This weekend will be my first bike race. I’m registered for the Southern Nevada Stage Race consisiting of a 20k time trial on Friday, a 30 min Crit on Sat. and a 36 mi Road Race on Sun.
I saw this as a good opportunity to get out and get some intense cycling in during my build phase and also to see how my cycling strength stacks up against local Cat 5 roadies. I’m very hesitant about the crit on Sat, fearing potential for injury. This is a C level race for me after all. Right now I’m considering just participating in the TT and road races.
What I’m looking for is any advice from the more experiences cycle racers on this site about how to conduct myself during these races. Roadies have a lot of unwritten rules it seems and I just want to go out and ride hard, not make waves.
If it is really a stage race then typically you must start and finish the crit on Saturday in order to be allowed to start on Sunday.
As for the other, I’m not much help. After 6 years of triathlon I did a bunch of cycling races last year and found myself to be a much better crit racer than road racer… I was probably as surprised as anyone.
My advice would have been to find some fast group rides to get used to riding roadie style, but we’re a little late for that.
That race is not an omnium so you must finish the stage in order to start the NEXT stage. If you are REALLY concerned about the crit, line up to start, start with the group, hang in the back, “get dropped”, get lapped and pulled. Your time will be adjusted but you will have technically FINISHED the crit allowing you to start the next stage. You sit out the rest of the crit and can start the rr the next day.
Let me ask another question. SHOULD I be concerned about the crit? I’ve put in a couple hundred hours of training towards California 70.3. I’m worried about some jackass clipping my wheel in the crit race and ruining that for me. Is this a realistic fear in a Cat 5 race?
Let me ask another question. SHOULD I be concerned about the crit? I’ve put in a couple hundred hours of training towards California 70.3. I’m worried about some jackass clipping my wheel in the crit race and ruining that for me. Is this a realistic fear in a Cat 5 race?
Realistic? Yes. Highly probable? No.
If you really want to be safe in the crit, just avoid being in the middle of the pack. You should definitely be able to finish safely as long as you protect yourself a bit. You might want to make a game of trying to sit just off the back of the pack and see how long you can keep pace. Or you could pick up someone who gets dropped from the pack and just work with them. You’ll be pretty safe with a small pack of 2-3 or 4 riders. Should be a blast anyways, I’m jealous.
Have you ever ridden in pack? in a pack at a fast pace? in a pack at a fast pace through corners?
If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, then I’d be worried about you taking someone out
The main thing you have to worry about is “holding your line”, especially when going into and out of a corner. A lot of crashes happen when riders go into a corner too fast then come out too wide and take out those riders on their outside. For this reason, a safe place to ride is on the inside, because like I mentioned, most crashes happen to the outside.
As far as having someone clip your wheel and take you out, in a crit you always have to ride defensively and always pay close attention to those around you. This is a race, not a club ride. Riders are always fighting for position and for a wheel/draft.
Never cross your wheel w/ the rider in front of you. You either draft behind a rider or pass. Just avoid crossing wheels. If you have to ride along side someone in their blind spot, be sure to let them know your there, such as “on your right”. This rule is a must if your in someones blind spot going into a corner.
Cat 5’s like to yell and tell you what to do. There is always some knucklehead that thinks he’s a Cat 1 riding w/ the 5’s and needs to tell them what they’re doing wrong.
Ride your race and don’t go into it scared or stressed. Relax and just play close attention to what’s going on.
As far as where to ride in the pack… in the top 10-15 and on the inside. The farther back you ride in the back of the pack, the harder you’ll have to work to close gaps and stay in the pack.
Thanks for all the input. I have ridden in small packs, at fast pace but not in corners such as those in a crit. The only crit I’ve ever seen in person was the championship at interbike. The tight course is what has me so intimidated.
I think for my first race, the idea of hanging in the back and seeing how long I can hold on might be a good idea.
If you’re going to be at the race, PM me, we should get together for dinner one of the nights.
If you turn a decent TT time, you stand a chance of getting a GC place.
Don’t forget, pack winners are ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc… But everyone in that group get the SAME TIME unless a gap occurs. There is usually a time bonus, but they’re small and you can bury that with a fast TT time. So, try to stay with the first group at the finish.
Thank you. I hadn’t really thought about it but I’m expecting to put in a good TT time. I’m an awful climber though so the road race stage on sunday is going to put a hurting on me.
I’m sorry Nate, but if your not a Cat 1, 2, or 3, I can not be seen talking or hanging around w/ you. What will my team-mates think if I’m hanging w/ a Cat 5? I’m sure you’ve heard how us roadies are?
…oops, sorry about the above comment. That was the roadie in me talking. Sent you a PM
I agree with Picklepork-- ride near the front to avoid working as hard as the people near the back (who will get dropped unless they are sandbagging), don’t overlap wheels, hold your line in the turns, etc. Expect to sprint out of every corner, which is why staying near the front is so important.
I think the best advice is ride predictably:
–When surges happen, don’t sprint so hard that you have to slam on your brakes when you catch the riders in front of you.
–When turning, choose a line and stick with it (don’t cut your wheel in either direction during the turn).
–If you are surprised to see a small hole in the pavement in front of you, bunnyhop it; don’t swerve to avoid it.
–Don’t watch the rider right in front of you (unless you are in 2nd place), watch the guys near the front. You can see the surges forming/braking happening and you can be prepared in advance.
Most important, if it comes down to a group sprint finish, DON’T sprint unless you know you are going to be in the top 10. Some people go down in corners (likely because they pedal in the corners and their pedals hit the the pavement, and they slide outward, which is why Picklepork said ride to the inside of turns), but most crashes in 4 or 5 races happen at the finish if the course isn’t hard or technical enough to spread the field out. Everyone wants to look like Robbie McEwen, even the guy in 40th place. Don’t do it. If you aren’t in contention at the finish, just cruise in with the group you are in. You’ll be safer that way. Some moron will likely fly by you, but just let him go. The difference between 20th and 21st place isn’t worth a new wheel, a broken bone, or a concussion.
Crit riding really isn’t a big deal. Don’t worry about it too much. Just find a guy near the front who is riding well, get behind him, and do what he does.
