carpediemracing 

A thought. Generally speaking, unless you got dropped on a straight, it's usually cornering that gets you dropped on a descent. That's sort of the canary in the coal mine thing - if you're getting dropped on twisty descents it's a sign to work on cornering in general. If you have cornering down then descending, except for the super fast straight stuff, follows.

I'm no spectacular descender but I can corner. Even on roads I don't know I can at least follow the basics of cornering, therefore maintaining speed pretty well. I've out descended (i.e. out cornered) regulars on a twisty descent that I'd never done before. This was out in SoCal; I would intentionally drift toward the back if someone said there was a descent coming up and then descend until I was behind the first rider (20-30 rider group, most fun was a Lilac Road or something like that). Comment overheard at a regroup stop: "The guy from Connecticut can really descend." Not really. I can get around corners though.

I would get dropped on flat out straight descents because I'd get nervous about the speed, or, when I'm lighter, because I simply don't descend as well when I'm lighter.

Ygduf

cornering on a descent is incredibly different than in a flat race or crit corner.

sure, the mechanics might be the same, but mentally railing a corner on a descent where you can't always see what's around the bend is way different than leaning when you can see where you're going.

save10

you guys are certainly correct. i'm not a particularly sure bike handler/cornerer. and its magnified on descents. I'm better than i used to be, but not enough to where i'm comfortable going very very fast down a descent. there's enough races around that i dont really have to do those.

Doge

How are the mechanics the same?

Ygduf

is this a real question.

Doge

Screwing up on a corner can be more significant than PEDs. Older wiser folks just don't corner as well. Which is why the best moto kids - are kids, while the older guys are fitter, have faster reflexes and know more. They just don't have as developed of a brain.

Doge

Not really, as I know the mechanics are not the same.

mattm

I love how even the simplest threads devolve in to arguments here!

you're all wrong.

save10

OP - now that this thread has predictably started to devolve and may be at some point locked (RIP cycling ethics thread), if you do decide to race, you need to write a race report AND put it in the race report thread.

it may include some of the following -

-getting the directions wrong and showing up 10 minutes before the start
-pinning your number upside down and being reprimanded by a judge with a very bushy mustache
-forgetting something important like water bottles, shoes, gloves, sunglasses
-you wont forget your helmet because they wont let you race.
-if you do forget your helmet, please write about it because that would be kinda awesome
-having a bad clip-in at the start and getting gapped at the whistle
-tales of people yelling 'hold your line' even though the guy yelling 'hold your line' has no idea what that means since he hasnt held his line once the entire race
-how sketchy it is...even though its not that sketchy, it just seems like it because people keep yelling hold your line
-getting dropped
-getting pulled
-how hard it is
-how it wasnt as bad as you thought it would be
-winning

Wylde06

I would be even more impressed if it included everything on the above list.

furiousferret

Wow @save10, you just summarized my first season!

globecanvas

- pinning your number through your bib straps and not realizing it until you try to get undressed and realized you are basically locked into your kit until your [wife/girlfriend/stranger at the rest stop] can help you out.

Ygduf

OK, you go first.

Matt2.8NJ

F the numbers, just go pin on a number and go for it. If you survive, you might even enjoy it.

Ygduf

in a non-argumentative way I am honestly curious wtf you are talking about. given that a corner on a 5% decline is still 95% flat I feel like the mechanics of turning remain pretty much the same.

caloso

Don't forget the guy in 30th place yelling at the guys on the front to pull harder.

bostongarden

Is that similar to saying that a dollar is 5% nickel and 95% pennies?

Ygduf

don't obfuscate

Radish_legs

Superdrome!

carpediemracing 

That stuff happens.

Had all the bold things happen in recent memory. All but the helmet forget in the last year or two, helmet I last forgot in 2007? We were doing our engagement shoot at the bike race and I was wearing a borrowed helmet (too small) during the race. I got 4th in the state (11th in the race) after doing some off road to avoid a massive stack up in the sprint. I was about 190 lbs I think.


Photo by Matthew J Wagner

I've parked my car in the lot with my field already lined up for the start (made it into the race, NGX training race). I've done well registering 8 minutes before the start (last year, state championships, M45).

I've missed the start because I went to give/get my good luck kiss from the Missus. Got onto the field after Turn One (Tuesday Night Worlds).

One of my last races this year it was 96 deg at the start and I had no bottles. I went for a prime 30 minutes in and then stopped.

Another race I had no gloves. Rode a bit paranoid.

Radish_legs

I'm afraid this thread will implode if I say I am worried about riding on the crappiest bike in the group. Alum motobecane with 32 spoke training wheels. If I wait til I have a race bike and race wheels I'll never race...

aaronmcd

I started racing on my Motobecane with 32 spoke wheels. Still race on these crappy broken powertap 32 spoke wheels. Couple weeks ago I won on these crappy ass wheels. 2 years ago I posted here "should I race blah blah blah." Mattm said just go race do it do it do it now and a couple weeks later I did it and took 6th place and got insanely addicted. Do it. Do it do it do it.

aaronmcd

This is exactly what I was wondering!

topflightpro

I have a teammate who went from Cat 5 to Cat 2 in one season on a cheap Motobecane.

jdms mvp

you are going to crash your bike eventually. be thankful it's an aluminum motobecane with 32 spoke training wheels.