timmyquest

Thanks. I've done the same thing. I'm not going to be out of Iowa until around May 20th. This thread is about a race i intend on doing between the middle of April and around the 20th of May.

There are two in Burlington Iowa on the 23rd of May. That is likely going to be my race.

I get the feeling your trying to prove something...if that's the case, you're wasting your time. This thread has nothing to do with finding races, there are plenty of them. I'm not sure how this discussion even came up.

aicabsolut

Not a response to anything I've said, but...
If you're looking for where you can race and you aren't going to be racing for most of your time left in Iowa City at school, nor will you be on a bike long before you have the time to race in Iowa City, why not look at races where you'll be this summer after you've done a little training again? This seems like a logical response to your questions to me.

Do not worry about optimizing your first race pleasure. By starting so late in the season with little bike specific training over the winter, a reasonable goal in a crowded cat 5 race will be not to be DFL/DNF. In fact, that's a reasonable goal for most people in their first race either because they aren't fit enough, can't respond fast enough (or know when the pace is the most likely to change or where to position yourself), or you get caught up in a crash. Look at the thread on people's first races. There can be some fun in the suffering, but not too many people have a truly fantastic time and do well.

Both types of races can be fast. Crits tend to be more technical. Road races are longer. What are your strengths and weaknesses? If your endurance suffers or if the terrain is challenging, you may not make it through a road race. If you can't corner well or repeatedly generate bursts of speed, you may not be able to hang in a crit. Going with what you perceive are your strengths may help minimize your chances of being OTB. However, that could still happen for other reasons. If you're not in shape in May when most other people are, your strengths may not be good enough. Pick a race, do it, and expect it to be a painful, yet educational, experience. Then go train some more and try it again.

Duke of Kent

I wouldn't suggest starting your racing with the Wapello Burlington RR or Snake Alley. They're on the Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day. Friday's race will have a wicked crosswind which will blow a Cat5 field apart, and a crashtastic downhill field sprint, and Saturday has...Snake Alley.

If you take a turn too hot coming down from the Snake, you'll be hitching a ride with the local EMT's. It ain't pretty.

timmyquest

I appreciate the two above responses. This is the second time in BF history that i've said i wanted to do a particular race and was advised not to.

Go race
Don't do that one
Take your time
Just do it

hmmm

briscoelab

Agreed: Wapello Burlington RR == crash fest, especially in the cat 5 field.

Snake is fun, but I think you'd be better off doing the Mellon City crit for a first time race, if you are going to wait for Memorial Day weekend. QC crit is pretty good too.

Also, you get no slack for being in school. There is more than enough time to race and train if you really want to. My wife is in Med School at the university and is racing a full schedule this year (road, mtb, cross) and I'm in grad school getting a PhD. There is time buddy. Stop making excuses.... get a freaking bike... and race if you want to. Or not! It's your life. But, you can only expect so much coddling from people here

Lithuania

the more you try to focus on a single race for your first experience the more likely you are going to be frustrated with the way it turns out. the best thing to do is race the first race you can, a training race preferably, and then set goals from there.

timmyquest

Dude, i'm not expecting coddling from anyone. You and your wife can do school and race, that's great, i can't. I have a "freaking bike" on the "freaking way" brah... KMA

patentcad

This is BF, we're always trying to pick a fight.

timmyquest

Apparently.

timmyquest

I have no preconceived notions about glory. I just want to do my best to avoid wrecking 20 guys and trashing $30,000 worth of cycling gear and breaking four legs...i would think that would be respected given the vast number of cat 5 cluster ****s you folks always ***** about.

umd

It looks to me as though you have a bike...

briscoelab

I just don't understand how you think you are going to be able be in shape to race if you don't have time to train now? If you have time to train at all... what's 2 hours out of a Saturday or Sunday morning to do one of the many small local races around here. The only way to not be a liability on the race course is, surprise, get out and RACE.... ride group rides, etc. You should start all of those things as soon as you have a bike to ride on.

If you keep putting off racing until the big memorial day races, you are going to be very disappointed after the race is done.

No one is trying to pick a fight with you... they are just frustrated with your ramblings and excuses.

timmyquest

I have a frame and some components i need to sell. I don't have an entire bike yet. Do you guys think i'm lying or something? What would my motivation for this be? What is the forums motivation for "proving me wrong".

I don't have a constant and significant income, i can't just spend $300 to ride a demo bike around for a week, i can't just spend $200 to get the components needed to piece together a bike i intend on selling, nor can i risk damaging components i need to sell. Trust me, i have an itch to ride and its frustrating me that i can't especially since the Iowa weather is taking a turn.

If i had a bike to ride, you folks would see less of me

timmyquest

Because i'm an idiot and a liar and lazy, obviously.

Some of you people are like 8 year olds in a toys'r'us. Pick pick pick pick until you get what you want. Answer the question in the OP, discuss something that is relevant, or move on.

I don't expect winning my first race. I'm 22 i'm highly active and it doesn't take me long to get back into riding shape, and i've got a trainer as does my gym. My fitness is not a concern at this point and i'm not really sure why its a concern of yours.

umd

1) Go to a race. Watch to learn, and take pictures with your mad photo skillz.
2) Use proceeds to buy remaining components for your bike. You already have the most expensive parts.
3) Ride it.
4) Race it.
5) Post less on Bike Forums.

I don't understand you. We aren't trying to prove you wrong. We are all offering suggestions and you seem to be incapable to hearing anything that doesn't affirm what you have already decided. You say you are getting a bike soon? Where is that money coming from? Why don't you just ride what you have no instead of waiting to get something else later? Especially if you are itching to ride outside.

People in this forum have constructive conversations all the time. When you walk into a thread, it seems to go to *****. Your attitude is like a big "kick me" sign on your back.

briscoelab

Maybe you should get a part time job instead of posting so much on BF (or at least get a job the lets you post ). Then you'd have the money to put your bike together.

Also, we're telling you that your fitness SHOULD be a huge concern of yours at this point. You just can't get into "riding shape" by starting to ride after graduation, then expect to have fun in a crit over memorial day.

You shouldn't ask for advice and then complain when people are giving you honest and sound info.

timmyquest

Jesus Christ...

Where is that money from? The money has already been spent, the parts aren't here.

I'm currently waiting for:

Seat post
FD
Stem
Bars
Frame
Fork
Headset

I still need to buy
Tubes
Tires
Cables
Tape

Do you need to know when i wipe my ass too, daddy?

I'm not looking for training advice or advice as to when i should race. If i wanted your input on that i would have asked for it. Go back and read the first post, read what my questions where, i bolded them hoping to avoid the confusion that has ensued.

I can't just "ride what i have" because one of them is a frame with some random components that i dont' want to lose money off of from using (not to mention it isn't a complete bike) the other still needs some work on it and it needs some wheels. That bike is 30 years old.

In the meantime i'm running, jogging, lifting, and riding a trainer. Why are we even discussing this though?

Are crit races more dangerous than road races? That was the damn question, learn to read...stick to the freaking topic. Why have both my posts asking questions about racing devolved into a discussion about my work ethics, logic, talent and training habits. This is especially important since neither of those posts were about that.

The first post was asking about how to get into racing. The common theme was to "just do it"
So i decided to "just do it" which brings us to this post, should i "just do it" in a road race or a crit....i had the feeling one was more dangerous than the other, it seems that if there is any truth to that my instinct was backwards...so now i'm going to "just do it" in the first race that i can where or whenever that is.

</thread>

Any more damn questions? Would you like to know what i ate for lunch today? Do you need to know if it's reasonable given my financial situation and athletic goals? Was it both healthy and cheap? Why didn't i ride a bike to where i'm typing this from? Why am i typing instead of riding? What is the square root of 30234234...what the hell does any of that matter?

CyLowe97

This thread is entertaining and all, but come on, Timmy. Calm down.

bdcheung

ignorted.

wfrogge

Carriage before horse.... nothing to see here.

Second Mouse

I feel for you, timmy. You really, really need to go for a ride. A long one.

timmyquest

I'm running on about 4 hours of sleep. Despite what it looks like i do other things then post on here. During hte course of this thread i've read an entire chapter on opioids (which i could use right now) a chapter on echolocation of bats, and two neurobiology journal articles.

I come to BF in an attempt to take a momentary break and relax, yet every time i post in RR it seems that the people here have some sort of vendetta and desire to cause havoc.

briscoelab

Wait a minute, I thought you still needed to buy "$300" worth of stuff to make your bike work? Tubes, Tires, Cables, and Tape should cost you about $100.

timmyquest

I've also grown tired of the notion that everything i say is somehow deceptive to myself or to you guys. It's as if people question the things i say.

"He doesn't have a bike? That's bull****, he has a frame for sale RIGHT THERE!"

Case in point
What the hell are you talking about? Where did you pull this from? Did you wipe the **** off of what just came out of your ass?

I said i'm not going to spend $300 to ride a demo bike for a week...

umd

First, I believe that we have answered that question. But in your posts, you bring up other issues which people will discuss. This isn't a trial, you can't ask for yes or no answers and complain to the judge when the witness tries to expand, explain, add context, etc. You always come off as a whining kid making excuses. I think its safe to say that is pretty much everyone's perception of you. And yet we are all still trying to be helpful.

As for your original post:

You mention a limited selection of races. Cue people chiming in with where to find races, and comments about the number of available races.

And comments about restricting your opportunities to race if you don't consider crits.

Was that a question? You bolded it. The tempo on crits is fast but its because the races are short, people can run at higher intensity.

As above, the intensity of a crit will be higher because of the time/distance involved. Crits are often flatter than road races, at least around here were road races tend to have hills or mountains in them. Crits don't have as much opportunity for big elevation gain in such a short circuit, but on the other hand there can be a killer hill that you have to do 20 times and that may take its toll. Also in a crit there is the opportunity for a break to lap the field and then you will never catch it

And now even ask for any other input!