|
Posted Sunday, January 22, 2006 by Jim Teague
*** Bare Essentials ***
- A legal bike - standard drop bars. Aero bars or extensions are illegal for anything except a time trial - Helmet - WSBA number - provided as part of your membership dues - USCF License - $60. You can register online at: http://www.usacycling.org We are team # 8844, “Super Squadra Sports”
*** Staying Current with Racing Events ***
- Find the year’s road racing schedule for Washington at: http://www.wsbaracing.com/event_calendar.asp - There are many other regional races. For Oregon: www.obra.org/schedule/2005/index.html - For results and event announcements, subscribe to NWCYCLING by sending an email to nwcycling-subscribe@topica.com - Other results at www.nwracereport.com
*** Early Season Races ***
- “Training Races” – Take advantage of them. They are invaluable, in terms of both experience and fitness. These include the March Mason Lake series, and the mid-week races. - Don’t go off and train by yourself to gain more “race fitness” rather than racing, you will lose ground to others who are already racing. - Set REASONABLE goals – don’t go out expecting to win your first race. For example: -Finish with the pack, or stick with them on a hill -Attack once during the race -Get into position for the sprint finish
*** Race Day ***
- Get a good breakfast, but don’t stuff yourself. - Get there early to reduce stress and nervousness. Don’t be rushed. - On the race form, use “Team Zoka” for the team name (not S3 or Seattle Super Squadra) Warm up lightly if you want. Many of us only do a warmup for a TT or a crit, but not for a road race. - Pin your WSBA number on your side not your back. And not upside down.
*** Race Day: Savvy Tips ***
- Take a standard USCF form (pick up an extra copy at your first race), fill out all the stuff that won’t change (name, address, etc.) and photocopy several copies. Fill in the race-specific stuff that day. - Have your WSBA number and USCF license at registration. - Have exact payment ready.
*** Your First Races: Basics ***
- Dress appropriately. - Take full water bottles, and something to eat on the bike (learn how to do this in a pack). Don’t forget to drink and eat during the race. - Watch out for riders in front of you - Don’t “half-wheel” if you can avoid it - When moving left or right, do a quick check behind you first – don’t expect anyone to announce their presence. - In general, pay attention and use common sense. Don’t be a jerk! - Don’t enjoy the scenery!
*** Your First Races: Positioning ***
- Stay in the front third of the pack if you can. - If that’s not possible, then at least stay with the pack, and give it everything to stay there. If you get dropped, you are guaranteed to be riding the rest of the day by yourself. - “If you’re not actively working at moving up, you’re probably moving back.”
*** Your First Races: Positioning ***
- You need to earn your position – don’t just point somewhere and expect another rider to let you in. They might, but they probably won’t – this is competition, not a friendly weekend ride. - On the other hand, don’t force it. - Positioning can be one of the most difficult skills to master: it’s a fine balance between being assertive but smart.
*** Your First Races: Moving Up ***
- Best places to advance your position in a full pack: -On a turn…take it outside or inside and move up a few people as you accelerate -Wide shoulders are good places…but watch for others behind you that may have the same idea -Attacks can sometimes string things out more single-file, so be ready to advance, even if you are briefly in the wind
*** Your First Races: Skills ***
- Hold your line in a corner. Unless you are on the front with noone else around, you do not have the luxury of a sweeping outside-to-inside turn. Maintain your relative position between, or beside, the other riders. - Know how to ride a straight line, even on a slow, grinding hillclimb. Don’t weave around.
*** Your First Races: Common Mistakes ***
- Slowing down slightly when standing or shifting - Swerving when drinking - Swerving when looking back - Excessive, or too hard, braking - Moving left or right when there’s no room - Doing anything suddenly.
*** Your First Races: Drafting ***
- Stay close to the rider in front of you. This takes practice, but is a skill you will have to master to be successful. - Don’t let gaps form between you and the rider in front. The longer the gap, the harder you are working, and the harder it will be to maintain contact. This means the gap is more likely to increase, and…then you have either caused a pack split, or you have been dropped.
*** Your First Races: Be Smart ***
- If you do have a good day, and are on the front, don’t stay there too long. Let someone else take the wind and share the burden. - You may have to slow down quite a bit to force someone to come around (everyone will be quite happy to let you take the wind for them). When riders do pass, it may be a surge, so be prepared to follow quickly.
*** Your First Races: Be Smart ***
- Measure out your effort over the race: don’t burn up the road for the first 20 minutes of a 2+ hour race, leaving yourself wiped out when it counts - Unless you can go off the front solo and stay away for 2+ hours, let others do the early attacks - Don’t chase everything that moves!
*** Your First Races: Rules ***
- They are fairly simple, but you may not cross the yellow line on the road, ever, unless you are in the final 200 meters of the race (and then not in all cases – the official will tell you at the beginning of the race). - If you get dropped, you are no longer racing, and must obey all of the rules of the road.
*** Flats in a Race ***
- There is a follow car with spare wheels (as long as you are still with the pack). - Raise your hand and shout “flat” as you calmly continue to ride in a straight line, letting the pack come around you. While you’re in the middle of the pack, do not get off the bike, or turn sharply off the road. - Once the pack is around you, stop, get off, and start taking off your wheel. Tell the person in the wheel car what you need: “9-speed Shimano” or “front wheel” or whatever. - They will take your wheel, and you can pick it up at the finish later.
*** Racing Fitness ***
- Bicycle road racing is not an endurance sport, contrary to popular claim. - There are many times when you may even be in Zone 2, but when the pack goes hard, or someone attacks, you will be flat out. - You’ll gain fitness by training, but racing is the only way to get the super high intensities necessary to get you in race shape.
*** Racing Fitness ***
- Start the season early, with everyone else. The longer you postpone your entry, the stronger the competition will be. - Best self-coaching book: “Cyclists Training Bible” by Joe Friel.
*** Crashing? ***
- You probably will at some point, but... - Serious injuries (i.e., broken bones) are very rare. - Again, use common sense: -Avoid nervous, or “sketchy” riders -Look ahead to anticipate -Don’t assume everyone else is paying as much attention as you are (defensive riding) -Don’t get into situations you’re not comfortable with (such as a big bunch sprint)
|