unterhausen

I forgot I had posted about my first race.

Actually, I got dropped so fast it wasn't even funny. My next race was a much larger pack on a road course, and I stayed in for a significantly longer time. But I didn't realize how important gaps are, and still got dropped the first lap. Sitting in that giant pack was an awesome feeling though, I still remember that many years later..

urbanknight

Was this a crit or RR? The race I got dropped on lap one was a crit with a 1.1 mile lap, and in the juniors category.

umd

Juniors races always seem to get blown apart quickly.

MIN 

My first race was when I was 16. All I remember is that my taint hurt for days afterwards.

MrCrassic 

My first road race was at the Rutgers Season Opener. It was a time trial, and I started too hard, lost power really quickly and finished pretty weak. I got dropped super hard in the crit (after the first lap or so).

I learned that you need to train in order to race. There's no real way in getting around that...unless you were born to ride.

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MrCrassic 

Somewhere between absolutely nothing and riding a lot.

Now I do intervals and general riding. I took the opportunity to do lots of climbing work when I was working in a mountainous area, but I haven't been able to do anything regarding that as of late.

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unterhausen

It was a juniors road race on a race track near Bristol Virginia. I did fine down the starting straightaway, but there was a left turn and the course went uphill. Ping!

challaday

My first was a road race as an Intermediate back in the early 80's. Weather was on and off showers, and there was a gigantic starting pack of 4 riders. The race was 15 miles or so, one lap of the same course that the big guys would be doing later in the day.

I knew nothing of strategy (or drafting really) and the entire event was basically a mass start TT. I came in 2nd by about 20 seconds. I won a package of Oreos and watch with the Nabisco logo on it. Nabisco was the main sponsor of the race.

ilpirata87

William and Mary collegiate C road race, Feb. 2006. I thought that only wearing shorts in 40 degree weather was bad@ss and that wearing too many clothes would make me slow, so all I had was a jersey, arm warmers, gloves, and shorts. Luckily another UNC rider lent me some knee warmers so I didn't freeze to death.
I crashed less than 5 minutes into the race, since a bunch of people crashed when the pack of newbs was funneled into a narrow bridge. I stacked into one of them and wiped out. I jumped right back on the bike and bridged back up to the pack (which must have been going pretty slow) and spent the rest of the race cowering at the back of the field. I think I finished 31st out of about 60, and I was happy with it.

In the picture I am the goofy looking bearded dude in blue jersey with a helmet visor. good times.

kensuf

I flatted half-way through my first bike race.

I learned to always check your equipment before, and don't skimp on the tires.

dunningrb

My first race will be this Saturday: the Dismal Dash TT in Portsmouth, VA. Based on my performance today, it's going to be ugly.

captnfantastic

I barely hung on until there were 2 laps to go, three riders crashed in front of me, I slowed down to almost a stop to avoid them, long story short the rest of the field in front of the crash didn't slow down and I got gapped out. Finished about 100 yards behind the field. I had no idea how to bridge a gap at this point. and I agree with whoever said "my definition of fast was their definition of slow"

SushiJoe

Got shelled out the back, cramped up from improper hydration and DNF'd.

Flatballer

Our race this weekend was in the 80s. Riders not used to those kind of temps. I watched a guy in front of me coast to the side of the road and then just fall over still clipped in, screaming in pain.

Stallionforce

ha ha awesome memory. Club race, three groups -- A,B,C. I start in C. We had to wear pink ribbons around our arms! A pack goes by once, twice...second time I sprint and latch on tot he back. I stay there. Guys are telling me to get lost. The sensation of the pack moving at that speed...I was hooked. I did eventually get pulled by the organizer and put in the B group. So I raced 3 different races that one race! 'Twas a great deal of fun. Went on to win the B group that year....whoopee! It's all been downhill since.

SushiJoe

That's essentially what happened to me [combined with the fact that I was also slow ). It had been in the 50s mostly with some low 60s leading up to the race. Race day it was 85F with 30mph wind. The day was essentially over before it started looking back on it, lol!

FormerBMX'er

First Race Done...got 2nd.

See the "Race Report" thread for all the blah and more

Treefox

Unknowingly picked what's known as one of the hardest local races, rode 20 miles to it, arrived after the desk shut, but they took pity on me and let me sign in, got dropped, almost hit by a car after I dropped behind the rolling closure, picked up a chase group, finished off the pack, but respectably so. Did not finish last, was not one of the many people to drop out. Did it on a bike which was probably a quarter of the value of the next cheapest bike and probably a twentieth of the nicest bikes in the race.

I've done worse since. (did similarly today, go figure).


I learned to never ever drop out unless you're hurt or they pull you.

And if I've developed any skill at all in my road bike racing experience, it's pulling together and organizing an OTB chase group. Because everyone is a teammate when you're OTB.


(First race of any sort was a ten-mile TT which I did in baggy kayaking shorts with 7-speed downtube shifters. Two years later in that race, on an S-Works Transition, I dropped seven minutes off my time, came fourth, and led my team to the team victory.)

McTufferton

First race was this past Sunday, 3-15-09. AWESOME experience. Good team showing and support, and better results then what I expected.

I have wanted to get into racing since I got on the bike 9 mths ago. I've read, studied, and reviewed tactics and advice since then, and finally got the chance to apply it all yesterday. Tactically, the race went according to plan. CDR's input on BF, his blog, and race videos really helped put all the pieces together... thanks.

swak

How did your first race ever go?

I am approaching my first year on the actual competitive level... I have done community time trials before, but nothing actually licensed.
What can i expect for my first race/how did your first race go?

Ive been training hard, but am nervous about the coming season.

umd

This thread has been done many times

swak

sort-of.

This is an 'explain your first race' though.
... I did the search... (Half-assed mind you, if i did miss this exact thread.)

botto 

incorrect. it's been done 6 ways to sunday.

umd

haha, found my bikeforums first race report
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...er-the-Canyons

El Diablo Rojo

My first race was a disaster. September near Houston. 90 degrees with 97% humidity. I lasted less than a lap (12 miles). I've never been so hot...almost quit the idea of racing altogether.

Second race 4/5 field finished 7th (first cat 5). It was cold and rainy.