How to prepare for a road race/crit? (Denver group ride suggestions?)

Triathlon Forum
1

I’ve been doing triathlon for seven years now, but I’ve been throwing around the idea of racing bikes for a few years.

I consider myself to be a strong triathlon cyclist (spare me the “you’re gunna get dropped by real cyclists, etc.”), but I’ve never raced in a bike race. Hell, I haven’t been on a group ride in three years. There is a road race on April 24th and a crit on April 25th that I’m considering entering.

The main concern: I’m peaking for Gulf Coast 70.3 (May 15th). My coach gave me the green light to race with the caveat of not ending up on the ground.

The road race is an out and back, but the crit is… a crit. I’d be racing as a Cat 5.

What can I do to prepare? I’m assuming head out for some local Tuesday Night Worlds, but what else? Any suggestions for good rides in the Denver area?

2

30/30’s…

bumping drills with some like minded friends.

Group rides (IMO) get you used to riding in close proximity to someone elses back wheel, but they aren’t the same as a crit. the surges in a crit are what kill you, specifically the frequency and number of the surges.

3

get used to riding close to people, that’s going to be the main thing for most people coming from tri to something like a crit.

In my experience when we put on beginner crit series (or were…) triathletes that came to the Beginner/5 race almost always ended up just TT’ing the race, either off the front or off the back. I can’t think of any of them that raced in the pack. Even if you’re the strongest person there (often the case for a pretty good triathlete) you won’t learn anything about bike racing sitting off the front/back, and if you take a liking to bike racing, you will not get very far at all just being strong.

not ending up on the ground isn’t something you can guarantee in crash 5 road races or crits. If you aren’t ok with the possibility of eating sh*t… don’t line up, because most people do end up on the ground at some point.

4

I’ve been doing triathlon for seven years now, but I’ve been throwing around the idea of racing bikes for a few years.

I consider myself to be a strong triathlon cyclist (spare me the “you’re gunna get dropped by real cyclists, etc.”), but I’ve never raced in a bike race. Hell, I haven’t been on a group ride in three years. There is a road race on April 24th and a crit on April 25th that I’m considering entering.

The main concern: I’m peaking for Gulf Coast 70.3 (May 15th). My coach gave me the green light to race with the caveat of not ending up on the ground.

The road race is an out and back, but the crit is… a crit. I’d be racing as a Cat 5.

What can I do to prepare? I’m assuming head out for some local Tuesday Night Worlds, but what else? Any suggestions for good rides in the Denver area?

Great plan to actually having a valid excuse for not being able to do Gulf Coast.
How lucky do you feel?

5

Come join us in the Springs for the next Saturday group ride (might be a while depending on this storm). There’s about 45 minutes of nonstop surging with a few sprints. When you’ve got guys like John Croom taunting the rest of the ride, it’s bound to get the heart rate up…

6

get used to riding close to people, that’s going to be the main thing for most people coming from tri to something like a crit.

In my experience when we put on beginner crit series (or were…) triathletes that came to the Beginner/5 race almost always ended up just TT’ing the race, either off the front or off the back. I can’t think of any of them that raced in the pack. Even if you’re the strongest person there (often the case for a pretty good triathlete) you won’t learn anything about bike racing sitting off the front/back, and if you take a liking to bike racing, you will not get very far at all just being strong.

not ending up on the ground isn’t something you can guarantee in crash 5 road races or crits. If you aren’t ok with the possibility of eating sh*t… don’t line up, because most people do end up on the ground at some point.

This part can’t be overemphasized enough.

As to the OP, there are three main components to doing well in a road race: the tactical part (as in, how good are you at reading a race and conserving), the technical part (as in, could you maneuver without endangering others), and the physiological part (have you trained to handle the demands of road racing).

Tactics, one learns from watching how others do it and via practicing. Reading race reports and soliciting advice from those more experienced (see the threads below). This also include how to do things efficiently, such as moving up within a pack (as opposed to side blasting). Things that are quite easy to do (technically and physiologically) but require planning and a bit of forethought.

Techniques has to be learned from doing. Group rides present one aspect of it (how to ride in a group without causing a crash), but it doesn’t do other things well (e.g. cornering).

Physiological part is the easiest to implement in training but hardest to do. Road racing is all about recovery from effort, and it’s drastically different from what pseudo-steady state efforts such as triathlons and ITTs. One has to be prepared to do some really difficult stuff, recover while still going at a decent clip, and then hit the gas again. In that vein, some of the Zwift racing isn’t too bad a simulation of this, especially the short circuit races. If you can at least manage to do decently in a C-level Zwift circuit race (as in, staying with the front group), you at least could be decently prepared for the demands of a crit. If you find yourself getting dropped after five minutes, you need to work on your training.

Also, a few previous threads for your perusal (basically answering concerns similar to yours)

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ad%20racing#p7256257

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...string=crit#p4980482

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...64/?page=-1#p6562017

7

IME, a road race is not a huge risk. You need some different strength and skills to work within the peloton and bridge when needed. But, you can learn on the job. And, if you can stay in the front 3rd of the pack, you will be fine.

I would not do a criterium race without some criterium practice first. Those are entirely different and require major bike skills. You could hurt someone or yourself if you do not know what you are doing. It is roller derby. In a practice criterium, folks will be more forgiving and yell at you when you are not holding your line around corners or riding smoothly. In a race, focus is different, so other rides will just crash into you when you mess up.

8

One thing that noobs always did in bike racing that pissed me off is they think they can ALWAYS take the inside line.
For example a quick 90 degree right into a 90 degree left.
If the race isn’t strung out single file you are going through one of those corners outside and one corner inside.
If on the outside, don’t chop people into the curb to take a tighter line.

And don’t be the guy that think’s he can hammer on the inside to beat everyone to the corner, but then have to hit the brakes to make it. I’ve seen that end badly a few times.

9

I’ve been doing a weekly race series for 20 years so I’ve seen a ton of newcomers show up and race. The biggest issue I see is not being comfortable with the cornering speed. Riders will lean into a corner and then straighten up a littler and then lean in again. This results in a sort of repeated scalloping of the corner, it’s pretty unnerving and I try to get the hell away from it.

Be smooth, relaxed and predictable. Standing, sitting, cornering, accelerating, braking etc. should be continuous gradual changes. Also, unless you can ride away from the field I wouldn’t even think about trying to win. The idea of someone new with good horsepower trying to set up a field sprint scares the hell out of me.

10

If I race (these comments are sobering), I would consider trying to go for a long break. I would want to avoid a field sprint at all costs.

11

If I race (these comments are sobering), I would consider trying to go for a long break. I would want to avoid a field sprint at all costs.This can work. I did a road race once where a dude broke off the front early and pretty much rode TT the whole way. Another guy and I figured out that the pack would not rope him in, so we broke off the front and chased. We caught up in the last 5K and he came in third in the 3-way sprint. If you go for a break away, go big.

12

If I race (these comments are sobering), I would consider trying to go for a long break. I would want to avoid a field sprint at all costs.

In which case, why not just sign up for a few ITTs instead?

At the risk of stating the obvious, one has to create separation to get way. Sure, a triathlete may be well suited for the actual riding alone aspect, but that’s cart before the horse, as one has to get separation first. You may well have the physiology for this, but you should at least contemplate what is needed to allow you to get away in the first place.

This is easier on a selective road race course where going hard on the climb could do the trick. It’s a lot more difficult to do on a non-selective crit course, as it would require both tactical know how (knowing when to attack, whom to follow, and how to position one self leading up to the attack) and physiology adaptation (as in, being able to do the following: 10-second sharp sprint, followed by 150% for a minute to establish a gap, followed by 120% for 2-3 minutes to drive the break and increase the gap, and finally a rotating paceline with your average effort around 85%). What one can’t do in a crit is going to the front and start riding at 130%, in the hopes of riding people off one’s wheel. Legion are the stories of elite triathletes dominating a somewhat difficult cat-5 road race, only to finish midpack in a cat-5 crit.

Also, if you are not adept at the tactical and technical aspects, you’ll end up burning matches needed to get away successfully. One may very well wish to attack half way into the race, but one’s efforts may be so blunted (b/c one had to accelerate hard out or turns or side blast to move up) that though one intends a full-hearted attack, there either isn’t enough separation or that one can’t go hard for the 3-4 minutes needed to establish the gap.

13

Your coach should know better.

14

For crits, the biggest challenge for a triathlete is that the first few min. are done in the red zone. After that things settle down a bit, and most attacks don’t get far since everyone is racing for a result (no domestiques) and FOMO reigns.

Zwift races are good prep for the going out hard part.

15

Try to hook up on some of the Park Hill Peloton rides. You’ll usually find a few people to give you riding tips during the ride.

If someone yells at you to ‘hold the line’ or ‘close that gap’, they’re not being asses. That’s standard fare for fast group rides. A thick skin is always a good thing.

Most important tip I can give is ‘Don’t overlap wheels’. 80% of Cat 5 and 4 crashes can be avoided by paying attention to this.

16

you won’t learn anything about bike racing sitting off the front/back

When I started, I learned a lot sitting off the back. Mostly, never be the person sitting off the back.

17

Tailgunning is an art, but it’s best reserved for the real Jedi’s.

“If you’re going to ride by the force, you better make sure you’re a real Jedi”

18

you won’t learn anything about bike racing sitting off the front/back

When I started, I learned a lot sitting off the back. Mostly, never be the person sitting off the back.

If you’re strong enough to not get dropped, sitting on the back and watching can be a good way to learn how to race.

19

The only way to get good racing in a pack is to practice riding in a pack.

But for the physiology part, Zwift will be your friend. The variability, change of pace, and being/staying pinned is biggest kick in jimmy. The Zwift crits will do that. I strongly dislike indoor riding but there’s no denying what online racing can do for fitness.

20

The only way to get good racing in a pack is to practice riding in a pack.

But for the physiology part, Zwift will be your friend. The variability, change of pace, and being/staying pinned is biggest kick in jimmy. The Zwift crits will do that. I strongly dislike indoor riding but there’s no denying what online racing can do for fitness.

Sure, and then you have those big engines show up at a crit and they start crashing people out because even basic technical riding skills are non-existent.