Andy STi

More "yall's" than I've ever read, keep the Texas race reports coming! Great job guys.

PepeM

Pinned a number for the first time today. Practice crit, 25 minutes or so.

Arrived there about 40 minutes early but then I couldn't find where I needed to go. Parked wherever I could and walked around. Eventually found the place I was supposed to be in, registered, got my number etc. Twenty minutes to go by then. Run back to my car (decent warm up I guess,) do a horrible job at pinning my number (my brand new jersey has now some garish holes on it,) take a pee on the side of the road, tighten my front brake because it got loose during transport (glad I noticed) and ride back to the course. I barely make it to the start on time, the organizer was already giving us the little speech. Check my Garmin, my bloody power meter isn't working. Great. We do three neutral laps, which I use to fiddle with the Garmin to try to connect to the PM with no luck.

Race begins, pace is nothing too crazy. Was about tenth or so initially but quickly found myself third or fourth wheel and stayed there for a while. As the guys doing all the pulling start to get tired I just jump on the wheel of whoever is passing them, staying second or third wheel all the way through. Seemed fairly easy going to be honest, even though my HR data suggests otherwise. With six laps or so to go so someone attacks. I think to myself I should go with him but hesitate and miss my chance. I remain second wheel inside the group as he gains time on us. Rider in front of me seems to be losing gas and we are not getting any closer, so with three to go I decide to attack and try to catch the lone escape. I fail miserably at it as he gains even more time on me (man was clearly a class above us.) Keep pushing as hard as I can but I get caught in the final straight. I guess I finished eight or so.

All in all it was really fun. While the result is nothing special I am glad I at least tried something. I think if I had gone with the winner I probably could have kept up with him (or maybe not, who knows.) I think if I had waited one more lap before my move I also could've made it in second (or not, who knows.) Hearing others talk after the race I think we were already on a reduced group by the time I made my move so I think I also could've stayed with the pack and grab maybe a top 5. Impossible to know of course, but I am happy with my solo attempt. Shame that I have no power data but I hit a heart rate I had never seen before (192bpm) so I was probably working harder than it felt, adrenaline or something.

Now to prepare for this weekend's Omnium. An 11 mile TT Saturday morning (wasn't sure I would register for it but what the hell) followed by a crit in the same course as today on Saturday afternoon and another crit five minutes away from home on Sunday. There is no Omnium for Cat 5s but still, should be fun, cold forecast aside.

Doge

Glue it

mattm

Congrats ont the first race, sounds like it went really well! (most people get dropped their first time)

canuckbelle

What really matters is that you pinned on a number and lined up to race! Now the learning can start!!

I tend to arrive 90min early. I saunter over to the start area to get my number, sign the waiver, etc. I like to take 5-10 min to carefully pin my number on (4 pins up top, 2 more for the sides, 3 for the bottom, and depending on the number, maybe 2 more in the middle: 9-11 pins). Crumple the the number and scrunch it around before you pin it on: that'll make it more flexible and less likely to act as a sail.

I check that the bike is in order, my go pro is mounted, garmin is ready. One reason you probably couldn't get your PM working is that you couldn't connect while riding in the bunch because there are *too many* other PMs in the area. So it's super important that you check this in the parking lot away from everyone else.

Then I do some stretching and do my 25min warm-up. That leaves me 15min at the end to get my race bottle on board, check tire pressures, etc. This way there's no rushing. It's very relaxed.

FWIW, I *ignore* HR data during a race. It's pretty meaningless. My racing HR is higher than my training HR, and that information not only doesn't tell me anything useful during a race, but it's likely to freak me out...so I don't include it in my race garmin page.

Wylde06

I got dropped before turn 2 in my first race.

On a .6km course.

Racing is so much fun

carpediemracing 

Sounds like a good race, overall. You were following wheels, you were fresh/strong enough to sit in a great spot, and you made a pretty big move (anything more than 0.5 mi long is a big move in the lower categories, including the 3s where I am).

For tips on pre-race stuff:

- I pack things before the race. I usually have 15-20 pins in the car and in my bag. I'm at an advantage since i promote races and have tens of thousands of new pins around. But even with all those pins I put about 20 in the car.

- I try to make it so that if I am running really late I don't have to go back to the car for anything.

- I usually ride my bike to registration, especially with new venues (for you many/all will be new venues for a while). Even with a venue you "know", you may find out that registration moved elsewhere this year, and now you have to scramble to find it. Generally speaking I find it easier to ride around vs walk around. If I'm running short of time, and I virtually always am, I'll kit up before I go register, with my jersey loose or unzipped at least. I wear my helmet, stick gloves in a pocket or slip them under a shorts leg. Head cover, if necessary, I put on.

- Before I get on the bike (to get to registration) I try to make sure everything is working, like powermeter and such. Were you able to download HR and some other data, or do you not have any data? I don't look at the powermeter except for doing some sanity checks ("are we going slow?" "is my powermeter on?" etc).

- If I'm at a new venue, or one where I expect glass, I put the training wheels on before I go to registration. Otherwise I put the race wheels. I also grab a bottle (for warmer weather I'll bring a cooler with 3-4 bottles plus refills, for me as well as the Missus and Junior).

Although I try to get to races 1-2 hours before my start (and that's when I know the venue, I know where to park, where registration is historically, etc), I'll sometimes arrive late, like 12 min before a Sun start, or 1 min before a Wed night race start. Having a routine in place really helps getting on the bike and going.

Hope this helps.

PepeM

That sounds even more destructive, no?

Thanks. I was quite happy with how it went.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I couldn't get there any earlier even if I wanted to because of work. Good point about the PM, although I couldn't get it to connect later at home either. A battery change did the trick, I guess I just got unlucky. Still, I'll make sure to check connection earlier next time (I'll try to do everything earlier next time!)

As for HR data, I didn't check it at all during the race, it's only later at home that I saw it. It does seem like looking at the screen and noticing the high HR might have done more harm than good.

My only objective for the day was for than to not happen to me.

Does help, thanks a lot. Looks like I have as much learning to do on pre-race stuff as in racing itself! Next time I'll make sure to get there fully kitted and get the bike ready immediately. Interesting about the glass, hope I don't have to deal with that! I did get to download the rest of my data including HR, although the GPS seems a bit wonky (Strava flyby shows me half a lap out of sync with the pack, for example.)

Now to figure out how to dress for an early morning TT at 30 degrees. I'll try to get there earlier this time.

carpediemracing 

3M Super 77 spray glue. Spray the number, let it dry for a bit (20-30 seconds?) so it's tacky. Stick on jersey when jersey is on you (ideal if someone else sticks it on).

It should peel right off when you're done.

If you put too much it'll leave residue on your jersey.

If you do this, and you save your numbers like I do, it's good to have something else to stick the number on, like a supermarket bag. Or just pat the glue side on sand/dirt.

Legally you'll need to put a pin in each corner. Probably a good idea since you'll want to go lighter than heavier on the glue, and it would be bad if the number started to peel.

carpediemracing 

I ignore my PM except to make sure it's on. I didn't realize how much I ignored it until one race where I looked down and the speed sensor had not picked up so the PM didn't turn on (wired SRM, the wires go after a while). I wiggled the wire and clicked the Mode button (wakes up the computer). I had 12 minutes left in a 30 mile race. I won it so it was all good, but I have zero data from about 6 laps to go and earlier.

My first race I was 4th through turn 1, last through turn 2 (about 200m later), and off the back within a few seconds of turn 2. I had no idea that everyone would sprint up the hill at full gas so I was in the small ring and biggest cog. Oops.

Glass - in NYC there used to be a huge glass problem. I remember one year everyone and everyone was flatting. One guy asked to borrow a wheel because he's flatted his wheel, I let him borrow my spare race wheel for some reason, he flatted the (very nice) tubular on it, gave it to me and said something about "well it's sort of worn so it's not worth anything anyway", and rode away. I was like, wtf, and way too young/naive to scream bloody murder. Now I'd be an absolute bastard about it. I've flatted brand new tubulars just rolling away from my car. When I'm at a new venue I'll roll on my clinchers, hold onto my race wheels (if applicable), and switch once I find the wheelpit. Or, nowadays, the Missus will carry the race wheels and I switch where she situates herself and she brings the spares to the wheel pit.

Kit - don't necessarily get there fully kitted unless you have a short drive. For me 30 minutes is a short drive, esp if it's a weeknight race and I'm running short on time. I'll put on shorts, put the rest on later. More time than that and I'm not kitting up until I get there.

TT 30 degrees. Can't help you much there. However, if you're really cold you don't go very fast. On the other hand if you're going hard you dress less warmly. For me I dress like it's 10 degrees warmer when I race. So in training at 40 degrees I'll wear tights but in a race I'll wear knickers. If it's wet do zero heat rub and wear even less, since the fabric gets so heavy. Use thick vaseline as a wind protection layer. I've done races in shorts in 40 degree rainy weather. Booties, rain jacket, etc., up top, but shorts on the legs. If my legs go numb with cold right away then I put the next warmer thing (shorts -> knickers -> tights).

I don't use knee warmers because I want the whole short to be warm, not just my knees. If I had thermal shorts I'd use knee warmers, but if I want knee warmers I'll just use knickers for a race.

canuckbelle

Looking at the PM is very important for me in races. Power and NP are most important. The former lets me dose efforts because I know my power ranges for various time intervals. So if I'm going to roll off the front to bridge or to breakaway, I know how much effort to put out. NP matters because it tells me how hard a race is and gives me some idea about how to plan for the endgame: am I really fresh because the NP is <200w, or do I have to focus on conserving heavily the last 15min because the NP is near my FTP? Makes a huge difference to my tactics.

globecanvas

oh dear oh dear.

PepeM

The adhesive sounds like a good idea, possible residue aside, but if pins are going to be required anyway then might as well just stick to them. I guess I should just stick to crappy jerseys in the future. I'm guessing those magnets I'm seeing are ****?

Not sure I would have looked much, if at all, during the race as I was to worried looking at where I was going. But I rather have the option than not have it, plus it's good for post-race analysis/entertainment.

People were definitely pushing it hard after the one fast corner, but not too fast. Also I think I was taking the corner faster than most (no brakes!) so I didn't have to push that hard every time, which is good because cornering was (and still is) one of my main concerns.

I guess I'll have to start bringing my old wheelset to the races just in case. Would suck to miss the race due to an untimely flat.

Should be dry hopefully. I'm guessing it will have to be a tights and long sleeve jersey affair. Will bring regular bibs just in case I'm feeling adventurous though.


I have to say reading this forum definitely helped a lot in knowing what to expect out there, so to all of you.

grolby

1. No.

2. Stop doing this.

3. Tell everyone who does this to stop doing it.

TheKillerPenguin

Scatters radar, perfect for night raids

Ygduf

spray glue, apply, pin the corners.

the magnets are garbage because the jersey stretches, the magnets slide, then when the jersey releases the number balloons up

TheKillerPenguin

That junk come off easily? I'd love to avoid poking tons of holes in snazzy new gear.

Ygduf

if you let it set up a minute or two it doesn't leave residue. If you don't and it leaves residue, just use the spray adhesive remover and then crumple/rub the garment up. The glue just balls up and falls off. I did this all last year, like 70+ times on 2 skinsuits and neither the glue nor the remover ever bothered the fabric.

cmh

For goodness sakes people. Nobody should worry about how aero their number is in their first couple of Cat 5 races. Pepe - awesome job on your first race, and nice job pinning your number on beforehand. Wear the pinholes in your jersey with pride - you are now a bike racer!

TheKillerPenguin

Thanks!

Ygduf

nobody said it's going to win or lose him a race, but there's no reason to let someone fumble through and tear their jerseys up when there's an easy way to skip that whole learning curve.

PepeM

Thanks.

I'm much less concerned about 'aero' (just bought that skin tight jersey for the looks, I promise) than about the nasty holes on my jersey. I'll wear the four rather large ones I have now with pride, but I rather not turn them into 20.

Are pins still necessary with the adhesive? Some people mention that it is a rule but I just checked the 2016 rulebook and saw nothing about it. I guess it's still better just in case the glue fails. I guess I'll still give the adhesive a try AND also try the whole pinning thing with more time. I did it in about two minutes while holding the jersey on my hands, far from the best scenario but at least I got to the start line on time.

carpediemracing 

@PepeM Crumpling numbers is strictly forbidden. There's a reason for it, among them it makes it easier to read the number. It may not be a finish thing - it may be that they need your number for something else, like during the race.

One of the things I tell new riders is to read the rulebook. When I started racing my "mentor" told me to read the rulebook. Back in the day that meant a physical rulebook. I skimmed it, claimed I read it. My mentor asked me what was a free lap, how they measure when a rider finishes, and something else. I had no clue. I actually read the rulebook a few times and still missed stuff.

For now skip the track, cross, and other stuff that don't pertain to you. Read the road stuff and TT stuff.

Remember, when you get your license you're agreeing to follow the rules when you race a USAC race. You should know what you can and can't do, per the rules.

Some thoughts here (my race, no longer held). Cat 5 clinic, I had to think about what I wanted to have a Cat 5 know before they showed up and what I wanted them to learn in 30 minute chunks of time.
2013 Clinic Info*|*Bethel Spring Series

carpediemracing 

Page 42.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/USACWeb/for...C_Rulebook.pdf

globecanvas

Good lord, what is it with the 33 and crumpling stuff up?!