How long before you raced?

[Ian]

I'm hoping to draw from the experience of some of our veteran TSers. How long did you train in a group before your first race? Or does it depend more on skill level/speed? Attitude?

I'm hoping to race this summer but I'm hoping to do so in a way that won't

a) endanger anyone else in the race
b) embarass myself...although that's far less of a concern than a).

Any advice??

[JohnT]

I think you'd be fine after about six rides in the Triple Shot group. Listen and watch during the races and don't try to challenge for the win. You're unlikely to do much harm if you stay in the back half. This isn't the place to be when you start thinking about winning, but the front half isn't the place to be if you're not sure what you're doing. Elbows in. Hold your line. Think of yourself as a train - no fast accelerations and no sudden braking. Things happen that require both, but if you start with a momentum mindset, you're much less likely to run into trouble. Finally, I always get worried when I see a rider turning his head to look to the sides or to look back. Use your ears to figure out what's happen beside you and your eyes to sort out what's in front. Don't worry about what's behind you - as long as you hold your line and avoid the brakes, those guys will be fine.

JT

[Stéphane Tran]

Thanks Ian and John. I had exactly the same questions. As a TS newbie, I wouldn't mind trying a race or 2 this summer, but I need to improve my group riding skill first.

[BryanS]

I started riding in August, but it wasn't until about 2 months ago that I started group riding. After two weeks of the group rides I started racing. It was a little stressful around the corners and on descents but overall not to bad. Ide say the B race in vcl is sort of like an A ride with tripleshot, but a little more competitive and hectic.

[Josh.E]

I started riding in a group with tripleshot in early spring of 2009. I started doing the sidney TT every tuesday last year as my introduction to road racing. Before that I had done regular group rides with 4-5 people, for quite a few years, but never really anything in a pack.
I did one Caleb Pike at the end of last year as a "B" and one Neild RD hill climb. After one race as a "B" this year, Duane informed me, Pete and Bill we would be racing "A" from then on.

Riding the morning TS rides is great practice for racing. If you can hang with an A ride until king george, and feel comfortable in the group, you are probably ready to try a VCL "B" race. If you can hang with the main A pack from king george on, and feel comfortable in the group, you are probably more ready to race a VCL "B" race in the front half of the pack.

If you can hang with the TS friday A+ ride or stay in the rotating paceline on a TS saturday sufferfest, you are probably strong enough to race VCL "A"

The stuff John was saying is right on. It's all about being predictable. No sudden braking, no sudden swerving, keep your line on corners, don't halfwheel the person in front of you.
Beyond that, the best thing you can take from tripleshot rides is learning about racing strategy. The race from king george on is great in that it's long enough that learning racing tactics can really help you stay with the group longer, and eventually how to be there to contend the sprint.

Also, you've got people like Bob Cameron, Bruce and Lister out on TS rides regularly, all of whom are a wealth of knowledge about racing strategy and riding technique, and you've got the VCL "A" type guys like Bob, Bruce, Shawn, Gavin, Pete, Ryan, Bill, Dylan, John etc to measure your progress against.

[JohnT]

Great - I was thinking of returning to the B group this evening. Can't now can I Josh?! I'd better run (5:10 pm)

[Ian]

Awesome, thanks for the advice so far.

Finally, I always get worried when I see a rider turning his head to look to the sides or to look back.

How come? Just a heightened awareness that the rider might make a sudden maneuver?? Or something else?

I started riding in a group with tripleshot in early spring of 2009...etc.

Makes sense. Great info for the VCL races!
What about crits? Would the Cat 5 race at the Sidney GP be a good idea or too ambitious??

Also, you've got people like Bob Cameron, Bruce and Lister out on TS rides regularly, all of whom are a wealth of knowledge about racing strategy and riding technique, and you've got the VCL "A" type guys like Bob, Bruce, Shawn, Gavin, Pete, Ryan, Bill, Dylan, John etc to measure your progress against.

I've already learned a lot from all these folks and many more (usually when I'm trying to figure out how the hell I got ridden off their wheel so easily...). Thanks for everything so far, and keep the tips coming!

[watwin]

This is all really useful guys, related to Ian's question about ambitious races, what/when are the best racing chances this summer and which ones would you recommend (most fun, exciting ect.)? Thanks, Alec

[Roland]

This is all really useful guys, related to Ian's question about ambitious races, what/when are the best racing chances this summer and which ones would you recommend (most fun, exciting ect.)? Thanks, Alec

Start doing Newton Heights & Caleb Pike, the sooner the better. Get a feel for racing.

The best race coming up is probably Windsor Park Crit. Great flat course with wide corners. VCL A & B categories. You definitely want some races under your belt before doing it.

Sidney Twilight is a much tighter course, and Cat5 no longer exists, so you'll be racing with the big boys in Cat4.

Some of the masters races might be worth checking out as well...

[shawnc]

I'm no Tripleshot veteran, but I'll throw in my $0.02 anyway. Everything everyone else has said on here is sound advice.

I started riding with TS in late April, and I hadn't ridden in a pack before then. My first race was a TT in Abbotsford three weeks after joining, and the B race race at Caleb Pike a few days after that. Caleb Pike was a little intimidating and fairly chaotic, but I think the best way to learn is to just throw yourself in there.

Racing helps you learn your areas of strength and weakness, which you can then work on during the group rides. I'd definitely encourage you to come out to Caleb Pike next week. If you don't like it or are uncomfortable, there's no shame in pulling off and finishing by yourself.

As for embarrassing yourself, that's part of cycling! Did you see me attack on Tuesday morning, only to wipe out in the corner and have to pick myself up while everyone rode past?

[Josh.E]

The more you race and ride, the less you will worry about being embarrassed. Cycling has a great way of keeping the ego firmly planted in reality. No matter how strong you get, you will regularly race against and ride with people who will be able to wipe the floor with you.

None of us in this club are ever going to get to the stage where that's not true. Most of us were beginner racers not that long ago. So don't worry about it, come out and race and have some fun.

[AlW]

Have to agree with Roland on this one. You'll never get a feel for it unless you actually try it.

Newton Heights is a good place to start. Although the course is tough, the pack breaks up pretty quick and you end up riding alone or with a small group (that's my experience anyway), so you get the race intensity without having to deal with the pack dynamic.

Caleb Pike is, in my opinion, an easier course, but tends to have larger, more chaotic packs, so you really have to pay attention to what's going on. . The pack tends to be larger and stays together longer, but if you get dropped, you can usually latch on to a smaller more speed appropriate group.

The masters races are definitely worth checking out. Packs tend to be smaller due to the way they start the races, and seem to be a lot less chaotic. The only downside is that it's based on age rather than ability, so (for me) a sound thrashing is inevitable.

I don't do crits primarily due to the Bill Ethier experience.