Time to strap the GoPro to your chest, we are going to need video

 

Thats kind of adding insult to injury isnt it? I mean that way he'll have a broken bike, broken bones and a broken gopro.

 

I'd donate a chesty and go-pro housing to the cause.

 

Road races are generally pretty safe. In the 5s, usually a sandbagger or someone who is an elite athlete from another sport will beat up on the group and whittle it down until it is small enough to be safe.

I made it through the 5s and the 4s without a single crash.

 

Thanks, I went ahead and insured my bicycle for $3500, I'm on my 3rd road bike in less than two years with the first two destroyed.

Tomorrow's goal is to sit in, do as little work as possible, stay on the leeward side, try not to drop, pin my number correctly, eat excessively on the bike. I'm worried it's going to be shitty and not fun since I'm not on a team, but we'll see. I may try to bargain to do some work with a friendly team, offer to lead-out for free. I'm open to any advice from the seasoned vets.

 

don't race road bikes

 

Why? Is general peril and life-changing injury a sure-thing?

 

Just have fun. First couple races I did just focused on observing the overall dynamics and getting [more] comfortable riding in such tight grouping.

Stay up on Nutrition and avoid crashing. Once the 'feel' of racing becomes comfortable you can work on more aggressive strategies.

As soon as you forget that riding/racing is fun... it becomes a real bitch.

 

It went well. I finished 16 out of 32, partially because I wrote notes incorrectly and blew-up 3 miles before the finish and could have finished possibly in the top-ten. Only one crash between two bros on Cervelos, the rest of the day was fairly clean. A race definitely makes you "dig-deeper" than I've ever done before. I'll do a few more this year.

 

Congrats on the race Trey, good ****.

Anyone coming out for Sea Otter this year? Subaru Sea Otter Classic - April 16-19, 2015
Never heard about it until recently, apparently it's a pretty big deal.

 

I've done sea otter a few times... it's a huge trade show event with every kind of bike racing going on. Would probably be pretty fun if you wanted to walk around and see bike stuff.

Participating in the racing is not so good. Expensive, crowded and **** (mtb) courses. Might be fun for roadies racing on the car track.

 

it just seems like road racing is won by being on a strong, organized team. Frustrating for someone racing solo. That's all.

I think racing is awesome- as you've discovered it makes you push yourself harder than you thought possible.

 

I Did my normal 5 mile Sunday trail ride today. I felt slow and crappy even though I passed folks on th trail for the first time. I was shocked when I checked strava and had some personal bests. And also some old dude on a off road unicycle was there and killing it.

 

I might be on a team after today's ride, lol.

 

Talked to some of the local guys yesterday about volunteering with the local IMBA chapter (MORCA) as a way to gain access to Sea Otter... and in my mind, to repay them for their generosity dragging me along on their rides despite not being a dues-paying member.

Might try some of the on-track racing next year. At this point I am still fat and have to come out of the saddle on the Rahal straight.

 

OMFG, my average heart rate was higher than some people's max HR in my cat-5 race. Is this a sign to move on with my life?

 

A sign to keep going, probably. Average 164 / max 185 doesn't seem too abnormal to me. Elevation might've had a part to play too.

 

It was relatively similar in terms of "up and down" to my usual rides. I still have only done two, cat-4 climbs.

 

I volunteered at the first Sea Otter Classic many many years ago. We had fun squirting TriFlo on each others rim brakes. Good times.

 

Pro-bro from Austin unfortunately lost his team ride to a theif:
https://www.dropcam.com/c/835e8c69b0...9a3697cf9d.mp4