Explain to me how a Crit works
went to the Athens Twilight Crit this past Saturday.
had a blast. very cool. massive power. all the stuff we like.
but, I felt like an idiot. so, educate me on the basics.
Prize money per lap? with bonuses?
I know you can drop out but can you get pulled if you get lapped?
I saw some riders who got dropped, picked their bike up, ran across the block, and got back into the action? Pts for not quitting? or just getting a workout in?
I wanna know! Maybe, just maybe, might try this some time in the future. in the masters idiot class of course.
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Here's my basic knowledge:
You ride in a closed loop course and it gets congested then stretched out in the corners, so if you're near the front then you're fine---if you're in the back, get ready to work to stay with the pack. There are not prizes every lap, but usually a couple of laps where there is some sort of prize for who comes in first (adds a sprint to some portion of the race, kind of like a KOM, green jersey sprint point during the TDF). If you get dropped you can just ride whatever pace you want until the group comes back around, however, if that happens you have no right to contest a prize lap or the final.
There is an informal crit / training ride / massive group of 200+ riders doing 10 laps, 30 miles around the Rose Bowl every Tuesday and Thursday evening. This on a loop that's not closed with easily 500-800 other people walking, jogging, rollerblading, you name it around the Bowl also...and soccer fields on the south end kicking the random ball into the street...and a couple parking lots with cars pulling in/out. Speeds will hit 35-37mph going into this congested south end of the Bowl.
Seems just about every other week there is crash. This past week a guy crashed and got a $$$ ride to hospital after _just_ getting back on the bike after a massive crash in early January.
There are no prizes, no real "event," just hundreds of guys rolling together as they have for decades. But it's probably the most dangerous thing I could choose to do on 2 wheels within 10 miles of my house
As for real crits, they usually pull laggards who they anticipate may be lapped. The guys jumping back in after being pulled- that's toolish behavior. Don't know what they were thinking.
Promotors throw in Preemies (premiums) for winning mid race sprints etc.
Less technical and fast courses require more caution not less as the field tends to not break up and everyone is going faster in closer quarters.
Beware of Masters races. They made be older but it is filled with still very fast and even smarter guys. It's not slower by any means.
Chris, no worries, I avoid the Bowl ride and a similar Saturday ride, having instead been trying to get my climbing lets back. We do Tues and Wed evening rides where we can get in >3k of very, very punchy and quick gain and never be more than about 6 miles from Bowl.
If you can't replace it, don't race it.
Joanne and I used to have a tandem. We were out riding on weekday and we dropped into the Bowl. I dropped into the peleton near the top of the Bowl (slighly uphill side) and rode at / near the front on the downhill side, so Joanne could get a feel for very fast group riding. As we got near the bottom, the super dangerous part, I moved over the right and slid backwards through the group. My spidey senses started to go off and, BOOM, massive crash about 50ft in front of us but I had enough room to get around it.
That was the last time I put us in an unknown group on the tandem
Did you ever try taking a pull at the front on a Big Wheel or Green Machine?
No, but I told her, before we dropped in, that the safest place was at the front and I needed her to work very very hard. She had no sense of pace and was litterally like an on/off switch. The whole episode was maybe about 2' long and I think she almost hurled at the end.
Sometimes you have to make your own fun
We gotz plenty of big fast rides over here but nothing like you're describing. If I ever go out there, I'm leaving the bike at home, and propping up a chair on the best corner.
John and I have a tandem. Went to Hawaii in 2001 for a tandem rally with some friends. It is an exercise in communication. Can be awesome. Can suck. Overall, it is a lot of fun.
Back to the question about Crits. If you are in the Cat 5's or Cat 4/5 race, be very careful. These are the beginners. Lots of crashes. Lots, and lots of crashes. If you have a race this year, I wouldn't do it. Not worth it. There are prizes on some laps called "Primes" (pronounced Preem). People at the front will race for the primes. Comes down to a sprint. Problem is there is a sprint across the line then everyone slows down so you get an accoridan effect. If you aren't ready for it = crash. Can be a lot of fun, though. Also, if you get lapped, you may get pulled. Just depends on the race and the officials. If you want to know the rules, look at the rulebook (I think it is online at USA Cyclinig).
Yes second on the being careful with category 4/5 riders.
Even though the Masters may be faster, safer to go with this more experienced crowd.
That's a reason why I'll never race a crit. I just don't feel the need to try something I'm probably terrible at doing (ex. sprinting) and put myself in a position where I'll probably crash and burn.
My college tri club used to have a bunch of equipment and race wheels that members could rent for a race. In reference to a particularly fancy set of Zipp wheels, I remember the club president sending out an email to all of us saying something to the effect of "ABSOLUTELY NO CRITS!!! TRIATHLONS AND TT'S ONLY!!!!"