Racing for 2013

theholyghost

Forgive me for this wimpy post but can anyone recommend easy races to try my hand at road racing in 2013? I've raced mountain bikes for years and done a good few road sportives but never a road race.

I'm not too worried about how physically hard the race is but I am worried about flying down a hill with 60 other people and a car possibly coming up it!

Are there any races that are less technically challenging to start with or track races that are more manageable?

I don't mind dying physically just not actually!

niceonetom

theholyghost wrote: »

I don't mind dying physically just not actually!

That quote, with your username, is just amazing.

Diarmuid

try the Des Hanlon. You just have to make it through the first 35km of a fast bunch then it blows to bits

LeoD

What part of the country are you based in? Look for a hilly race - plenty of selections = smaller groups = safer riding.

theholyghost

LeoD wrote: »

What part of the country are you based in? Look for a hilly race - plenty of selections = smaller groups = safer riding.

Thanks, I'd race anywhere between Dublin and Kilkenny, taking in lumps of Tipp, Carlow etc. anywhere I can drive to in about an hour or so from my place of the folks! I thought a flatter race might be safer.

colm_gti

theholyghost wrote: »

Thanks, I'd race anywhere between Dublin and Kilkenny, taking in lumps of Tipp, Carlow etc. anywhere I can drive to in about an hour or so from my place of the folks! I thought a flatter race might be safer.

Flatter races mean that the weak ones can make it around by hiding in the group, resulting in a massive bunch sprint. A few hills will break the group up and make the sprint a bit safer.

killalanerr

colm_gti wrote: »

Flatter races mean that the weak ones can make it around by hiding in the group, resulting in a massive bunch sprint. A few hills will break the group up and make the sprint a bit safer.

A4 in Wicklow and Carlow last year both had finishline pile ups put as a rule Colm is spot on
Just do the training and get out their and race it all scary when your starting out no matter where you go in a flat race you might hang on a bit longer

C3PO

I was in the same position a couple of years ago and an experienced club member recommended the Ras Naoimh Finan in Clonard as a good 1st road race. It's a straight out and back race on a main road so you can get used to riding in a bunch without the worry of tight corners or dodgy surfaces. True, it will likely finish in a bunch sprint but, given that it's your first race you could always just let them go ..... I always do!!
It's been on the 2nd Saturday in March for the last couple of years so will probably be around the same time this year! I'll be the old guy in the Epic shirt!

Harrybelafonte

killalanerr wrote: »

A4 in Wicklow and Carlow last year both had finishline pile ups put as a rule Colm is spot on
Just do the training and get out their and race it all scary when your starting out no matter where you go in a flat race you might hang on a bit longer

Ugh, not what a first time racer wants to hear (that being I). How often do these things happen and is it cos of some Abdoujaparov-types at the front or just too big a bunch?

C3PO wrote: »

I was in the same position a couple of years ago and an experienced club member recommended the Ras Naoimh Finan in Clonard as a good 1st road race. It's a straight out and back race on a main road so you can get used to riding in a bunch without the worry of tight corners or dodgy surfaces. True, it will likely finish in a bunch sprint but, given that it's your first race you could always just let them go ..... I always do!!
It's been on the 2nd Saturday in March for the last couple of years so will probably be around the same time this year! I'll be the old guy in the Epic shirt!

This will also be one of my first races for the exact reasons listed. Simple enough out and back.

theholyghost

That all sounds good I suppose just hold back if you re out of your comfort zone is the best advice.

colm_gti

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Ugh, not what a first time racer wants to hear (that being I). How often do these things happen and is it cos of some Abdoujaparov-types at the front or just too big a bunch?

Don't worry too much about it, if you happen to be near the front when the sprint goes, don't panic, all you can do is hold your line and keep pedalling. Contest if you feel strong, just brace yourself. I usually sit up for the sprint for the simple reason that I don't think it's worth the risk of injury, and I'm training now in such away that I don't need to contest a big sprint this season

Harrybelafonte

Not much fear of my being near the front, so all good. (That's not fake modesty, if there's the sniff of a hill I'm gone)

niceonetom

theholyghost wrote: »

That all sounds good I suppose just hold back if you re out of your comfort zone is the best advice.

Not really - the back of the bunch is the least safe place to be.

wav1

colm_gti wrote: »

Don't worry too much about it, if you happen to be near the front when the sprint goes, don't panic, all you can do is hold your line and keep pedalling. Contest if you feel strong, just brace yourself. I usually sit up for the sprint for the simple reason that I don't think it's worth the risk of injury, and I'm training now in such away that I don't need to contest a big sprint this season

Going to do it Cancellara style so?
This sounds like a pledge to be A3 by Easter.

daragh_

wav1 wrote: »

Going to do it Cancellara style so?
This sounds like a pledge to be A3 by Easter.

He's already A3.

manwithaplan

C3PO wrote: »

I was in the same position a couple of years ago and an experienced club member recommended the Ras Naoimh Finan in Clonard as a good 1st road race. It's a straight out and back race on a main road so you can get used to riding in a bunch without the worry of tight corners or dodgy surfaces. True, it will likely finish in a bunch sprint but, given that it's your first race you could always just let them go

Dodgiest race I did last year. Tight bunch, plenty of road furniture and a full-on bunch sprint. Took one of my team mates home with his bike in bits and him not much better.

Sorry!!!

I would agree about hilly races being generally safer.

DKO

Longer races might be safer? People pace themselves and ease into the race, then fitness, punctures and hills break up the field, short flat races can be fast affairs with everyone hanging on maxed to the eyeballs.

padjo5

OP, you probably get the sense that accidents happen, no matter what sort of circuit it is! So rather than second guess which might be 'safest' why not just pick a race out of the calendar and jump in!? It might not be as mad as you think it will be!

As previously suggested, if you feel overly nervous at any stage of a race you could pull out.....you don't have to cycle into ditches if you don't want to!

And good luck!

fixie fox

manwithaplan wrote: »

Dodgiest race I did last year. Tight bunch, plenty of road furniture and a full-on bunch sprint. Took one of my team mates home with his bike in bits and him not much better.

Sorry!!!

I would agree about hilly races being generally safer.

As long as you are not one of those guys sprinting for 20th place in the bunch
- if u are not in for the win don't contest the sprint. If dopes in the back half of the bunch still want to sprint let them come around u. I got a bollicking in Fermoy from one of them last year. I eased off when I had no hope of top 10 (or 20!). I kept a straight line and some guy coming behind me mouthed off for not keeping sprinting and coming in his way! Amazing how a guy can sprint and curse at the same time!