walnutz

Details have been posted, thinking about making this my first race: https://www.tourdeaustin.com/Home/tabid/600/Default.aspx

Anyone done this before?

johnybutts

It's actually 3 races. The first day I believe is at the Driveway... you can't ask for a better course. Do it. I will likely be there suffering OTB. I bet the C5s fill up quick.

waterrockets 

I've done it a few years. Great racing for sure.

I would recommend you do a couple driveway races for your first race. Tell them you're new at the reg table, and they'll assign a mentor to you to help show you the ropes. That way, when September rolls around, you'll be much more familiar.

The Driveway course is a little frustrating to me, because I feel the shorter courses are more fun (harder). Still a great course overall.

Belterra is a great course -- I raced it last year when it wasn't part of ToA. The hills are death by a 1000 cuts. Good fun.

The Stigma course is a throwback to 2009, and I'm really happy about it. They moved the start finish and put the 150-degree corner back in at the bottom of the hill. I think that sharp corner will make the races a lot safer than the crashy corner-before-the-finish last year. I actually pulled out of that race after they had to neutralize our first lap to show us how dangerous the corner was, then neutralize the 2nd lap to take a guy to the hospital. This course will not have those problems -- that sharp corner is a lot safer (always better to fall over at 15mph than 40mph). Plus, the acceleration out of the corner will shed the weaker riders (like me this year) quickly.

I'm sad to see JJ Pickle course removed. That's my all-time favorite crit course -- super hard with the corners, hills, and wind, with short laps. Two years it even had rain. I couldn't ask for anything more in a crit.

walnutz

Good to know about it filling up.

Would definitely do this, didn't know about the mentor, cool.

Right now it's a matter of money for me, gotta get my license first.

HMF

Going, all three days.

WR is right about the Stigma course last year. The wind was blowing at least 25mph at your back on the long straightaway. There was a bobble into going into the turn at the end of it and several people slid into the barriers. It was scary to watch, and ride.

waterrockets 

At the very least, head out to the Driveway and watch some races. You can ride the course during warmups too, and nobody will care.

Also, consider heading out to the Tuesday Nighter. I haven't been since they moved it, but you can learn about it on txbra. That's a pretty good racing experience -- not quite full intensity for everybody, but it rolls like a normal weekend circuit or road race.

walnutz

Thanks, I'm definitely looking for some more intense/close rides before I sign up for anything.

walnutz

I know there's a thread about race questions, but since this one is Austin specific and you guys seem helpful, I thought I would gauge opinion on if I'm ready to race:

I comfortably rode in the main pack in a Mellow Johnny's MOTR ride a month or more ago and am in much better shape since then. That being said, I had good wind protection.

A year ago, I finished in the first quarter of riders in the BSS Tres Burritos Hill ride. I'm not quite in that shape right now because of knee surgery in November, but I feel like I'm not too far off.

Bottom line is I want to race, and will soon, but I want to know if I should train a little more before my first outing.

jsutkeepspining

Just go out and race, honestly u can train and train, and still get dropped, or you could race and race and start to win. I'm at my fastest when i race instead of train (like 50% racing 50% jra, versus 100% structured training).


mainly what im trying to say is that racing is 100% different than riding, so just go out there and see what its like!

walnutz

Cool, thanks, that's kinda what I was thinking.
Currently waiting on clearance from my better half, and my physical therapist.

jsutkeepspining

it's always better to jump right in IMO. You learn a lot about yourself, and about what you ned to work on.

cbuddy2005

Are these races good for spectators? Wanna' show the kids the sport up close and personal instead of on the tube

ijgoodwin

Definitely, especially the one at the Driveway. Holland Racing puts on a good production...lots of vendors, kids' laps, etc.