First year - end of term report and conclusions

[Birdthom]

I'd never raced before this year, but liked the look of it. I'd heard all the internet horror stories about broken bikes and bones but, encouraged by some on here, I thought I'd give it a go anyway.

It went like this:

1. Had a go at 4th Cat crit racing.
2. Did better than I expected.
3. Got some decent results early on, was cruising for a nice early promotion to 3rd Cat and feeling bulletproof.
4. Promptly smashed myself up in a racing accident (my fault), set me back a bit.
5. Got back out racing after a few weeks, rode conservatively, picked up my 3rd Cat.
6. Did a bit of road racing. Much more complicated than crit racing.
7. Did a very windy time trial, found that side of things a bit boring and probably won't bother again TBH.
8. Did the Rad am Ring in September (24 hour 4-man relay at the Nurburgring) in conditions that made this weekend's World Champs look like a day at the beach. Loved it.
9. Did one sportive, but that all seemed a bit boring and pointless after racing.

For anyone considering starting racing, I'd offer the following:

1. Racing isn't for everyone, but it is *extremely* addictive.
2. Don't race if you don't like brake hoods being poked in your butt cheeks occasionally or are bothered by the prospect of sitting in the middle of a close 50-man bunch in the rain.
3. Within reasonable limits, the cost of your bike will make no difference to your results. Some decent wheels might help though.
4. No magic training techniques are required at this level, just some hard work on the bike. I only averaged c. 7.5 hours per week on the bike over the whole year, split down to 1/1.5 hours per day, although I did work very hard in that time. I have scored points at 3rd Cat, so I suppose that means it is possible to get up to 2nd Cat on this level of training if you do enough races. I could certainly train more and better though.
5. Unfortunately, the scare stories are correct and crashes do happen quite a bit. In 3/4 Cat crit racing it seemed unusual for a race to pass without a crash of some sort, albeit usually very minor scrapes, knocks and wallet damage. Over about 15/20 races I did there were a couple of fairly nasty crashes which involved broken hips etc, but they were the exception. I guess it's no different from a lot of 'contact' sports at that rate (NB - I am not saying that cycling is a contact sport!)
5. People shout and swear a lot in 4th Cat races. They are usually people who stay in the pack and place nowhere, so I figured best to ignore them completely.
6. I only ever saw one break get away in a 4th Cat race. That changes very quickly with higher categories involved, but you don't need to sweat about breaks in a 4th Cat race.
7. You will probably start eating chicken salad from time to time. Your friends will observe your weight loss and start to worry about you, and none of your suits will fit.
8. Leg shaving is not compulsory at 3/4 Cat level.

[nammynake]

I quite fancy road racing but have no desire for crits. Do they have 4th Cat road races or are they typically for more advanced riders?

[Birdthom]

There are usually a few 3/4 Cat road races around, and some 2/3/4 as well. With the number of novices out there now I get the impression that clubs are putting on more 4th Cat stuff generally nowadays as it gets the numbers up.

Some road races aren't that different from crits anyway TBH, being based on repeated 5 or 6 mile laps of the same loop.

[nammynake]

I'm built for climbing so would prefer hillier races. I'd probably be destroyed on a flat circuit.

[anonymous-user]

This year I rode up something called "Hellfire Pass", in the rain.

[Birdthom]

nammynake said:

I'm built for climbing so would prefer hillier races. I'd probably be destroyed on a flat circuit.

You'd be surprised. The pace on the flat isn't tough if you are in the bunch, what makes the difference is acceleration from bends and attacking on climbs, however small. It doesn't have to be much of a hill to spread people out, and finish lines often seem to be at the top of climbs rather than on the flat.

[Disco You]

Thanksgiving or the insight Birdthom.

I'll also point people to this very interesting blog about starting racing:
http://firstseasonracing.com

[okgo]

Disco You said:

Thanksgiving or the insight Birdthom.

I'll also point people to this very interesting blog about starting racing:
http://firstseasonracing.com

Who the fk is that fat lump?

[Disco You]

okgo said:

Who the fk is that fat lump?

[okgo]

I thought you knew, no problems, glad you enjoyed the blog, I've not updated it for a while now as races have all but stopped (one left this weekend), but may do a post on winter training in the next week or so.

[bakerstreet]

Very interesting insight to racing. Its not something I've ever considered and doubt I'll ever have a go at. I get a nervous if I meet another cyclist at the lights let alone riding along in a bunch of 50!

Genuine lol at brake hood up the bum! So, based on your experience of this, which is more comfortable. SRAM with here their square tops or more rounded Campag or Shimano?

I'm also interested to read about the bike choice. Is there a wide variety of bikes in the fields you race in? (Steel, carbon, ali?) I have fiends who love their upgrades, but I ride an ali bike and I've been beaten by much older people on bikes with DT shifters ect. ect. Your point and my point being, is its not always about the bike.

[Birdthom]

bakerstreet said:

Very interesting insight to racing. Its not something I've ever considered and doubt I'll ever have a go at. I get a nervous if I meet another cyclist at the lights let alone riding along in a bunch of 50!

Genuine lol at brake hood up the bum! So, based on your experience of this, which is more comfortable. SRAM with here their square tops or more rounded Campag or Shimano?

I'm also interested to read about the bike choice. Is there a wide variety of bikes in the fields you race in? (Steel, carbon, ali?) I have fiends who love their upgrades, but I ride an ali bike and I've been beaten by much older people on bikes with DT shifters ect. ect. Your point and my point being, is its not always about the bike.

A lot of guys even at 3rd/4th cat seem to ride expensive carbon machines and bring spare sets of deep-section wheels etc, but probably the fastest guy I raced with this year was a young lad from my club riding his dad's old 1980s steel-framed bike. It's a nice bike, but it's a long way from being state of the art. He started the season as a newbie 4th Cat and ended up getting his 2nd cat with some very impressive displays. His dad apparently promised him a new bike if he could show that he was serious about his riding. I suspect he is now having to get his chequebook out :-)

It's a bit like car track days - the price of the car bears no correlation to the skill of the driver. In fact the relationship is often inverse.

To answer your first question, Campagnolo are usually least uncomfortable if you are on the receiving end.

[jamcam23]

Out of interest, can I ask roughly what your average speed was in the 3rd/4th Cat races?

On a good day, either solo or with a few friends and depending on our route I'm around 17-19mph. On the flats up to about 26-28mph, sometimes more.

[Birdthom]

jamcam23 said:

Out of interest, can I ask roughly what your average speed was in the 3rd/4th Cat races?

On a good day, either solo or with a few friends and depending on our route I'm around 17-19mph. On the flats up to about 26-28mph, sometimes more.

Varies depending on the course, conditions and standard of riders, but on a flattish course on a decent day the average is usually around 24/25 mph. That is no effort at all if you are in the pack, so it ends up being an hour long group ride with a bunch sprint at the end. Sometimes a lazy bunch of 4ths will only be doing 23 for large parts of the race, which is frankly rubbish. Sometimes though you get a decent pace with some attacks and it is all much more interesting and worthwhile. Those are the races you want, and they are more likely with higher category riders involved.

Sounds like you'd be fine as far as fitness goes.

ETA: the average pace isn't what matters, it's the changes in pace and the ability to turn it up a few notches and then recover on a repeat basis which is what you need.

Edited by Birdthom on Tuesday 1st October 20:22

[MEVILAZY]

Good write up.

I would love to get into racing but work commitments...both anyway and if I get seriously injured...

Okgo, I have been following your blog with interest. I am sure you mentioned the possibility of looking about riding for a team. Any thoughts on 2014?

[jamcam23]

Birdthom said:

ETA: the average pace isn't what matters, it's the changes in pace and the ability to turn it up a few notches and then recover on a repeat basis which is what you need.

Edited by Birdthom on Tuesday 1st October 20:22

Thanks for the reply, it's definitely something I'm keen to do once family life quietens down! I trust my Felt F75 would be adequate? Like you stated, it's probably more like what you can do with your bike than what it actually is..

[jamcam23]

Birdthom said:

ETA: the average pace isn't what matters, it's the changes in pace and the ability to turn it up a few notches and then recover on a repeat basis which is what you need.

Edited by Birdthom on Tuesday 1st October 20:22

Thanks for the reply, it's definitely something I'm keen to do once family life quietens down! I trust my Felt F75 would be adequate? Like you stated, it's probably more like what you can do with your bike than what it actually is..

[okgo]

MEVILAZY said:

Good write up.

I would love to get into racing but work commitments...both anyway and if I get seriously injured...

Okgo, I have been following your blog with interest. I am sure you mentioned the possibility of looking about riding for a team. Any thoughts on 2014?

Yeh, I have not really pushed it yet, the issue is that many of the teams are young lads, and I have little in common with 18 year old lads, so it would be a bit odd. Also I like my club and would feel a bit of a dick ditching them to be honest, its perfectly possible to get to elite without being on a team, if I do manage it then I will see what is out there

[Birdthom]

jamcam23 said:

Thanks for the reply, it's definitely something I'm keen to do once family life quietens down! I trust my Felt F75 would be adequate? Like you stated, it's probably more like what you can do with your bike than what it actually is..

Your bike would be fine, probably very suitable in many ways. Nothing wrong with a decent ali frame and 105. You'd probably get upgraditis on the wheels if you start gunning for results, but see how you get on and whether you like it first. Your wheels might be fine for all I know as I have never ridden those. Even if you did upgrade the wheels there's no need for anything too fancy. Whatever you race has to be reasonably disposable (or insured, as my wheels are now through the Mavic scheme).

[okgo]

Very few races open to 4th cats on the open road, for good reason too, you NEED to learn how to ride in a bunch before you are let out on the roads IMO.

Also going and doing a circuit race would likely show you how far off the pace you are fitness wise.