Duke of Kent

I think I had a somewhat different first race experience than what most of the people here describe. In my race, I got off the front with a group of 5 or 6 guys in a 4/5 crit, about halfway through the race. No one ever responded due to the technical nature of the course (200m uphill, turn, down a chicane/ s-curves, around an off camber corner at 30-35mph, onto the flat, turn, repeat). I was in 4th when I was cut off and then crashed, about 150m from the finish line on the last lap.

To be perfectly honest, I had the engine at that point in time, but no real technical skills whatsoever. Had been riding for 2 weeks and could hang with the local 3s at the group rides (which were on straight country roads), who encouraged me to do the 4/5 race.

So, to summarize: Physical ability will only get you half way there. The other half is handling your bike, having confidence in your abilities to throw the bike into a corner and come out the other side wheel side down, and the ability to see the breaks and make them.

jfmckenna

Just to reiterate my original point, if you can average 18 MPH where I live on a 50 mile ride your doing real good because you would have had to climb several thousand feet. Hence averages are relatively meaningless in this discussion. However covering surges is for real. Often times in my local training race rides I will purposefully fall of the back or let an attack go so I can try to bridge it. Last Saturday I hung off the back trying to bridge by about 15 meters for about ten minutes and gave up because the group was so fast.

Fastfwd

I know thay I got that at least. I did several years on a motorcycle and even did racing school. One thing I learned is that if the person in front of you can do it does not mean that you can. Putting your weight in the right place and being smooth is very important.

dragonflybikes

I raced the same race with SteveAZ except instead of the Cat 5 I did the Cat 4. Although I may be a Cat 4 Steve is a stronger rider than I am as he placed higher in the race we did together. At least for now he is, watch out for me in a couple more months (had to throw some smack talk in). We atually ride together a bunch and are on the same team. Steve and Merlin described it rather well.

I do suggest that you ride with groups before you race. This is more for safetly and to make it easier for you. If you are not use to riding with groups then can you draft comfortably? This is very important. Also you need to be comfortable riding in a group because in a race, especially around the corners, the group will be tighter and faster than a regular group ride so you need to be at least somewhat prepared for that. Also try and see if there are any local rides where instead of the typical 30 - 60 mile ride they do about an hour of a 1 - 4 mile loop. This will get you more use to a crit race. If you are going to start out with a road race and not a crit then you just need to be able to draft so I would still suggest riding with a group. It will also give you an idea as to your fitness level. Besides if you are staying up with a group that you ride with you can ask them what cat they are and can use it to help you judge where you stand.

With all that said, I was in the same boat asking the question, not wanting to get dropped but the saying still stands, Just Do It!

thomspins

It's not bad man. Just do a Cat 5 race; see what happens and if you get dropped just take a step back for awhile and do some more training..

Look ahead a few riders and go easy on the brakes as possible; make as little sudden moves as possible (learn how to tell what people are going to do before they do it, it'll smooth out alot of the yo-yoing).

It's a bunch of fun... just do one; you'll learn alot your first few races!