BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

HA! I was losing the cat6 race on the major Taylor ride this past week. I just can't maintain a speed of 23mph on the flats for 5 or 6 miles at a time.

Whoa! 23MPH is fast!!! I might have to get e-assist.

You'd need to be going down a pretty steep hill to hit 23 on a Pugsley.

Yeah I am taking a fixie at 23mph. Why are you riding a pugsley on the road?

@ericf Ha, 23. A couple of times on a Neville Island Sha was leading (PMTCC Sunday rides) and she decided to go as fast as she could (we were rotating every 2-3 minutes) and we manage to go 28 mph for a mile and a half (until we hit red light. Talking about cat 6 race preparation.

Practicing for the crit race on the southside trail?

I've been riding the pugs mainly for fun, but also because my other bikes are all in various stages of disassembly.

SS Trail Crit here I come!

Does anyone know if spandex is a requirement for CAT6 racing?

http://thegreenmenfanpage.com/images/pic10.jpg

I got mine. Here is my training partner and I for a photoshoot.

@ericf Does anyone know if spandex is a requirement for CAT6 racing?

Although spandex and slammed stems make the category 6 racer more idenitifiable and overall add to the experience, all that is really necessary is the aTtItUde.

As long as you know that you need to pass pass any other rider you encounter and that the riders you pass are losers, you're in! This makes you are a true category 6.

23 miles an hour?!??!

When the new sign on Penn told me I was doing 14 on my Speedster it felt like a personal best

maybe someday...

"I got mine. Here is my training partner and I for a photoshoot."

What, no helmets?

You're all gonna laugh when I show up at my next Decaf ride. I got some silly deep wheels for Cat6 racing.

Looks like I am going to have to bring my road bike with clip on aero bars out on more group rides. Not joking.

Aero helmet too?

Nah lots of my friends have 'em. I think they make you look like a silly sperm. Until I can post a bike split > 20 mph I am not wearing a sperm helmet.

Ok I am glad I am not the onlyperson who thought those helmets looked a little spermy. I may bring my road bike on the next decaf ride. All of the parts are in my possession.

The sperm will get you there, sarah!

The boffins say the sperm helmet is worth just as much as deep wheels, and is 10x cheaper.

A wind fairing helmet will cut way more drag than a deep section rim.

Just get a 'bent

I saw someone with aero bars--and using them--on pedal pittsburgh. not sure if anyone else thought they looked like a complete tool, but i definitely did.

Why so judgmental?

not it! (this time anyway)

My husband uses aero bars on his road bike just because he likes them. He's not a speed demon or a triathlete.

Maybe everyone who wants to judge can get together to write a dress and bike accessory code. That way we can all look exactly alike.

I just got my Cat 5 license. Seriously I really did. What can I do with it? (edit) Does that mean I am now a Pro Cyclist?

Also aero bars are expectable on any bike anytime. Someone told me they put you in a comfortable position on long flats.

I think I'll pass on judging for aero bars. I judge the Cat6 racers on their actions.

marv, you're only a pro if someone pays you to ride.

I'll give you a dollar next time I see you.

I think I might invest in a license next year. It seems a bit late in the year to me to justify buying one. It seems that less women ride in general (not sure of there are less female competitors at the oval), but that may work in my favor. When I looked at te dirty dozen results last year, there were a LOT less women.

At the oval, women are all lumped into one race. For most the road races around here, it's usually Cat 4 and then 1/2/3 are lumped together.

I need to start racing again, but I still have latent fears from my last crit crash and subsequent concussion.

I haven't raced yet for that exact reason/fear of that happening. I would love to just do time trials or something where I am by myself.

If you're hesitant to race at the Oval, try out a road race. If the course is "selective" enough (that is, hilly), it's likely you won't be a huge pack. It's pretty late in the season for RRs 'round these parts, but you may want to check out the StrongLand race. It's a "citizens" event, meaning you don't need a license. The courses are usually pretty good, too.

Oscar Swan's TTs at the Oval don't require a license, either, though those, too, are finished for the year.

http://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/pmvc/Flyer2012.pdf

That's the flyer for the TTs.

Your odds of ending up with a concussion from racing are fairly low, really. Everyone crashes at some point. The best thing you can do is make a point to learn how to ride your bike well, and also well in a group. There's a yearly women's clinic on that subject, plus the marshalls at the track, plus I'm always happy to lend a hand.

You could also try cyclocross too which has decent field sizes around here but isn't too much pack racing. Plus the penalty for crashing is *much* lower. And you learn a lot of bike riding skills. And there's a clinic for 'cross too.

You're scared to race at the oval because you might wreck yet you ride your bike on PGH public streets 5-6 days a week? Uhh...

Yep. Makes total sense huh? I try not to ride in a tight pack with vehicles or other cyclists though. Not at high speeds.

But really, crit racing is a ton of fun. I've only done 3 (2 at the oval and 1 in Aliquippa(sp?)). Everyone there is pretty friendly and willing to give advice to the new comers. Did a road race as well and that was a blast. I think crits at the oval go on for 2-3 more weeks and there's one road race left at least that's put on by ABRA. Should be at the crit this tuesday and possibly the RR on Sunday pending my motorcycle repair situation.

Also theres a big variety of skill levels even within the Cat classes. Some people there for fun, others there to do it, and a slight few that take it 100% serious.

+1 for 'cross racing. It is really, really good fun, regardless of where you are in the field. You will need a license for most local races, though.

Yep. Makes total sense huh? I try not to ride in a tight pack with vehicles or other cyclists though. Not at high speeds.

Yeah, pretty much this. You could be the best bike handler in the world, but if someone goes down in front of you in a pack at the final sprint (probably what, 30+ mph?), you're just in for the ride... Whether you end up concussed or not is a virtue of which body part hits the ground first. For me it was my head, then my shoulder, thus the concussion + broken collarbone.

Well if I was worried about the fact I can't control what other people around me did I'd probably be living in a nuclear shelter underground without any human contact. For me the enjoyment is worth the risk, same as riding a motorcycle or riding my bike on the street. I understand that racing doesn't appeal to a large portion but I just think it's funny when people justify not doing it with a silly argument like it being dangerous.

Here's my experience in racing at the Oval:

* Started as a totally slow fred. I'm pretty sure I was lapped half a dozen times my first race.

* The ACA marshalls (Chris in particular) and officials (steevo) were very, very helpful, and their support kept me at it. I've not been to the Oval in a few years, but the ACA did a good job of helping novice racers adjust.

* I was never involved in a wreck in the C races.

* Within the first month of racing in the Bs, I was in one wreck and narrowly missed another (point: don't assume more experienced racers are any safer).

Yeah, bunch sprints are kinda scary, but you don't need to contest those. If you're willing to be in the wind and do some work at the front, you'll be much safer than someone tucked in the back third of the group.

* Within the first month of racing in the Bs, I was in one wreck and narrowly missed another (point: don't assume more experienced racers are any safer).

they don't call them killer Bs for nothing. it's the perfect moment where confidence exceeds skill.

I should add:

I'm not necessarily implying that the B racers don't handle their bikes as well as the Cs do. It's context, really: I could stay near the front of the C racers, but in the B races, I was clearly (back of the) pack fodder, and that makes a huge difference as far as your safety goes.

Women-

The women's race is an open race for all

categories, however there are very few that

are even cat 3 racing it. Most of the stronger

women race the C's or the B's or even the A's.

If you are thinking about starting to race as any category, the oval is a really good

place and we are really really really lucky

to have it and such a dedicated crew of

people who make it happen year in year out

(i think it is the 42nd year of racing for

the ACA.. maybe 18 or so at oval)