…Criterium, right? I’ve only done triathlons for two season and no ‘regular’ bike racing or running races, so that term in new to me. What exactly is the format of a crit and does it vary from race to race? I see flyers for these races for different classes of riders - Jrs., Srs., Classes 1-5, etc. One said :20 plus two laps. What does that mean? I’d like to try one, but would like to understand how it works. Thanks in advance.
it’s a bike race which is conducted on a relatively short loop (say about a mile). It’s also shorter than a ‘normal’ bike race.
:20 plus two means the race lasts 20 min, and then goes for another two laps. this ensures everybody knows when the last lap really is, and has some other advantages.
Crits nicely go with your sig. If you’ve never seen one, I would go see one before you sign up, or, if you’re confident in your riding abilities, sign up for the lowest category and either stay way in the front or way in the back - but not in the middle of the pack. I like doing them, they’re a blast! Good luck.
Josef
categories:
USPRO = Lance & co
CAT 1 = unpaid pro
CAT 2 = semi-pro
CAT 3 = expert
CAT 4 = intermediate/advanced
CAT 5 = beginner
http://209.177.135.180/news/user/story.php?id=944
The most common form of American racing, the criterium is a multi-lap race of 25 to 60 miles held on a closed course generally a mile or less in length. These races, which usually last one to two hours, are extremely fast – 30 mph and up – as the cyclists jockey for position and sprint for lap “primes” (cash or merchandise prizes, pronounced “preems” and announced by the ringing of a bell). The short closed course, generally with both right- and left-hand corners, makes this type of racing easy to watch for spectators and more accessible for the media.
In criteriums, it’s “go” from the gun as the strong riders force the pace and the weaker ones struggle to hang on. Quick acceleration and bike-handling ability are paramount – a successful criterium rider will be able to dive into a tight corner at high speed, leaning the bike over at a gravity-defying angle, then power out of the turn and instantly set up for the next. It’s important to stay near the front; the first few riders in a pack can take a corner with little or no braking. Those toward the back jockey for the best “line” through the turn, brake, then sprint to catch up with the pack as it accelerates, developing an “accordion” effect.
In an hour-long race where corners will number in the hundreds, the constant braking and accelerating takes its toll; riders who fall off the pace and find themselves out of contention or lapped by the field, will usually be removed from the race. A rider who crashes, flats or has some other mechanical problem, however, may take advantage of a free-lap rule to repair their bike, proceeding to a repair pit and re-entering the pack in the position he or she left it a lap later.
Attacks and chases follow one another with dizzying rapidity as riders from one team or another “take a flyer” off the front. Watch for situations in which one team greatly outnumbers the others. One team may have a rider attack, forcing the other teams to chase, then send another as soon as the first is reeled back in, repeating the process until the competition folds under the pressure.
If the pack stays together, the race may end in a field sprint, with each team maneuvering its fastest rider toward the front in the final laps. While the criterium is a popular event, and is a national championship event, it is not contested at the world championships or in the Olympic Games. In many instances, criteriums will constitute one part of a stage race.
Thanks. Typically, given that two laps would occur after the 20 minutes are up, do the riders form a pack for the 20 minutes and then sprint the last two laps, or is it balls to the walls from the word ‘go?’
A crit is a criterium. Usually held on a closed course of .6 mi to 1.2mi ish course. Sometimes as simple as a four corner affair or as complicated as 6-8 corners. Because of the short laps the racing is usually fast.
Thr categories are broken into ability levels 1-2, 3,4, 5, citizens(one day license) Because of the tight course and potential speeds they want riders of roughly the same experience and speed racing together.
The events are either a certain number of laps (mi), or sometimes based on minutes. 20 min racing then a “bell” lap to announce the next time around is the finish for example. That helps the promoter keep to a time schedule as they sometimes change the time from 60 min to 45 min if there were delays in prior races. Like a crash, or weather/course problems.
I would go watch one before you did one to see it that is the kind of thing you want to do. No tri bars allowed. The racing is usually fairly large fields 20-50 (or more or less) trying to get to the first corner first. It is not a race for the timid as you will end up in the back of the field where it is much harder to ride as in every corner the leaders sprint out of the turn so you are slowing going into the turn while they are sprinting away from itn, Like a big rubberband effect. So the guys in the back are sprinting all race just to keep up.
I’ve only done a few crits where it wasn’t blazing fast from the start … and then I almost immediately attacked. 
Gary’s description is pretty much spot on.
Although the speed depends on the event (some folks use it as a ‘filler’ race during a slow week), they’re generally very quick affairs. The one thing that can really, really, help you out is to warm up properly before. Makes for a much more fun time.
Sorry for the repeat, there were others quicker to the post. I started as the first reply but am a slow typer. They pretty much go like hell the whole time with people trying to get away from the rest. A 4-5 man group can often get around faster than a big pack.
Thanks. Typically, given that two laps would occur after the 20 minutes are up, do the riders form a pack for the 20 minutes and then sprint the last two laps, or is it balls to the walls from the word ‘go?’
Both can happen. Sometimes in the same race. Prime laps are thrown in to keep it from being just one sprint at the end. I like faster crits because it sheds some of the field. Of course, sometimes I am the one who gets shed.
A crit is about the most fun you can have on a bike short of a tandem ride w/ Heidi Klum.
Sounds like NASCAR on 2 wheels.
Dummy (me) Example: If the format is :20 + two laps, then the guy who does the most laps in 20 minutes + two laps wins, right? The idea is to complete the most laps in the time allotted?
Dummy (me) Example: If the format is :20 + two laps, then the guy who does the most laps in 20 minutes + two laps wins, right? The idea is to complete the most laps in the time allotted?
Not necessarily. There may be a free lap rule if you flat. You could be a lap down and still win, I think.
Re: the speed topic… I was in one event where it started out fast (they all do) and got faster. But then eventually everyone kind of gave up, no one wanted the front, and those who were dropped caught back up and we were back into a single pack until the final laps. Like I said, anything can happen. If you get dropped, make quick friends with the worthy others who got dropped, work together, and stick with it. You may end up back in the main pack moe often than not.
No, no no. “Crit” is medical short-hand for “hematocrit”. 
Furthermore, if it is over 50%, you’re disqualified from the race.
Crits are wrestling on a bike for guys who enjoy donating blood and body parts to the pavement. If you really want to have a great story to tell your grandchildren, break your collarbone doing 25 mph in a turn with 40 other guys. Also, your local LBS will love you if you regularly enter crits. Make sure your wife understands that rear derailleurs in working fettle are an order of magnitude ahead of milk for the kids and you will be fine.
-Robert, an ex-“critter”
XXX, be very careful if you decide to race in a crit. I entered one earlier this summer, just on a whim. My wife was out of town, there was nothing going on at home, so I decided what the heck and bought a 1 day license and hopped in the Cat 5 race. The first thing I notice is that I’m like the oldest person in the field (I’m 42). The race started and I was amazed at the frequent pace changes, especially so early in the race. I jumped out to the lead and was quickly absorbed by a small group. I figured, well let me try and draft and save some energy after being in front for a couple of laps. TI also discovered that the other racers do not let you in the pace line easily. I had to sprint and somewhat “force” my way into the pace line. At this point, I’m probably in 2nd or 3rd place, all of a sudden the leader sprints into a turn then slows down coming out. I didn’t have time to brake and my front wheel touched the rear wheel of the rider in front of me. I went down pretty hard. One good thing is that no one else crashed. I had some really bad abrasions on my elbow, knee, wrist (I still can’t figure that one out), and shreded the shoulder of my jersey. I also wiped out a DA shifter. It basically wasn’t cool crashing. Then I had to spend a bunch of money repairing my bike, wound care and bandages, urgent care visit, etc. Lastly, my swim training was toast for a few weeks because I couldn’t go in the pool w/ open wounds. All that being said, if you’re in the middle of your training for your “A” tri, I’d suggest leaving crits alone. The risks, at least in my experience, are too high.
Good one!
The :20+ (or any time for that matter) is a format where the race officials don’t count any laps but the last two. It’s really just a simplification technique. You still have to keep track of riders or a break that laps the field though. And pull people off the back.
IMHO it’s a pretty risky, albeit fun, way to get some good interval training. If you don’t have any kind of a sprint (like skinny climber me) the only way you’ll ever win a crit is to TT off the front during a lull (if there is one) hopefully within a lap or two of the finish. Otherwise, you are just pack fodder.
The crit that convinced me I was not a sprinter was a race in Whittier where I was third coming into the final corner with only about 300 meters to the line, perfectly lined up on the wheel in front of me, in the big ring and my 12…and I finished something like 24th. Guys were passing me like I was going backwards. Depressing but a great wake-up call for me to focus on hill climbs and long winding road race courses.
So if you are not a sprinter, and ride unattached with no team to work for, I’d get your interval training elsewhere. Fun to watch though.
Crits are lame.
-C
Unless that finish was downhill, you probably overgeared the sprint. While I’m a “skinny climber” that usually finishes top 10 at races with significant climbing, I’ve also placed top 10 in crits by learning that you don’t sprint in your biggest gear most of the time. If you want to finish well, you need to learn your optimum gearing for a sprint. What you want in the finish is the highest acceleration, which is achieved best by spinning faster in a gear that provides just enough resistance.
Crits are best for becoming more efficient at higher cadences since you’ll hopefully learn quickly that it’s a lot harder to sprint back up to speed grinding a big gear. Definitely one of those trial by fire type of things.
XXX,
Crits are unreal. Love 'em! But if you do, enter one with a great degree of confidence in your bike handling in a large group at very high rates of speed. Even the Cat 5s will break 30 on laps. Expect the sprints to exceed 35. Do you ride at all in large, fast groups? Are there training crits in your area? If not, go find a large, vacant parking lot and practice doing loops at 25+ continuing to pedal through turns and holding a clean line. Practice this with a couple of friends. You need to be comfy pedaling through turns at high speeds. Road races or circuit races are better formats for your first couple of races as the ratio of straights to turns is greater than in crits. Most accidents in crits happen in the turns.
Robert
it’s all about leg-speed!!
Thanks. Typically, given that two laps would occur after the 20 minutes are up, do the riders form a pack for the 20 minutes and then sprint the last two laps, or is it balls to the walls from the word ‘go?’
I’m new to this and have been racing cat 5 this summer. Most races I have done have averaged around 24 mph but that average is arrived at by going 20 mph for a few laps then 26 for a few laps then back to 20, then a lap at 28 etc. and finally ending with a sprint home at over 30.
Over time these accelerations drop people from the back of the pack. They can match the average speed but lose the draft because they can’t accelerate as fast as the quick guys. Once your even a few feet off the back at 26+, its really hard to get back on and over time the weaker riders end up dropping off. Its the changes in speed that kill you, not the average.