Caad 8

So as you all know, the race season is upon us. There will be victories and defeats, glory and pain, anyway what's a good first race for a new racer?

Since all races have different profiles, I don't want to enter a race and then someone says 'well that race has some sharp turns which may be hard for your first time' etc...

umd

Well what are your strengths? By your user title I am assuming maybe that you think you are a climber? I'd say Boulevard but I guess it's full for cat 5. There is of course Poor College Kids and Mothballs this weekend, those are both good races. You already missed the season opener crit at Dominquez Hills last weekend.

phoshizzo

This weekend at Mothballs in Goleta. Its in the shape of a "D" with 2 wide corners, and a long wide finishing straight.

urbanknight

+1 to Mothballs. If CBR still does the Long Beach course, that's a safe one too.

umd

Hey, you doing the 30+ 3/4?

phoshizzo

thinking about it. depends on the weather. I'll either do the 3's or the 30+3/4's

nickelbus

I will be at mothballs, probably just the 3/4 30+ but maybe the 3s right before too.

Caad 8

I like climbing, but I wouldn't say I'm good at it. (which I just realized at a recent group ride that had a climb.)

So mothballs seems to be the way to go. I also have team-mates who are doing that race, but they're doing the junior races.

Edit: so much for mothballs, its full. So what would be another good one?

umd

Really anything other than the big races like sea otter or San dimas should be fine. Where are you located? There is a crit near San Diego the following weekend that has a good power climb.

Caad 8

I'm in Laguna Niguel, so I was thinking the Dana Point GP would be a good one, and I think I'd be ready by then too. I could also practice on the course before the race since I live so close to it.

carpediemracing 

This must be the Trolley race? Can you define "power climb" in terms of maybe gearing, length, distance from finish? If my hosts would think about driving, I'll think about the Cat 3s.

cdr

umd

Yeah, that's Red Trolley.

As far as gearing, looking through my pictures from last year, it seems that most people stayed int the big ring for it. I had a 53 w/11-23.

The bulk of the climb is about 30-35 feet of gain at about 7% with another 10 feet of gain over about 600 feet (~2%) to the finish line.

There is a fast descent with a sweeping corner right before the climb, it's all about good position on that descent, railing the corner and keeping the momentum up the final climb. Whoever makes it to the crest of the climb near the front basically just has to hold it to the line. I'm a horrible sprinter and that race was my best ever crit finish (10th).


Descent


Corner/climb entry


Panorama


Climb


Sprint

Cleave

Hi,

You want to do something a lot more low key for your first race than Dana Point. The lower categories were a blood bath last year. Also, you can't train effectively on that course when the roads are open to traffic.

Look at socalcycling.com or scnca.org to see a list of local races. A good place to start would be any of the CBR BAR races or the Ontario races (put on by Pacific Sunset Velo). CBR also has new racer clinics before the races start in the morning. Good luck, ride safely, have fun.

spinwax

You don't need to be a good sprinter to win crits!

Hey, I will be out helping at Callville. If you need anything, let me know.

umd

I tried a break but it failed.

carpediemracing 

Okay, my adrenaline got going. I will talk with my hosts

thanks
cdr

Caad 8

Ok so I picked these:



4/4
Easter Sunday Grand Prix Ontario
Crit

5/16
Mid Season Criterium Race Ontario
Crit

6/19
Ontario Airport Crit Ontario
Crit

7/18
Ontario Grand Prix
Ontario
Crit

tbrown524

Which part of SoCal do you live? It might be a good idea to partake in a few training crits. Hughes Park, El Dorado, etc.

Caad 8

Tell me more.....

I live in Dana Point.

kuf

Coming out to SB this weekend for the races? We should all go out for dinner if you are.

kuf

Looking forward to the houseboat this year. That would have been a good set-up last year, but we didn't have enough people for a boat and stayed at a hotel. I could drive a wheel truck again, but I don't think my Mini would hold much. If you have another car for me to drive, I probably could do that again.

nickelbus

Sweet, got me on the front in the first picture of trolley. Get stuck behind a boneheaded crash right before the last lap. Sucked!

Crash716

i have no strengths...so i race everything. well..except road races with a lot of climbing...that's for sadists.

umd

You the PAA/Remax on the blue bike?

Fat Boy

If you mean the Dominguez Hills course (as opposed to Hughes Park), then that's pretty much all CBR is doing this year, I believe. Hughes just always turns into a blood bath. I don't know why, just the way it goes.