Tour of the Catskills Race Plan
I have decided to head up to NY for the Tour of the Catskills. EN has taught me that it is very important to have a plan going into any race. Since this will be my very first bike race I am uncertain of what to expect. So I am going to rely heavily on the haus to provide me with some guidance. Thanks to everyone in advance!
Here goes, well in advance so that I can get a lot of feedback:
Race: Tour of the Catskills (3-day stage race)
Day 1: Prologue Time Trial -- 2.19 miles (479 ft gain)
Day 2: The Catskill Epic – 52 miles (2900 ft gain)
Day 3: Mountaintop Classic including Devil’s Kitchen – 57 miles (2600 ft gain)
Category: Men’s Cat 5 35+
Bike setup:
Orbea Orca
Velocity Deep V wheels w/ Michelen Pro 3 tires
Compact crank with a11-28 cassette
Clip-on aero bars for TT
Tale of the tape:
FTP: 225 watts with 2.9 w/kg
Weight: 170 – Hoping to drop 5+ lbs in the next 2 weeks.
Age: 42
Day 1
I know that this is going to be a short, but hard day. Obviously steady riding will be the key for the day. I am thinking that riding @ 90-95% would be a good solid effort. I assume that I will need to be up to speed asap so that means some type of warm-up. What does everyone suggest?
Day 2 & Day 3
Since this will be my first time riding with a group I am having some anxiety. As Coach P pointed out this is my time to make any noobie mistakes. 
My biggest fear is causing an accident. 
I am trying to arrange at least one group ride prior to the race to help minimize these fears.
The first obvious goal is to be able to complete both days of riding. So I guess my realistic goals should be to just hang with the peloton for as long as possible. I assume that I should be able to ride at around 85% for the 2.5-3 hours I anticipate it taking me to complete the distances. Giving me relatively low FTP and w/kg, when do I decide enough is enough and simply follow off the back?
A dream, or maybe nightmare, I had last night, was instead of riding for the GC was to go for the KOM instead. The thought was that this might get me out in front of the larger peloton minimizing the time I need to ride with other rides. This is clearly probably not a good idea. I should just go into the race trying to ride with the group as best as possible.
As for nutrition I am at a loss. As I stated I anticipate being able to complete the distances in about 3 hours or less. So is the water and any food given at the feed station appropriate, maybe a gel or two, just in case?
I previously asked about “fix-it” gear, and Cary provided some good information. Should I plan on having an extra wheel or should I just count fixing or having any possible flat fixed. I think dealing with the extra wheel is just going to be added stress. So am planning on carrying just enough gear to change a flat.
So that is all I can think of at the moment. I know it is a lot of rambling, but that is due to the nerves. Please let me know of any changes or items I might have forgotten. I am looking forward to this race, since it is in the area where I grew up, but am extremely anxious.
Thanks,
Pete
P.S. Thanks to all the EN Peeps who encouraged me to attempt this race. Regardless of the outcame I am sure it will be fun, and I will learn tons. 
Comments
P
In bike racing there is no feed. You have to bring it all.
Wheels: bring a 2nd set of wheels and you can put those in a wheel van that will be following your race. You flat you can wait for the van to give you your wheels.
Not to freak you out but you forgot to mention you get to climb Devils Kitchen! That's a SUPER famous climb. You climb like 1300 feet in almost 2 miles. 14-15%? Hopefully you'll have the right gearing to be able to clear that?
Oh yeah and don't forget your embrocation
Bring a trainer to use for your warmup before the TT. That's one super short TT so you want to be REALLY well warmed up. Something like 30-45 min with a few spin ups and FTP efforts. Then go for 100%+. it's only 2.1 miles, just blow the doors off it!
@Coach P & Dan:
Do everything I can to hang with the group. Go it! When you say "Cat 5's" I assume you are talking about the riders because I think DK is much more than that. Do you know if they start all Cat's together or each individually, or at least mark them? Will feel better if don't get dropped immediately by the Cat 1/2 riders. Or even worse jump on the wheel of one of those riders and totally demolish myself.
@Dan:
The website seems to indicate that there is a "feed zone" half way through the race for each day. So do you recommend that I go with a bottle of infinit and some gels?
Thanks for the advice on the wheels. I will try to put together an extra set to bring with me. Just need to swap out the 12-25 for a 11-26.
I am aware of the Devil's Kitchen and have driven it many times. Never rode it though. I am hoping that the compact and 11-28 will be enough. Not much else I can do unless I bring a triple.
I will have to bring the Soigneur shirt. I find the embrocation to be a bit much during anything above 40 degress.
@Nemo:
Yeah, I definitely thought about bringing the trainer for just that purpose.
Podium Girl Shirt sounds like a good idea! Will have to put my order in tonight.
I feel a bit like you did a few days ago when you were doing your TT with a stranger. Hope to get out this week with a few other riders...
Pete
...The Feed Zone is where your wife (if she comes along) hands up bottles and food but your distance isn't long enough to worry about putting someone out there. But if you want to do it's that the only place where you can.
...A 28 should be plenty to get up.
....yeah embrocation on the legs isn't needed over 40 but I do have a lot of riders using it on their lower backs this summer.
Cat 5 can be weird, there'll be noobs, some strong riders, plus some folks that probably don't belong in Cat 5 and may break away from the field. They may be like a cat 2-3 track racer with no road time or just a super strong rider earning his points to move up in categories.
The Soigneur embrocation is good stuff, no way I'd use it in July though
Did I mention to not get dropped? Yes? Good. They may go out after the neutral zone and try to drop the weaker riders right away, hang on and you'll be fine.
Don't look at your power meter - it'll work against you. You're not used to riding at the intensities that road races go at, forget about IF and just stay with the pack. Download your ride after the race and look at computer screen in astonishment at the amount of power you were actually able to put out.
Good Luck, Stay Safe!
I wouldn't think it would hurt to take the PM with you, to capture the data, just don't be a slave to it. Change the display to point somewhere else or to some non-essential screen.
I did say "don't look", not "don't use". And I did recommend downloading and looking at the data afterwards. Just sayin'