Which Cat to register for first race?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,896
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6976 Post(s)
Liked 10,975 Times
in
4,695 Posts
Not only is a newbie racer going to get dropped like a bad habit in a Master's cat, but he/she simply doesn't belong there. Slow, inexperienced racers are always a hazard, but even more so when trying to maneuver in a group of fast, skilled racers.
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 54
Bikes: Wilier Triestina GTR SL '16; Basso Gap '93
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
8 Posts
Thanks All. I'll register as cat 5 and hang off the back. I'm in pretty good shape, but will settle for just getting the vibe.
Chris
Chris
Likes For Chris O:
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,896
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6976 Post(s)
Liked 10,975 Times
in
4,695 Posts
If you're in pretty good shape, try to at least start up nearer the front - not at the front, but near it. You'll have less chance of getting caught up in a crash, and there is less see-sawing as the pack accelerates out of corners and such. Then concentrate on holding your line, so that people can safely pass you if necessary.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
When you get dropped don't chase too hard, slow down and wait for the pack to come around again. If you get lapped like this DO NOT involve yourself in any real racing, especially breakaways or the last lap. ALWAYS look out for your own front wheel...as in DO NOT overlap the rider in front of you...ever. NEVER dive bomb corners. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS look before you move laterally in the pack. NEVER blindly jump on a wheel as it goes by you, there will pretty much always be someone else already on that wheel. NEVER swerve to avoid Bots dots if there are any on the course, just ride over them. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask. You will most likely get dropped, you will almost assuredly get yelled at at least once. Pay attention and you'll do fine. In nearly every district you have to survive 10 races as a 5 and then you get an auto upgrade to 4. That's when you start thinking about racing Masters, hopefully there are enough racers in your area to have Masters 4/5 or even 3/4/5 races. The higher category races are faster but sitting in the pack is almost easier because the better racers are smoother. Of course there are also more attacks and chases so you have to be ready for those.
Likes For cxwrench:
#30
Senior Member
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
This should be covered pre-race by the official, and a lot of times in lower category races they don't pull riders until 5-10 laps from the end. Even USAC officials know that beginners have to learn somehow.
Likes For cxwrench:
#32
Junior Member
If you're in pretty good shape, try to at least start up nearer the front - not at the front, but near it. You'll have less chance of getting caught up in a crash, and there is less see-sawing as the pack accelerates out of corners and such. Then concentrate on holding your line, so that people can safely pass you if necessary.
Cat 5 is the place to start. USAC used to make everyone have a certain number of "mass start" races before moving up to Cat 4, then results and points determine moving up. It's been several years since I've raced, so I don't know if this still applies. Anyways, just go, have fun and try to stay close to the front.
#34
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4957 Post(s)
Liked 8,100 Times
in
3,833 Posts
I will echo the advice of others...The plan to "hang off the back" is not good. First of all, you're going to get dropped if you can't take advantage of the draft of the pack. Staying in the mix among the last guys in the group is a reasonable approach, but you will be subject to significant accordion effect as the group slows and accelerates out of turns, and it will actually make the race harder than it needs to be. The safest place to be is among the top 10-15 at the front, but being able to surf that wave is a skill that takes practice. My suggestion is to do the best you you can to stay in the pack, and learn some race skills - cornering, how/when to move up, etc.
A few tips:
1. Always protect your front wheel. Don't let it overlap the rear wheel of the rider in front of you.
2. Be smooth on the brakes.
3. Protect your front wheel.
4. Don't take a pull on the front unless you have a tactical reason to do so.
5. Your front wheel - protect it.
6. Do as little work as possible until it's time to give it everything you have.
7. Rule #1.
8. Rubber side down.
9. Have fun!
A few tips:
1. Always protect your front wheel. Don't let it overlap the rear wheel of the rider in front of you.
2. Be smooth on the brakes.
3. Protect your front wheel.
4. Don't take a pull on the front unless you have a tactical reason to do so.
5. Your front wheel - protect it.
6. Do as little work as possible until it's time to give it everything you have.
7. Rule #1.
8. Rubber side down.
9. Have fun!
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,690
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 672 Post(s)
Liked 418 Times
in
250 Posts
As a new racer, you are a cat 5, regardless of age. Enter in cat 5, ride as safe as you can, and don't be too shocked or disappointed if you get dropped. We have ALL been there. Even Peter Sagan has off days.
If there are training crits in your area, try to find one. These are weekly races where the competition is stiff, but the focus is on learning technique and strategy. If you get dropped, you can hop off to the side, catch your breath, and hop back in. A summer of doing the C race, and you'll be in much better shape to make decisions about which race to enter.
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Likes For bbbean:
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,896
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6976 Post(s)
Liked 10,975 Times
in
4,695 Posts
I will echo the advice of others...The plan to "hang off the back" is not good. First of all, you're going to get dropped if you can't take advantage of the draft of the pack. Staying in the mix among the last guys in the group is a reasonable approach, but you will be subject to significant accordion effect as the group slows and accelerates out of turns, and it will actually make the race harder than it needs to be. The safest place to be is among the top 10-15 at the front, but being able to surf that wave is a skill that takes practice. My suggestion is to do the best you you can to stay in the pack, and learn some race skills - cornering, how/when to move up, etc.
A few tips:
1. Always protect your front wheel. Don't let it overlap the rear wheel of the rider in front of you.
2. Be smooth on the brakes.
3. Protect your front wheel.
4. Don't take a pull on the front unless you have a tactical reason to do so.
5. Your front wheel - protect it.
6. Do as little work as possible until it's time to give it everything you have.
7. Rule #1.
8. Rubber side down.
9. Have fun!
A few tips:
1. Always protect your front wheel. Don't let it overlap the rear wheel of the rider in front of you.
2. Be smooth on the brakes.
3. Protect your front wheel.
4. Don't take a pull on the front unless you have a tactical reason to do so.
5. Your front wheel - protect it.
6. Do as little work as possible until it's time to give it everything you have.
7. Rule #1.
8. Rubber side down.
9. Have fun!
Likes For Koyote:
#37
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4957 Post(s)
Liked 8,100 Times
in
3,833 Posts
Likes For Eric F:
#38
Senior Member
One thing to keep in mind, masters racers are more experienced and safer, but their idea of safe riding may be shocking to a beginner. Slight bumping is considered perfectly normal and of no concern. Also, they may move into gaps considered too small by someone not used to it. Finally, they may move around in the pack in what seems a very abrupt and unsafe manner to a novice, but is perfectly normal for them.
Likes For asgelle:
#39
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I stick to Cat 6.
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,956
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3958 Post(s)
Liked 7,312 Times
in
2,951 Posts
#41
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4957 Post(s)
Liked 8,100 Times
in
3,833 Posts
One thing to keep in mind, masters racers are more experienced and safer, but their idea of safe riding may be shocking to a beginner. Slight bumping is considered perfectly normal and of no concern. Also, they may move into gaps considered too small by someone not used to it. Finally, they may move around in the pack in what seems a very abrupt and unsafe manner to a novice, but is perfectly normal for them.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 833 Times
in
435 Posts
I was on a sharp corner photographing the the criterion at the men's National Masters Road Championship, and heard a bike go down behind me. I just turned and kept shooting. This is what I saw, and those guys are the top riders. Talking to one of the riders that went down, he said that it was the previous year's winner who caused the crash.
Knowing how to fall is a good skill. Notice how the rider keeps his hands on the bars as he goes down..
Knowing how to fall is a good skill. Notice how the rider keeps his hands on the bars as he goes down..
Last edited by Doug64; 03-19-21 at 10:11 PM.
Likes For urbanknight:
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Same. When I was a 5 we did a clinic where we did stuff like that, leaned on each other, rubbed wheels, etc.
Likes For caloso:
#45
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 54
Bikes: Wilier Triestina GTR SL '16; Basso Gap '93
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
8 Posts
I don't race in real life, just on Zwift. When I look at results on Zwift Power it's filled with old people (I'm 47) who are crazy strong. When I've had a good race or group ride I'll friend them and they're all in their 40s or 50s or even 60s when I check out their profile. One long Zwift group ride (Haute Route 2020 with a few thousand riders) when I bonked up a long hill I got caught by a woman who is in her 60s.
In other words, I'd sooner race against Cat 5 in real life than other people my own age.
In other words, I'd sooner race against Cat 5 in real life than other people my own age.
#46
staring at the mountains
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560
Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
112 Posts
(oh, and Zwift Power the site -- https://www.zwiftpower.com/ is different than the dumb trainer estimate zPower https://support.zwift.com/zpower-setup-r1XjaXbxr --@guachi is talking about the site )
#47
Junior Member
Cat 5. You enter Masters you will be utterly destroyed. Those "old" guys are utterly amazing. And monsters.
#48
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4957 Post(s)
Liked 8,100 Times
in
3,833 Posts
Often overlooked by newbies is the fact that many of the "old guys" have been racing continuously since they were young guys. Sometimes at a very high level.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Likes For Eric F:
#49
Junior Member
Once a noob, always a noob?
If you shouldn't enter a race as a newbie because you might not be able to "hold your line" when and where would you learn how to "hold it"?
That's like telling somebody who wants to learn how to baseball that if you can't hit home runs you should maybe stick to monopoly.
Tolerance for entry level questions seems to decrease with the number of posts.
That's like telling somebody who wants to learn how to baseball that if you can't hit home runs you should maybe stick to monopoly.
Tolerance for entry level questions seems to decrease with the number of posts.
#50
staring at the mountains
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560
Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
112 Posts
weekday/weekend group rides, informal race-like group rides (seems every metro area has a local "Worlds" ride that's competitive and you hold on as long as you can), look for training series, or other beginner races. One club in this area has a specific "never raced before" race. It's first thing at 8am which stinks, but it's there. The intention is that if one is going to enter a race it shouldn't be the first time riding in a group. Shrug.
Likes For superdex: