Jshort’s bike thread
- Thread starter jShort
- Start date
What are some good ones to try? I've been wanting to jump into one or two this year as well, or try a crit. I was thinking about Somerville, but it was kind of far and too short for the drive down. I kind of want to do this this weekend.
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
The Central Park races can get a little nutty. All of the fields are on the course at the same time, doing different numbers of laps at different paces, along with breakaways to add to the chaos.
If the training series at Sussex is still happening, that would be my recommendation for dipping your toe in the pool.
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
All Cat 5 crits will be 30 minutes doe. bummer the HG A ride isn't around anymore, that was always the best drop group ride in the area to start dipping your toes into aggressive road environment.
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
1. It's ridiculous fun. I haven't done a road race in several years (last one was the Cat 3 race at Colts Neck, I think 2012) and I miss it all the time.
2. The art of staying at the front, but not being literally at the front, is vital. And not easy, as you note.
5. The closer you are to the front, the less you need to brake for the turns. The yo-yo effect gets pretty serious when you move to higher-category racing.
9. Being in the right place when the selection is happening is the biggest factor for success. When the train is leaving the station, there's not a lot of opportunity to get on if you're in the wrong position. And most of the people in the race are in the wrong position.
11. Glad it was a good first experience.
So, you spent 30+ minutes pinning numbers UPSIDE DOWN?!?!?!
Funny. As I was standing around waiting for the Masters to wrap up, an official was like, hey dummy, your numbers are upside down! I asked him if it mattered and he said if I wanted the race to count, it did. I told him it took me half an hour! He said you better hurry up and fix it then.
The re-pinning only took 5 minutes once I had some practice.
I was waiting for someone to notice
Just realized the lady says "racing at 45mph" just before you come on, lol.
The pros sprinting probably come close to that.
echappy
Active Member
The Watermelon Crit is this weekend, I believe. Really well-run event, though the course was a bit bumpy the last time I did it.
The Jersey Devil is in early August (35 miles for cat-5), and it's probably the hilliest race within one hour of Central NJ. Also have fond memories of this race as well.
nothing wrong with that. I'm leaning toward MTB, as road racing seems riskier the older I get.
NJ has a lot of ITTs, and each has a EMX division, with a EMX division championship as well.
http://www.njbikeracing.com/wp/time-trial-cup/
https://www.bikereg.com/theeddy
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
I did this one, since it is much less of a crit and much more of a circuit, i felt better about it. more about the climb instead of the fast cornering.
@rick43284382048302, you should look into doing that as well. its in your backyard!
rick81721
Lothar
Is that the one where they go up dutchtown-zion and loop around sunset?
Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
I guess so, there is two “corners”, and no one really was trying to make any moves on them because no advantage would be gained. The other two were uphill.
echappy
Active Member
up Grandview and down Dutchtown. Segment (actually created by yours truly) here
the descent can be a bit gnarly within a group, due to a few blind corners, but it gets better once you've been down it a few times. I hit 48-49 on it. Thankfully, it has smooth tarmac (or it did when I raced it in 2016).
rick81721
Lothar
Ha that's the easy way. I go down dutch zion all the time, but can never hit anything higher than 42 mph. They repaved the top a year or 2 ago, it's perfect now... bottom not so much.
100 percent different with a group