This is my first year participating in road races, and my first road race is the 17th, and this is all new to me. The race I’m participating in is mostly a fun race (no points), but it’s still a bit scary for a complete novice. I have received some advice, such as don’t take people yelling at you to ‘hold your line’ personally, and to try not to collapse the group on a corner, but can anyone offer any additional advice? Should I try to stick near the back for my first few races? I just don’t want to cause a crash!
I’m considering doing a 20K time trial the day before. Good or bad idea?
Should have done some group rides with patient folks to give you tips. I know the weather has sucked in Calgary lately, but I’m sure there have been regular rides.
As for advice; hold your line, look ahead a bunch of places so you don’t have to make any sudden speed or direction changes, don’t stare at the wheel ahead of you, try not to half wheel, concentrate and try to relax.
Time trial? I say go for it. You should be able to recover from a sustained effort enough to do a road race. Make sure you cool down, try to get a recovery ride in and make sure you warm up well for the race. Maybe if you do the TT you won’t be feeling your oats in the road race as much and you’ll end up being more relaxed and have a better experience.
Being at the back is the most dangerous place. If someone goes down or fails to hold the line you’re toast with no time to react. Also you will spend a lot of extra energy whenever the peleton goes aroung a corner due to the rubberband effect.
Personally I try to be third to fifth wheel (if I get to pick) with the odd spell at the pointy end to earn a win with respect. You avoid potential crashes, can react to a move by another cyclist but you’re not ending up doing too much work at the front.
Find a group to practice with. Ask around your local bikeshops, they usually have a ride once a week where you can learn to ride close to others. A lot of it is about learning to hold your line and not touch your brakes. Communicate with others around you and, yes, don’t take it too personally if you get yelled at. There is usually a person or two in the group who will decide to dictate to others how the race should be run in terms of safety and fairness (strangly to their benifit).
Late reply, but both days were cancelled because of snow, so I haven’t been lucky enough to get out for a proper race yet. Sounds like I won’t have another opportunity until mid-May when we’re in B.C. for a training camp.
