I just registered for my first road race. It's an 8.4 mile loop I'll complete 4 times. Course can be seen here.
It was just 3 years ago when I decided to run a marathon. Somehow bikes got back in the picture and racing triathlon and then Ironman, and now bike racing. Most of you all have been doing this more than half your lives. Here I am, almost 40 years old, and getting ready for my first road race.
What the fuck am I thinking?
I didn’t grow up around athletics of any sort. I went to a performing arts school. I smoked. I hung out with the potheads. We made fun of athletes and jocks. I exercised because I forever thought I was fat. I watched my weight and took ballet until I was 16. That’s when I discovered drugs and drugs made me thin, so why exercise?
I still rode a bike though. It was the best way to get around.
Damn I am scared. You know why? I haven't practiced a paceline. I haven't ridden in a pack. I ride alone. All the fucking time. I am counting on my bike handling to get me though this.
So pleasegoddon'tletmecrash.
20 comments:
You will ROCK this race - not saying you'll win it, BUT you might. Go in with the right attitude, you definitely got Attitude! Stay in the front third and you will be fine.
KICK BUTT JUDI
Get thee to a group ride. If nothing else it will get you used to having other bikes all around you. Go ride with Amanda and those guys she's been riding with.
Should be quite interesting. I'm sure, like you always do, you'll rock it! ;)
You are going to do great! Try to relax and just enjoy and learn as much as possible. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Everything is going to be ok! Have some fun!!!
You'll do awesome! Just remember that even at your "old" age you can still kick some young ass!
You've got to start sometime and it sure beats the ulternative. I ran my first half marathon when I was 54, my first marathon when I was 55, now at 57 I'm cycling my first Century & back!
You can do it Judi, now get out there are bust a butt!!!
You are going to kick ass! I totally admire you for trying new things!!! :) Go get em girl!
OK, so you're probably not going to kick ass. Best to accept right now that most people get dropped in their first handful of races, not because they're slow, but because they're not confident enough to corner/sprint in the pack at full speed. Whatever you do, don't quit. (You're Judi, I don't need to tell you that!)
Did you watch the "my first bike race" webinar on usac's website?
Relax. Accept that you will crash at some point in your road career, and prepare for how you'll handle that. Ride loose, not tense. Practice cornering and bumping with D. Most importantly, be positive, think good thoughts, and focus on fun. The #1 cause of crashes is people tensing up and freaking out!
All you have to remember in a paceline is to HOLD YOUR LINE and what for others around you.
I have no doubt in my mind that you will do great!!!
You will do great!!
At first I thought this race was up her in Columbus and I was gonna bring my cow bell and come. THen I thought, wow its all cobble streets down there, thats gonna suck, till I finally figured it was out your have south of Dayton
Good Luck!! I will also be trying out road racing for the first time this season. I enjoy reading you blog and look forward the hearing about your first race.
You worked as a bike messenger, didn't you? Trust your instincts! Fear is just a waste of energy! :-)
You are so not gonna crash!!! You will rock that course! u r well rested with a big-ass base - perfect!
Just remember, Judi, bike racers are really annoying. So you're going to want to get away from them really fast. If you breakaway and catch up to the cat 5 men that started before you, don't draft any of them or fall in with their paceline or you'll get penalized. I didn't know about that rule before my first race.
I learned something new about you (performing arts, school, ballet, etc). Cool.
Easier said than done, but try not to over think it, you will do fine. You are a cyclist, you can do this.
I did my first paceline last week (albeit only at about 17-18ish MPH) and did ok. You are waaaaay more experienced than me. Kick ass girl.
The best way to learn and get better is just to do it. I smoked over a pack a day for 10years and I'm out their racing so I'm sure you got the fitness. Just relax in the pack. That's the hardest thing to do. Good luck.
Yeah, maybe you should do a group ride or two. Pack riding is more than bike handling skills...
Can't wait to hear how it went!
I was going to suggest group rides. We have a practice crit every week, which would be great as well. However, the race is in a few days....
#1 Warm up very well. Races frequently take off fast. Be prepared to go fast from the start. My ex got dropped in the first 50 meters of her first race. Get thy ass clipped in and in gear quickly.
#2 Hold your line and follow the people in front of you. If they go fast through a corner, you can as well.
#3 Sit in the pack and conserve energy. This is not a tri. Drafting is allowed. Draft like the folks at Ironman Florida!
#4 Sit in and draft until the last possible moment. The win and placing are decided by how you cross the finish line. Where you are 100 meters out doesn't mean anything. Wait. Be patient. Sprint at the very end.
#5 Have fun!
...ah, first time poster here...@ least in a long damn time !!!...
...just remember, be polite...that's simply "HOLD YER LINE !!!", not "HOLD YER FUCKING LINE, YOU BITCH !!!...it's a sponsorship thingy...bwaha...
...you're not only gonna be fine but at the finish you'll be wondering what you were so worried about...beforehand, deep breaths, talk n' mingle w/ teammates who've "been there"...maybe dom gives ya a little shoulder massage so ya don't carry upper-body tension into the race...
...pay attention, figure out who's wheel's to ride & who's squirrely that you should stay away from & just play to your own strengths...
...it's pretty much a given that there will be chicks who'll hammer so hard from the start that you'll figure you'll never match their pace...don't worry about 'em, it's cat4...
...it's a 'bikesgonewild written guarantee' that if you stay focused & keep working w/ other strong focused riders, that you'll catch & even drop some of those "rabbits"...
...have fun out there but remember, you have no friends in a sprint finish...
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