youcoming

Just wondering if anyone has any idea on where one could enter crits in the GTA. I seem to have this thought in my mind I would like to try racing and Crits seem like the way to start before I try road racing. Any suggestions? I looked in the OCA but did not find any info on Crit series.

ejbarnes

There is a Crit in Cobourg every spring. I was planning to enter the novice class just to give it a try. When more info is available I will post.

ejbarnes

https://www.prorace.ca/welcome_2009TJCrit.html

This is the link to last years race. It was not in the spring either. End of July.
Get yourself in shape. From what I saw last year there is a lot of bumpin' and grindin'.

Turd Ferguson

I suggest you try Midweek Cycling Club

Starting in May they offer a Learn to Race program that runs through until August ( Mondays ). Tuesday are crits. Location is Tahoe Blvd, near Dixie & Eglington

graphs

https://www.torontocriterium.com/

graphs

I would totally do this if it weren't a 30k ride from my house just to get to it. I wonder if there's car pools from downtown.

markieta

Thats a good warm up

Turd Ferguson

Take the GO part way and ride the rest.

youcoming

Thanks for all the replies, might just try out the learn to race programme with my son.

Turd Ferguson

Good idea. You son would get quite a bit out of the Monday program as the coaches are very good with the kids.

bbgobie

Am I the only one who thinks its easier to start in a road race than a crit?

youcoming

I'm sure you are correct but there are few and far between road races that fit my scheduale.

graphs

I just tried emailing them to see if there's a date for 2010 and delivery failed. Hopefully that doesn't mean it won't be happening...

fuzzthebee

It's scheduled for April 25, 2010.

TRaffic Jammer

I've heard great things about the midweek cycling club. Tempted to try it myself, but scheduling is tough. I'm downtown as well, I'm not sure how bike friendly either GO not TTC are at the tailend of rush hour. Me, I'd just ride it as a warm up as someone posted earlier.

graphs

Yeah, I wouldn't want to commit to it as a club but I might just go for the Tuesday training race when I can make it. Too bad the learn to race isn't open until late June unless you do the whole 9 week programme. I guess I'll have to jump right in.

Nice! Hopefully they update their website/registration info soon, that is in like 3 weeks.

fuzzthebee

https://www.prorace.ca/welcome.html

graphs

Thanks dude! I'm almost 100% doing this as my first race.

Have you attended this before? I'm going to enter the beginner race, just curious what kind of competition there is in that field.

graphs

Also, I still need to sort out a way to get there. If any other GTAers are planning to head out for the beginner race (8:15am registration), holler! I'm good for gas money and I'll buy coffees + lunch.

Turd Ferguson

No offence Graphs, but if your considering Learn to Race to get your feet when, then saying forget it and jumping direct to M3 your may be in for trouble. M3 races does not mean beginner although many first timers will enter a M3 race. Often you will find M3 are seasoned racers just getting back into the swing of racing after a break, upgrade later, sandbaggers, or just don't feel they can effectively race the M2/M1 race.

Not saying you don't have the fitness, but racing can be a dangerous sport and without some knowledge you can really **** up the rest of the group and hurt yourself. This is not CX and group rides help but they don't prepare you for a fast paced, 40/hr for 40 mins followed by a sprint finish. Many clubs in the GTA offer a 1-2 day weekend Learn to Race ( GEARS comes to mind), if you can't do the Midweek Programme (it's starts unofficially end of April...if I remember correctly).

This years Good Friday race is a example of newbs on spring legs getting their feet wet. (IMO). Three crashes, one guy in a coma, many people with broken bones and bikes. Personally, I'd avoid a M3 race until June or July...or ride M2

If your doing to loose your cherry I recommend at least doing a proper road race and avoiding a crit...RR are a little less intense then a 80% dash on a short closed circuit.

My first race was the Toronto Crit a couple years back...having done just 1 month of L2R saved my ass. I got caught in a crash on the neutral lap ( rode over top some dude who went down), got back in, raced, 20 mins later got pulled. M3 was grouped with M2/M1 so it was a pretty solid, fast race, more so than your average M3 race but had I not has some sort of school'in I could of serious ****ed things up...the south west corner was a ***** to maneuver especially when your shoulder to shoulder.

graphs

No offense taken. I actually have been rethinking how good of an idea it is. I jumped on it because the early race is actually called "Beginner" rather than M3 so it seems a little less intimidating. I still want to do the Toronto Crit this year but that would at least give me another 6 weeks to get some skills. I'm just stoked to get started, you know?

Did you do the Midweek L2R? I've never heard of GEARS before and can't seem to find anything about it. Do you have a link?

I didn't hear about the Good Friday race but it sounds like it was pretty terrible. That one is a circuit race, right?

Turd Ferguson

Good Friday is a Road Race ( 18km loop ).

GEARS is a bike store in Port Credit...40min ride from downtown. Don't know the number but you can probably get their # and givethem a ring. I did the CX training a couple years back and one of the GEARS guys was a coach. Good group.

In 2008 I did Midweek L2R and will be racing with them this year. I also don't recommend Tuesday as your first race. If the other riders see you make newbie mistakes they will swear at you, push you out of the way and be generally unfriendly...they don't want to crash because a guy can't take a corner properly. I got some serious stink eye when I started.

Totally understand being psyched for the race...the M2&M1 smelled my newbie'iszm and after the neutral lap (which they didn't and treated as a lap to drop dead wight), I went from the front to the back and hung on for dear life for the next 20 mins. It was fun...I drank plenty of beer afterwards and learned tonnes.

You may also want to try canadiancyclist and see if there are any rides you can join downtown. There is the Old Fart ride which is composed of Toronto racers, they have a loop start starts in High Park. They may be able to offer some advice or direct you to a club closer to home that will give you some coaching...maybe Wheels on Bloor or Racer Sportif?

graphs

I really, really appreciate your comments and advice! There's tons of info on US racing here but very little that relates specifically to our city and province (thanks a bunch for the CC link). I've been on the receiving end of some stink eye and head-shaking at the track in London and it's certainly not a great feeling, not too eager to repeat (though I'm certain it's inevitable to some degree).

I'm strongly considering the Midweek L2R now, found a route that is only 20k from my doorstep. It'll suck riding through west TO during rush hour but I'm pretty used to battling downtown traffic so it shouldn't be too bad. Depending how that goes I may or may not participate in the Toronto Crit.

I have a ton to learn both about racing in Ontario and how to actually race so thanks again for the pointers, Turd.

Turd Ferguson

Always happy to help a guy who wants to rip the legs off others.

BTW: Midweek has Saturday rides and meet 8:30am at Winston Churchill/Eg. Some guys ride up from downtown or take the GO train to Dixie and ride up. The ride is coached so you can definately get some good pointers. The lead coach, Len, coached me a couple years back and he a ex-track nationals winner from the 60's so he's got some good advice and maintains a solid ride.

You can probably jump on this Saturday. Just contact Craig from Midweek (see web page), for details ( insurances, fee's etc ).

graphs

That is something to consider! The site says it's for members only and I'm still not 100% sold on joining a club in Mississauga when there's so many closer to home, but having good ride leaders is definitely a big selling point. So many decisions to make...