Palmer Library RR?
 

Hi, I don't post here too often, but I'll be racing my first race this weekend. Should be a good time, but I am wondering about a few things...

I've read the threads on what to expect from a cat 5 race, but what about a cat 4/5 race? And whats up with starting a cat 4/5 race just 5 minutes after the cat 4 race when both races take place on the same course?

Advice is much appreciated! I'm thinking I'll take it easy (if possible) and maybe try a move or two on the second lap. One last thing, at this level is it worth it to go with an early break, or is it better to stay with peloton and make a move later on?

All good questions I Paint. Palmer will be my first race also and my plan is to wing it. My main goals are to NOT CRASH and to stay with the pack for the entire ride.

I'm racing in the 45+

Cat 4/5 race is pretty much the same as a cat 5 race, especially when there is a seperate cat 4 race at the same time. If it is you first race I would just try to hang in and relax for the first 3/4 of the race, you might find that it is little harder just to hang in then you think. If you still have the legs in the last portion of the race then start worrying about making any moves.

Also, one good way to figure out how much you have to worry about a break is to look at last years results. It appears that last year most if not all of the races finished in a big pack. I have not ridden the course, but I would assume that the hills must be tame enough so that it is difficult for a selection to be made.

I will be at that race as well...and it will be my second race. I've heard that the course has some rollers, but no really big hills or anything. But....it does have an uphill finish from what I've heard.

Oh, and hopefully it doesn't rain. That'll suck.

I have heard that as well. The elevation profile looks like it would be hilly, with a 600 foot rise from the bottom of the lap to the top, until you realize that it is over 10 miles. I am imagining the standard New England rollers pretty much the whole way.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/30001

Well, it's a 20 mile loop with rollers. The 4 race is 3 times around, and the 4/5 is twice around. If the guys in the 4 race take it easy because they need to do 60 miles (vs your 40), the 4/5 field may catch up - but I doubt it. 5 minutes is actually quite a bit of a gap (almost 2 miles even @ 20 mph) and the 4 race will be pretty fast with many more stronger legs taking pulls. Even still, each group of racers on the course will have different numbering schemes and/or ranges so the officials can sort everyone into their respective catagories. When you cross the line, and you think there was a lot of confusion because you finished when another field was coming through or finishing, go see an official and make sure they got you coming in and in the correct catagory.

As far as making moves, I wouldn't. My advice for your first race is to stay smooth, watch your line, and conserve energy. Rollers at race pace for 40 miles is very different then rollers at a group ride pace for 60+ miles. Your mission is to not crash (or cause one) and finish.

Palmer is rolling but nothing really horrible, the elevation gain is all in small bunches - nothing consistent enough to really break off anyone but the weak riders.

Ok....since half of us in this thread are noobs, I'll throw out some questions that others are probably wondering as well....

1. Warmup. Since it's a "longer" race for us newbies than many others around (I don't consider 40 miles "long"....but at race pace it would be), would a shorter warmup with 2-3 hard 30 second efforts suffice? Say a 20 min total warmup? And...

2. Coinciding with the warmup, for those who've done this race....will the other Cat 5 Lance-wannabes hammer like mad from the get-go, or will they actually use their heads and conserve a bit for later on? As with others in this thread, this'll be my first road race as well and am kinda curious if it'll be like the crit I did the other weekend.

^^^^^

Good questions...I'm still a noob (this is only my 3rd year racing) so take this FWIW...

1. I would warm up just enough to feel loose - your plan sounds pretty good to me. Unlike some road races that starts with a hill (Turtle Pond comes to mind) this one will be pretty easy going for a bit.

2. Each race is different, but I would wager no. The guys starting fast are prob looking for position more then an early break. Stick with with the folks that look like they know what they are doing - these guys are prob less fit 4's or more experienced 5's that are trying to race smart. Don't be shy about talking to other riders.

Warm up 20 mins, sit in until the hill on the second lap, and no, your group will not catch the 4's other than perhaps dropped stragglers or someone caught up in a crash.

Thanks for all the input for all us racing noobs. I'm pretty much going to ride and see what happens, while trying to avoid being involved in, or causing, a crash. From what I understand crashing in a race is often beyond one's control. So beyond riding sensibly and trying to stay in the front 1/4 or so of the peloton I'm not going worry about it too much. And from comments here I'll try and not worry about race strategy either.

Ok, the weather isn't looking so hot for this weekend....

Just an FYI, R600DA is going to be in the 3/4 field at Palmer.

Sunday's only got a 30% chance of rain for Palmer. I think we'll be ok!

Hopefully....I don't own any "rain gear" that would work well for racing :(

It looks like temps won't be too bad; low 60s. So long as you're wearing glasses and have a cycling cap on you'll probably be fine. Or cut the sleeves off of a clear PVC rain jacket in the event it's actually coming down and you really don't like being wet.

Guess a trip to the local shop is in order...but I don't think they have much in the way of rain gear.

Who does he ride for?

I don't think you'll need anything special. I would make sure to wear a good base layer so you don't get the chills. It's supposed to be showers, not a downpour.

Yeah....I have a nice Craft long sleeve baselayer, and have a Nike underarmor shirt that I can't seem to find now. I also have a long sleeve fleecy/neoprene shirt that I would wear in cooler temps, but not quite cold enough for a jacket. I could probably layer the two, or wear one or the other depending on the temps.

I saw low 50's and showers for the morning. Guess I'd also lower my tire pressure by 5 psi as well.

Well I'm out. I am sitting in Orlando Florida preparing to start a new contract on Monday the 30th. Our primary customer called on Thursday and told us that the current contractor for the area went bankrupt and was having his equipment repossessed and they needed my company to step in and take over the contract. They met our price and now I am here starting a new contract.

So after two+ months of training, losing 15 pounds to get to 180 pounds, the purchase of a new Tarmac, purchasing a SRM power meter, (which I wasn't going to mention on the forum until after the race) and talking to everyone especially my family about my upcoming "race" I am in a hotel room in FL preparing a class to train 20+ new employees.:(

New business is always good but in all honesty I would love to be discussing rain gear and the Palmer RR. Hope you everyone has a great time and races well. My next opportunity will be the Sterling RR in May. :)

That's too bad Greg180. We'll raise a gear to ya. I'm looking forward to the race. Heard it's pretty much 35 mile of riding with a 5 mile race at the end. So prepare to grind like hell up the last hill and make sure you've got a good wheel to hang on.

Well that sucks....I'll let ya buy me an SRM though to make yourself feel better :D.

My buddy said the Sterling course is a pretty good one, but I will be in NYC that weekend, so I won't be at that one. Are you doing Jiminy Peak?

Yeah it does. I was looking forward to meeting you. No I will not be back in MA until after Jiminey Peak.

Time to do my road show all the new hires are completing the applications...

Ah, that sucks...Jiminy Peak course doesn't seem too bad, except for the last turn (could be hairy with a large group screaming through it). The last nine miles or so of the loop kinda sucks, as it's all uphill....but 7 of the 9 miles is a big false-flat, so while you're riding it, it doesn't look like you're ascending, but you are.

I'm debating Sunapee...will probably do it, and am also thinking of doing the Auburn RR up in Maine on June 2nd.