Conference noted::bicycle

As a former runner (slow) I used to enjoy participating in the running
races.   They were a good place to mark your progress and provided some
incentive for improving.  Also the T-shirts were great!   In the running
events you could compete with putting yourself in life threatening
situations.   I would love to recapture the feeling by participating
in citizen bike races.   I just want to register,  show up,  ride as
hard as I can,  get the adrenaline rush from competing, and not
put my life at risk from Greg Lemond/cat wannabe's...  Oh yeah
I want the T-shirt too :-) !    So ... is this possible?  Do 
citizen bike races capture the same feeling as running races?

-Larry

    Ya they do all that exhilerating stuff... Don't think that idiots
    are banned from public races. In fact, I've them to be more "crash-
    prone" than 4-5 CAT races. They are highly competitive. You get a
    tremendous cross-section of talent and experience.
    
    Some races are better than others, some more popular, some safer, some
    better organized, etc... It's getting late in the season, however. I
    know Manchester, NH is coming up (public cat.) but it's a very hilly
    course. T-Shirt, well organized, good turnout. Lots of descents, roads
    are rough in a lot of places... I've been in the last 3 with no
    crashes, in public or 4-5, but it has the potential. 
    
    I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for the Hollis NH race (hope they
    hold it). There are notes in here on that race. This one's been a
    crash-fest at times. 
    
    Chip

    
    
    
    Don't let the term "citizen races" fool you. They can be 
    very competitive. 
    
    >in citizen bike races.   I just want to register,  show up,  ride as
    >hard as I can,  get the adrenaline rush from competing, and not
    >put my life at risk from Greg Lemond/cat wannabe's...  Oh yeah
    
    While there are no cat wannabes, there are often cat usedtobes 
    (did I just coin that phrase?) that are faster than your "average"
    citizen... and faster than a lot of the cat IV/Vs out there. 
    Give it a try!
    
    
    doug
     
    

    actually they are cat usedtowases
    
    :-)
    
    ed

I don't know about other so called "citizen" races, but this year's Tour De
Lowell Senior Mens 'C' (30-35) class was controlled and dominated by a few
clubs.  These guys are definitely a few notches above your average
recreational/fitness rider.  They ride together often and are usually
made up of ex-USCF CAT 2 and 3 riders.  I wouldn't be surprised if there were a
few licensed riders in the peloton, as well.  They work together as a team and
make it difficult for an individual rider to move to the front and stay there.

If you do get to the front, they won't let you into the pace line after
you've pulled them along for a minute or so.

It's still a lot of fun, though.  Each time you race, you'll learn something
new.  It's always interesting to gauge yourself against other riders to see
where you fit in.

-Buddy

    Buddy, here's a hint for that stuff... If you do get out front and they
    don't let you back in here's what you do;
    
    a) Stay on the front and slow it right down.
    
    b) Talk to 'em - Of course, if you opt for "a" first they'll should
       start the conversation. :-)
    
    c) Your frustration will defintely be shared by other riders. Talk to a
       few of them (or better yet - talk to some folks you know prior to
       the start) during the race and form something up yourself.
    
    d) Jump and drop the pack early! :-)
    
    e) Do you carry a pump?
    
    f) Mace is good for breaking up a paceline...
    
    g) Try and be their last man...
    
     Chip

    
>    a) Stay on the front and slow it right down.
    
Yup, tried this.  We were only doing 22 mph, so I brought it up to 24 mph,
but after I tired I slowed it down and they just passed me.  This happened
a few times.

>    b) Talk to 'em - Of course, if you opt for "a" first they'll should
>       start the conversation. :-)

It was a quiet bunch - nobody said a word. 
   
>    c) Your frustration will defintely be shared by other riders. Talk to a
>       few of them (or better yet - talk to some folks you know prior to
>       the start) during the race and form something up yourself.
    
>    d) Jump and drop the pack early! :-)

If I can get enough of my friends to ride it next year I might suggest
breaking away after the first 5 miles.  It is a pretty short race.
    
>    e) Do you carry a pump?
 
Yes, I saw "Breaking Away" too :-)
   
>    f) Mace is good for breaking up a paceline...
    
:-)

>    g) Try and be their last man...
    
I could try this one.  Thanks for the pointers,

-Buddy

    <- BTW, if they want to control it let them. Just be their last gap and
       let the riders rotate in front of you. You may get called a wheel
       sucker, but hey... Sticks and Stones... :-)
    
       Which club was it?
    
       Chip

>       Which club was it?
    
There were actually two, I think.  It wasn't CCB or NEBC.  The jerseys were
white with the name "Images" across the front.  Tony's cyclery in NH rings
a bell.

re.9 The team that you are refering to is Team Bonk.

This is an interesting thread as this was my first race.  I had not ridden since
I was about 15 and just got into the sport.

I did not find it difficult to ride in the group and to move my way in and 
around the front.  I rode in and around the front until the very end of the
race.  Next year I will be stronger, but what can you say about a first year.

I thought that there was no effective team work by any of the clubs that were
in attendance.  This included team bonk, NHCC, CBC and NEBC.

I finished 22nd just off the main pack, I was quite happy with it being my 
first race and first year riding.

Pete G. (I won't attempt his last name with out it being in front of me) who 
won the race has been quite pumped this year and was working very hard leading
up to the race.  He moved to CAT 4 a little while after the TDL.

All in all I had quite a bit of fun and was happy with my results and certainly 
plan on doing it next year.  Of course then it will be on a Ti bike so of course
my times and place will be better ;^)....   And next year I get to be at 
the bottom of the age grouping instead of the top (Moving from 30-34 to 35-??).

Scott