my first race

[stevos]

hey,

had my first group ride yesterday and really enjoyed it, couldnt beleive how easy it is if you not at the front pulling

Anyway ive got my first race on saturday which should be abit of fun, not expecting to do any good but should be fun

[toolonglegs]

Where abouts are you racing?....

[stevos]

im racing at mallala, im from adelaide

[mikesbytes]

Good to see you enjoyed your first club ride. Have fun in that first race

[stevos]

any tips mike?

[toolonglegs]

I have a couple...don't get suckered into doing too much work,keep your speed up in the corners,hold your line and enjoy!!!

[mikesbytes]

And don't get dropped. The pace will go up and down so hang in there for dear life because it will get easier

[europa]

Practice your wind riding (good day for it today, it's quite blustery down here) because it's ALWAYS windy at Mallala, and very drying too, so make sure you're properly hydrated. Around the race track or on some of those long, straight roads? At least you won't have any hills to worry about.

Richard

[stevos]

Practice your wind riding (good day for it today, it's quite blustery down here) because it's ALWAYS windy at Mallala, and very drying too, so make sure you're properly hydrated. Around the race track or on some of those long, straight roads? At least you won't have any hills to worry about.

Richard

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/PACC-Hector-Fletcher-Road-Race-75km

thats the map, from malalla and back. sure got plenty of riding in me on monday when it was windy, nearly got blown of my bike a few times. made it fun going into a huge headwind while getting swooped by a magpie, lol

im planning to get as much water and pasta into me the day before is that the go? thanks

[toolonglegs]

The best way to carb load is to do a gentle ride the day before but near the end of the ride do a near max effort (very short is apparently fine) then warm down and eat.Apparently this helps your body to take in the maximum amount of energy into your muscles etc.Always eat within 30 mins of a ride....even a chocolate milk is good.
Having food 4-3 hours before racing is ideal on the day of the race.
Also drink plenty of fluids,not sure how long your race is but being your first race you will probably not drink enough or even forget to drink at all.So if you are well lubed before hand it wont hurt too much.

[inaminit]

Good luck for Saturday!!

Hope to give racing a go sometime soon myself.

[mikesbytes]

Yeh, let us know how it went

[LuckyPierre]

Toolonglegs tip about the day before is good advice - as is the 'eat early on the day' advice. Hydrate till you bust, then pee right before you start - a blustery day will pull the fluid out of you without your really noticing it, so you need your tank pretty full at the beginning. Early in my racing life, I was advised to drink regularly - but it was easer said than done.
It's been a while since I was an Adelaide boy, but I expect that you'll have mainly W - NW winds, so it will be deceptive - tailwind on the way out, headwind back. Don't kill yourself too early, because I expect that the last third of the ride will feel pretty tough.
I'm also guessing that PACC is the Port Adelaide Cycling Club. I don't know how they handicap new riders, but don't be embarassed to start in a really low grade - they can always promote you!

[sogood]

had my first group ride yesterday and really enjoyed it, couldnt beleive how easy it is if you not at the front pulling

Just noticed this one. Remember, the guy who is pulling is getting all the benefits out of that training ride. So move up and pull and enjoy the suffering.

[toolonglegs]

had my first group ride yesterday and really enjoyed it, couldnt beleive how easy it is if you not at the front pulling

Just noticed this one. Remember, the guy who is pulling is getting all the benefits out of that training ride. So move up and pull and enjoy the suffering.

Yeah,but how much do they hate sprinters in the race bunch when they are hiding from the wind all race just to sprint thru for the win.The way I see it is it is a race,it is all about tactics,not necessarily doing a turn on the front....isn't the aim to win a race,not be the guy who did all the work and then got dropped in the final burst.
PS...what that has to do with the above statement I don't know

[sogood]

Yeah,but how much do they hate sprinters in the race bunch when they are hiding from the wind all race just to sprint thru for the win.The way I see it is it is a race,it is all about tactics,not necessarily doing a turn on the front....isn't the aim to win a race,not be the guy who did all the work and then got dropped in the final burst.
PS...what that has to do with the above statement I don't know

Agreed, but that's for races rather than training rides.

I guess the issue isn't that great when it's a team based event where teammates can do the lead early and drive up the pace. But for those individual based criteriums, there does seem to be a code to take your turns at the front. Yet again, if you go too hard and turn it into a breakaway, then you'll get an automatic upgrade and not be appreciated. Weird dynamics isn't it?

[mikesbytes]

Yes, the races are geared for sprinters. If you come out of the pack and sprint for the finish you probably won't get bumped up a grade where if you win by a breakaway you probably will get bumped up a grade.

[stevos]

i got killed in my first race i got dropped by my group after about 5ks on a 76km race, i tried to latch onto the following groups but the pace was just to quick. so it was me alone for most of the way and on the way back into the headwind, i didnt come last, but i didnt do very well, i was pretty disapointed in myself.

The main thing is i had a blast

[inaminit]

Good onya stevos...you got in there, had a crack, and most of all as you said, you had a blast!!!! Keep at it mate, look forward to hearing how your next race goes.

[toolonglegs]

Good on you for giving it a go?...was it a handicap or graded scratch race?.It is a total blast and getting dropped just motivates you to train harder and not let it happen next time.76k's is a big first race.Your body needs to get used to higher intensity and your head needs to get around riding in a race bunch which is a light tighter and more aggresive than a training bunch ride.Better luck next time!.

[mikesbytes]

The main thing is i had a blast

Great to hear you enjoyed yourself.

As per toolong, 76k is a long race, the longest race I've done is 50k.

Head for the club racing scene and have some more fun.

[stevos]

im hopefully going to race in a crit this sunday depends how this cold goes.

The race was a handicap i got 13 mins on the last rider and still got killed, lol

And yes 76ks is a long way, well the first 60ks flew by but the last 15 killed me, took ages