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How'd you do in your first race?

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"The 33"-Road Bike Racing We set this forum up for our members to discuss their experiences in either pro or amateur racing, whether they are the big races, or even the small backyard races. Don't forget to update all the members with your own race results.

How'd you do in your first race?

Old 02-13-10, 10:56 AM
  #176  
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March 2009. Cat 4/5. 50+ riders.

I did what I was told... keep your nose out of the wind, find a good wheel to follow, don't rubberneck when you see / hear a crash, and be patient if you're in position to sprint.

I took 2nd.
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Old 02-13-10, 09:10 PM
  #177  
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I was around three years old, I Merckxed it in an ITT on my tricycle. One person in the field and I managed to take 2nd.

It was a glimpse of my time trial future.
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Old 02-13-10, 09:26 PM
  #178  
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Won my first race. It was a crit, racing Juniors, admittedly against a thin field. Its been downhill since.
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Old 02-21-11, 05:19 PM
  #179  
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Share your first race stories

i'm doing my first race ever next month and am very nervous/excited about it. i want to know some of your experiences and how your first race went, good or bad. how old were you and what was your training like before it? any tips you have for a first timer?

thanks
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Old 02-21-11, 05:25 PM
  #180  
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Don't sweat it. It's just a fast group ride. Think of it that way and sit near the front and you'll probably finish in one piece.
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Old 02-21-11, 06:28 PM
  #181  
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It won't be what you think that it will be. If you come back and do it again then you will have "won". Here's hoping that you do.
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Old 02-21-11, 06:38 PM
  #182  
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Just make sure you bring your shoes and helmet (and racing license if needed). Everything else you can do without. The worst part of a first race is not having a critical piece of equipment. Making sure your bike is in top mechanical shape is also nice. After that, just get on your bike and try to enjoy yourself.
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Old 02-21-11, 07:19 PM
  #183  
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Check out this thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Report-Thread!

My first race:

I grabbed the wheel in front of me coming out of the start line. Just sitting there at that guy's pace. 1/2 a lap goes by and I go, OH CRAP, the field is leaving this dude and about 10 dudes in front of him behind. Needless to say I was dropped because I was not aware. Ended up getting 15th and was in the 2nd group on the road, but I could have done a lot better if I just would have paid attention.
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Old 02-22-11, 02:49 AM
  #184  
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r-First-Race.?

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ace-disasters?

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...r-first-race?4

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ur-first-race?
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Old 02-22-11, 07:00 AM
  #185  
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I flatted.
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Old 02-22-11, 07:42 AM
  #186  
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Panicked when the pace dropped considerably. Made the huge mistake of getting to the front and drilling it. Got pooped. Got dropped.
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Old 02-22-11, 08:02 AM
  #187  
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I read a lot on the internet. Then I did what I read. I got 2nd in a 4/5 field of about 50.
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Old 02-22-11, 08:51 AM
  #188  
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First race, I got dropped early. Second race, crashed at the start while trying to get into my pedal.
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Old 02-22-11, 09:15 AM
  #189  
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The internet has made an overanalyzing populace.
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Old 02-22-11, 11:39 AM
  #190  
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First race: nervous as hell, it hurt really bad, but I didn't get dropped and finished upper-mid pack. (crit)

It was all I'd hoped it would be and more. Good luck.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:09 PM
  #191  
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off the back in the first lap or so of a crit
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Old 02-22-11, 12:10 PM
  #192  
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Originally Posted by mattm
First race: nervous as hell, it hurt really bad, but I didn't get dropped and finished upper-mid pack. (crit)

It was all I'd hoped it would be and more. Good luck.
same. later.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:46 PM
  #193  
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They didn't have enough motos to run a separate women's field, so I did the men's 3/4 race. One contact fell out on the first lap, and I lost the second one on the last lap.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:52 PM
  #194  
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My first race was an omnium.

I flatted in the TT - Fortunately I had not removed my saddle bag from my road bike, fixed the flat and finished about 8 minutes behind the last guy.

I fell off the crit field on the second lap - I got cut off in a corner that dipped down. And not long after that I was lapped.

And in the road race the next day, I got dropped about three miles in to a 52 mile race. Caught up with a few other riders, and then around mile 23, one of them cut across and took out my front wheel. I crashed onto the side of the road and cracked my frame. And a moment later, as the Masters Field was catching us, the same guy took out the entire masters field.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:54 PM
  #195  
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My first race was a Masters 35+ all categories. I assumed it would be easy with all the old guys. It was definitely not.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:55 PM
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My first race was a criterium where the entire UC Davis team was sandbagging in Cat5 before heading home from break.

Let's just say I got lapped a few too many times.
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Old 02-22-11, 01:02 PM
  #197  
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cough.
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Old 02-22-11, 01:03 PM
  #198  
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sniffle.
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Old 02-22-11, 01:03 PM
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sneeze.
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Old 02-22-11, 01:05 PM
  #200  
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youre so helpful. And you better get that cough/sneeze looked at.
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