FreddyBoy

Which would you choose?
Training Crit (draws about 60 riders - many with LOTS of pedigree)
1 mile course is shaped like a horseshoe (two tough corners) and as I mentioned in the header 1hr + 5laps.

Other is a healthy, spirited 27 mile challenge (pace line) ride that is somewhat "group ridish" but depending on who shows up could become a hammerfest.

I never rode a crit and while curious, I could certainly use more conditioning before dealing with the continuous pace changes. What's tantalizing is that since this is a "traning" crit, if/when you get spit out the back, you can regroup on the next lap.

kudude

if you're gonna get spit out (how much group riding have you done) then I vote training crit. Cough up a lung and hop back in. dropped in a 27 mile pirate code group ride = 22 miles of solo

umd

If you've never done a crit then that's what you should try.

obra3

Yup.

FreddyBoy

I have 1000 quality miles in 2009 (which is 500 more than all of 2008).
I won't get dropped in the "pirate" ride (I will stick with the tortoises when I can no longer remain with the hares)

While I am leaning the other way, it's more because of familiarity - both the riders and style of ride. However I will seriously consider the Crit.

umd

Well I guess the question is do you want to learn something that will help you racing, or do you want to do what you already know how to do? I got the impression that since this is the racing forum you may want to practice racing.

MDcatV

so the question I'm reading here is should I race a crit or do a group ride with freds. the answer is so obvious, but I'll point it out.

CRIT

ljrichar

Do you want to race or not? That will answer your question. At some point, I had to decide whether I would drive 15min to the 34mi fast group ride or drive 35min for the 30min "training" crit every Tuesday. I want to race and learn so I choose the latter. If I wasn't racing, I'd choose the former.

wanders

crit.

cmh

You are asking us to choose between a psuedo road race and a crit, but you have four options in the poll, one of which is "Road Race". Do the crit and learn how to communicate.

And good luck and have fun.

SushiJoe

^^ This.

FreddyBoy

"Did" the crit IF you consider hiding in the back, riding skittish and getting passed on every turn as "doing" a crit.
Only good point was when I got spit out the back (every other lap) it was only 2min before you would see them again and have a chance to get some wind and try again. (for me it was tough interval work)

But to ride crits, I need to get more comfortable first with my own bike handling skills. I lost lots of position with riders on both sides going into turns at speed. (and worked too hard as my drafting skills suck in such a ride) Oh also these guys (and some gals) were friggen too damn fast for me.

Oh FYI - This ride is considered a "training" crit

umd

That sounds about right for a first crit...

I thought I was doing ok in my first training crit until the warmup ended and then I was gone.



But there is no training like it

MDcatV

sounds to me as though you made the right choice because you learned something about your abilities and where areas you need to improve for racing successfully.

caloso

Right choice. Good for you.

ljrichar

Right choice. Now you know what you need to work on. Everybody's first crit sucks.

wanders

Every "training crit" I've ever done has had as much fervor, fury and blood coming from the eyeballs as any "for real crit". -mostly mine.

Good choice.

mollusk

The cool thing is that in most training crits you can get blown out the back multiple times, but in a "real" one you get pulled.

umd

Or you can decide to sit out for a few laps