phazedalx

I'm registered to compete in the saturn rochester twilight criterium this saturday in cat 5. My bikes been in the shop all week so hopefully I'll get it back soon (waiting on a part) so i can get some more training in.

Category 5 is all by its self so I won't have to worry about any other categories racing at the same time.

How intense should I expect category 5 to be?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks,
Alex

WCroadie

The good advice has been posted so many times here before, doing a search should give you some great advice to read. But here's a tad:

Hopefully if you are gonna race you are comfortable riding in a large pack. When the race starts get towards but not in the front. Try to stay in the top 10-15 racers the whole time. Stay smooth in the turns and hold your line. If you get bumped don't panic. If there is a crash, and there probably will be, don't look at it, keep looking forward. Relax. If you do get dropped, don't sweat it, it happens to just about everyone. Most important, have fun and there is a good chance you will become addicted.

recursive

Please know how to ride in a pack. Don't make a race your first group ride.

I say this after being involved in two crashes over the weekend caused by people with seriously lacking handling abilities. In fact, I overheard someone at registration talking about how they hadn't ridden with a group in years.

urbanknight

Time how long it takes for you to get dropped. Make your goal to last longer in the next race.

merlinextraligh

Here's an example:



If you look through the file, you can see where I lost the lead pack, when I couldn't put out another 28 mph 600 watt effort up a small hill. Not to discourage you, but your race may be a tad harder than your expecting.

waterrockets 

Be prepared to go so hard off the line that you could be the first one through the first turn, and pull the entire lap. Don't actually ride like that -- just make sure you're warmed up for that level of effort.

merlinextraligh

You mean like this?

fprintf

You don't mention what shape you are in, but I'd say get ready to be dropped. My first Cat 5 crit, 20 years ago, I thought I would be OK since I thought I was in great shape. I lasted three laps before I was dropped from the pack (on an uphill) and actually was lapped, and therefore DQed from the race, only two laps later. I stopped racing at that point and decided racing cars was a whole lot less effort and a helluva lot more rewarding.

Now I am back into bike riding at 40 years old and thinking I might give it a try again, if with a whole lot more realistic perspective on how I will actually do.

Good luck!

ElJamoquio

I'm not advising this to the OP - in fact, I'd advise against it - but that's one of the strategies I have for my next race (pull for the first minute or two) to get/stay at the front and 'set the pace' that hopefully others will continue, and shell some people off the back.

To the OP - listen to people who aren't me, but I'd recommend warming up well, staying calm in the first few laps, and staying close to front. Oh wait, that's what everyone else already said.

CHIROMED0

Stay calm. Take a couple of dumps before the race...check to make sure you don't have a chain lube tatoo. Chug a 5 hour energy, some EPO if you got it (hey, who drug tests cat 5's?) *kidding*. Actually, the best advice on a first race is have fun. Know that you have some things to learn and nobody is an expert on Day 1 (except Lewis Hamilton Mclaren/Mercedes).

Practical advice...warm up properly and go to the starting line engines running. Most crits the first few laps are where all the guys out of shape get dumped, game over. Last the first 5 laps (or whatever) and then just sit in, stay out of trouble, don't get jumpy b/c someone tries to break away (never works) and wait til the last final sprint. Get in the top 1/3 of the pack AND STAY THERE! Do not drop your water bottle, although in a lot of Cat 5 races it may not even benefit you to have one. And do not under any circumstances do what this guy did.

https://www.videosift.com/video/Racer...t-Happens-Next