Frist Road Race Ever!!

[aicabsolut]

To clarify, look at this pic. This is a training ride, and not a race, but it doesn't matter if it's a double paceline or 3 wide or 4 wide or whatever. (We had a tighter, rotating line on another road, but I guess everyone was working too hard then to take pics). Even if we got as close together as possible, we would hit elbows, shoulders, hips, etc. before we could easily lock bars together. There are many good times to be in the drops, and I think crit racing should largely be done in the drops, but many people prefer to be on the hoods for a variety of reasons, and that's ok, if they can handle their bike well.

[smilingcat]

oops! on a road race, hood is fine and you are not jockying and bumping into one another. On a crit, I prefer (most all of the time) to be in the drops. And no, my bars do not go way past my shoulders. They are 40cm bars. Can't find 38cm ones that fit right. So I compromised with a 40cm bars.

on a long climb, I prefer to be on the hood.

On flat, taking my turn in the rotation, I'm on the hood.

Fast technical descent with hairpin turns, down in the drops.

And yes you're right about not all races being ridden on/in the drops.

thanks for clarification being needed.

[Grog]

I never raced but I've trained with lots of racers and we rode in pacelines which were much closer than those pictured on that photo. About half that distance I'd say, I could easily put my hand on the next person's shoulder/neck area.

Some new-ish riders would make me quite nervous and I instinctively went down into my drops. Even if my bars are narrow, I guess handlebars could lock if the other person arrives at an angle. In any case I preferred to be safe than sorry.

In crits obviously it'd be all in the drops.

One thing I've found in riding with tight packs is: please don't stop pedaling. It sends me the message that you're going to stop, makes me feather my brakes and creates a chain-reaction throughout the whole group. If I feathered my brakes for whatever reason I would keep moving my feet even if it was without actually putting pressure on the pedals... or be yelled at by our coach!! (Unless you ARE stopping of course but that's another matter.)

[Eden]

Drops in crits absolutely. Hoods are fine for road races, especially the slower part. I do drops in road races when it gets fast and tight and for descending and cornering of course.

BUT - as far as hooking handlebars goes.... it is possible. I've never hooked them in a race, but I have done so doing bumping drills. It really depends on the size of the riders. I'm small and its not really all that hard for a larger riders drops to slide just under my tops without our bodies making too much contact to keeping it from happening. In this scenario I'm not sure that being in the drops is really any protection though.

[SheFly]

I agree - in a road race, I am usually only in the drops for a fast descent, tricky corner and the final sprint. in a crit - I am in the drops the whole race.

If you are doing a road race (which you are), I wouldn't worry about snagging bars with someone. A good thing to remember is that your elbows will stick out further than your bars. I said earlier that you need to protect your space - sometimes, that means both hands on the hoods with elbos sticking out to the sides!

As I have also mentioned, don't be afraid of the incidental contact WHEN (not IF) it happens. I have even gone so far as to stick my hand out if someone is encroaching on my space... You will stay upright.

And I will stand by my claim of not eating/drinking when you are on the front of a race. Around these parts, you would likely get shot for that. If you are near the front, fine. Remember that at the Cat 4/beginner level bike handling skills are not always great. I have seen a woman take down a field because she couldn't get her water bottle back into the cage. Don't be that person.

SheFly

[Eden]

I don't think we'd shoot your for eating or drinking on the front here - but we don't encourage it either.... we do tell our newbies to save it for the back of the paceline.

oh.... if you really try to sprint on your hoods you are likely to go out of control and crash yourself if not others too..... so yes always in the drops for a sprint.

BTW - back to the original topic of this thread.... Hey Wahine! was your race this weekend? (the Sublime Sublimity?) How did it go, if so?

[Wahine]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and words or support.

I had a good race. I was so nervous beforehand that I thought I might puke. The category was 31 strong and we stayed in a big group for about 5 to 6 miles. But the course was very hilly, no flats and the hills steep so the group shattered pretty quickly. I thought I was going to die on the first lap. My goal was to stay with the group as long as possible and then just finish the race without crashing. I fell of the back of the lead group at about mile 6. From what I understand, about 7 women stayed together at the front for most of the race. I was in 11th place for most of it but I hooked up with one girl and we worked together to reel in another 2 riders after they fell off the front pack. Then another girl cuaght us and we were a group of 5. I managed to pull ahead with about 3 miles left and held that for a 9th place finish.

The last 100m were... I am not exaggerating here... a 17% grade to the finish. It was awful!!! But I finished and didn't crash. But I didn't get as much riding in a big group experience as I wanted. When I finished I was so out of breath I couldn't speak for about 3 min. Then I went out to eat a giant bacon cheeseburger!!

So yes, I will live to race again. This type of racing will seriously boost my tri times I think.