Considering doing a Cat 5 road race "Oak Ridge Velo Classic" will I get destroyed ?
02-17-16, 06:19 PM
#1
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Considering doing a Cat 5 road race "Oak Ridge Velo Classic" will I get destroyed ?
I am a reasonably fit rider at present but by no means one of the strongest For example my 5k pr (set in early December 2015 ) is a 23:17.
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
02-17-16, 07:02 PM
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Get in some group rides with the "fast guys" in your area. You will gain a lot.
We all get "destroyed" from time to time. Go for it, once you get some pack riding skills.
We all get "destroyed" from time to time. Go for it, once you get some pack riding skills.
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 02-17-16 at 07:13 PM.
02-17-16, 08:28 PM
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Thanks for the tip Homebrew01 I will try to find a "serious" group ride in Knoxville. Last August and September I rode the FCP 25 mile ride B group (16-18mph), It was by no means a race but the pace tended to be crazy hard during the first 12-14 miles but it helped me out quite a bit with form, motivation, and holding a strait(er) line than solo riding requires. We by no means were a paceline and drafting was more an afterthought and effectively ended quite early in.
02-17-16, 08:45 PM
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Go for it, who cares if you get 'destroyed?' You would still be ahead of people who never try for fear of not being good enough.
02-17-16, 08:50 PM
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Also:
https://www.bikeforums.net/33-road-bi...s-tip-two.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/33-road-bi...s-tip-two.html
1. Find some group rides, fast group rides. Sit in the back.
2. Don't get discouraged if/when you get dropped from those group rides.
3. Go back the following week and do the fast group ride again.
4. If you're dropped a 2nd time, repeat steps 2 & 3
5. Once you're comfortable with the group and pace (and vice versa), take some pulls.
6. Once you're comfortable taking pulls, try some attacks (if it's that kind of group ride).
7. Once you're comfortable with steps 5 & 6, it's time to enter a race.
8. At your first race, repeat steps 1-6, but substitute 'race' for 'group ride'.
2. Don't get discouraged if/when you get dropped from those group rides.
3. Go back the following week and do the fast group ride again.
4. If you're dropped a 2nd time, repeat steps 2 & 3
5. Once you're comfortable with the group and pace (and vice versa), take some pulls.
6. Once you're comfortable taking pulls, try some attacks (if it's that kind of group ride).
7. Once you're comfortable with steps 5 & 6, it's time to enter a race.
8. At your first race, repeat steps 1-6, but substitute 'race' for 'group ride'.
02-17-16, 08:57 PM
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I am a reasonably fit rider at present but by no means one of the strongest For example my 5k pr (set in early December 2015 ) is a 23:17.
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
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02-17-16, 09:44 PM
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02-17-16, 09:47 PM
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I think OP is a runner
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02-17-16, 09:51 PM
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Yes OP is a runner as well, and since I don't have a power meter and cycling has many more variables affecting speed I subbed a running PR as my objective measure of fitness.. I finally found something telling me what to expect on strava. The times for Cat5 run between about 70 minutes for the winners and closer to 85 for the last place finishers.
Last edited by Oncoming Storm; 02-17-16 at 10:05 PM.
02-17-16, 09:52 PM
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02-17-16, 09:54 PM
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Finishing times aren't particlularly relevant in bike racing, with the exception of time trials and even those don't translate from one course to the next due to differing road and wind conditions.
I agree with the advice to find a group ride, one that racers ride. There's no substitute for the ability to ride comfortably in a pack at speed.
I agree with the advice to find a group ride, one that racers ride. There's no substitute for the ability to ride comfortably in a pack at speed.
02-17-16, 09:58 PM
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Cool, now it's making more sense. Back in my running days I could average 5:30 a mile for up to a 10K. And even though biking was just for transportation I could do 3 min miles with my old Peugeot. So, if your already a rider you can probably do fine. I would expect Cat 5 to just be a mixed bag of riders so give it a try an enjoy yourself. I've been middle to first 1/3 in my few attempts at riding century races as a Cat 5 guy. Usually the climbing out here kills me. Good luck!
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02-17-16, 10:14 PM
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Centuries? Or races?
02-17-16, 10:57 PM
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I am a reasonably fit rider at present but by no means one of the strongest For example my 5k pr (set in early December 2015 ) is a 23:17.
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
I have been looking for the finishing time for last years Cat 5 Road Race to give me a direct example. Anyone who raced it care to help me know what to expect?
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
03-01-16, 03:37 PM
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I feel sorry to have not replied in a while, while I was absent I got my Stages 105 installed and now have a few objective numbers FTP 245, 1 minute power 430, 10 second sprint 741 and I have a 5 minute max test in order for tonight. I just really suck at running efficiency it seems as those power numbers seem to match up pretty well to the last year race winner's 221 watts normalized power for the whole 72 minute race.
03-01-16, 05:20 PM
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I feel sorry to have not replied in a while, while I was absent I got my Stages 105 installed and now have a few objective numbers FTP 245, 1 minute power 430, 10 second sprint 741 and I have a 5 minute max test in order for tonight. I just really suck at running efficiency it seems as those power numbers seem to match up pretty well to the last year race winner's 221 watts normalized power for the whole 72 minute race.
03-01-16, 07:57 PM
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03-01-16, 08:17 PM
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Go for it.
- My first crit I finished mid-pack.
- My second, got my front wheel clipped and crashed. Took a couple of weeks off to let the road rash heal.
- My third, I tried a faster group and got winded quickly and dropped within a couple of laps. Because it was a circuit I decided to try again and tagged onto the back of the pack. By then I was warmed up, caught my second wind and finished mid-pack, although still a lap behind. The organizers noticed and encouraged me to keep trying.
03-03-16, 02:11 PM
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I feel sorry to have not replied in a while, while I was absent I got my Stages 105 installed and now have a few objective numbers FTP 245, 1 minute power 430, 10 second sprint 741 and I have a 5 minute max test in order for tonight. I just really suck at running efficiency it seems as those power numbers seem to match up pretty well to the last year race winner's 221 watts normalized power for the whole 72 minute race.
GH
03-04-16, 06:59 AM
#22
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1st races are the best. You will never forget it. My first race I was 15 years old. About 80 guys lining up at the start. I was pretty much out of it by the first corner. Dale Stetina and David Myer-Oaks lapped the field, and Dale won the race. That was 42 years ago and still vivid in my memory.
Within weeks of that race I would meet the Veterans State champ from my state who asked me to join his club. On the club ride I met an Olympic cyclist who said I pedaled nicely. That's all I needed and was on my way.
Go for it!
Within weeks of that race I would meet the Veterans State champ from my state who asked me to join his club. On the club ride I met an Olympic cyclist who said I pedaled nicely. That's all I needed and was on my way.
Go for it!
03-04-16, 11:14 AM
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I always felt I was ready to get back into racing when I could clip along solo at 22-23 mph for long stretches without having it kill me. Then I would hook up with the racer group rides and see how I handled the faster speeds elbow to elbow. The last racing I did were some wed night crits. We would average @ 24-25 mph for the hour. But they were combined 4/5 so maybe a separate 5 might not be so fast. Definitely make sure you are comfortable in group situations though.
