TheKillerPenguin

Got my first race coming up on Sunday, a 1.6 mile circuit 13 laps, with one small, sprintable hill. I was practicing with a guy that knows the course, we found a hill similar to the one on it, and started doing sprints up it. He acted as the lead man, and I'd sprint around him. I sprinted against him too, and he made me feel like a weak girly man To be fair, he is Cat2

Getting dropped is a concern of mine. I'm pretty sure I can keep up with the pack on the flats, but I don't think I have the power to sprint with the average Cat4/5 guy yet.

Another concern of mine is the weather...

The morning of the race its supposed to be rainy and in the high 30's!!!!!! The only biking attire I own is a pair of biking shorts, a jersey, and an underarmor shirt. What do I wear to keep from freezing?!?!

If I had to, I could deal with being dropped, but not with freezing to death!

HigherGround

How much money do you have to spend? No matter what you do, you'll probably get soaked either from sweat or rain so I wouldn't invest in a fancy waterproof / breathable jacket. A wind breaker combined with a thin face mask that fits snugly under your helmet (and does not obstruct your vision!) will help a lot. There are different heat balms you can use on your legs, and then cover them with vasoline so they don't wash off. Make sure you wash your hands before handling Mr. Johnson....

As far as the race is concerned, try positioning yourself towards the front of the pack before the base of the hill. That way if you can't help sliding back a few positions, you'll still be in the pack. If you start at the back of the pack and lose a few yards, you'll be watching the pack disappear down the road. Good luck.

TheKillerPenguin

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I have $0 to spare. Any advice as to free stuff? Could I tuck a pair of pants into some long socks and be alright?

geneman

Wear double socks on your feet and/or put your feet in ziplock bags before putting your foot into your shoe. The method of choice depends upon how well your shoes ventilate.

I would not recommend the windbreaker as it will act like a kite and slow you down. Do you have a fleece vest laying around? Try to keep your core warm.

Use fingered winter gloves if necessary.

Don't worry about your head. The first two miles will be cold, but your ears, etc. will warm up quickly after that.

Hmmm ... what to do about the legs? How about some cut up tube socks over the knees?

Mark

TheKillerPenguin

I'll go kill a shirt. Thanks for the advice!

Camel

Bread bags or thin plastic shopping bags under socks. Newspaper under jersey front (plasticky type magazine paper would be a bit better)-ink WILL leach either way.

Perhaps a trash bag (yup a trash bag) under your jersey instead. All the plastic next to your skin acts as a vapor barrier. You will swim in sweat, but your sweat will not have anywhere to go, so will not cool you(may perhaps overheat). If you stop for any length of time (mechanical etc.) you will get cold mighty fast. In keeping your core warm, I'd include at least a beenie under your helmet.

Find some way to keep your knees warm. #2's heat balm/vasoline idea is interesting. Do you have any nylon pants(ex joggers etc) about? Even if they get soaked, they'll keep your legs a bit warm. Velcroe the bottoms, keeps 'em out of the drive train.

Good luck.

my58vw

All the advice is good for the cold. As for the race...

A 1.6 mile circuit sounds more like a crit than a rr, higher speeds, etc. That is only about 22 miles, about the length of a 45 minute crit. Since this is your first race I would be more concerned with finishing vs getting dropped. You will realize that on the 5th or 10th or... lap you will be downright tired and drop. It happens to all of us, no amount of suffering can prevent it, just prolong the time.

You are right that the hill will be the toughest, they will attack on the hill so be prepared to sprint there. If you are in the front then you will have an easier time than if you on the back.

Everyone is nervous at races... I know I am, it is part of racing. All you can do is try stuff to calm down, breathing, etc. You will do fine, it is not the end of the world, just know it will all be over quickly.

Good Luck... look forward to a race report after the race.

ewitz

45 minutes? THats a 29 mph average speed. In the cold with a hill. Maybe you should think before you open your mouth.

my58vw

I said "about" did you read that? Fine maybe it is an hour or so, still the pace may be high. It is kind of hard to open your mouth on the computer...

Ignoring your dumb comment


Now onto a real response

Everything applies whether the speed is 20 or 30 MPH. I just went to a crit that was 2 miles long with2 rather steep inclines. The group averaged over 26 MPH over the entire race. It just all depends.

TheKillerPenguin

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. I'm gonna try some of em out today since the conditions are similar to what I'm gonna face tomorrow, and figure out what works best for me. Expect a race report sometime tomorrow!

my58vw

Good luck

velocity

Borrow your sisters nylons cut another pair up and use them for booties. Full finger gloves and cut the shirt sleeves off a long sleeve. Then discard as you warm no worries about going back and looking for them.The intimidation factor alone is worth 3 spots in the peloton.
Velocity

CPcyclist

Your a Penguin for crying out load.

Guest

Give it a good burial...

Koffee

vrkelley

I'm thinking of trying this for instant arm-warmers for 55F days...Hard to imagine that something with such a loose weave would be warm...Anybody tried this?

TheKillerPenguin

I've asked my girlfriend about that on one really cold day when she was in a miniskirt ( )...she says they really do help to keep your legs warm. I haven't tried it myself.