Originally Posted by
Hermes
When I started training for racing, I did my coaches’ Sunday group ride in NorCal. That started at Canada /92 and went to the coast and back. He would be in a van following us with support and coaching. I avoided the other group rides per coach’s request - too dangerous versus the benefit.
Spectrum is a 40 mile 2400 feet of climbing unstructured ride that picks up riders as it continues along its route. There are sprint points but there is no “winning” Spectrum. Beginner racers always think everyone else is a sketchy rider or that fields are sketchy. It may in fact be true but the person making the observation is the one that is sketchy and lacks experience to know what is really sketchy.
Why would Cat 1s want to ride with you? It is a fair question not trying to insult you. I want to ride with racers who have similar goals, skills and experience - no beginners. You have to ride / race with the beginners.
See comment above on Spectrum. If you race, you must start in the Cat 5 field. I get that you do not want to crash but there is no alternative. And the real races are different from Early Bird activity. There are a numerous, excellent cat 5 racers in actual cat 5 races that have excellent pack skills. Ride with those guys if you can at the front and or breakaway and drop the pack. And if you think you are an A caliber rider, dropping a Cat 5 field should be easy for you.
“A” riders are born and not made. There is only so much one can improve through training. IMO, success on the bike in competition is about finding ones niche and entering those events whether races or other types of rides where one has a competitive advantage.
Probably gonna stay away from crits or road races and just do the safer group rides (spectrum is dangerous but not as dangerous as a race) and just race in alleycats because I'm good at dodging cars. The cat 1/2 guys do training group rides (spectrum, noon ride, morning ride, penvelo, valley ride) where anyone is welcome to join, so I can ride with them by just showing up to the rides.