Santaria

So I've spent most of the last few months dieting down, riding base miles and only spending one day a week working on sprints/HIT. I've been pushing upwards of 200 miles a week, with a century a week as part of my training regimen.

And then yesterday I swung by the LBS to pick up a new set of pedals for my commuter rig and got informed by the local club rider there that I was going to be in a crit this Sunday.

Really, I agreed because I support riding to the bone.

But now I'm sorta scared. I've never done a crit. He said they were running me as a Cat 5 (newbie) so I wouldn't have much to worry about.

Its a .54 mile course, clear and smooth. He's saying its an hour ride, but they're discussing making this into a 34-40 minute deal. He's speculating that the open class riders will be pushing 24 mph in the straight away.


So my concern is, I haven't even thought about tapering. I've already got a 40 and a 20 miler in this week. My usual plan would be to do another 50 tomorrow, with Friday being a century. I don't ride on Saturday and I was going to do the club ride on Sunday (48 miles).

I feel like I'm going to get ground into the mat on this, but still plan to come out and give it my all. I just have this feeling I'm going to look stupid.

I'm still pushing 202 with 20 pounds to lose. My average pace is just starting to break into the 20-21 without wind and my sprint is still NOT climbing over on the tallest gear I have on my compact double. I have pushed upwards of 30-32 MPH for around 5 miles at a time. At 37 I'm no spring chicken.

What would you do at this point? Taper hard, only spin light for the next few days until the race? What the hell do I eat before a crit? I'm accustom to riding distances that require me to eat on the bike, but that's 3-6 hour rides.

StephenH

In general riding (not racing), I can work out hard, take a rest day or two, and then feel great the next day, and that's how I'd approach it if I wanted to do my best. Otherwise, I'd just keep on riding as usual. If you're going to get dropped, it doesn't matter if you're going an extra 0.05 mph slower.

Read the stickies in the "Racing" subforum, lots of good info there.

It's okay to look stupid on occasion, too. If you're trying anything new, that's a distinct possibility, but don't let that keep you from trying. I've had lots of fun doing stuff where I looked stupid the first time I tried it.

kleinboogie

You're screwed. Just go ride it and hope for the best. Hopefully your pack riding skills are decent or it will be a long 60 minutes. GL

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merlinextraligh

Don't worry about tapering. You really only need to taper if the event is a goal you're focused on. Otherwise you want to keep training.

Nothing you're going to do between now and the Crit is going to change your fitness, so I wouldn't worry about it.

You can however practice. Go out with the friends that got you into this, and work on cornering in a parking lot, taking turns at speed, and getting comfortable riding in close proximity.

And read the sticky thread in the Road Race fourm about getting started in racing.

caloso

If I could hold 32 mph for 5 miles at a time, I would just wait for the lap cards to come out and ride off the front. So, you should have no problem. Have fun!

LowCel 

They lied to you, there will be plenty to worry about. There will be plenty of fast people that don't race enough to get an upgrade. There will also be plenty of people that have no group riding skills and will probably take out other riders. Cat 5 doesn't necessarily mean "newbie", it just means they haven't got their ten mass start road races in. There is a reason it is called the crash 5's.

Other than the above, you should have loads of fun!

LowCel 

No kidding, of course if I could hold 32 mph for five miles I would probably be racing pro.

grwoolf

I just started racing this year and this is what I have experienced in the 4 crit's I've done (all have been mixed 4/5 fields):

For a half hour crit, it is pretty much a drag race from start to finish. Average speeds have been from 23mph (very technical course) to 27mph (less technical). Speeds on the straights hit around 33-34mph (not 24mph). Faster on the final lap.

It's not the average speed that kills, it is the constant change in pace that kills me. Very different from group rides or road races. FTP means pretty much nothing, Ability to surge and quickly recover are key.

Ability to be smooth and comfortable near the front of the pack seems to be important, but I can't say for sure because I'm never there.

There are a lot of crashes. There were at least 3 in my race last week, but nothing that looked to bad.

All that said, I've had a blast so far and I'm making improvements. There isn't really anything you can do between now and the race to prepare physically. If there is a way to practice high-speed technical turns in a group, do it. Go out and have fun, good luck.

zigmeister

Is this a typo? If you can pull 32mph for 5 minutes...you should just ride everyone off your wheel like Cancellara does with 10 minutes to go, then just take it down to your normal pace, you won't see anybody again except when lapping them.

jwible

I don't think they'd run a Cat5 crit for 60 minutes. There wouldn't be anybody left of the course to finish.

therhodeo

I'm wondering where you live that every direction is downhill.

Santaria

miles=minutes.

Yes, Typo from hell and this was with a good tail wind. No hills.



Brownsville TX --- we always have a sse wind pushing 15-25+ unless we get the random cool (read as less hot) front.

pdedes

get a good position near the front at the start. try and stay in the top 20 or so. there's usually a sweet spot in there that's great to draft in and you'll hold speeds you never could on your own. relax as much as you can and use your elbows to cushion you when you get rammed by others. good luck and have fun.

if you are anywhere near the front at the end you'll have to sprint twice. once to hold your position and once more in the finale.

DScott

Don't crash anybody out, and value the opportunity to work on your solo TT skilz.

Seriously, go have fun. Either way, you'll learn something...

Menel

So 2.66miles?

Santaria

Give or take. One of the drawbacks for me is that I've focused on distance much more than individual speed in any part of the overall ride. So what I remember is holding a 30-32 MPH line, in a tailwind, for roughly 2-3 miles. So yeah, probably five to ten minutes of really feeling like I was winding out my double. No, I didn't hold that top of the gear feeling for a lot longer, as I turned into the wind at the first turn and that immediately eliminated that speed range.

Based on this course, my gut instinct is that I'm going to be only getting 2-3 gears throughout the race. The straight section just doesn't appear long enough to really climb up on a high gear and push hard. It really looks like I need to find that spinning sweet spot there and just push the pain a little coming out of that first turn.

thegunner

the details. they are important. 32 mph for 2.5 miles would still rip off the legs of a 5 field.

HMF

+1

Liar.

Just try to stick near the front as much as you can. You want to be able to pick the best lines and avoid the crashes. If you're not near the front, then go all the way to the back or take your chances.

Let us know how it goes.

caloso

A couple of serious thoughts about crit racing:

1) Even a Cat 5 field can go much faster than 24 mph on a straight flat with no wind. Probably more like 27 or faster.
2) But going 27 on the straights isn't going to kill you. What will kill you is having to accelerate from 19 to 27, over and over and over again.
3) You can minimize the accordion effect by riding near the front of the group. Ideally you would be as far forward as possible without having to spend anytime in the wind.
4) Crits are serious fun. Some racers hate them, but I love them.

g.r.e.g.

My first 5 race there was a 1/4-1/2 mile straight stretch that every lap hit 30+ but as long as your in the pack 30+ is nothing. You'll be comfortably riding a lot faster in the race than you do by yourself. My last 5 race we had a 3 man break in a 49 mile race and averaged a little over 21mph for the 49 miles. My last 45-50 mile ride by myself I was only riding about 18 mph solo so drafting and group riding will help you out. As for tapering don't even worry about it. It's an hour crit max so you'll be doing 20-25 miles, I would ride Thursday 30-40 miles, just go out for an easy 10 mile spin Friday and go for it Saturday. It isn't a stage race where you need to conserve as much energy as possible. This doesn't sound like a "goal" race for you at all so just go out there, have fun, and learn

EventServices

I love them. But I've spent a LOT of time working on my cornering skills. It's a lost art.

Usually all this does is put him in the way of the pack-savvy riders who will pass him in the first two laps.

mollusk

Do it.

Racing is like being a parent. You can read all the books and get all the advice, but it is nothing like what you thought it would be like. It is something you have to experience.

ancker

I'm doing my first Cat 4/5 crit in May. All this talk of crashes scares me. I can't afford a new frame if I crash. Let alone how much a pain dealing with any kind of injury would be.

RoboIsGod

If I can give some advice from racing crits, I'd suggest getting to the front right in the beginning of the race and trying to establish yourself in the front for the first few laps, as they are fast and tend to drop people. Staying in the front not only gives you a good position in the race, but it allows you to work the least. Everyone who is not in the front works harder to try and get there, so working to stay in the front, especially in the first few laps is crucial.
The middle of the race will calm down a bit and a pace will be settled in to. It is okay to drop back a bit (but stay in the front/main pack) and take it easy. DON'T pull, just get on a wheel and try to do as little work as possible - stay out of the wind! At about 4 laps to go I start to turn up the intensity and work my way to the front for a good finishing position. Don't give it your all yet, thats for the last lap. With two laps to go really start to work and make sure you've got the top guys in your sights. Last lap really has to do with the course and your strengths. Something with a hill/incline I will try to pass people on the hill (hills are my strength- play to your strengths!) and work off that gain to finish. Something that is flat you really need to try and get a good last corner in and blast to the finish. If you are strong enough you can try to break away and attack the last lap. If it's your first crit I'd just say wait til the last straight away and sprint like everyone else.

Hope that helped, good luck and have fun! Crits are my favorite.

rollin

Stop thinking, spin, get riding.