Cromulent

I decided to get out there and give it as much as I have, so next week Saturday I will go out and ride around the block real fast a bunch of times.

I'm not planning to do anything drastic to my bike. I'm not going to upgrade to Dura-Ace the night before. The wheels I have are the wheels I roll out on... that sort of thing. I am going to get new tires, though.

I want a more aggresive, aerodynamic position on the bike. Do I raise the seat post and muck around with the handle bars? Or do I just leave it alone and race it the way I ride it?

Any suggestions you guys have would be great.

And yes, I'm completely stoked. Can you even use that word if you're from Milwaukee? That's the only word for it. I may not finish. I may fall down and go boom (hopefully I don't take anyone else with me). But I am completely stoked.

borg

Congrats on the first race and have fun.

Don't mess with the bike (much)...you definitely want to race the bike the same way you ride it. If you want a more aggresive position on the bike, makes very small changes and gradually adjust. Before a race is not the best time to be making changes...and especially not a few days before. Also...raising the seat post has nothing to do with aerodynamics and everything to do with efficiency in your pedal stroke.

recursive

For your first crit, I am of the mind that your technique is much more important than having zipp wheels, full DA etc. Go out there and get some experience. Get in the draft and get a feel for the corners, that sort of thing. After a while, you'll know if you need to make changes to the bike, but for beginners like us it seems better to be comfortable on the bike so you can concentrate on your riding.

my58vw

Don't worry about posistion too much for now. It took me almost 12 races t prefect my posistion nearly 3 inches below where I started. DO not worry about equipment much also, it is not going to help you very much at all at this level. You can start worrying about it when you get more experience...

Cromulent

Thanks. I thought as much, but it never hurts to ask.

How were your first?

my58vw

Personally it took me almost 8 crits before I was able to hang with the pack, BUT I am not a normal case by any means. Many people are able to hang their first time out. It was fun and very exciting to be racing with the pack and feeling the draft of the peleton, the thrill of learning through the corners, etc etc. You should have fun!

Cromulent

I have a lot to learn. From what I understand these 4/5 races get kind of squirrely. And since it's my first, I may be one of the squirrels. I'm just going to try to stay in the front, hang on to a wheel, enjoy and learn from the whole thing, keep my line... and try not to be a bonehead.

recursive

In my first one, I got dropped about lap 4. In my second (most recent) one, I stayed in the pack until the field sprint, at which time I watched it pull away, as I was quite spent.

krazyderek

Well my first crit was, a week ago? pack of 60 riders, i though the same thing "oh i'll just stay up front and be safe with lots of room to corner"..............well..... once the race started i quickly understood "crit" roughly translated from roadie to enlish means "to sprint as fast as possible after each corner". I found myself getting knocked around quite a bit trying to stay at the front, or even middle of the peleton, hang out back just play it cool for your first race you can always sprint up to the front if you feel you're ready.

BTW, i was dropped after 25 mins, steady 40-45km/h speeds wasn't something i had trained for very long endurance yet, but it was still a fun learning experience.

borg

My first crit I got dropped before the first turn. I started on the front line...a mistake, and had trouble clipping in(if I remember correctly). I was off the back by the first turn and was just hanging on to stragglers for the rest of the race.

Cromulent

Congratulations on getting out there. Glad you had fun. "Try to stay at the front" does seem like such a cute little plan, doesn't it? It'll be fun.

DC_Emily

yea, careful around turns, that's exactly where the sprints happen. Make sure you hold your line, if you cut you can take out not only yourself but the rest of the pack.

You're gonna love it. It's a great feeling to be in a pack like that. Just enjoy it and be safe! For the first couple races, handling skills are much more important than speed.

Good luck

my58vw

What I have learned about corners is that as soon as you cross the apex of the corner get ready to get out of the saddle for 4 - 5 pedal strokes. Do whatever it takes to hang on the wheel, if you lose it you will expend lots of un needed energy. Try and sit into the pack and save energy for the sprint. How much you need to save depends on the crit and the length.

For the sprint try and stay in the first 5 - 10 but not in the front, use the other guys as a lead out and at the end try and go around the rider in front. Also be careful in the corners, the safest areas are on the sides but just follow the flow of traffic around the corner.

Good Luck! Happy Suffering!

Cromulent

Thanks. Is there any other kind of suffering? On a bike, I mean.

danch

what crit are you going to race?

Cromulent

The Cudahy Criterium Classic on Saturday the 2nd. It's right before Superweek here (which completely rocks).

danch

Cool! Good luck, I'll try to make it over there to check it out.

sparknote_s

Hey, I might be there! Either that, or the whitewater road race the day after, not sure which I want to do (or both! woo woo!). I'm going to be racing in superweek as well! I'm planning on the races which fall on the 11, 16, 18, and 23.

How old are you by the way?

Oh and danch, where are you from?

danch

I live in Milwaukee, on the east side (near brady street)