New to A4

duffyshuffle

Do some triathlon and wouldn't mind doing some road racing too, would Trader's Cup be a good one to start with in Dundalk at start March?

Any other ideas/advice going for first races?

CI license is all you need?

Beasty

The Trader's Cup is as good a place as any to start, although the early season races do tend to attract higher numbers

In terms of what else you need, a bike would not go amiss (and a helmet is an absolute must);)

... other than that, yes, you just need to turn up with your A4 CI licence and entry fee.

CramCycle

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Do some triathlon and wouldn't mind doing some road racing too, would Trader's Cup be a good one to start with in Dundalk at start March?

Any other ideas/advice going for first races?

CI license is all you need?

Join a club and get used to group riding in the racing group. It will be alot different than the all on by yourself cycling of triathlon, very different styles.

Other than that, don't go near the front because they will let you work for them (I have made that mistake), don't stay at the back too long because if it splits suddenly you'll fly out the rear.

Get used to riding at extremely close quarters, get used to not breaking when there is an obstacle, go straight through it if possible, if you break or swerve, you could cause quite an accident, at the very least, alot of irritation.

After that, get the miles in now.

LeoD

CramCycle wrote: »

Other than that, don't go near the front because they will let you work for them (I have made that mistake)

Who's "they"? If nobody goes to the front, the race will stop.

Lusk Doyle

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Thanks for replies, I've done plenty of group riding and handling skills etc are reasonable, most rides on the road bike all winter.
Won't be going to win so working on the front is fine with me for a few races anyway (if I can make it to the front
Re: potholes/horse**** etc on road, still give shouts like you would in training but hold your line as much as possible, obviously no big swerves etc?
And any a4 racers care to share approx w/kg and/or w FTPs?

5w/kg.

seamus

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Re: potholes/horse**** etc on road, still give shouts like you would in training but hold your line as much as possible, obviously no big swerves etc?

My expectation for racing is that a lot of people will ride more aggressively in the group. So while someone will usually give plenty of room on corners and check their shoulder before pulling across at the front, in a race I expect that the outside rider will just follow his line and fnck you if you don't like it and when overtaking people will indiscriminately cut across you without checking if they're clear.

I hope I'm wrong

duffyshuffle

Thanks for replies, I've done plenty of group riding and handling skills etc are reasonable, most rides on the road bike all winter.
Won't be going to win so working on the front is fine with me for a few races anyway (if I can make it to the front
Re: potholes/horse**** etc on road, still give shouts like you would in training but hold your line as much as possible, obviously no big swerves etc?
And any a4 racers care to share approx w/kg and/or w FTPs?

This disappeared somehow!

duffyshuffle

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

5w/kg.

Great, my tacx tells me i'm 7w/kg so i'm sorted

Lusk Doyle

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Great, my tacx tells me i'm 7w/kg so i'm sorted

I'd say that your tacx needs looking at!

chakattack

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Thanks for replies, I've done plenty of group riding and handling skills etc are reasonable, most rides on the road bike all winter.
Won't be going to win so working on the front is fine with me for a few races anyway (if I can make it to the front
Re: potholes/horse**** etc on road, still give shouts like you would in training but hold your line as much as possible, obviously no big swerves etc?
And any a4 racers care to share their approx FTP w/kg and/or w for start of season

2.3 w/kg for 2 hrs got me to the finish line with the bunch in a flat early season race last year, mostly wheel sucking with a few attacks at the end. Obviously there's huge variability...with big bursts and lots of time not pedaling.

>3.5 w/kg FTP to be competitive.

Call everything, keep your eyes peeled, stay up near the front out of trouble and watch for the wobblers and the guys who brake hard for no reason

couerdelion

chakattack wrote: »

2.3 w/kg for 2 hrs got me to the finish line with the bunch in a flat early season race last year, mostly wheel sucking with a few attacks at the end. Obviously there's huge variability...with big bursts and lots of time not pedaling.

>3.5 w/kg FTP to be competitive.

Thanks, that's pretty useful to know.
3.5 w/kg would be a realistic hope if I chop both legs off

duffyshuffle

chakattack wrote: »

2.3 w/kg for 2 hrs got me to the finish line with the bunch in a flat early season race last year, mostly wheel sucking with a few attacks at the end. Obviously there's huge variability...with big bursts and lots of time not pedaling.

>3.5 w/kg FTP to be competitive.

Call everything, keep your eyes peeled, stay up near the front out of trouble and watch for the wobblers and the guys who brake hard for no reason

Thanks a lot!

C3PO

Are A4 riders really training with Powermeters?

Lumen

C3PO wrote: »

Are A4 riders really training with Powermeters?

It's an excellent way to humiliate oneself during the offseason when there are no road races to lose.

High Nellie

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Do some triathlon and wouldn't mind doing some road racing too, would Trader's Cup be a good one to start with in Dundalk at start March?

Any other ideas/advice going for first races?

CI license is all you need?

Try not to be a Total Fred (A Bit of a Fred is ok until you become socialised) - shave your legs; remove pump, lights, saddlebag and any Tri paraphernalia; have clean gear; wear number properly; know that pointing to a spot between two riders doesn't entitle you to a gap ......