Sorry, total newbie question. I know it is some sort of race, but what exactly is it? Thanks...

Crit is short for criterium. It's a type of race where they close off a loop of roads, often a single city block for a lap of less than 1 mile, and do many laps of this short loop. They tend to be flat, so they are short fast races with technical cornering that are fun for spectators to watch because the riders come by so often! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criterium

ffr, click 'search the forums' at the top of any page and do a keyword search for 'glossary' that will turn up a thread which has a link to a great resource on the web... sponsored by harris cycles or something?

look up usa cycling.

big difference from a road race is, rather than stick a knife in your quads for an hour or more, you get it over with quicker...

Ahh, that's cool, definately didn't know that. I take it that is the type of races most people start out with???

I'd start out with a time trial. Everyonbe forgot to mention how dangerous a crit is. A crash is definitely not something you would want to start your racing career.

Well, they're the most common races in the States so they're easy to find. And they're short which makes them a little less intimidating. But perhaps because I've lived with a roadie for years, they scare me because people are prone to being really aggressive and taking a lot of risks, plus the speeds are so darned high! I've yet to do a true crit, but the short-lapped circuit races I've done have shown me they're not quite my bag. I'll keep racing anything I can get my grubby paws on, but I'm really looking forward to my race tomorrow, which is a long-loop road race.

I'm not about to start racing, but if I were to race, I would love to do a time trial. The crits do sound scary to me, could definately see accidents happening. Would love to go watch some. I'll have to try and figure out if there are ever any in my area to go watch...

good idea. Go watch one or two, do some reading, talk to some folks while they're warming down or riding back to town. Many areas have mid-week training crits. Look for one with wide roads and no accute angle/reverse camber turns. Industrial park training races usually meet this discription. What the others said about position. If you change anything, do it slowly, a half cm to one cm per week to avoid injury and really monitor your body. A lot of good riders really screw themselves up by changing things too fast. If you join a local race club, their coaches will be able to help you with your position.

Check USA Cycling's website for events in your area.

I think Crits are the most fun races to watch. I'd be too scared to compete, but I sure wouldn't mind watching.

A TT would be great to start racing in... better than a crit, I think.

Check USA Cycling's website for events in your area.

I think Crits are the most fun races to watch. I'd be too scared to compete, but I sure wouldn't mind watching.

A TT would be great to start racing in... better than a crit, I think.

Koffee

Koffee, I just checked that website and found out that there is an oval track where they have crit races every Tuesday and Wednesday evenings only about 40 minutes from where I live. Cool, can't wait to go see them. I'll probably go one night next week and check them out. Thanks for the info on the website!

Cool. I knew you'd find something in your area. They have a lot of events going on around the US.

Koffee

I have two local practice crits, both are redicusly fast, one more than the other (28+ MPH avg). They are good to if nothing else get a good anaerobic workout. Go try one out, at least you can jump back in if you get lapped...

Speaking of which....this week at one of our local crits, there was a bad wreck and one guy ended up with a Oakley M Frame lense in his forehead. Apparently someone knocked a cone into the group and caused the carnage. Three bikes wrecked and landed one dude with 13 stitches. Fun to watch one of these but that was more than I care to see.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...nw?albumlist=2

Some pics from my bike club's race team crit on June 11. We're the Fremont Freewheelers out of Fremont, Ca.

Cool pics, thanks for sharing them....