NyoGoat

I appreciate all the feedback. I'm leaning heavily towards trying out the crit racing. I'm not really concerned about the danger factor, life is dangerous. I'm hoping to get the community aspect out of it as well

cmh

Stick around here NyoGoat and let us know how it goes. Despite the negativity regarding the risks, people here are always full of encouragement and good advice for new racers.

bbbean 

There is an easy way to find out.

caloso

bbbean 

Sure. We all know someone hurt bad racing. But how many thousands or tens of thousands of people race each week without incident? In 4 seasons of racing, I've raced with several hundred, maybe a thousand or more racers, and I've seen maybe a half dozen crashes that required anything more than cleaning up road rash. Of the "serious" crashes, every single racer was back out and racing after a few weeks/months of recovery.

People make too much of the crashes.

BB

Psimet2001 

We're saying the same thing.
In other words I was saying, if you are in aviation long enough you will know someone who has died in a plane crash....yet plane crashes really don't happen often. kind of thing.....

Personally I have been first on scene to 3 different riders having seizures/hemorrhaging/whatever right after accidents.....hate seeing that. I've "been around" for 6 deaths spread out over many states and multiple decades, and have had 2 riders have the whole "you're never walking again" thing. Both are walking again but one is still learning how to write.

....and Tilford died in a traffic accident when he went back to his car to look for his dog. This after racing for 40 years or more.

I think we all agree that life happens and we are all comfortable with the amount of risk involved with racing. Denying it exists does bug me (not saying anyone did) but it does get blown out of proportion too much. Pretty sure we did a podcast on this as well.

caloso

Actually now that I think about some of the injuries among guys I ride with, the most dangerous kind of riding is screwing around on a BMX or a MTB trying to do jumps and wheelies and whatnot.

Psimet2001 

Friend and teammate who worked in my shop for like 2-3 years.... he goes out mtb riding because...because he thinks it's fun and has FOMO with regard to shredding the gnar and sending it. He goes out and hits a tree BAD and is pretty sure he is hurt bad enough to need to go to the hospital. Comes in crying. Doesn't have health insurance (don't look at me - I get my health insurance from my wife's job. There isn't even enough income in this business to pay for health insurance let alone that AND regular overhead like rent). I'm the roadie a-hole as I sit there and basically don't show empathy and say, "You get hurt every single time you get on a mtb. Just about everyone does until they have ridden them enough. You can' afford to ride then enough to get to that point. Don't be an idiot. Don't ride mtb."

He sold it a week later. hasn't been since....and hasn't been hurt on a bike since either...

TMonk

It can be hard as a fit roadie to stay within your skill level on the MTB. I have certainly crashed more times on a MTB but with the exception of one they've all been innocuous. I've had three pretty serious road wipeouts though...

oldmountain

OP you sound like myself a year ago. I've been a runner forever and started doing duathlons when I turned 30. Im very much a family guy and have limited time but decided to do crits and road races last year. I only put two hours a week on my bike and I'm competitive with the locals (running helps). I turn 40 soon I only regret not doing cycling races/ crits sooner. Depending on your fitness and local competition you may only need a few hours on the bike a week.

Doge

My kid has never crashed in a category* crit or RR (and has done his fair share - to OP 100s).


*USAC Cat 5 or bettter. He had a U10 crash - his fault, and a U11 crash following the wrong wheel - his fault being there, and a few Euro incidents like getting hit by the motor.

Radish_legs

Be like me. Think about it for a couple of years. Then try it.

Dr.Lou

I enjoy watching crits while at a sidewalk café, enjoying a burger and beer.

mattm

same

Homebrew01

Another advantage of Crits over RRs, is that after the first lap, everyone knows the course. You quickly learn where potholes, drains, manhole covers are.
In RRs there are more opportunities for "surprises" along the course.

Jameski

so I'm apparently the only person who has posted ANYTHING to the crit group since April 8, comment or story or anything. What gives, y'all? We need a recruitment drive

bbbean 

We're all busy racing. Go do some intervals or something.

gsteinb

The premise is wrong. It's not a group. It's a thread on a forum. Threads, generally, have limited lifetimes. The better question would be would why would a guy with only one post choose to post to a dead thread pointing out it needs posts. I'm glad I don't have a blue star anymore.

topflightpro

What Crit group?

Doge

So am I