E.S.

I normally work every Saturday, but I have this next one off work... So I was thinking to myself, "Wonder if there are any rides in the area on that day? Quick google search and I get this...

https://www.spokanerocketvelo.com/ind...ces&Itemid=116

Interested. Scared. This would be my first race.

Concerns:
1. Getting dropped. But I think there just might be enough people in as poor shape as me that I could at least hang with a group? My fitness isn't great and I'm a clyde so no visions of grandeur here. Just want reassurance that this race doesn't look too hardcore for me to finish.

2. Flats/wheels. I don't have/can't afford a second set of wheels right now and support is wheels-in-wheels-out. Do you think that if I were to flat, I should just change the tube out by myself and just try to finish the race?

thanks for feedback!

Hida Yanra

you can likely finish, probably not with the pack though... but maybe?

If you flat, change the tube and get on with it, you'll be fine.

You will quite likely flat, so carry two tubes, a pump, and something with which to boot your tyre in case of a larger cut to tread or sidewall)

gsteinb

'talk me into doing my first cat 5 race on 6 miles of gravel roads'


I'll pass. Put on your big boy pants and make your own decision.

jsutkeepspining

^hahha. I never found the love for off road riding. I like pavement, i know how to ride it.

botto 

correct.

Debusama

That is my favorite race. It was the second race I ever did on the first year the race was held and I haven’t missed a year yet. You probably will get dropped; it is full of steep rollers, that area always has killer cross winds and in combination with the gravel, it does a good job chopping up the pack. Well, you won’t exactly be dropped but the pack will get split up into a bunch of groups of 5-12, and unless your one of the strongest, and best bike handlers, you probably won’t be in the lead group. I wasn’t the first few times I did it, and I had a blast anyway: made a lot of friends with my fellow chasers, and became a better cyclist because of it. I say do it, but seeing as the Ronde van Palouse is my favorite race, I am very biased.

grolby

If you're a bad bike handler on gravel, chances are you aren't as good as you think you are on asphalt.

OP, picking a race that's more than 1/3 on gravel as your first ever is kind of like deciding that you're going to learn to swim, but you're going to start out in a piranha tank instead of a normal pool.

wens

He's an ok bike handler in cross. Just claims it's dumb.

jsutkeepspining

*facepalm*

jsutkeepspining

i don't like cross, far to much work compared to just jraing in a road race or crit

grolby

Got something you want to say, junior?

jsutkeepspining

trust me the one thing im good at in this world is bike racing. bike handling is one of those easy things to pick up, just don't be stupid fool.

grolby

Bike handling is easy to pick up if you're good at it. I know some people who keep racing, keep riding, and still just can't figure it out. Some people are natural on the bike. Some just aren't. And to get back on topic, this race isn't the ideal place for a beginner to find out which they are.

E.S.

That was jsut, not me! I have respect for people that do 'cross



Anyways, I think I will skip this race. There are crits every Tuesday night all season long in my area so that would probably be a more hospitable place to get dropped than a brutal circuit race in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks for the advice, guys!

Nick Bain

then again if you get dropped you can quit after the 2nd lap. Lots of people do that even in our State RR which is usually brutal due to rollers and extreme wind, but no gravel.

E.S.

I'm not traveling 3hrs round trip to quit or ride by myself in hell in the middle of nowhere for 50 miles No, if I want to do that I will do it with nobody watching

Nick Bain

then you've quit already, wimp. 2 laps is only 34 miles. I know you can do that and since you work saturdays, when are you going to get to do this again?

MDcatV

that's probably a better place to start your racing career. I'm going to assume you're a skier. weekday races are more like blue groomers, weekend races more like black but set up with nice corduroy, add some gravel, you got bumps and trees, or might need to hike a little to get to the top.

mattm

I always thought this sounded like a dumb race, plus it was way too far from Seattle.

Deep gravel, wtf.

Jandro 

Bike racing probably isn't for you.

grolby

I haven't met very many new bike racers who aren't concerned about being dropped. Some of them still end up doing okay.