Cat 5 races - How fast?

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Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

Was thinking of doing a road race or two this summer and wondering if it is worthwhile or whether I will get dropped off the back in the first ten miles. Lets say I can comfortably ride a A-19 - A20 ride and do Central Parks laps comfortably in 19 minutes (by comfortable I mean it is not all out, am not killing myself, no recovery issues).

Will I get dropped right away? I don't expect to win but I also don't want to ride 40 of the 50 miles solo.

I realize there will be accelerations in a race, particularly on the hills, and will train for that rather then steady power output.

Anonymous's picture
ZiFrog (not verified)

Go to http://www.crca.net/coaching/introclinics.htm

On June 4th (Since your name is Steve I assume you're a man, if you're a woman, it's June 24th) wake up early and go to CP.

Anonymous's picture
Steve (not verified)

I saw that, and that was the genesis for the whole racing idea. I just want to make sure I am not being a fool for even trying.

Anonymous's picture
ZiFrog (not verified)

"""Central Parks laps comfortably in 19 minutes"" ?
Do one lap to warm up, then one lap TT, you should shed two minutes. Then do the clinic.
Then you make up your mind. If you want to race and if you live in NY, it's a good idea to become a member of the CRCA : you can then take advantage of their coaching sessions (at 6 am, sometimes at 7 pm) [the idea is to acquire skills/check your skills before riding at 30 mph among 40+ other racers one inch away from you) and can participate in their CRCA only races in CP (5-6 laps, 30-36 miles). You can also participate in shorter races in Prospect Park (5 laps, 17 miles) and CP which are not organized by the CRCA without belonging to this club (I would recommend CP races first).
see : http://www.crca.net click on race schedule
Other Area Races and Key Cycling Events ...
Also click on Marshalling...
Other possibility : Kissena Velodrome (track)
Racing is not only about being ""fast"". You may be(come) fast but never win a race. You must acquire and use the skills needed for that (sprinting is one of them).
Good luck
"

Anonymous's picture
Steve (not verified)

Thanks for the info.

Anonymous's picture
An author's name is required (not verified)
There is no reason not to try

"Competitive cycling is intimidating to the uninitiated.

This is unwarranted.

The clinic was created with riders like yourself in mind to combat this. Try out racing in low pressure, low hassle, fully instructional, 100% fun environment. Cheap, too. More fun for the buck than a whorehouse. There is no reason in the world not to try this. Absolutely none.

Please see the recycled enthusiasm here

PS Never a racer born that didn't get dropped. I got dropped multiple times my first couple of times out, including the clinic. EVERYONE gets dropped. It's a sign that you're stretching yourself, reaching. Every time you get dropped makes your eventual victory (staying with the pack, finishing top 10, finishing top 3, winning) that much sweeter. You need mental, emotional and physical resilience. Competitive cycling requires and simultaneously trains this resilience.
"

Anonymous's picture
new racer (not verified)

Like nike says, just do it, it's amazing what you will accomplish, I do about 18 minute laps comfortably, much the same as you. the first race I did was a spring series, 2 laps 14 1/2 minutes per lap and it was like getting dragged around the park in a vacuum. you will be surprised as how much faster you can go in a race scenario, adrenaline, the buinch, your own competitive urges. .. I finished second last, but I finished, thats the point, next time I might finish 3rd to last.
the CRCA coaching sessions are awesome! and they are fun, the morning ones are a real work out and the evening ones tend to be more technical, both are worth the membership fee

happy racing

Anonymous's picture
Zoltanian (not verified)
Will you be on Harlem Hill tomorrow morning? (nm)
Anonymous's picture
John H. (not verified)
It's time that you switched to a cut-out saddle.

"""...More fun for the buck than a whorehouse...""?

Poor author.

And dropped multiple times, too."

Anonymous's picture
Carol Wood (not verified)
Dropped multiple times

That explains the brothel. Hopefully he at least tipped well.

Anonymous's picture
An Author's name is required (not verified)

Scoundrels! Defiling my good name, or lack thereof. And zero for reading comprehension, the both of you.

Yes, more fun for the buck than a whorehouse. It costs $10. Ever been with a $10 hooker? You couldn't get Raisehellfrida the Mudmaiden for that paltry sum so - per dollar spent - it's definitely more fun than a strumpet.

(NB to Mr Shrdlu: sorry to bring Ms Mudmaiden into this. No curses, please.)

Anonymous's picture
Mike (not verified)


I raced a few times a couple of years ago in Prospect Park. On my own (not drafting, not racing), I could ride 26 miles in PP averaging about 18 mph with good effort.

In cat 5 races of the same length in PP, I averaged about 23 mph and finished in the top third of the field. I think the advantages of drafting and the mental impetus to keep up accounts for the difference. Effort put forth was similar.

You can do it - show up for a race and give it a shot!

Mike

Anonymous's picture
Steve (not verified)

Thanks for the encouragement Mike.

Anonymous's picture
somebody (not verified)

Compadre, you are ready.

If you can do a CP lap in 19 minutes, you should be fine in a Cat 5 race (in PP or CP).

The clinic is a good idea. Also, both Kissena and CRCA are great clubs to get started.

As mentioned, there are other skills required, riding in a pack at speed should not be understimated. But guess one way to get good at it...?

If you are thinking about it, you are ready.

Don't be discouraged by results and keep at it.

See you on the road.




Anonymous's picture
zippy (not verified)
women's clinic

Does anyone know what the pace of the women's clinic/race is? I read the flyer and they mention something about mountain bikes in the past - is the woman's clinic more relaxed than the mens?

I'd love to go for the information but would rather aviod the embarrassment of having my butt handed to me on a platter as i get dropped like a hot potato! I'm not the fastest thing on two wheels although I did complete the A-19 a while ago.

Anonymous's picture
Beth (not verified)

People ask about the pace of the women's clinic all the time, and to be honest, we've never timed it. It will probably be pretty fast; every year, we're surprised by the fitness of the strongest women. Of course, there is a wide range of fitness levels, so the group breaks up very quickly. We make every effort to neutralize the start and to have coach-riders with each group, to give encouragement, etc.

I'm not sure what you mean by mountain bikes, as there is no mention of them on the flier. However, a road bike is highly recommended as the equipment of choice.

If you've done the A-19 SIG, you're probably ready for the clinic, depending on how much high-intensity riding you've done so far this year, but there's only one way to find out!

If you have any other questions, contact me at the email address or phone number on the flier. Thanks!

Anonymous's picture
zippy (not verified)
dropped off the back.

taken from frequently asked questions

What kind of bike should I ride?
-- Some people have shown up on a mountain bike or a hybrid, but it's harder to keep up because of the thick tires and lower gearing. --

does this imply that the clinic is more relaxed?

Anonymous's picture
Beth (not verified)

"The women's clinic is ""more relaxed"" than what? A regular women's club race? The overall pace is slower.

"

Anonymous's picture
Inga (not verified)
my experience at last year's clinic

"I did this clinic last year, without any expectations (well, the only one was that I would get dropped on the curvy descent before Harlem hill, since I'm awful at descending).

I had no intention of bike racing either, just figured it was something interesting to do once in your life (I've done lots of running races and just started doing triathlons last year).

So, here's my take on this whole experience:

I highly doubt that you will get dropped. I'm very much of a nut case and have many bike related issues (I'll give you a bit of an idea later on), and regardless of that I managed to stay in the lead pack the entire time (I actually had to squeeze the brakes going up Harlem hill, so that I don't bump into people in front of me).

I am not sure exactly what the pace was (I heard someone say at the end we did 17 min laps, but I am not sure where that person got that number), but I do remember thinking at some point, why the heck are we going so slow--then looked at my computer and we were going 23-24 mph (I think it was on flats on the east side, near 90th st)--it definitely didn't feel like it, I guess being in a large group with so many bikes around you really makes a different (much more so than being in a paceline actually).

My advice, you should definitely do it. And if you really want to do well is you have to be very alert at the very end. You don't want to be ""boxed in"" when everyone starts sprinting to the finish. I was in my own little world (I tend to space out a lot, I think I may have an ADD or smth like that)--and then before I knew it, there were bikes everywhere and you really can't do much. Regardless, I did ok, someone at the finish (whoever was recording results) told me I was 7th.

Physically, because of the drafting effect (or maybe adrenalin) the race didn't feel like a major effort I ended up riding to LI later that day to pick up a race number for a tri the day later. Also I don't think my results in the tri were affected by the bike clinic race the day before (it was just a sprint tri, and I only did it to get more open water swim experience, but still).

Here's a bit on my cycling abilities at the time of the race: I got a bike (first one since the age of 12--and I never rode much then) in late '04, and didn't really start riding until March 05 (I hate the cold)--I got into cycling because I wanted to do triathlons, and I was sick of all the injuries I had from running/marathon training. I did a B16 SIG last year (I started in B18 based on the 4 lap time trial they had us do, but then dropped to B16 because I was completely TERRIFIED of riding someone's wheel (I wanted at least a bike length in between) and even more so of descending (I walked my bike down 165th street 2 times as a matter of fact, at the end of the first SIG rides). Once I got over those 2 fears by the end of the B SIG (or, should I say, somewhat got over them--I don't think they'll ever go away completely), I started doing A19 rides, which I did a whole bunch of last summer.

I hope this helps. You'll be fine. Go for it. FWIW, I don't remember seeing anyone with a mountain bike, but there were quite a few people coming in way after we finished, so it looked like people of very different fitness level came out for the clinic. I THINK the girl who won last year did the A19 SIG, and the one who finished second did the A Classic. They both race on local teams now, I believe.

Here'a an article that was written about last year's clinic: http://www.crca.net/news/200508.htm#4"

Anonymous's picture
zippy (not verified)
Thank you! that is EXACTLY the info I was looking for! (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Karol (not verified)
nice job, inga!

Hey Inga, congratulations on finishing the A Sig in style! Yes, the woman who won the race was in the A19 Sig with me last year. Martha is excellent to ride with. She started racing last summer with Elaina, who placed second. Elaina is Ben's wife from the A Sig. Small world of cycling.

See you at the a sig graduation, hopefully!

Karol

Anonymous's picture
Inga (not verified)
thanks :)

"Thanks Karol! I don't know about ""in style"", but hey, I survived :)

Please keep in touch--we should do some rides together this summer!!!

P.S. I actually rode with both of these girls and a few other people once to Bear Mtn last July--they were both quite impressive!

"

Anonymous's picture
Karol (not verified)

sounds like a plan!

cycling trips