Go Back  Bike Forums > The Racer's Forum > "The 33"-Road Bike Racing
Reload this Page >

New to Racing? Here's a tip or two

Notices
"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.

New to Racing? Here's a tip or two

Old 01-23-08, 09:06 AM
  #51  
starting pistol means war
 
YMCA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 3,150

Bikes: Cervelo R3

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kensuf
Probably the only useful tip I can think of (aside from the shaving discussion)...

If you're at the starting line and some gnarled looking veteran shows up with some old beater and toe straps, try to stay on his wheel because it might just be this guy.

Jarabek is a legend. I've had my share of breakaways with him over the years. Watching him fight his bike the entire time, then tightening those toe straps for one final burst. For the noob, he's the perfect example of why you never underestimate anyone. No matter how ungainly.
YMCA is offline  
Old 01-28-08, 09:30 PM
  #52  
Senior Member
 
chinotex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 663

Bikes: 2007 Trek 1500

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
So my first race is this Sunday, and I was wondering: What advice do the grizzled veterans have on cornering in a pack? I don't know what kind of turns I'll be facing in the race on Sunday, but I'd like to have any advice that's out there.
chinotex is offline  
Old 01-28-08, 09:54 PM
  #53  
Carbon Fiber Bones
 
elgalad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 980

Bikes: '07 Scott Speedster S30

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by chinotex
So my first race is this Sunday, and I was wondering: What advice do the grizzled veterans have on cornering in a pack? I don't know what kind of turns I'll be facing in the race on Sunday, but I'd like to have any advice that's out there.
Hold your line, and follow the guy in front of you. If everything goes south do NOT panic. You'd be surprised how close you can get to wiping out and still keep the rubber on the road

Oh, and keep braking to a bare minimum.
elgalad is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 12:20 PM
  #54  
RustyTainte
 
substructure's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 28012
Posts: 12,340

Bikes: zilch

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by elgalad
Hold your line, and follow the guy in front of you. If everything goes south do NOT panic. You'd be surprised how close you can get to wiping out and still keep the rubber on the road

Oh, and keep braking to a bare minimum.
True.

My second to last race last year: A pile up at the sprint. A bike in front of me is cartwheeling. I sat down but stayed my course and slowed my pedalling. The bike slammed into my right leg and bounced off. I stayed upright but lost a few places to end up 9th. Two guys went to the ER. I went home with dirty chamios.

It all happened in a few secoonds.
substructure is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 03:58 PM
  #55  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 848

Bikes: 07 Cannondale Six13 (9 speed Ultegra) + 19?? Lugged Steel Specialized Allez Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've never raced before. My first race is a very short road race (about 23 miles) coming up in 4 weeks. The guys I've been riding with ride in the collegiate A-C range, and I'll be racing in the D group (worst) for my first race. From what they tell me, the guys who race D are out of shape and I should be stronger than almost all of them. Should I:

Stay near the front to avoid crashes, and sprint the finish?
If I have teammates with me, attempt a break away?
Chase down break attempts?
Don't worry about break attempts, the group will catch up?

Not really sure what to expect, but I'm anticipating being in better physical shape than most of the people in the race.
eb314 is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 04:09 PM
  #56  
.
Thread Starter
 
botto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,375
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by eb314
I've never raced before. My first race is a very short road race (about 23 miles) coming up in 4 weeks. The guys I've been riding with ride in the collegiate A-C range, and I'll be racing in the D group (worst) for my first race. From what they tell me, the guys who race D are out of shape and I should be stronger than almost all of them. Should I:

Stay near the front to avoid crashes,
always.

Originally Posted by eb314
and sprint the finish?
maybe.

Originally Posted by eb314
If I have teammates with me, attempt a break away?
why not?

Originally Posted by eb314
Chase down break attempts?
if you've got strong team mates to rely on.

Originally Posted by eb314
Don't worry about break attempts, the group will catch up?
depends on the course.

Originally Posted by eb314
Not really sure what to expect, but I'm anticipating being in better physical shape than most of the people in the race.
go for it. what do yo have to lose?
botto is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 04:13 PM
  #57  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 848

Bikes: 07 Cannondale Six13 (9 speed Ultegra) + 19?? Lugged Steel Specialized Allez Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The course is a ~5.5 mile loop. It only has 4 turns. There are 3 hills, the first two are fairly steep but short, the last one is a bit longer. Still, it's Ohio and they're all short. Only about 30 seconds of climbing per hill, but they're pretty steep and will definitely slow down the group significantly. Otherwise it's flat. I don't know about having strong teammates, because all the guys I've been riding with ride in higher categories. There are others that are technically on the team but haven't been showing up to the group rides, either because they have to work on those days, or more likely because it's been pretty cold here and they aren't as hard as I am. (joke) Anyway I don't really know who will be racing D's with me. Possibly one guy who's pretty strong, but I suspect he'll do C's because he's raced a few times before.

Thanks for the response, I just wasn't sure whether to be passive or aggressive in the race. I'm getting pumped about this race and want to be aggressive, but don't want to burn out and blow all my energy.
eb314 is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 04:21 PM
  #58  
.
Thread Starter
 
botto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,375
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 12 Posts
it's your first race: attack, attack, attack.
botto is offline  
Old 01-29-08, 04:59 PM
  #59  
Glimmers of form
 
esammuli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Escondido, CA
Posts: 1,542

Bikes: Cannondale SystemSix 3, Specialized Stumpjumper M4 Comp

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by botto
it's your first race: attack, attack, attack.
Bingo. You can't gain anything if you don't risk anything.
esammuli is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 08:10 PM
  #60  
Senior Member
 
chinotex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 663

Bikes: 2007 Trek 1500

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
So what's the deal with if you get a flat during a race? Do you just stop and call it quits? I'm riding in my first race tomorrow, and I'm trying to make sure I have all my bases covered as much as possible.
chinotex is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 08:14 PM
  #61  
Carpe Diem
 
bdcheung's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MABRA
Posts: 13,149

Bikes: 2007 CAAD9; 2014 CAADX; PedalForce CG1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by chinotex
So what's the deal with if you get a flat during a race? Do you just stop and call it quits? I'm riding in my first race tomorrow, and I'm trying to make sure I have all my bases covered as much as possible.
It varies from race to race. Most criterium races have a free lap rule and a wheel pit, meaning if you have a mechanical issue (i.e. flat tire) you flag down an official, tell him what's wrong, and then go to the wheel pit to change your wheel then rejoin the pack as it comes back around. Make sure to tell an official you'v flatted. No free lap if you stay quiet.

As always, ask this question at check-in. Rules and procedures vary from race to race.
__________________
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
bdcheung is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 08:18 PM
  #62  
Senior Member
 
chinotex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 663

Bikes: 2007 Trek 1500

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bdcheung
It varies from race to race. Most criterium races have a free lap rule and a wheel pit, meaning if you have a mechanical issue (i.e. flat tire) you flag down an official, tell him what's wrong, and then go to the wheel pit to change your wheel then rejoin the pack as it comes back around. Make sure to tell an official you'v flatted. No free lap if you stay quiet.

As always, ask this question at check-in. Rules and procedures vary from race to race.
The race I'm doing tomorrow is 3 laps of a 12 mile loop.

You say change your wheel... what wheel do they give you? I don't have any spare wheels...

As you can probably tell, I'm a noob to the extreme. Ready to get my *ss handed to me tomorrow.
chinotex is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 08:23 PM
  #63  
Carpe Diem
 
bdcheung's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MABRA
Posts: 13,149

Bikes: 2007 CAAD9; 2014 CAADX; PedalForce CG1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by chinotex
what wheel do they give you? I don't have any spare wheels...
They give you whatever wheel you put in the pit. Since you don't have any spare wheels, don't flat.
__________________
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
bdcheung is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 09:51 PM
  #64  
Geosynchronous Falconeer
 
recursive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,312

Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by chinotex
The race I'm doing tomorrow is 3 laps of a 12 mile loop.

You say change your wheel... what wheel do they give you? I don't have any spare wheels...

As you can probably tell, I'm a noob to the extreme. Ready to get my *ss handed to me tomorrow.
No free laps in a circuit race anyway. Avoid flatting.
__________________
Bring the pain.
recursive is offline  
Old 02-02-08, 11:20 PM
  #65  
Senior Member
 
Duke of Kent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 4,850

Bikes: Yeti ASRc, Focus Raven 29er, Flyxii FR316

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bdcheung
It varies from race to race. Most criterium races have a free lap rule and a wheel pit, meaning if you have a mechanical issue (i.e. flat tire) you flag down an official, tell him what's wrong, and then go to the wheel pit to change your wheel then rejoin the pack as it comes back around. Make sure to tell an official you'v flatted. No free lap if you stay quiet.

As always, ask this question at check-in. Rules and procedures vary from race to race.
No. You go to the wheelpit first, and tell the official there that you've flatted. You always head directly to the wheelpit. If you have a spare, you swap wheels and they throw you into the race the next time it comes by. If not, your race is done.
Duke of Kent is offline  
Old 02-17-08, 07:57 AM
  #66  
Peloton Shelter Dog
 
patentcad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chester, NY
Posts: 90,508

Bikes: 2017 Scott Foil, 2016 Scott Addict SL, 2018 Santa Cruz Blur CC MTB

Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1142 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times in 22 Posts
Forget all this other bull****. Learn where the bathrooms or portajohns are at any given race. Get there early enough to use them.

That is all.
patentcad is offline  
Old 02-17-08, 12:49 PM
  #67  
My idea of fun
 
kensuf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 9,920

Bikes: '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '02 Kona Lavadome, '07 Giant TCR Advanced, '07 Karate Monkey

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Liked 59 Times in 36 Posts
Check to make sure all of your bolts are tightened properly at least a day before the race.
kensuf is offline  
Old 02-23-08, 10:11 AM
  #68  
Burning Matches.
 
ElJamoquio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 9,714
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4074 Post(s)
Liked 997 Times in 672 Posts
From another thread

What time to wake up?

I take:

Start Time (say, for this example, 9:00 AM)
Minus 1 hour warmup/registration time (more for short TT's) (so now we're at 8:00 AM)
Minus Drive Time (for this example let's say 1 hour... 7:00 AM)
Minus 1 hour screwing around at the house/just-in-case time... so 6:00 AM.
__________________
ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
ElJamoquio is offline  
Old 02-23-08, 10:19 AM
  #69  
...
 
Brandy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
Posts: 6,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by patentcad
Forget all this other bull****. Learn where the bathrooms or portajohns are at any given race. Get there early enough to use them.

That is all.
What if you find them...then they move them? I'm only half kidding as I watched them drag four porta-potties across the street at last week's crit.
__________________
Brandy

Wheels Rolling
Brandy is offline  
Old 02-23-08, 02:02 PM
  #70  
Just Ride
 
Gerrylightning's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Jersey
Posts: 183
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Great info thanks everyone.
Gerrylightning is offline  
Old 03-07-08, 05:30 AM
  #71  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Tariffville, CT
Posts: 15,395

Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 383 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times in 97 Posts
Racing in the rain thread

(This first bit refers to heat rub) Atomic Balm is used by a lot of football teams etc. A large sporting goods store catering to such crowds might have it in stock. It's made by Cramer. Or Kramer. One of the two.

I find that if I'm racing in rain, I do one of two things.

One - If I'm weaker than the others then I follow and try not to fall. I'm pretty sure that I've fallen almost every single time I've raced "seriously" in the rain, i.e. I was in contention. I don't remember falling on my own but I've run into sliding riders and crashed due to that, or at least had to stop or get a wheel change or something. I'm too scared to go bombing though a turn and taking myself out. Literally too chicken. I did it a few times and now I simply can't.

Two - If I'm stronger then I lead and slow for turns. Since I'm in front, slowing for turns isn't a problem because the accordion effect works in my favor. I've fallen frequently even using this tactic because there are the inevitable bombers who come bombing into the turn at full speed, their brakes don't work, and the knock over a whole lotta riders like bowling pins. I've gotten knocked over a few times while sitting in the top 5 of a 100 rider field.

I have a feeling that if you're good on the climb, you'll be in a position to do #2. If not, then you're going to have to take massive risks to descend back to the group.

Based on all this, I look at rainy crits as training races. Rainy road races, I've never fallen but it's because I get dropped. Plus around here there aren't that many switch back type descents.

Some other notes.

Rainy races prompt the strong riders to go hard early. You'll see a break or at least a huge splintering of the field. "Early" is relative - might be on a minor hill, when there's a significant cross wind, something where in dry weather the guys just go, "ah, wait till later". In the rain it seems that racers pounce on every opportunity to hurt the others.

I rarely drink in rainy races, and when I do, I prefer something with sugar in it. Wet weather saps your reserves but doesn't dehydrate you as quickly. I don't have an insulated bottle, don't know how much they weigh, but one with hot tea (sugar etc) might be worth a shot.

Tights get really, really heavy. Since you'll be soaked anyway, use knickers or even shorts. I want to experiment with plastic or rubber sheets or something since they won't get heavy (no absorption) but they'll keep wind off and retain something, maybe. I have yet to do my experiments so no word on this yet.

Gloves are a good idea but they also get soggy, loose, and slippery. Figure out if your gloves get slippery because slippery is not good.

If you find your gloves are slippery, pick one position on the bars and hold the bars there most of the time. You'll find the tape is semi-dry under your glove and you have better grip. As soon as you move your hands it gets slippery for a bit. If coming up on a climb, pick the hoods. If not, pick the drops.

I wear a clear rain jacket and duct tape my number to the outside. I leave it on the whole race. This is only if you know it'll rain all the time. 20% is not a high probability at all. Unzip if it stops raining.

I tape the tops of my booties shut - black duct tape. 50 degrees you may not need full booties, maybe an aero rubbery cover that doesn't absorb water but blocks wind. Always tape.

I put my whole shoe in a plastic bag, then the bootie on top (or whatever cover you have). You can clip in and out of the pedals several times before you compromise the integrity of the bag.
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...your-feet.html
Cannondale made some rain socks for a while. They resemble miniature garbage bags for your feet. They work too. I'm not clear whether they were meant to go inside or outside the shoe. I believe they were goretex (or at least they breathed).

RainX your glasses.

If you have a second bottle, leave water in it. Use it to rinse off your glasses. Cold, yeah, but you'll be able to see for the next minute or two.
carpediemracing is offline  
Old 03-07-08, 05:52 AM
  #72  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Tariffville, CT
Posts: 15,395

Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 383 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times in 97 Posts
Originally Posted by wanders
Carpediemracing's blog has alot of training info as well.

https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com
Thanks

I'd say I am more tactics than training - my training is a little more haphazard than most people's.

However, I think the How-Tos and Tactics are usable, and some of them are a result of things I either posted here or thought about after seeing them here at BF.

How-To:
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...h/label/How-To

Tactics:
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co.../label/tactics

Neither of those are comprehensive no matter how you look at them but they offer something.

Finally, if you've never been in a bike race, a helmet cam clip is a great way to check out the action first hand. If you're in CT, all the better since you'll probably race one of the races. The clips with the most editorial content (i.e. comments on tactics and such):

2007 Nutmeg State Games (New Britain, CT, Cat 3s):
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...elmet-cam.html

Race that gets neutralized and has the tightest racing at the end (Bethel, CT, Cat 3-4):
https://youtube.com/watch?v=j-teN9UWFMg

A third person view of a race at Bethel, with tactics and a bike throw (Bethel, CT, Cat 3-4):
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EkgmQWyipQo

cdr
carpediemracing is offline  
Old 03-09-08, 07:42 AM
  #73  
Making a kilometer blurry
 
waterrockets's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin (near TX)
Posts: 26,170

Bikes: rkwaki's porn collection

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Liked 91 Times in 38 Posts
Nice vids cdr!
waterrockets is offline  
Old 03-18-08, 10:47 AM
  #74  
Senior Member
 
slim_77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: chicago,Il
Posts: 2,401

Bikes: yes please

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
This article is from Carmichael Training: maneuvering through the field.

It all has been said here, but it was very helpful, esp. for new racers like me.

EDIT: CRD's video is a perfect compliment to this article. Thanks, cdr!

Last edited by slim_77; 03-19-08 at 07:28 AM. Reason: additional info
slim_77 is offline  
Old 03-19-08, 02:07 AM
  #75  
Senior Member
 
Edonis13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 1,711

Bikes: S-Works SL3 Tarmac, Allez E5, Leader 735TT, others

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
is there a universal website for race pre-registration? or what the hell do i do if the only info i can find about a race is the race name, date and city its in?
Edonis13 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.