It's not silly, because novices are often surprised by their first races. I suspect it will seem much jumpier to you than TS rides. Both in the nervous sense, and in the pace sense. In beginner races especially, often anyone that feels good for fifteen seconds sprints away like crazy, everyone chases, catches up, then they all stop pedaling and look at each other. Repeat.John D wrote:>How about we tempo the cross wind straight to split it, and then you jump
>with X after the corner with the tail wind?
Were someone to ask me that during a ride my response would be "Um...huh?"
Seriously though, having decided to ride "C" instead of "Novice" (after Dave Spiers' comments about the types of people who ride novice) I'm pleased that I'll be part of a group. But if I end up riding alone, it will be because I've been dropped not because I made a jump!
Along that line, and perhaps a silly question, but given that the course is pretty flat, what sort of pace might be expected in the "C" group?
John
Sometimes late in the race someone can sneak away, ie get a gap too big to close, because everyone is tired from attack-chase-repeat.
I think a good novice strategy is to watch the front (easy to say, but hard to do when you're desperately trying to hold a wheel), stay about a 1/3 back in the pack, try to react early to moves, ie don't wait for the elastic to stretch too far.
If it feels really hard, being 1/3 back means you have room to drop back but still stay in touch. As soon as it eases, work your way forward again.
If you feel good, try to make your moves when it's hard for others to respond; after corners, after hills, after other attacks. Be patient. Think of the first half as softening up the field before you unleash your awesomeness. (Sorry, channeling certain Youtube videos there.)
Expect it to feel really hard sometimes, but tell yourself, it always gets easier. The first 1/4 to 1/2 is often the hardest. Repeat that to yourself when you feel like puking and quitting.
) 