Diegomayra

Especially considering the race in question is a Crit. I backed down today from a figure 8 Crit, if its a road race you have more space and opportunity to prevent a box-in. Racing will satisfy and increase your itch for competitive cycling, but you definitely won't learn anything that you wouldn't otherwise in a fast-pace line ride.

Find one group ride, its not that hard. Google local bikeshops and call them and ask about drop-rides with local Cat racers.

flats

If people who are new to pack riding really are a hazard to everyone on the road, why is it better to endanger the folks on competitive group rides than folks in a race?

Fat Boy

MDcatV

it's an oval training crit with a newb clinic before the race as a requirement. that's exactly the right place for a never ever to try racing.

Fat Boy

I missed that addition as well. In light of the new information, I'm going to agree with MDcatV.

merlinextraligh

+ 1.

and what is so hard about doing a few group rides first? A good group ride is going to be more beneficial from a training and experience point of view than being OTB in a race anyway.


In this situation, however, doing the clinic would make sense.

But the OP will still get more out of the clinic/training race, if he can get a group ride or two in before that.

MDcatV

that's a reasonable question.

for me, the answer is that on a group ride there is typically a little more space in the group than in a race (even a cat 4 or cat 5 race where space is abundant) due to being on open roads so you have less "width" to work with and a more organized structure of the riders; mixed abilities; the pace being driven harder because of those mixed abilities; and less nerves/competitiveness. with those factors, the "endangerment" posed by a new rider is probably a little less than in a race.

Jandro 

This.

Go on group rides. Learn to ride in a pack. If any groups around you offer race clinics, take them. Read:

AzTallRider

Group ride experience is valuable - it is also not race-pack riding and it is odd to see so many posts here implying it is. Group riding is generally paceline work, designed to balance the work effort. Race goals are different, and the pack takes a much different form. A group ride is typically single file or two-abreast. A race pack will often cover the entire width of the lane/road, with constant overlaps and closer quarters. This exists in some group rides, but certainly not most of them. Group rides help you get used to being close to other riders, and teach some protocol, but they area poor substitute for race experience.

botto 

if a novice has no experience riding single file, or two abreast, then i don't want them anywhere near me (or anyone else for that matter) in a race.

apparently you've forgotten the old adage: crawl, walk, run..

ksisler

Just go ahead and do it. After the first 30 seconds, you will be riding alone same as always.

seejohnbike

Turns are banked. Get it right.

OP - don't PM me to ask this very same question, and then revert back here when you don't hear what you want to. Like I told you (and plenty of others are corroborating), jumping into racing of any kind with no group ride experience is a bad idea. While racing and group riding are different, there is a basic understanding that if you are racing, you should be capable of at least group riding safely.

So, like I told you, go check out the intro-clinic, talk to the officials, and meet some people (probably go group ride with them, and THEN race). Series points don't start until June, so if you're REALLY that worried about winning the C overall, you can have some time to cut your teeth on a few group rides before then.

Keep in mind that it's easy to give, receive, or disregard advice given over the internet. However, the race series does exist in real life, and happens to be local to some of us here. Like me. I don't do the C race, but I have plenty of friends who do. I'd guess that they'd be leery about someone with zero group riding experience hopping into the race, and can almost guarantee that they'd be livid if they got crashed out by you. It wouldn't be an "oh, it's racing, it happens" sort of thing - it would be "it's irresponsible."

Also, keep in mind that the scene here is small - you're going to be racing against virtually the same people at every race, so showing up and going "hey, I've never ridden in a group before, but I'm gonna race" isn't exactly the best way to make friends in the pack. Double so in the event that you find out you're not the best bike handler around others and are either super sketchy, or crash someone else out.

Got it?

MDcatV

^how are your races broken down, i.e. what is A, what is B, and what is C? in the local series here , it's A (123), B (4/5), C (jr/new 5s). given that distribution, i'd encourage someone in the OPs shoes to do the C race regardless of group ride experience or lack thereof, and assumed this specific race he's referencing is similarly structured.

Also, got a link? I grew up and still have most of my family in WPa, it's be nice to find something to do on the bike during a visit. You guys need to get that Renfrew Ras back on the calender, that was a really nice race.

AzTallRider

Not suggesting the OP jump into a race without doing group rides; just pointing out that his first race will still be his first race, and just as much of an eye opener.

There is a tendency for many people who come here talking about wanting to race to go the other way - to fear racing and look to ease into it in a way that eliminates any risk. That just isn't possible. The risk will be there (for both the first timer and those around him/her), and the first race will be different than anything other than a race. Group riding moderates it a touch, but isn't a panacea. Personally, I find myself wishing that everyone around me on a group ride had a done a bunch of crit's, but alas that is only true on team rides - one of the reasons I seldom do group rides other than team rides.

grolby

Oh HELL no. A road race is so much worse as a starting point that I can't even express how much that thought fills me with horror.

As a starting point, a crit with a mandatory pre-race clinic isn't so bad. Group ride experience would be better still, but the presence of a clinic helps mitigate that somewhat.

grolby

No, just no. Any wreck a n00b causes in a RR is so much more likely to be at high speed, or into a guard rail or something. In crits, you've got lower speeds, a controlled course with no traffic and ready access to crashed riders for emergency care, hay bales... it's a much, MUCH better scenario than a road race. And I've NEVER done a road race where I had more space. If anything, there's a lot more "peloton traffic" in a cat 5 RR than in a crit.

globecanvas

Raise your hand if you crashed in your first race. (raises hand)


Somebody washed out in front of me, on a corner, and I kept trying to go outside them even though the wreckage was sliding outside too like a heat seeking missile. Now I know (tm).

seejohnbike

A (1/2/3), B (3/4) C (4/5), and a W/Jr race, so it's not exactly the same distribution. I guess, if there were any race to throw a newbie into, I suppose it would be this race (two straights, two banked turns means virtually no cornering), but there's still plenty to racing safely beyond cornering ability.

MDcatV: check out acaracing.com for weekly oval racing, and abraracing.com for other local road, crit, and mountain stuff over the summer.

DerHoggz

The trouble is finding a group ride. I have put feelers out, the LBS had no clue. I have tried to get in touch with some local clubs (really there is only one that is feasible/close). If I see one other person on a bike in a month it is a good month, not much going on. My cycling has existed in a vacuum essentially.

Yep, the last thing I want to do is get someone hurt.

The reason I posted this thread was because I was pretty much sure this wasn't a great idea, hence asking for advice from those with more experience then I. I didn't just charge ahead and go into a race. I could have presented my thoughts better in the OP. I have been riding for four years, "seriously" for 2, through rain/snow/ice/wind/whatever. I was going to try to get into a group or race last summer, but **** happens. I realize wishing doesn't mean anything, and none of this matters in the context of the current conversation, but I'm not some hairy-legged slob who just decided to do this on a whim. I would say (self-assessment being oh so reliable, existing in a vacuum again) I'm very conscientious of what I'm doing and aware of what is going on around me. It seemed like since I haven't been able to find a group, this would be the best place to start.

mattm

I think you should just f-ing do it.

himespau 

So, given that midweek is over, did you go? Did you go to the clinic and watch the race? Find a group to ride with?

DerHoggz

Yeah, I went. Registered, talked to the guy doing registration and he seemed good with me racing. Went to my car, pulled out the rear wheel and... cut through the casing. Didn't have a spare. The registration guy offered to let me borrow his wheel, but I wasn't quite comfortable so I didn't. Watched the race. Gave the registration guy my email to give to the closest club, who come the next day for the B+A races. Haven't heard anything yet. Payday is Wednesday, so I'll have to wait a bit to get new tires.

thechemist

Does not compute

DerHoggz

The equation goes like this, check my maths.

College student = limited income + enormous expenses = <$0 expendable money

shovelhd

Cat5's don't normally have spare wheels. Some do, most don't. Give the kid a break.