mike9903

One goal I have for this year was to enter at least one race, just to see how I do. I wanted to join an actual team, because I thought that would be best for me and my riding. So I started the search on Saturday by sending out emails and posting in Tx. racing specific forums, as of Monday morning I am on my LBS team and possibly racing at the Tour of New Braunfels on Feb. 3rd.

I am extremely nervous about racing so quickly, but I think that I am going to do it. I wll go into it know ing that I will NOT win and most likely come in last place, but it will be an expierence that I will never forget. I am getting nervous just thinking/typing about it. MY first race would be a 30 mile road race that is fairly flat.

bdcheung

Be sure to post a ride report! My first-ever race isn't until late Feb.

DrPete 

Wha??? 1st race in the area is Feb. 18th...

bdcheung

Yeah but I'm not on a team! First collegiate race is Feb 24-25

botto 

since when do yo have to be on a team to do a uscf race (unless this is a TTT).

DrPete 

So? Race unattached and get your jitters out the week before... If you've never raced before you'll just race in the 5's and get over those first-race nerves before your collegiate season starts.

bdcheung

hmm good point. plus it'll just be one less start until I can upgrade to CatIV. Where is the race?

El Diablo Rojo

Great! I'll seeya out there, ToNB will be my first race of the season. The RR isn't too hilly, the back side of the course is but what usually makes this race 'special' is the weather. Always cold and windy and mostly rainy. I love this event though, it's a ton of fun. If you like this race definately sign up for Pace Bend. That's probably the best one day race of the year.

DrPete 

It's the tradezone series in Upper Marlboro, MD. Shorter crit/circuit type deal, apparently pretty low-key. We'll have a group riding from the shop on race day, apparently.

mike9903

Sweet, we will have to hook up so you can give me some pointers before the race. What is the Cat 5 group normally like?

El Diablo Rojo

Stay as far toward the front as you can and it's usually pretty safe. If you go to TXBA and look at the RR map the start/finish straight is pretty much flat/slight downhill. If the winds are normal you'll have a kickin' tailwind, last year I was sitting 10th wheel and was doing 34mph in zone 1. You'll make the right turn at the end of that road and then the crosswind section will start to split the field up. In the cat 5 race chances are you'll shed the weaker riders there on lap 2 and finish them off when you turn right into the head wind/hilly section. This couse is really hard to break away on because of the wind.

This years TT is on a different course and looks a lot easier. The crit is really a just a short RR as the course is like 2.5 miles long.

Here's the thing about being a Cat 5 here in Central Texas. There tends to be around 10 or so guys who are strong and will do well. Then there are another 10 or so that are strong but don't really know what they are doing so they'll be in the bottom part of the top 20. Then there are just the guys hanging on who start out fast then tire. They can get squirrly at the end when they get tired. I never came close to a crash as C5, but I always did my best to stay up front. As a C5 surviving was far more important to me than winning as winning really doesn't mean anything (points wise or catting up wise). Also don't be put off by the few and vocal a-holes on TXBRA that bag on 5's. I've found that the majority of racers here, C5 to C1 are pretty cool. The fast guys like Wenger, Frost and Robinette are always willing to answer questions and give advice without any attitude.

mike9903

I will be in the 10 that are strong that have NO idea what they are doing. My goal is to finish at least in the top 25, I am not sure how realistic that is.

MDcatV

bdcheung - there is also a training series out near dulles on the course used for the "quicksilver" crit that goes on in early june. It's an "industrial park crit", about the same course as trade zone, just in no. va. instead of pg county. link is here https://www.emiracn.com. you could put together some starts at quicksilver and tradezone to help you with some experience when you're lining it up for GW and the bigger tougher races over the summer.

merlinextraligh

You may be surprised how much it takes to just hang with the pack. Most, but not all, first timers get shelled. I'd consider revising your goals to 1) finishing upright, 2) finishing with a group.

At this point just getting the race done is a lot more important than where you finish.

DamianM

I did my first race on Saturday. A D Grace criterium (here we have grades A to E, and you can basically start where you like). I figured I'd be shelled on the first lap, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. To my surprise, I was strong enough to hold on fine, even on a really windy day. Unfortunately about halfway into the race I flatted and had to walk back to the start line. I didn't have a wheel I could swap out, so that was my day. Ah well, there is always next time

mike9903

Yah, I figure that is what is going to happen, but I am trying to be positive! Just like Carmichael says, you need to visualize your victory!!!!!


Victory defined here is top 25