm probably going to swap all the Ultegra swag from my Motobecane over to a steel frame, like an RB-1 or similar. So far I'm boiling this down to the differences in ride quality over the cobbles and badly patched pavement in Troy*. I felt much more comfortable on the Schwinn.

*I've set both bikes up with nearly identical hip-bar measurements. The Moto has more drop, and the Schwinn has a longer reach. The Schwinn has a longer wheelbase and more fork rake, giving it more relaxed handling.

In any event, riding the Crit was a good experience and showed me a lot about my weaknesses as a rider. I'm not much of a sprinter, but I'm pretty strong on long distance. Looks like I'll be changing my workouts to become a better all-rounder!

old's'cool

Too many uncontrolled variables for a statistically valid experiment.

repechage

My plan during a criterium is ALWAYS be near the front, no farther than 12 back, the reason is simple it is easier up front, too near the front for the "rubberband effect" to wipe you out. Also the better riders are up front, so it's safer. Oh, it's not about the bike.

vjp

Wah??

This was a sanctioned race? Sounds crazy, do not participate in this again, not legal, dangerous and completely stupid.

DRietz

Crits are an interesting event.

I'm about 5' 9" and I weigh ~125-130pounds, so one would think that I'm not the crit type. It's partly true - my element is much better suited for hilly road races, but I've found criteriums to be an incredibly fun challenge. The key, obviously and as said before, is to stay near the front of the group. Hide behind a big guy. I like to follow breaks if they're near the end of a race, do my pull, and contest the sprint. Even if I burn out, it's still awesome... and it's not like I burn out in a juniors' race. I'll typically try to finish with the pack when I race U30 Cat3. Often times, this is not the case.

Alan Edwards

A race run with traffic is not a race. Who sanctioned a race in traffic. I do agree that a heavyer bike that is more comfortable and easier handling over a rough course will be faster.
Triathlons have the traffic stopped for the pro's, but the amatures have to stop at lights. Maybe your race organization has the same methods.

repechage

When one is young they are invincible.

BattleRabbit

Not a sanctioned race, wasn't planning on doing this sort of thing again.

buldogge

Some sort of Alley Cat???

BattleRabbit

That's basically what it wound up being. I saw a poster and decided to go. It wasn't at all what I expected, but I figured I had already made the drive there, the city was DEAD and I might as well do it just once to see what it was like.

Fun? Yes. Smart? Not at all.

I did awful and wound up getting a flat before I finished all my laps too, which kinda sucked.

RFC

We have one real crit rider on this forum -- Shrinkboy -- Ask his advice.

RobbieTunes

I find that being somewhat stocky helps in crits. People don't get too close.
Cornering and the ability to carry speed in them is a key in the only ones I've done.
I try to ride it like a time trial and not run over anyone, and not miss a shift.

The bike has never been an issue, but if there were any repeated inclines, I chose the carbon Ironman.