Pikey Posted November 7, 2016 Share As per the Carnival City Macsteel National Classic thread there are a fair few guys that said they were interested in learning to be a better road cyclist . A few of the more experienced / talented / stronger riders have expressed a willingness to help us not so experienced learn the ropes and become stronger and more importantly astute riders that can read the conditions and know how to ride them to our strengths . Wish i started this thread a good few weeks ago so we could of got together a band of riders for the 94.7 . With it being such an iconic race with such fanfare and great atmosphere it would of been 1st prize. Not sure if it's complelty outside the realms of possibility,but would be very keen to hear anyone's thoughts and constructive criticism. This is not for anyone who wants a free ride and is just in it for self gain and free ride. This to learn the ropes that has taken these guys years of hard racing to learn and that they will generously pass on to the willing to learn. I for one only know one way to race all or nothing and I am a complete road noob with only 5 races to date.. Yes it has cost me ,but as the saying goes . Win it or bin it . Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through what I do during a race,but the self gratification at the end is always worth for me,no matter how much I suffer during a race and believe me I do. Probably coz I know f all about racing and how to pace myself .Hence this thread . So let's see who's in and even if this idea is feasible. I have added something that fat boab posted in the i-team thread which are all valid points and things to consider . Last year most of us meet at one of the circles within Riversands. This worked pretty well, but even then some people still couldn't find a group of 20+ with cable-tie/yellow dots protruding from their helmets! The biggest issue was moving through to the pens to try and get near the front. This split us into several smaller groups. Thereafter we lost people on Pooks as thedisparate groups didn't know who was ahead or behind as we moved through the crowds, so some people rode ahead, never to be seen again!. A decent sub-group formed on Summit, because we slowed right down to let people catch up, and thereafter we rode together, more or less, through to the M1 turn-off at which point, I let go of the elastic! From memory, suggestions from last year's experience: 1. Don't let the group get too big as its difficult to manage. 2. The group needs to understand what its goal is, and everyone buy in. That's likely to mean some people will get carried, at times, and some people will do the carrying, at times. It's about sharing the work, not wheel-sucking. 3. Practice patience. It's tempting to ride on when the group is waiting for lost riders, but odds are you'll appreciate those lost riders later when your match-box is getting empty. Besides it's fun to ride as a group, and if possible finish with some team mates. See 2 above! 4. Cable-ties/dots etc certainly helps in spotting the team. If this can be improved on, then do it. 5. My view: accept where the group can get in the start pen, as a complete group, even if it's not at the front. Better to start together, to stay together...Besides last year's banter in the pen with other I-Teamers was classic! 6. Don't be afraid to politely ask randoms you will attract to sit at the back, if they're not going to do some work. Alternatively invite randoms to join! We had a passenger who joined us for a bit on the ride to the M1 and we had a lekker chat! All part of the day. 7. We'd planned to equip a sweeper with a whistle to let the train know when to pull, or slow. In the end we didn't do this, but I have to say some audible alert would have helped us know where each other was when moving through crowds: bells? There was an oke in a group on the Jock this year who kept shouting RIDE, RIDE, RIDE. A little annoying at the time, but I knew where he was at all times and I wasn't even part of his group! 8. If possible, do some training rides together to practice pace lines etc. Yes that's difficult to do on open roads, but even a one-off training ride is likely to help, and you get to say howzit ahead of time. Just my $0.02..... Relying on faster riders dropping back to do the lion's share of pulling is unlikely to work. Better to be self-succiei Prince, RyanAW, BouncingBrain and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurgens Smit Posted November 7, 2016 Share I am not really keen to drop back from the licensed groups in races next year. However I am more than willing to take part in any group training rides, help any person and maybe even learn a thing or 2 in the process. Hopefully this actually takes off and help people race safer and smarter. Dee1, Pikey and BouncingBrain 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 7, 2016 Share I am not really keen to drop back from the licensed groups in races next year. However I am more than willing to take part in any group training rides, help any person and maybe even learn a thing or 2 in the process. Hopefully this actually takes off and help people race safer and smarter.Awesome let's hope this takes of so that all of us can something . No matter how little we learn ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch the stalker Posted November 8, 2016 Share I'm always keen to learn - I'm in L batch this year so can't get to I this year, but eager if this gets going for training. Pikey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 8, 2016 Share I'm always keen to learn - I'm in L batch this year so can't get to I this year, but eager if this gets going for training.not sure anything is going happen this year at the 94.7 ...would be cool if it does but so little time left.But for sure if we can get this going for us all to learn will be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilton_ Posted November 8, 2016 Share Watching this with a great deal of interest... Pikey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulse Posted November 8, 2016 Share Also following wigh interest. I might be a bit old/slow for this, but would like to give it a go Pikey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 8, 2016 Share I am in E group for 94.7 this year if there is any hubbers in E that want to try help each other out with a COMMON goal that could be a start for us. I am prepeared to fall back a few groups if there is more that are interested . Not saying it's going to work but we could help each other for the race or at least a part there of. As patch said and I quote "Honestly, that group could have gone sub 3 if more than 2 people did some work. It amazes me that open seeded bunches want to ride for time, but then leave it up to only a few to pull and dictate the time that is then achieved. This is very silly. By only letting 2-3 guys do most of the work, people effectively reside themselves to those guys times. 2-3 guys pulling into a headwind will tire them out so quickly. Top tip for groups going for time. Help the stronger guys in your group, even if it is just a bit, it will give them some recovery time and they can then pull the rest for longer and harder." Edited November 8, 2016 by Pikey BouncingBrain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 8, 2016 Share Thats another thing I had in the back of my mind age. The younger hubbers will benifit more than those of us on the wrong side of 40 . I get frustrated with myself but need to remember it's harder the older you get. Pulse and Patchelicious 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieterJvR Posted November 8, 2016 Share I would also be interested in this. I am new to road bike racing - have only done 6 races. An added issue for me is that I start slow, which means I can never stay with the batch I am starting with - and I have to latch onto passing groups. If I can improve some techniques, learn from more experienced riders, etc it will be a awesome. I am more than willing to do my fair share at the front as well, just normally don't get the chanceStarting slow has never been a problem in mountain bike races as I tend to pass a lot of people towards the end of the race and finish in the top third of the field, but in road races I am a lot more "exposed" and normally end in the bottom third of the field.I stayed with my starting batch this past weekend at Carnival, but burnt too many matches at the start and got spat out the back of my bunch around the 35km mark - and then had to solo home, latching onto people here and there BouncingBrain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase619 Posted November 8, 2016 Share This is a great idea, there is so much to learn as a new roadie, but everyone seems to expect this knowledge to fall out of the sky. 3 races under the belt and am hooked for life, so am looking for all the help I can get! Frosty, Patchelicious and BouncingBrain 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 8, 2016 Share I would also be interested in this. I am new to road bike racing - have only done 6 races. An added issue for me is that I start slow, which means I can never stay with the batch I am starting with - and I have to latch onto passing groups. If I can improve some techniques, learn from more experienced riders, etc it will be a awesome. I am more than willing to do my fair share at the front as well, just normally don't get the chanceStarting slow has never been a problem in mountain bike races as I tend to pass a lot of people towards the end of the race and finish in the top third of the field, but in road races I am a lot more "exposed" and normally end in the bottom third of the field. I stayed with my starting batch this past weekend at Carnival, but burnt too many matches at the start and got spat out the back of my bunch around the 35km mark - and then had to solo home, latching onto people here and therei am also not a fast starter,and went with the front group for the first 50km but realized when I was getting dropped that if I continued I would bonk. So backed off and road solo for a very short while fortunately . My biggest issue with races like this wkd is fast and flat . I don't have that raw power ,but if I can find a rhythm I'm ok. But find it hard to get into any rhythm in a race. Those explosive bursts can blow me off the back if I try go with them ,so now I don't .But like you said then you ride solo. And that's worse. I rode solo for 50k. Odd at the shova...wasn't easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted November 8, 2016 Share This is a great idea, there is so much to learn as a new roadie, but everyone seems to expect this knowledge to fall out of the sky. 3 races under the belt and am hooked for life, so am looking for all the help I can get!we all in the same boat hence this thread . Let's hope we all get something out of it ???? Jase619 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinnekop Posted November 8, 2016 Share I would also be interested in this. I am new to road bike racing - have only done 6 races. An added issue for me is that I start slow, which means I can never stay with the batch I am starting with - and I have to latch onto passing groups. If I can improve some techniques, learn from more experienced riders, etc it will be a awesome. I am more than willing to do my fair share at the front as well, just normally don't get the chance Starting slow has never been a problem in mountain bike races as I tend to pass a lot of people towards the end of the race and finish in the top third of the field, but in road races I am a lot more "exposed" and normally end in the bottom third of the field.I stayed with my starting batch this past weekend at Carnival, but burnt too many matches at the start and got spat out the back of my bunch around the 35km mark - and then had to solo home, latching onto people here and thereI am also a slow starter......Advise is to get a decent warm-up in. Go do 3 or 4 hard short sprints before you start en cycle for at least 10-20 min before the time.Stretch in the starting pen. You should then be able to stick to the fast starting bunch..... Pikey, KiddiMat, Javas X and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieterJvR Posted November 8, 2016 Share i am also not a fast starter,and went with the front group for the first 50km but realized when I was getting dropped that if I continued I would bonk. So backed off and road solo for a very short while fortunately . My biggest issue with races like this wkd is fast and flat . I don't have that raw power ,but if I can find a rhythm I'm ok. But find it hard to get into any rhythm in a race.Those explosive bursts can blow me off the back if I try go with them ,so now I don't .But like you said then you ride solo. And that's worse. I rode solo for 50k. Odd at the shova...wasn't easyThe highlighted bit is one of the biggest issues for me. I also battle to get into a rhythm in a race - guess I over estimate my abilities sometimes Edited November 8, 2016 by Fr0st Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieterJvR Posted November 8, 2016 Share I am also a slow starter......Advise is to get a decent warm-up in. Go do 3 or 4 hard short sprints before you start en cycle for at least 10-20 min before the time.Stretch in the starting pen. You should then be able to stick to the fast starting bunch..... Thanks for the advice , I will definitely try this at the 94.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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