circuit vs. crit?

[ehirsch83]

Ok, so I think I am doing my first Omnium this weekend(they are racing cat 1-4 women together, so for once I won't be getting dropped by the cat 5 men, maybe i can hang on somewhere)

Anyways, I have always done crits and have never done a circuit. According to the map, it looks just like a crit except that the course is longer. Is there any other difference?

I am also TTing, which I have never done and don't have aero bars!, but it is only a 4.8mile tt course, so I am just going to go have fun.

am I in over my head? I just really started to race so I am looking at this as experience and training.(did a couple crits in albuquerque with the women and held my own then moved back to FL and I have onyl done 2, and each of those were with the boys and I have gotten dropped royally in each!)

[spokewench]

A circuit race is much more like a road race. For instance, they usually do not pull you from a circuit race like they pull you from a crit. I.e. if you are lapped on a crit, they will often pull you and make you stop unless they have said ahead of time that they will not be pulling. crit usually have primes, circuit races usually do not. and, yes, the circle course that you do several times is usually longer than a crit's circle course.

It does not hurt to race this, it will be great experience. Beware, if you have been racing with the men, men and women often race differently. Men will work and take turns working at the front. Women often do not work together as well so watch out that you don't get put out on the front to do all the work. If they push you to the front and then won't go by you, slow down! They eventually will go by you, but beware, they will use that for an opportunity to jump you, so be well aware of what is going on behind you so you can get up to speed as they try to jump you.

spoke

[ehirsch83]

Thanks Spoke!
That is what I figured, but I just wanted to make sure! I will let everyone know how it all goes:-)

[aicabsolut]

With a TT that short, I assume it'll be pretty technical. I think my best results this year (collegiate season) were in TTs and I don't have a TT bike, nor do aerobars fit on my road bike. Even though it's open, if there are a lot of turns, the aerobars aren't going to be helping people that much either. Try to ride on the tops and crouch down low instead of holding the drops when you can to be a little more aero. Strip your bike down. If you take a bottle, put it on the seat tube instead of downtube. Supposedly, that saves you as much drag as an aerohelmet.

Listen to the rules they tell you at the start of the circuit. I've seen some that they run basically like crits but they technically aren't because the course is too long. Others follow the general rules spokewrench said.

Have fun!!

[spokewench]

Listen to the rules they tell you at the start of the circuit. I've seen some that they run basically like crits but they technically aren't because the course is too long. Others follow the general rules spokewrench said.

Have fun!!

Yep! And HEY, I'm a Wench Not a "Wrench"! I'm not really mechanically inclined at all so if I was Spokewrench that would just not fit!

spoke as in mechanically challenged wench

[aicabsolut]

whoops. sometimes you read what your mind thinks should be there.