Tour of Walla Walla

[Nanci]

Racing sounds so fun! Do you (most people) do all three things, time trial, road race and crit, or is it more usual to have a specialty?

Nanci

[Pink Kona]

Racing sounds so fun! Do you (most people) do all three things, time trial, road race and crit, or is it more usual to have a specialty?

Nanci

Racing is fun. I highly recommend it to those adrenaline junkies out there.

Most people do all three types of races - although it seems these days some specialize in one area vs. another. This is where the team work enters the equation. Say you are a super good climber but have a terrible sprint and okay time trial. Then say someone else on your team is an okay climber, good sprinter and good at the time trial. At this race, the time trial was first which determines where people start in the general classfication. It usually shakes down who's in good form at that particular race and then team strategy is based off that. So for instance, the next stage is a hilly road race. Well instead of the really good climber doing their thing and beating every one up the climb, they shepard the person who placed well in the GC and fight off any threatening attacks. It's just like the Tour de France - except not as epic with 3000+ km over three weeks.

The people who do well in the GC are those who are a jack of all trades. But they rely on the strengths of their teammates to help them through the toughest climbs and the fastest sprints. Does that make sense?

[Quillfred]

Hey, good for you locals!

Still learning the difference between the different race types. I believe TT is all out speed with special HB, wheels and frames and more of a solo affair?

RR is more of a team event and longer? Still not sure what a brevet is either. I'll do a search and see what turns up.

Carole

[Eden]

Hey, good for you locals!

Still learning the difference between the different race types. I believe TT is all out speed with special HB, wheels and frames and more of a solo affair?

RR is more of a team event and longer? Still not sure what a brevet is either. I'll do a search and see what turns up.

Carole

Indeed a TT is all about you against the clock and going as fast as you can. For us at the lower levels a lot of special equipment doesn't have to be used. Some even do TT's without aerobars, but at the beginner level that is the one piece of techonology that will make the most difference. At higher levels they use not only special bikes with aerodynamic frames and solid rear wheels, but also special clothing and helmets all designed to make a single rider slice through the air more cleanly. Those things can shave seconds or 10ths of seconds off for a really good rider and at higher levels that can make the difference, but for us beginners just getting stronger is more important. TT's around here run about 5 to 25 miles in distance for us newbies -25 is more rare and pretty darn long.

Road Racing is a team sport. You can race without a team and if you are very strong even be sucessful at the low levels where the distances are fairly short, but it is a lot more fun to do with a team if you ask me. I'm thinking that the really really strong riders who can solo victory any cat4 race they enter get mandatory upgrades fairly quickly unless they intentionally hold back, so team work will get more and more important as the season goes on and the field evens out a bit more. Cat 4 road races usually run from about 24 to 50 miles.