How'd you do in your first race?
05-08-07, 03:14 PM
#52
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,254
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 951 Post(s)
Liked 1,123 Times
in
649 Posts
Discounting the unsanctioned velodrome races I did for a year before, my first USCF crit was a Juniors 13-14 race. I was shocked at the duration of high intensity and blew up half way through, but still finished off the back. I didn't get lapped, but it's hard to in a 25 min crit with a 1.1 mile loop.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
05-08-07, 03:30 PM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 2,365
Bikes: 2010 Trek Madone 5.5 CAAD9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by ri_us
Second to last. Thank god that guy showed up.
that is funny. No not that you finished 2nd to last, but how you wrote it.
05-08-07, 04:45 PM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Californ-aye-ay
Posts: 123
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sverrefehn
Geez, a lot of guys here doing really well on their first race!
As for me, I got dropped on the 4th lap of a 20 lap race. I was not last, however.
As for me, I got dropped on the 4th lap of a 20 lap race. I was not last, however.
I got brutally dropped within one lap in both my first two crits. Hung on to pass a couple stragglers and
wheezed my way home.
05-08-07, 04:56 PM
#55
部門ニ/自転車オタク
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sterling, VA
Posts: 3,173
Bikes: 2008 Blue T16, 2009 Blue RC8, 2012 Blue Norcross CX, 2016 Blue Axino SL, 2016 Scott Scale, Fixie, Fetish Cycles Road Bike (on the trainer)
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
OTB, but not DFL. Solo flyer on lap 1 of 4 10km laps. Caught and spit out the back in less than a kilometer or so I'd guess... ahh... the memories.
__________________
Envision, Energize, Enable
Envision, Energize, Enable
05-08-07, 09:29 PM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: EL PASO, TEXAS
Posts: 362
Bikes: 1991 C'DALE- 3.1 , 2007 LEMOND - TOURMALET
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
CAT 4 Road race. 55 miles. 2 climbs at about 8%- 13% grade. One of the climbs is about 2 miles long and the second climb is 3 miles long. after a fast 3 mile desent it finishes with about 10 miles of rollers... this in no fun run..... i ended up about 17 out of 60 riders. oh and by the way between the two climbs I ran over a cable from a 18 wheeler tire. I broke a spoke and had no support. so I opened up the rear caliper and rode it like that..
not fun at 45 mph when going down the second climb....
not fun at 45 mph when going down the second climb....
05-09-07, 09:26 AM
#58
road rash/tree burn
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wake County Speedway race in February, combined 4/5 race. One of the juniors on my team and I broke away and lapped the field; I ended up winning. I should have retired then and there with my perfect record- obviously, it hasn't stayed that way!
05-14-07, 08:57 AM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 206
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's a pro who DFLed his first race:
16:52 CEST
Visconti started racing at eight years-old. He arrived last in his his first race but, with the persistence of his dad, he kept racing and now he is challenging for a Giro d'Italia stage.
16:52 CEST
Visconti started racing at eight years-old. He arrived last in his his first race but, with the persistence of his dad, he kept racing and now he is challenging for a Giro d'Italia stage.
05-14-07, 03:02 PM
#60
Elitist Jackass
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Georgia
Posts: 3,262
Bikes: Cannondale 2.8, Specialized S-works E5 road, GT Talera
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
crashed on head, lol no lie.. damn.
__________________
"You should already be aware that riding with people who steer with their elbows, stick food to the top tube of their frames and ride around in dick togs is not a great idea." -- Classic1
"You should already be aware that riding with people who steer with their elbows, stick food to the top tube of their frames and ride around in dick togs is not a great idea." -- Classic1
05-14-07, 07:38 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: In the middle of horse country, in The Garden State
Posts: 3,159
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First race: 12 hour time trial with 6000' of climbing. I just showed up to
see how many miles I could do in 12 hours. (this was before I got into cycling a few years ago).
A lot of the people who showed up were using it as a qualifier for RAAM, except I didn't realize this until I showed up and saw TT bikes, Zipp wheels and lots of bling all over the place...and there I was on a 15 year old bike with a backpack full of enough food and water for 12 hours. I had no idea what SAG was until I showed up and most people had their own follow cars. how embarassing.
Results: didn't finish last. I beat some 50 year old dude named Kevin. (by about 30 feet. lol.)
see how many miles I could do in 12 hours. (this was before I got into cycling a few years ago).
A lot of the people who showed up were using it as a qualifier for RAAM, except I didn't realize this until I showed up and saw TT bikes, Zipp wheels and lots of bling all over the place...and there I was on a 15 year old bike with a backpack full of enough food and water for 12 hours. I had no idea what SAG was until I showed up and most people had their own follow cars. how embarassing.
Results: didn't finish last. I beat some 50 year old dude named Kevin. (by about 30 feet. lol.)
Last edited by Snicklefritz; 05-14-07 at 11:37 PM.
05-14-07, 07:55 PM
#64
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Dropped, but didn't get lapped. Was also not DFL, but really close.
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
05-15-07, 08:57 AM
#68
Newbie
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Last week was my first crit! I am a 40 yo Triathlete with a decent road ride, so I jumped right into the Cat 5 Tuesday night crits.
Kinda went something like this...
Rolling start as we simply cannot be trusted to clip in from a stop. Chased down (and finally caught) a break of 2 riders half my age who jumped as soon as we crossed the start line. Their teammates set up a rolling block to increase the break and I really had to work to catch them. Eventually caught by the pack halfway through and I finally finished in the back of the pack. Still, I had an absolute blast. Probably didn't help that I did a 45 mile training ride the day before and then expended way too much early on.
But I will be back tonight with my number and $10 to try it again. I have learned 2 things so far: don't try and gain positions in the corners, and only attack up the hills if you are going to also attack down the other side. Trying to pick up other tidbits as people dole them out.
Kinda went something like this...
Rolling start as we simply cannot be trusted to clip in from a stop. Chased down (and finally caught) a break of 2 riders half my age who jumped as soon as we crossed the start line. Their teammates set up a rolling block to increase the break and I really had to work to catch them. Eventually caught by the pack halfway through and I finally finished in the back of the pack. Still, I had an absolute blast. Probably didn't help that I did a 45 mile training ride the day before and then expended way too much early on.
But I will be back tonight with my number and $10 to try it again. I have learned 2 things so far: don't try and gain positions in the corners, and only attack up the hills if you are going to also attack down the other side. Trying to pick up other tidbits as people dole them out.
05-15-07, 09:17 AM
#69
.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,375
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times
in
11 Posts
dropped in the first 100 meters.
note to newbies: if your first race is a crit, don't show up wit old school toe clips and straps when everyone else is clipless.
note to newbies: if your first race is a crit, don't show up wit old school toe clips and straps when everyone else is clipless.
05-15-07, 09:18 AM
#70
Struggling at the Back
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DC Suburbs
Posts: 299
Bikes: Bianchi Virata, Gunnar Crosshairs
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by captain Kirk
I have learned 2 things so far: don't try and gain positions in the corners, and only attack up the hills if you are going to also attack down the other side. Trying to pick up other tidbits as people dole them out.
05-15-07, 09:22 AM
#71
.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,375
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times
in
11 Posts
Originally Posted by Ghostman
If you have a clean line you most certainly should try to pick up positions in the corners. That's one of the best places.
05-15-07, 10:03 AM
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Posts: 72
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD 9 with full Ultrega
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I raced the City Center at Oyster point Crit yesterday and I got my Butt handed to me, I was slow getting clipped in and when I looked up the pack was 100 yards in front of me and accelerating.
The best I could do was pace the field until I started fading (I finished 29 out of 31).
Oh well, back to the drawing board and train harder. Maybe next time I will be able to catch the main group and at least have a good finish. As bad as I was it was a great race and I was glad I at least completed it without crashing.
The best I could do was pace the field until I started fading (I finished 29 out of 31).
Oh well, back to the drawing board and train harder. Maybe next time I will be able to catch the main group and at least have a good finish. As bad as I was it was a great race and I was glad I at least completed it without crashing.
05-15-07, 10:40 AM
#74
more ape than man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 8,091
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
dropped very quickly. i made the mistake of inviting my friends to watch my "first big race". we all had a good laugh afterword as i rolled in 5 minutes behind on a 40 minute race. 
05-15-07, 06:44 PM
#75
Ride First, Work Later!!!
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 1,492
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Trek Superfly, Raleigh Rush Hour
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First race was a two day event, crit first day and RR second...Well I did pretty well on the first couple of laps of the crit, it was 30 min. plus 3. Before I knew it I was OTB and just "enjoying the ride" till the leaders, two of them, lapped me and I called it a day.
RR went a little better but not much, 3 laps on a rolling 8 mile loop course. I stayed with the pack tmost of the first lap till we hit the only real climb on the course and faded fast. There were only a couple people behind me at that point and I passed a few the rest of the way to finish 42 out of 46 finishers. 56 started and there were no crashes and I never saw anyone with a mechincal so I guess some dropped off at the start/finish during laps. I know at least one guy did right after riding my wheel the last 1/2 mile back to the start finish line...
I also had invited people to the crit which sucked and then of course no one was at the RR...
RR went a little better but not much, 3 laps on a rolling 8 mile loop course. I stayed with the pack tmost of the first lap till we hit the only real climb on the course and faded fast. There were only a couple people behind me at that point and I passed a few the rest of the way to finish 42 out of 46 finishers. 56 started and there were no crashes and I never saw anyone with a mechincal so I guess some dropped off at the start/finish during laps. I know at least one guy did right after riding my wheel the last 1/2 mile back to the start finish line...
I also had invited people to the crit which sucked and then of course no one was at the RR...
