First road race tomorrow - any tips? - now completed

FSR_XC

Doing my first road race tomorrow.

It's a closed road circuit complete with beginner friendly, novice class.

Looks like all classes will be set off together, so I'm guessing that'll be around 150 people????

I've never done a road race before and have no idea of what to expect. No idea of tactics, whether to use a drink or gels, if I should carry a tube (or just pack up if I get a p*) or anything like that.

I am happy riding in a group & am happy that I will have no problem with the distance.

Any advice?

Anonymous

Keep near the front.

Pokerface

Don't crash.

Seriously - don't crash!

Where is the race and how long is it?

Aim to finish and enjoy yourself.

dennisn

One thing you can expect for sure is an acceleration by the leaders at most corners. If you are at the back this will be hard for you to follow if it happens time and time again
(which it will).My advice for first timers. Keep up for as long as you can and observe how things work. When you get shelled out the back, and you will, more than likely,
the best idea is to wait for the so called chase group or at least another rider to work with. Learning the ropes takes a few races, to say the least. I don't agree with Napoleon D about keeping near the front though. It's fine if you know what you're doing but for first
timers just trying to maintain contact with the group and figuring out how things work is your first priority. Of course if your race is ALL newbies that's a different story.

Dennis Noward

Slow1972

Hold your line in the corners

Be prepared to have to accelerate hard out of the corners to stay with the bunch

The pace will probably vary so if you're finding it hard on the first couple of laps try and hold on to the bunch if you possibly can as you may find you settle into it and that sometimes the pace backs off enough for you to have a recovery spell before it goes up again.

It is better to stay nearer the front, but its also easier said than done as you will undoubtedly have times when you get boxed in and watch as the bunch inverts and people pass you. Dont panic if this happens, you dont need to get back on the front immediately (unless its the last lap..) so work your way back up the bunch steadily, if you can follow someone elses wheel as they move up and let them do the work for you

Don't be afraid to use your mouth and tell someone you're there, for them to hold their line etc. If its a beginners race there will be some "interesting" moves and choices of lines through corners so my personal view is I would rather be vocal and still on my bike than be in a crash because I didnt warn someone I was there.

If someone looks like they are a liability (such as because they can't hold their line or make sudden moves left or right) get from behind or next to them - you are just increasing the risk of a crash if you don't. Likewise, if you see someone who looks smooth and experienced, it may be worth following their wheel.

If you have a hard turn or one that squeezes the bunch and everyone else is braking steadily and following a line round the corner think long and hard before diving down the inside and jumping late on the brakes into the corner - you will not be popular if you cause a crash from that sort of move (although you will undoubtedly see people doing it)

enjoy it, I'm relatively new to racing and its a good buzz

FSR_XC

Thanks.

Seems pretty hairy, this racing lark.

& it now started raining!

Pokerface
It's on an old airfield in Cornwall - around 25-30 miles, but not got exact distance.

FSR_XC

Well the rain held off while the race was on. Tipped it down before & after though.

It was VERY windy. Nice straight with the wind more or less behind you, but as you turned (a nice sweeping bend) you were fighting the wind (which was doing its best to keep you upright).

Then it was a little 'undulating' straight into the wind.

30 mile & a bit laps of this really took its toll on me. I lasted 4 laps before a was dropped. Another 2-3 trying to get back on, but to no avail, so I found myself picking off one or 2 as they were dropped. I was lapped and by the finish I was absolutely whacked. I wasn't last, but it wasn't really worth checking where I finished.

One of the things that got me was how the group worked. There were so many times when I was freewheeling and even dabbing the brakes, but as they come out of a corner it's like someone's shoved a rocket up their ar$es. It was the same as you hit the top of an incline.

So No1 lesson - don't get dropped
No 2 lesson - learn to accelerate.
No 3 - get fitter
No4 - carry a gel, cause you will need a bit of a boost sometime.

Pokerface

Well, good for you for sticking it out till the end. Same thing happens to a LOT of people when they first start out. Exact same experience for me personally - seems easy at times, then someone turns a corner and you wonder where everyone went! Plus those courses with the wind are KILLER.

But you took all the right lessons from your experience so hopefully next time it will be a little easier!


Congrats.

Anonymous

Brilliantly done! Keep us updated of your progress.

FSR_XC

Gotta try a TT next, before I do a Sprint Triathlon in June (done this one before so looking to better my time).

Nice 50mile club ride tommorrow to relax the legs.

Anonymous

TTs and Triathlons are dead easy!

You just go at your own pace

Slow1972

well done FSR, if its any consolation I think a lot of people get dropped from the bunch in their first race, and some fo that is down to just not quite knowing what to expect

seems like you learned some good lessons and that's the main thing. As you've noticed the hardest bit is coping with the accelerations. My suggestion would be that you do some intervals to help you with that, and if there is a club that runs a chain gang near to you i'd recommend you get along to that too.

jibberjim

Slow1972 wrote:

well done FSR, if its any consolation I think a lot of people get dropped from the bunch in their first race

Yep, I did, last month, first race, Dropped, finished last (officially, I reckon I was ahead of people but only a couple and so what!), second race, finished in contact with the bunch, but still last.

Race 3 I felt strong and confident there was no chance I was getting dropped, top 20 finish. Race 4, I got my first point finishing 10th.

So from that experience a huge amount of not getting dropped is just the experience of racing.

flyingelephant

Any pics from the race?

FSR_XC

flyingelephant wrote:

Any pics from the race?

Not that I know of.

oldwelshman

Not sure a gel will give you a boost for 30 mile race but your right about the fitness.
Next time, make sure your not near the back for any corners, I know it sounds simple , but if your closer to the fron (say 15 back) then you do not have to sprint so hard to stay on, don't panic to get on as it becomes a full on sprint to get on!! If this happens every corner you will tyre fast. There is only a number of full on sprint efforts you can do in a race or even n a day as they use fast twitch fibres in muscles.
Try to ride through the corners more smoothly and it is better if you find someone to follow who is smooth. Theres nothing worse than following a guy who flies up to the bend, brakes, then accelerates out of the bend. If possible it is better to maintain good speed ( as fast as possible) through the bend to reduce the amount of acceleration you need to stay on.
If you are struggling, let some one pass and they will close the gap and try to follow them, especially if a gap opens.

jamiecurry

keep near front next time

dont get dropped by keeping near the front and dont change your speed, i mean this by if you brake in to the corners every bit of speed you loose you will have to use energy to re accelerate the other side of the corner. dont brake going in to corners there is no need to use them if everyone does the same and it keeps the pace more even.

be well rested the day before a ride, eg go to bed early!

go for a short 10 to 15 mile easy pootle the evening before, could even do less distance but the slow rollout will give you conditioning.

carb up the evening before