Good road race in NY area for first timer
03-13-12, 12:00 PM
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Good road race in NY area for first timer
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good road race in the NY,NJ,CT area for a first time racer. I'm doing a crit series right now and will have 6 of them under my belt by the time I'm done, but I'd also like to try a road race or two this year.
03-13-12, 02:15 PM
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bikereg.com will have most events.
specifically for NJ, there's https://www.njbikeracing.com/calendar/ which should have the majority of races in NJ
specifically for NJ, there's https://www.njbikeracing.com/calendar/ which should have the majority of races in NJ
03-13-12, 04:12 PM
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I'm aware of bikereg.com and njbikeracing.com but I was looking for some more specific info from anyone who might have experience with any of the races listed and recommend one or two that would be suitable for a novice racer. For example, another poster recently mentioned that he was going to ride Battenkill as his first race and that seems like a tough one to try as a first race. Looking for something a bit more tame.
03-13-12, 04:19 PM
#5
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novice racers race against novice racers irregardless of the course.
you could do any of the central park or prospect park races. floyd bennet field. There's a host of road races in CT and NJ. Pick one based on when you want to race and proximity. Don't over think it. If you're saying you're looking to find or avoid climbs guys might have more input but you haven't said that.
you could do any of the central park or prospect park races. floyd bennet field. There's a host of road races in CT and NJ. Pick one based on when you want to race and proximity. Don't over think it. If you're saying you're looking to find or avoid climbs guys might have more input but you haven't said that.
03-14-12, 05:47 AM
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Tried search engine, no luck.
Prospect park and Floyd Bennet field races appear to be crits or circuit races. I'm looking for a true one day road race. Something like Battenkill but a bit tamer with regards to the course, not the competition. I'm not looking to avoid hills but I've heard Battenkill is a real bear and it doesn't sound like a good choice for someone's first road race.
Again, I know how to find the races, I'm looking for input from someone whose done some of them and can give some insight.
Prospect park and Floyd Bennet field races appear to be crits or circuit races. I'm looking for a true one day road race. Something like Battenkill but a bit tamer with regards to the course, not the competition. I'm not looking to avoid hills but I've heard Battenkill is a real bear and it doesn't sound like a good choice for someone's first road race.
Again, I know how to find the races, I'm looking for input from someone whose done some of them and can give some insight.
03-14-12, 05:58 AM
#7
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any of these will be good
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15864
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15789
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15682
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15864
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15789
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15682
03-14-12, 09:26 AM
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Those are all good suggestions.
Why don't you do some research, find a few that look appealing, then list them here and we can give you feedback or answer questions after you give us some more specific information. 'Not Battenkill' doesn't give us much to work with.
Alternatively: find every race you can, sign up, line up, race.
Why don't you do some research, find a few that look appealing, then list them here and we can give you feedback or answer questions after you give us some more specific information. 'Not Battenkill' doesn't give us much to work with.
Alternatively: find every race you can, sign up, line up, race.
03-14-12, 11:16 AM
#10
Tried search engine, no luck.
Prospect park and Floyd Bennet field races appear to be crits or circuit races. I'm looking for a true one day road race. Something like Battenkill but a bit tamer with regards to the course, not the competition. I'm not looking to avoid hills but I've heard Battenkill is a real bear and it doesn't sound like a good choice for someone's first road race.
Again, I know how to find the races, I'm looking for input from someone whose done some of them and can give some insight.
Prospect park and Floyd Bennet field races appear to be crits or circuit races. I'm looking for a true one day road race. Something like Battenkill but a bit tamer with regards to the course, not the competition. I'm not looking to avoid hills but I've heard Battenkill is a real bear and it doesn't sound like a good choice for someone's first road race.
Again, I know how to find the races, I'm looking for input from someone whose done some of them and can give some insight.
03-14-12, 11:39 AM
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"there are circuit races at Floyd Bennett Field"
Care to elaborate botto. I did plenty of research before I posted and found no recommendations for a one day road race in the NY area suitable for new racers.
"you want the 5 minute argument or the full half hour"
If you can show me some
03-14-12, 11:43 AM
#13
out walking the earth
"Two huge riding spots are Brooklyn’s Prospect Park (3.2 miles around)"
"there are circuit races at Floyd Bennett Field"
Care to elaborate botto. I did plenty of research before I posted and found no recommendations for a one day road race in the NY area suitable for new racers.
"you want the 5 minute argument or the full half hour"
If you can show me some
"there are circuit races at Floyd Bennett Field"
Care to elaborate botto. I did plenty of research before I posted and found no recommendations for a one day road race in the NY area suitable for new racers.
"you want the 5 minute argument or the full half hour"
If you can show me some
03-14-12, 11:47 AM
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03-14-12, 12:03 PM
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There are no one day races in the NY area unsuitable for new racers, since by definition cat 5s are 'new racers.' Terrain may dictate the suitability of a course to a particular rider (i.e. if you're a big fat guy don't do Housatonic) but for the most part they're all fine and some guy is going to ride away from the rest and be a four soon.
03-15-12, 07:00 AM
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Well I'll feed the troll. Once.
Sterling is a good race for a first-timer. It has a short punchy hill at the start-finish, but that doesn't separate the field, it's the long 2-3% grind right afterwards that splits things up. The rest is rolling with a little bit of technical downhill thrown in. This is good for newbies as you get to learn how to maintain pace in a field at speed. Technically it is a circuit race but it is billed as a road race.
Another good race series for first-timers is Johnnycake.
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/14966
It is also a circuit race that is pretty flat and fast. The third one in the series adds a hill. You would have to do the C race as a Cat5.
I'd also include Quabbin.
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/14436
This is a 65 mile loop that starts about 2 miles from my house. There are no really steep grades but there are some long, 5%-6% grinds that tear the fields apart. The toughest climb is the finish. Quabbin is a true road race, not a circuit race. If you are over 40, you get your own Cat5 field. It is not a USAC race so you will not get upgrade points for finishing.
There are more challenging road races later in the season.
If the six race series that you are doing now is at Bethel, I am one of your instructors. I also marshal your race. I drive a blue Honda pickup truck. Stop by and say hi.
Sterling is a good race for a first-timer. It has a short punchy hill at the start-finish, but that doesn't separate the field, it's the long 2-3% grind right afterwards that splits things up. The rest is rolling with a little bit of technical downhill thrown in. This is good for newbies as you get to learn how to maintain pace in a field at speed. Technically it is a circuit race but it is billed as a road race.
Another good race series for first-timers is Johnnycake.
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/14966
It is also a circuit race that is pretty flat and fast. The third one in the series adds a hill. You would have to do the C race as a Cat5.
I'd also include Quabbin.
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/14436
This is a 65 mile loop that starts about 2 miles from my house. There are no really steep grades but there are some long, 5%-6% grinds that tear the fields apart. The toughest climb is the finish. Quabbin is a true road race, not a circuit race. If you are over 40, you get your own Cat5 field. It is not a USAC race so you will not get upgrade points for finishing.
There are more challenging road races later in the season.
If the six race series that you are doing now is at Bethel, I am one of your instructors. I also marshal your race. I drive a blue Honda pickup truck. Stop by and say hi.
03-15-12, 03:32 PM
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Thanks Shovelhd. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Yes, I am doing Bethel. I'll be sure to look for you on Sunday and say hi.
p.s. I hope gsteinb was referring to TWDs comments as trolling, not mine.
p.s. I hope gsteinb was referring to TWDs comments as trolling, not mine.
