bdcheung

What are your thoughts about riding (instead of driving) to a local race?

- How far would you ride?
- Does the terrain between you and the race influence the previous decision?
- How do you facilitate carrying stuff (nutrition, extra clothing, trainer?, etc.)?

I've never ridden to a race but know people who have used it as a "warm up". Just curious as to other people's experiences and thoughts.

bitingduck

Used to ride about 17 (dead flat) miles pretty regularly to get to track races (the track bike was in a locker there). It was a great warmup, and we always picked up gatorade and fig newtons at the store about a half mile from the track.

Rode to local crits, too.

Now that I'm in sprawling LA I don't ride to races.

botto 

I've ridden my bike for 25-30 miles to race (as in 50-60 mile round trip) on more occasions than I care to remember.

A messenger bag carried what I needed.

The terrain was never taken into account. I wanted to race, and that was where the closest race was at that given weekend.

As far as bringning a trainer - why?

caloso

I've done this for races within 10 miles of my house. It's pancake flat in all directions so that's not a consideration. On the other hand, if it were really cold or wet, I might drive just so I don't get soaked and miserable before the race.

As far as carrying stuff, I just throw it into a backpack. You could even bungie-cord your pit wheels to your backpack if you want, but that's more of a hassle than it's worth.

cmh

I ride to some weeknight races that are a couple miles from my house. I wear a pack with extra clothes, water, food. I usually race on tubies, so I worry about getting a flat while warming up and not having a spare wheel to throw on. But for a weeknight race, I'll take the risk and I could probably bum a wheel from a team mate if I really needed one.

bdcheung

My original thought was that if you ride to the race and get there too far ahead of time, then the "warm up" achieved from riding there would have been lost. Having never ridden to a race, I thought some might bring a trainer to warm up closer to their start time.

Doesn't seem economical or practical, but I wanted to cover all my questions.

botto 

do you bring a trainer to every race you do? sounds like OVERKILL.

cat4ever

I would think that the ride to the race would serve as plenty of a warmup as to not have to bring a trainer.

LT Intolerant

I've done it a few times and its been a great experience. One time I rode 20+ miles for an early season local crit, rode the cirt, and rode home. Needless to say it was a solid day of training, and a great warmup.

Years ago I rode to the start of a long, point-to-point RR stage at the Killington SR. I had to do some climbing, a long descent, and a 10 mile ride on rolling terrain, but it was a blast! At least 4-5 cars asked me, as they were passing me, if I wanted a ride. I was having way too much fun to load up the bike and take a free ride.

When all was said and done I logged almost 100 miles for the day w 60 or so miles of hard racing. I wasn't a GC contender so it wasn't a big deal for me to expend the extra energy.

If I were a contender or if the race was an "A-race" I might think differently, but if I could, I'd choose to ride to a race as a warmup vs ride a trainer any day.

gene r

Lithuania

ive considered doing this a bunch of time from as far as 30 miles but each time I thought the better of it and drove. It just seems like too much of a hassle.

That said if the race is super close (like the silver spring gp that is less than a mile from me) I will ride.

overall, I imagine the ride home being the worst part.

bdcheung

Every race I've done has gotten me there well ahead of my scheduled start time. For the road/circuit races I generally didn't warm up on a trainer, but for the crits and time trials I did.

carpediemracing 

There are a bunch of guys who regularly ride to the series I hold, I think the round trip is 50 or 60 miles. They do perhaps 30 miles at the race.

I prefer to drive as I like having everything I might need at the race.

I bring a trainer when I remember it, in certain glass strewn areas it's a good thing to have. A LOT of people bring trainers to races around here. Personally I get too hot too quickly but it beats flatting a tire. If it's really cold it's nicer too.

cdr

botto 

how many races are you talking about?

honestly, TTs I can understand, and I guess crits.

Otherwise, it just seems as unnecessary as a cat 5 owning a TT bike.

botto 

yep.

i remember seeing one or two on the way to bethel, when i was back visiting, and doing the sunday sleeping giant ride.

carpediemracing 

I should add that it's normally in the low-mid 30s when they're riding. Personally I think it's a bit much but then again they're a *lot* better than me.

cdr

bdcheung

Three crits, a couple circuit races, a TT, and a TTT. I used the trainer for the crits and the time trials, but not for the circuit races.

Compressed

Do it man, riding to races is green and a good way to get some more zone 2 TSS in and also to get a proper cool down which is something I skip all too often.

If it's an A crit or TT that you really want to kill at then drive and take the trainer.

bdcheung

I'm not sure how many races are close enough that I could ride to (without having to take a heavily trafficked road) but I'd definitely like to try it.

Treefox

I ride to most of the races I go to. About 20 miles is probably the max.

Does suck if you realise you're running a bit late and need to sprint in the last three miles, only to start the race like five minutes later.

ElJamoquio

HEY!

prendrefeu

That's not an excuse.

botto 

Truth is truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.

patentcad

Should you actually ever successfully identify the necessary part of any amateur bicycle racing, be sure to share it with us.

bdcheung

A bike is a pretty necessary part of amateur bicycle racing.

ElJamoquio

Not so much, actually. If I actually wanted to be successful (rather than enjoy myself), I'd stop even bothering with the crits and RR's and just TT.