Criterium Racing
#51
Nonsense
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I didn't want to be a jerk but I also needed to flog myself a bit for some TSS; I forgot my shoes so I had to drive back here to pick them up, which meant I didn't get pre group ride volume in. My intent was to try and snag Mohonk west from Hoover, but it will have to wait for another day...
#54
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Talking mountain KOMs is like the exact opposite of crit stuff!
#55
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What Trump called Cruz a while back.
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#56
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I appreciate all you more experienced guys input, really helps me out learning new tactics and skills to apply for cycling in the feature.
#57
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My first recommendation is that you go join USA Cycling https://www.usacycling.org/myusac/in...pagename=login .
Then poke around there.
Then poke around there.
#58
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My advice is remember you're not on the bike path. My first race there was a guy on my left who wanted to move up and there was just enough room between the guy in front him (slightly to his right) and the yellow line. So what does he do? "On your left!". Guy in front looks back and says "nope" and blocked him. Guy behind was pissed. I'm proud to say I held my line even with the facepalm.
#59
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My advice is remember you're not on the bike path. My first race there was a guy on my left who wanted to move up and there was just enough room between the guy in front him (slightly to his right) and the yellow line. So what does he do? "On your left!". Guy in front looks back and says "nope" and blocked him. Guy behind was pissed. I'm proud to say I held my line even with the facepalm.
#61
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Heh. Yeah. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, but don't expect anyone to just give you a spot. The thing that gets my goat are the guys who yell "inside!" in the corners. If there's room and it's not a hazardous move, go for it, but no one in front of you owes you a spot just cause you asked for it. When asked, the yellers will say they "just wanted [you] to know I was there." Funny how it doesn't occur to them I might know, but not care. That kind of goofy chatter is greatly diminished in 3 races and non-existent in 1/2/3. If some dope wants to divebomb a corner, they just do it. No pretense of concern for safety. I prefer it that way. Still. I'm with mikey, if it's not a critical moment and someone wants in, why not?
#62
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If I had been further back I probably would have..but less than a wheel between me and the guy in front. I don't see a reason to completely let off and drop out of the draft just to let someone in
#63
Senior Member
Like I said, doesn't hurt for the guy to ask and you've got no obligation to let him in. That said, I don't see how getting less draft for the couple seconds it takes him to fill the gap does you any harm, especially since you weren't 100% committed to that draft in the first place. But maybe it's the principle of the thing.
Last edited by grolby; 05-16-16 at 09:11 AM. Reason: principal =/= principle
#65
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#66
out walking the earth
yeah i uh would say the answer is 'it depends' on a whole host of issues and pose several counter examples
like who you're following (I want to be behind THIS guy), when it is in the race, how hard the race is and the likelihood of you moving back up (every guy someone let's in is one place further back you are), are splits occurring due to wind, attrition, course features, who it is (I really don't want to be anywhere near this guy), and if you're comfortable giving guys around you the impression you're the guy who will move off at crunch time, because I promise you someone is noting that with a lap to go, 1/2 lap to go you're the guy people are going to come in on you.
like who you're following (I want to be behind THIS guy), when it is in the race, how hard the race is and the likelihood of you moving back up (every guy someone let's in is one place further back you are), are splits occurring due to wind, attrition, course features, who it is (I really don't want to be anywhere near this guy), and if you're comfortable giving guys around you the impression you're the guy who will move off at crunch time, because I promise you someone is noting that with a lap to go, 1/2 lap to go you're the guy people are going to come in on you.
Last edited by gsteinb; 05-16-16 at 09:22 AM.
#67
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This is all kind of 200 level stuff. For your first race, try to not be scared of everyone else, and try not to be a jerk. The rest will come with experience.
#68
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Yeah, my first race I was too scared to actually get into the draft even though I recognized it was much easier in the draft. Keep your nerve and pay attention and the rest comes with time.
#70
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I had not seen the OP has registered yet on USA Cycling on a name search, which is why that was my recommendation above. Maybe OP needs a result before USAC yields a search result.
#74
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@Nicholas_Landy. I did look you up in Facebook based on the information you posted publicly here, and there...
Everybody has to learn someplace - but you look like a road racer. You may want to focus on group rides and then finding a road race.
Doing crits is great learning, but likely won't maximize you fitness, build, composition. Get into races with hills and hopefully not overly technical to start.
The guys at Frazier cycling would want to meet you.
Everybody has to learn someplace - but you look like a road racer. You may want to focus on group rides and then finding a road race.
Doing crits is great learning, but likely won't maximize you fitness, build, composition. Get into races with hills and hopefully not overly technical to start.
The guys at Frazier cycling would want to meet you.
#75
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Nothing (in my limited opinion) will help your bike handling like racing crits. Yeah they might be more 'dangerous' than a road race, in that there's possibly more likely to be at least one crash in a crit. However, my experience (this includes watching, not just racing) has been that there are lots of crashes in road races too, and that when there's a crash, they tend to be worse in road races. Crit crashes tend to happen in or around corners, when speed is lower. Also, I've noticed that many road race crashes happen when a little contact happens that, had they been experience crit races, wouldn't have led to a crash in the first place. The sort of bumping you can get used to (and stay upright) in crits often causes road racers (who aren't used to bumping) to panic, leading to crashes.
So there are risks of crit racing, but also huge benefits. I'm a much safer rider because I race crits regularly.
So there are risks of crit racing, but also huge benefits. I'm a much safer rider because I race crits regularly.