VA racing tips and tricks

[Nibali]

Thanks for the replies Underachiever and Spinnekop. And thanks for actually answering the question and not attacking me

 

I agree with the statement that you have to make the racing, whether it is for getting respect in the group or feeling that you are achieving something. Me, well I'm still making my way to the front groups and learning as much as I can at the moment. I'm currently 23, so I've got a good few years to go before I'm joining you Vets.

 

For me, racing at the moment is trying to stay in the front quarter of the group, picking up when the pace is lifted to shell people and when it is just a tester to hurt the legs (i.e when I should dig in and bleed), making the selection so to speak. All in all just enjoying myself out there.

 

Some day I hope to be able to be strong enough to work at the front of the group, but I know that will come with time. For now, I'm the youngster who will try and hurt you on a climb

[milky4130]

I race(d) VA as a solo. I've never podiumed in a road race, never successfully broke away, but when I missed the break & all teams are represented I work my ass off to try & bridge & sometimes find it difficult to explain this to the other solo guys who are just happy to finish with the bunch. If an attempt break goes off I'll try & go with, because I want to be part of the break in case we survive to the end, but alas I got kaked out a few times for interfering with "team's race tactics", I'm there for my ambitions & not for teams to dictate terms to me.

[JA-Q001]

I race(d) VA as a solo. I've never podiumed in a road race, never successfully broke away, but when I missed the break & all teams are represented I work my ass off to try & bridge & sometimes find it difficult to explain this to the other solo guys who are just happy to finish with the bunch. If an attempt break goes off I'll try & go with, because I want to be part of the break in case we survive to the end, but alas I got kaked out a few times for interfering with "team's race tactics", I'm there for my ambitions & not for teams to dictate terms to me.

 

I also raced solo last year and had to work hard for every podium, but I also had to teach myself to be very patient, to go for the right moves, at the right time.

 

No "team" should have such a big block on their shoulder to be able to tell you what you should be doing in Vets racing. If any teams give any individual a hard time, because that rider is racing his race the way he wants, we aren't the pro peleton.

[tombeej]

Hi Nibali

 

You asked earlier about how things happen with racing in crosswinds (with terms like 'echelons' and 'the gutter').

 

The guys at Cycling Tips have a few good posts on crosswind tactics, which I've listed below. Enjoy

 

How to race in crosswinds

 

Echelon the Crosswinds

 

Throwing It In the Gutter

[Wez-O]

I find some of the team tactics very 'interesting".  Or I will just say they don't make sense.  I ride for a fairly successful/strong team.  It seems like for some teams it's OK to just finish in the bunch.  So they wont let a break go or will try to pull back a break with no real plan for when it does.  You have to race to win a race.  What is the use of just finishing in a bunch.  If you haven't got a strong finisher/sprinter, try to set it up in a break.  Otherwise how are you going to win a race?  

 

Tip:  don't attack when you're feeling strong/good.  Chances are the others are also feeling strong as well and the attempt wont succeed.  Attack when you're feeling on the edge.  Know it's not as easy as it sounds but it wont work otherwise.

This is a good point, some VA teams have multiple members but haven't done time on the front of a group all season.

 

Seriously though, whether its a team or individual rider, if say 15 riders did pulls in an echolon of even just turns of 20 seconds on the front, breaks would be crushed with ease.

Instead we end up with a scenario like Sunday where 6 riders (4 Clover, 2 Northcliff, 1 Cycle Fit) had to bury themselves for a long period to close the significant gap the break built up. During that time, Complete Cyclist (who had a rider in the break), sat behind the guys working and the rest of the peloton sat behind Complete. Just an observation though.

 

Actually, speaking of individual riders, Dino (who finished third in the final sprint), chased and closed down a break at the Carnival City point all on his own... RESPECT!

[Wez-O]

You as individual must decide what your objective is with cycling.

I never win.  Very seldom have a guy in the break.  Very seldom IN the break.

 

But my objective is to RACE.  To MAKE racing.  Not just sit and get a time.  That I can do at home.  For free. 

So for me the racing and attacking and pacing is what makes a race a race.

This! 

['Dale]

Having raced Vets a few seasons, I won't return unless its in a team environment.

That scenario would be da bomb.

 

Being a freelancer, so to speak, was just tough and not quite enjoyable as, I imagine, a team experience will be.

 

Don't need sponsorship.

Just some moola for a team kit.

Just a few committed individuals that can create some dynamic together.

[Patchelicious]

Having raced Vets a few seasons, I won't return unless its in a team environment.

That scenario would be da bomb.

 

Being a freelancer, so to speak, was just tough and not quite enjoyable as, I imagine, a team experience will be.

 

Don't need sponsorship.

Just some moola for a team kit.

Just a few committed individuals that can create some dynamic together.

I will gladly sponsor kit to a new team if it is needed. But I think that's just one of the things that is needed. The other things like "commitment" are cheaper but harder to get

 

Edit: That is if it is for team that I ride on. Not going to buy the competition kit

[Nibali]

 

Hi Nibali

 

You asked earlier about how things happen with racing in crosswinds (with terms like 'echelons' and 'the gutter').

 

The guys at Cycling Tips have a few good posts on crosswind tactics, which I've listed below. Enjoy

 

How to race in crosswinds

 

Echelon the Crosswinds

 

Throwing It In the Gutter

 

 

Tombeej, you are the man   Thanks hey, will go check it out tonight!

[Frosty]

Having been away from Vets racing for about 4 years, my first race this year didn't go as planned. A puncture at 33Km ended all chances of bench marking myself against the group (VB).

 

My next race was Ride for Sight and I made a point of staying in the front third and wanted to remain there for the whole race. I got over the climb with the front guys coming out of Heidelberg and felt it was mission accomplished (I was last in a group of about 25).

 

I never expected the crosswinds, and had to contend with being one of the last wheels in the gutter every time an attack went. The elastic eventually snapped just before the last water point which was disappointing as 500m up the road I could see the attacks stopped and the group had slowed down. But it was too late.

 

I was now in no man's land between the front group and the second group that had another 25-30 riders. These were the guys that were dropped coming out of Heidelberg and it wasn't long before they reeled me in. This group were never going to catch the lead group, which had split again with the attacks over the last few Km.

 

I did my bit on the front of the second group when I could, but I had burnt too many matches trying to stay with the front group between Heidelberg and the water point (before Carnival City), so I was the last person to cross the line in the second group.

 

My comeback was complete, but it was a bitter-sweet moment. I knew I was (nearly) there but still have a lot of work to do to get back to a level I was at in 2008-2010. Given that I'm now one of the stronger riders in my club, I feel it's a better challenge to help guide the newbies in the club up to a level where they are better/stronger than me. If I can get that right, expect Germiston Wheelers to field a fairly strong VA and VB team in 2016. Time will tell. For now, I'm just another individual in VB that will help (when required).

 

edit: spelling

[Bankie99]

I am loving this thread and I am sucking up all the advice from the experienced guys.

 

I am also busy working my way to start racing in the Vets groups in the next year or so.

 

For now I am just working my way down the alphabet and trying to get as much experience as possible.

['Dale]

I will gladly sponsor kit to a new team if it is needed. But I think that's just one of the things that is needed. The other things like "commitment" are cheaper but harder to get

 

Edit: That is if it is for team that I ride on. Not going to buy the competition kit

 

True, Patchelicious

 

Yes, a team is not made up of sponsored kit.

It is truly made up of commitment, loyalty and all that stuff.

[RastaMan]

I have started racing with the elites this year after 2 years of cycling

 

And I found a lot of advice in this thread.

I do agree with raising your FTP, but FTP is not the do all and end all

The biggest improvement I had was when I started doing track cycling, Suddenly my body knew how to to chase down and recover and do it again, I also learned how to sprint.

You can see it from my results too, from finishing 30th-60th in the a bunch I suddenly had 9 top ten finishes with a 4th at the Jock and a 3rd at the R4V.

 

But reading this thread I realize I did alot of the advise without knowing it

found a coach who can work out a personalized program for you

Ride with better peeps (E2E & don't underestimate the ICG guys)

do the occasional longer rides Audax etc with a bunch of mates and race it(so that you have to to take the lunch to be over the 7h time

 

The stuff I still want to do 

Race a stage race(entered Panorama)

do multiday training camps

ride down to durbs

ride down to cpt

 

as for working in the front I still find the elites intimidating, though I did help in chasing down one or two attacks over the weekend, but seeing as this was the first race I actually stayed with the group till the finish I am still very careful did 120 solo in the provincials and 70km solo in the carnival city race.

 

I also found that if I study the route well iow where the climbs are(im 88kg so im not the fastest up the hills) I make sure im in the first 10 going up that hell so when the climb is over I am still in contact.

 

But personally riding on your own kinda sucks I can't wait for next year, will either look for a team or get a few mates and try our own but definitely not going to be riding alone. I do miss rallying the troops to chase down greef like we did last year

[Underachiever]

expect Germiston Wheelers to field a fairly strong VA and VB team in 2016. Time will tell. For now, I'm just another individual in VB that will help (when required).

Hopefully we can be more than 2 individuals in VB as soon as life allows me :-)

[Pure Savage]

Never knew there were so many ol toppies still racing!

 

We find the best racing is in Cat 2 (VA) in Cape Town. We can hang on in the open cat but dont have strength yet to animate the race, at least in Cat 2 we are able to make breaks, chase them down, etc.

 

Obviously when it comes to big seeding events, we sit in the elite bunch and finish with the front bunch but not as much fun in terms of actual racing.

 

(Due to work and life commitments, not feasible for the team to compete in open)

[Pure Savage]

Sometimes the wind puts people in the gutter for you