Crits, and CORNERING
#51
Banned.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,058
Likes: 1
From: ATX, Ex So Cal
Bikes: Ridley Noah-Scott Addict-Orbea Ordu
My usual response to someone yelling inside is "OUTSIDE" or "Good for you".
#52
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,410
Likes: 189
From: Tariffville, CT
Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...hen-youre.html
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...ing-lines.html
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...py-racing.html
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...scenarios.html
I don't remember where I posted about lanes, or if I never posted. But imagine each corner as having "lanes". Each rider has a lane. You stay in your lane. The lanes move around based on what other riders do, but in general it's best to stick to your lane and let the squirrels swerve in and out of other riders' lanes. The helmet cam illustrates this pretty well - 2009 Hartford, some of the turns in Somerville, and some of my first cams (2007). What I think is kind of funny (not funny haha, more like funny "never learned how to corner") is that the same rider is the one making weird errors in the turns for many of those clips. He and his teammates don't know as much about tactics and techniques as they do about training. They're strong but not very good.
cdr
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...ing-lines.html
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...py-racing.html
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...scenarios.html
I don't remember where I posted about lanes, or if I never posted. But imagine each corner as having "lanes". Each rider has a lane. You stay in your lane. The lanes move around based on what other riders do, but in general it's best to stick to your lane and let the squirrels swerve in and out of other riders' lanes. The helmet cam illustrates this pretty well - 2009 Hartford, some of the turns in Somerville, and some of my first cams (2007). What I think is kind of funny (not funny haha, more like funny "never learned how to corner") is that the same rider is the one making weird errors in the turns for many of those clips. He and his teammates don't know as much about tactics and techniques as they do about training. They're strong but not very good.
cdr
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Bikes: Giant TCR
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the advice. Almost all of it is exactly what I was expecting to see.
I've seen a lot of stuff on cornering, but to me, I think part of what would help beginners survive, as well as stay in the sport, is not just knowing etiquette, but KNOWING THAT THEY KNOW the etiquette.
In pretty much all the sports and hobbies I've done, I've noticed that there are the guys that will try to bully the new guy (sorta like I received in this thread a little bit) but if I KNOW that I'm handling a situation correctly, I can be more competitive and I know I'm within the etiquette to stand my ground after the race when he tries to shout after the race.
I wish there was more info about these more intricate elements of the sport to help grow it at the Cat 5 level, because in all truth Cat 5 is the most important category if you want to grow the sport.
Thanks again.
I've seen a lot of stuff on cornering, but to me, I think part of what would help beginners survive, as well as stay in the sport, is not just knowing etiquette, but KNOWING THAT THEY KNOW the etiquette.
In pretty much all the sports and hobbies I've done, I've noticed that there are the guys that will try to bully the new guy (sorta like I received in this thread a little bit) but if I KNOW that I'm handling a situation correctly, I can be more competitive and I know I'm within the etiquette to stand my ground after the race when he tries to shout after the race.
I wish there was more info about these more intricate elements of the sport to help grow it at the Cat 5 level, because in all truth Cat 5 is the most important category if you want to grow the sport.
Thanks again.
#55
My idea of fun

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,920
Likes: 59
From: Gainesville, FL
Bikes: '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '02 Kona Lavadome, '07 Giant TCR Advanced, '07 Karate Monkey
I'm going to fix this for you and suggest the 4's are a bit better place for learning. Cat5's are really just about surviving and getting a taste of bike racing to see if you want to do it, but you'll have so many different levels of people, ranging from the commuter cyclist showing up with a t-shirt and tennis shoes, to the sandbagger who just wants to be king of the cat5s, that it's not really bike racing and I don't know how much you'll learn. Cat4's have their own problems too (less chess, more chase), but most of the people there want to race and are a little more serious.
Actually, although I can't speak for the 2's and 1's, you'll probably learn something in just about every category...
Actually, although I can't speak for the 2's and 1's, you'll probably learn something in just about every category...
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
I just meant, if you don't feel welcome at Cat 5, you won't make it to Cat 1. The next step after Cat 5 would be tennis or golf. So knowing the rules of the road (whether official or unofficial) kinda gives you a leg to stand on.
#57
I dunno kensuf, Cat 5 is a great cat to learn how to react to others in a calm effective way...and to control your "holysnit! what-the-eff-is-he-doing" nerves.
well...then again, those nerves still get to me in the 3s.
nevermind.
well...then again, those nerves still get to me in the 3s.
nevermind.
#60
#63
agreed....yeah you always should be telling some one were you are and try to stay near someone you know is good, and is a good wheel to follow, iv been caught up in some pretty bad crashes in crits because i was on an inxperienced riders wheel
just keep in mind whats going on around you and soon enough it wont be such a big deal to ride in a big tight pack
just keep in mind whats going on around you and soon enough it wont be such a big deal to ride in a big tight pack





