So who here races?

[usedtobefast]

Most UK racing at a grass roots level is crits on circuits or longer laps of well known road courses, where the locals have got used to the idea that every two or three weeks some skinny guys whizz around on bikes for 2-3 hours.

It is just too difficult to safely organise a point to point, especially when cycle races are very resented (even where people are used to it), and there are only so many people willing to marshall, so it makes sense to do laps so you can use the same marshall 6/7 times rather than have 6 different guys.

None of these are reasons to look down your nose at someone, it's just practicalities.

here in Southern California that sounds ok. point to point is a rare here too.

 

[craig1985]

When the Men´s Elite National Champion shows up to your relatively local XC race, somebody is sure to make a video.

Konnerud Scott Cup 2010, Norway

Most of the video is focused on a small ravine jump we got to jump each lap. Watch the 1:00 point....the dude goes down hard, so whomever mixed the vid had show it about 20 times...

I thought it was a pretty good vid...not so sure about the soundtrack though.

Cheers

The guy who crashed, did he break his collarbone? It looked it hurt. Which one were you in the vid?

 

[For The World]

I used to race as a junior up until I was 18, and then sickness and a nasty car crash ended my first stint in cycling. It's taken me over 10 years to get back into it, but I've started riding at least 150km a week (trying to avoid junk miles as much as possible) on my single speed with plans to start racing by mid November in Sydney. I wanted to have about 1000km in my legs by the time I start, but I think i'll have to settle for about 600km, and just get beaten by all the guys in D grade, which i'll have to get used to dealing with after i was racing A & B grade as a junior.

I gotta say though, there's nothing like riding for hours in a light rain, passing a bunch of other people while you're driving hard with that "i wanna win" attitude, and getting that "hey, i'm getting a little bit quicker!" feeling in the back of your mind. Oh racing how I miss thee.

I'll need to scan some photos of my junior "glory days". I was tall and gangly - sort of like Patrick Jonker.

 

[craig1985]

Hey goodluck with your comeback, I'm sure you will fly up through the grades.

 

[flyor64]

That looks like a fun course!! I've been enjoying riding the MTB since the start of off season. I used to race in the mid 90's, when we had 120-150 man fields. I had forgotten how much fun singletrack can be!

Yeah it was a killer course...probably best course of the series. Lots of everything...singletrack, some fireroad, nasty mud, swoopy stuff, couple of jumps, some decent punchy climbs. I enjoyed it thoroughly

The guy who crashed, did he break his collarbone? It looked it hurt. Which one were you in the vid?

To be honest I have no idea. I don't know him even though I think we're on the same team. I can check around and see if anyone knows.

I came through there earlier, around mid 30 second point. Blink and you'll miss me (I'm riding a white 29er SS if that helps!)

 

[TexPat]

I've tried them all since the 80's--BMX, road racing, crits, tt, mtb and cyclocross. I'm bad at all of them!
Here's me getting my doors blown off by a NZ rep in XC.

 

[Greyhound Velo]

In keeping with the cyclocross theme, here's me in a local race a couple of years ago. I actually finished well inside the top 10, but was relegated to last for taking a drink in the pit at about the halfway point. I hate rule nazis .

 

[Archibald]

just read this whole thread - excellent work folks!

haven't raced for a number of years, but it was MTB, so not sure if appropriate for this forum section... Dirt Crits and Enduros (6, 12 and 24hrs) along with a few MTB marathon events.
Have taken to the tarmac since moving to the UK. Ridden some sportives and looking at having a crack at road crits in an upcoming winter series here in the UK...

but racing (MTB) shots...

at Lysterfield at a 6hr enduro

Westgate Park - Kona Dirt Crits

 

[blutto]

No, it really is because he threatened to fly down, rape my wife and kill me. It kind of pi$$ed me off, and many of the regulars here were a bit taken back by his antics. I guess threatening to fly down to someone's city, rape someone's wife, and then kill them is kind of extreme to some people. I don't get it...

...huh?...kinda leaves one breathless doesn't it...

...tough crowd in these parts eh...

Cheers

blutto

 

[TexPat]

Huh? Relevance?

 

[PotentialPro]

Two more races down today. First race was in an 8 man break that lapped the field. My teammate won the race. Second raced missed the move (heck, who am I kidding, I didn't see the break) as I was at the back dawdling along trying to find my legs. Off to a bbq now to celebrate a friends Masters degree!

Couple of phone pics from my wife.

I was sitting at the back of the 35+ race with you on this one, my teammate made the break and finished third. DeMarchi was too strong this day. I came in 14th. Dont know why they didnt finish lapping us to setup the leadouts. The final Ontario GP was a much better race, and a top ten in the 40's directly behind your sprinter, Glennon.

 

[craig1985]

slowoldman, what sort of average speeds do you get for your crits? Depending on the course it's between 41-43km/h on average.

 

[slowoldman]

slowoldman, what sort of average speeds do you get for your crits? Depending on the course it's between 41-43km/h on average.

Crits have averaged about 43-45km/h (that's about 26-27.5 MPH right?). Although I have to say I am the worst one to ask as my computer hasn't been working for most of the season. (You have to go as fast as the other guys so computers don't really matter)Most of our crit courses here are pretty flat. Big races like MBGP and DPGP will get a little faster and both are on tougher courses.

 

[craig1985]

Crits have averaged about 43-45km/h (that's about 26-27.5 MPH right?). Although I have to say I am the worst one to ask as my computer hasn't been working for most of the season. (You have to go as fast as the other guys so computers don't really matter)Most of our crit courses here are pretty flat. Big races like MBGP and DPGP will get a little faster and both are on tougher courses.

Thanks

As for me, I did my TTT today, and I lost my time trialing and team time trialing virginity today (wait, does that make sound dirty? ), and we were in a disadvantage to a lot of other teams when we only had three riders on our team and the rest had five. We got smashed though, the top three teams caught and passed us, and we came in 6:34 behind the winners.

It was 40km and the winning team did it in 52:21, so we came in at 58:55.

 

[slowoldman]

Thanks

As for me, I did my TTT today, and I lost my time trialing and team time trialing virginity today (wait, does that make sound dirty? ), and we were in a disadvantage to a lot of other teams when we only had three riders on our team and the rest had five. We got smashed though, the top three teams caught and passed us, and we came in 6:34 behind the winners.

It was 40km and the winning team did it in 52:21, so we came in at 58:55.

If you puked or came close to it, you had a good TT. That's my yardstick.

 

[flicker]

I would never race. It is hard and dangerous.

 

[simo1733]

I still race now and then.Last race 3 months ago and I just finnished in the bunch.I am 46 now and there is no age group racing in this part of the world so it isn't getting any easier.

 

[Michele]

Age group isnt that fair, in my part of world.

 

[Race Radio]

Age group isnt that fair, in my part of world.

I raced in Italy as a kid and now do GF's there in the summer. I do not recall much in the way of masters racing. What is the structure like these days?

 

[Michele]

GF events are something different as you ride all togheter and then you just see the different categories once you're arrived on the overall ranking.

As for other races like criterium/circuits, you ride divided by age groups which mean that sunday riders sometimes race against ex pro/U23 guys which isnt exactly very fair (imo).

 

[Race Radio]

GF events are something different as you ride all togheter and then you just see the different categories once you're arrived on the overall ranking.

As for other races like criterium/circuits, you ride divided by age groups which mean that sunday riders sometimes race against ex pro/U23 guys which isnt exactly very fair (imo).

We have the same issue here in California. Masters races are 70% of the racing while the juniors are sparse. Former Pro's abusing the weekend warriors. The good thing is there are often multiple age groups which makes it more diverse. As I remember in Italy there were only 2-3 age groups, which can make it even harder.

 

[Michele]

Yeah, right.
Honestly I dont remember the exact ages right now, but usually it's 3 groups riding for each race.

 

[craig1985]

Finished off the team racing series with a DNF. It was a 90 minute crit on a hard hilly circuit, I was going alright until the 70 minute mark, the top riders really put the hammer down and it was bye bye Craigos (one of my many nicknames). Considering I'm up against former Olympic and World Champions, you either have it or you don't, and it was clearly the latter.

 

[For The World]

In two weeks time I'll have a new license, new club colours to wear, and a ncie whack of miles in my legs. It's a shame that i'll miss out on 3 days of training this week because of camping. I hate missing out on training.

Who here is going to be racing on the track?

 

[craig1985]

Jonathan Cantwell won the local A-grade crit on the weekend. I had a **** ride, dehydration and a bit of cramp really killed me.