I'm 15, and I'm trying to get into some cycling only stuff (I've done plenty of triathlons). I was thinking that this Driveway Race Series would be a good way to get into it, but was unsure of the pace of the race. Can somebody give me an idea of how far, and at what speed the Cat 4/5 race is. Thanks

The 4/5 is an approximately 30 minute race (typically a little shorter than that, I think). At the last 4/5 race (long course), I was with the main group throughout until being dropped a bit on the last lap. Average speed on my computer said 25.0 mph. Don't know if this seems fast or slow to you, but give it a try - it's a blast!

Thats a bit fast under normal conditions for me, but in a big pack, i should be able to hang. I'll probobly come out and check it out in 1-2 weeks

I have a tri bike, with road bars (with hoods and everything) and aerobars on that for tt and the triathlons i compete in, should i take the aerobars off before racing?

A 25mph average should be no problem if you have someone's wheel (no half-wheeling, or you will crash when the guy in front of you swerves!). If you let much more than a wheel-sized gap form in front of you, then it starts to get much, much harder to stay in the pack (especially if you've been hanging around near the back), so you have to stay on your toes and be willing to jump hard to keep up as gaps open. Unless you're very, very strong, it's nearly impossible to catch back on after you've been dropped (I've only managed that once, at a different venue, and it was one of the hardest efforts I've ever done), so don't get dropped.

Don't get lulled into thinking, "This is easy; I could go a lot harder" and then go off the front. You'll burn out, get caught, then get spit out the back. (Do you wonder how I know this? :-)

Don't grab big handfuls of brakes as you get to the turns. If you need to slow down, easy does it, and call out "SLOWING!" or "BRAKES!" so that you don't drop-kick the guys behind you (i.e., you slow suddenly, they hit your back wheel, and they crash, and you get a chain reaction pileup).

HOLD YOUR LINE in the turns. You'll have guys close beside you on either side. Just keep your eyes up and look through the turn and you'll be fine.

Yes, you have to take the aerobars off to race a crit.

If you've never raced before, it's well worth going to the clinic beforehand to learn how to ride in a paceline, etc.

If I manage to make it (still on the fence for this week), I'll be the bearded guy in a Fat Tire jersey on an aluminum Specialized. See you there (maybe)!

Posted By on 12 Apr 2009 08:40 PM
I have a tri bike, with road bars (with hoods and everything) and aerobars on that for tt and the triathlons i compete in, should i take the aerobars off before racing?

Take the "Clip Ons" OFF.

Another note for a tri-bike in crit racing, I don't think disc wheels are allowed either, if you have them on the bike.

I am getting prepared to try this for the first time in the next month or so, too! I have been out to watch and it looks like a blast.

I plan to start at the very back of the group off the line and stay at the very back of the pack until I can gain some experience (and see if I can even keep up at that speed!....I was guessing ~20mph, but 25 is kinda fast for an average.

ptcary, I would strongly suggest re-thinking the "staying at the back" strategy... While that might seem to make things easier, the reality is that the back of the field in any of these races is much more difficult to hang onto than being well up in the pack...

Not sure how strong a rider you are, but for most folks, chasing back on 2-4 times usually does you in. Get well up in the pack and you can catch your breath for a few seconds each lap in the draft...It's quite a bit easier to maintain the speed if you're not yo-yo'ing at the back of the field. Not easy mind you, but easier... ;-)


It's a bit unnerving at first, but you're most likely safer in the pack as well. The crash that happened on the first lap of the 4/5 race last night was at the rear third of the field and I got caught behind it and lost the pack, so my race was over way too soon...

Posted By on 17 Apr 2009 12:09 PM
ptcary, I would strongly suggest re-thinking the "staying at the back" strategy... While that might seem to make things easier, the reality is that the back of the field in any of these races is much more difficult to hang onto than being well up in the pack...

Not sure how strong a rider you are, but for most folks, chasing back on 2-4 times usually does you in. Get well up in the pack and you can catch your breath for a few seconds each lap in the draft...It's quite a bit easier to maintain the speed if you're not yo-yo'ing at the back of the field. Not easy mind you, but easier... ;-)


It's a bit unnerving at first, but you're most likely safer in the pack as well. The crash that happened on the first lap of the 4/5 race last night was at the rear third of the field and I got caught behind it and lost the pack, so my race was over way too soon...

I'm outta shape since I broke my foot last year and have never raced criterium before, so the pack would be scary place for me. I want to try the back for the first few times just to see how long I can last at 25 mph! ....and I gotta stay outta the way of you guys until I get more experience.

I know you are skeptical, but having tried it both ways, and having data presented in an article in Road Bike Action sometime last year to back me up, I can tell you that it is much harder to stay in contact when you ride at the back then when you ride near the front. The pack is kind of like a slinky going around the track. The front end changes speed, and the reaction gets passed through the field to the back, which then has to accelerate a lot harder to react as the pack accelerates away. For another analogy, the tip of a whip moves a lot faster than the handle.

Riders at the back have to accelerate harder, more often, than riders up near the front, so strap on your brass ones and get up there. When you're near the front, out of the wind, 25mph isn't as hard as it sounds.

I think I may finally come out and race this thursday been doing school stuff and all that, I'll take the aerobars off, and wont use deep dishes(I've got a sweet pair of old Rolf Vector Pro's I'll use). I'll probobly do the clinic, although I got some good practice riding in a group this weekend at Shiner (we had a group of about 20, and we averaged about 21 for the first 30 miles), i think I'll be able to keep the pace if I stay with the pack