I have been riding my TCR C2 road bike for about 2months now and decided to join my local club which happens to be Carnegie Cycling club in Melbourne. Now i have just clocked up 1000kms and thought i would go alright. My first race was in d grade the lowset, we went for just over 45mins on a crit circuit my average speed was 32.1 and i got lapped twice. Man i am usually slow to pick things up but tend to work at it till i am really good, but i was hoping this time things might be a little different, anyway, i think i really need to work on my turns, i really have some fire burning to improve now might be just what i needed. Can you maybe offer me some suggestions from your own personal experience, not just in cycling but when you started out really slow and how you managed to stick at it and become really good at something. Thanks in advance :0)
2007-01-20 22:20:48 · 7 answers · asked by Ben O 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
Firstly don't get to down hearted, An average speed of 32 isn't too bad for a solo ride. Different cycling disciplines require different techniques.
In a crit ride the most important thing is to stay with the pack. If you drop off the back you will have a much higher work load. At 30 km/h wind resistance accounts for around 80% of your effort.(Solo). If you ride in the pack this will drop well below 50%. At 40km/h there is an even larger difference.
The most common mistake a new rider makes is to drop to the back of the pack just before a climb. This usually results in them being dropped off. Take every opportunity to work your way forward in the group. But move to the side when you know you are slower.(courteously)
The best place I have found to learn pack techniques is during the larger charity rides. If you get dropped off one group there will be another along in a few minutes. There will always be a group that match you level.
Try to strike up a conversation with the older riders most will be only to happy to give you pointers. Since your a member of a club, listen to the other members. Be wary of bum steers.
Competition builds character losing builds more. The real satisfaction comes from improving.
2007-01-21 21:06:46 · answer #1 · answered by Glenn B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey Ben O,
Don't they say "It's not whether you win or Lose as long as you have fun!" or something like that. It's good that you are setting some high goals but don't aim to high to start out. 2 months of riding is not alot. Im 31 and recently got back into cycling after about a 12 year layoff. I've put about 8000km's on my bike in the last 8 monyhs and also started crit racing recently with the Norwood Cycling Club in Adelaide.
My first race was also in D grade and i thought i would go alright too. I got told the ave speed would be about 32 but after racing for 45 minutes our average was nearly 40!! I wasn't expecting to win but thought i would finish a little higher. i ended up around 10th. My second race was better and I finished 5th. My most recent finish was 7th in a Wheel Race final that i qualified for with my 5th place. The more you ride, the better you WILL get!
As for suggestions, there is no better training than a race! Put some more K's in on the bike and you will get there. Watch some cycling videos and see how the pros do it - it all counts. Cornering, drafting, sprinting all make for a good crit rider! Go down to the track when no one is around and try different things out - but most of all - STICK TO IT
2007-01-21 18:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by bulldog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off even last, you beat everyone else who didn't enter that race. Always remember that. I'm 46 and I've ridden all my life like most people, started out last and after 4 years of serious MTB racing I won my first race. When you train your goal is to not finish last, Then to beat half the the guys on the line, after that a top 5 finish. Now it gets hard, because those top 5 are thinking just like you, I can win this today. I was told once after about my 5 th time in second that I was afraid to win, that somewhere in the race I backed off, I laughed, but they were probably right, you learn to use your strengths, starts, uphills, technical areas and work on your weaknesses in practice. Then one day you get a good start and the top dog is 5 or 6 places back. Racing is a mind game, out of sight out of mind, give it everything you've got to get away, out of sight, that takes away some of their drive. And if you do find yourself passing someone, make it stick, blow by as fast as you can so they don't have the will to chase you. Good luck good racing and for god's sake have fun
2007-01-21 14:38:22 · answer #3 · answered by wheeldave2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2014-09-24 15:21:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have finished last. And I have also finished first. We all have our bad days, and good days, especially when just starting out.
Just think of how much room for improvement you have. Many of your piers do not have such "room". Keep at it, and you will be right there with them.
2007-01-21 16:54:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i finished last in a track race, but after training for a while i improved immensely. i say just keep working hard, be smart, and soon you will improve
2007-01-21 11:25:39 · answer #6 · answered by big fella 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋