Is it a good idea to skip the first crit of the season?
12-11-17, 04:19 PM
#27
Senior Member
12-11-17, 08:40 PM
#28
Senior Member
It depends...
I see more crashes in crits. I have more video of crashes in crits.
I am more scared there will be a more serious accident in a RR, but I don't think they are as likely. What crits don't have is 50+mph sections, or cars both common to RRs.
In the RR the selections may happen as soon as the 1st serious climb. No hills - is it really a RR? And with that, the smaller groups tend to be closer to the same ability/experience/fitness/handling.
I see more crashes in crits. I have more video of crashes in crits.
I am more scared there will be a more serious accident in a RR, but I don't think they are as likely. What crits don't have is 50+mph sections, or cars both common to RRs.
In the RR the selections may happen as soon as the 1st serious climb. No hills - is it really a RR? And with that, the smaller groups tend to be closer to the same ability/experience/fitness/handling.
12-11-17, 10:45 PM
#30
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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if you're really worried about crashing you probably shouldn't do any racing. none of it's safe.
12-11-17, 11:09 PM
#33
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My last crash was just that. I drifted to the back to take a drink and two guys crossed wheels and went down right in front of me. Kind of somersaulted them. Got back in and pulled out a 4th, my best finish of the year.
Last edited by caloso; 12-12-17 at 11:19 AM.
12-12-17, 12:05 AM
#34
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IMO, the Saturday Hammerfests like Raincross, Spectrum, Swamis, etc seem to have just as many crashes. Raincross sent 2 away in an ambulance just a few weeks ago.
12-27-17, 01:14 PM
#35
out walking the earth
I've gotten back in plenty of races after crashes, but never a tuck and roll situation. Usually just a huge adrenalin burst, and me asking afterwards why I went back in as we pluck gravel from wounds and cut what's left of the kit off.
01-05-18, 06:12 PM
#36
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Training rides are just as dangerous as races, if not more so. I have had many more crashes on training rides than races. My only ambulance ride was from a training ride.
03-16-18, 08:10 AM
#37
Senior Member
Thread Starter
After this week, I think my answer is YES, it's a good idea to skip the first week. 60+ riders in the 4/5 junior/women race.
I almost crashed about 4 times, so crowded, very difficult to move up. Never got strung out (I should have attacked just to get out of the mess).
Next week might only have 30 riders.
I almost crashed about 4 times, so crowded, very difficult to move up. Never got strung out (I should have attacked just to get out of the mess).
Next week might only have 30 riders.
03-16-18, 08:11 AM
#38
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Thread Starter
One guy posted a comment on my video of the race, saying he was dropped within a lap. I gave him some encouragement and he said he's now going to try and start doing group rides. 
03-16-18, 08:46 AM
#39
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After this week, I think my answer is YES, it's a good idea to skip the first week. 60+ riders in the 4/5 junior/women race.
I almost crashed about 4 times, so crowded, very difficult to move up. Never got strung out (I should have attacked just to get out of the mess).
Next week might only have 30 riders.
I almost crashed about 4 times, so crowded, very difficult to move up. Never got strung out (I should have attacked just to get out of the mess).
Next week might only have 30 riders.
03-16-18, 08:53 AM
#40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I saw that video, it was a pretty big field for a road not much bigger than a bike path, and a few of the people out there appeared to be a bit nervous. Honestly, I wouldn't even have bothered trying to move up, there was no way you were getting a result that far back.
03-16-18, 12:50 PM
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
One guy in the very back, several bike lengths behind me crashed. I don't think he was hurt. He can be seen in my video in the distance taking a dive into the dirt.
03-20-18, 08:45 PM
#44
Cat 2
Funny because I did the epitome of two early season races (Valley of the sun and Chico) with little to no issues. No crashes the whole weekend at Valley of the sun as far as I know. There was a late race crash in the crit at Chico, but of no consequence. Everyone was right back up and racing. The circuit race was different, but it just goes to show that crits are no more dangerous than any other form of racing. (All cat 3 btw)
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