Look out Fatty Masters

"steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Racing is something I've always wanted to
try but at the age of 57 maybe I should give it up.

It won't be any easier at 58.

Age isn't the best indicator. It's the shape you're in.

Try a training race. Their citizen categories are usually low key and are
there pretty much to answer those questions for you.

You can always try cx in the fall. You can suffer alone all you want and no
one will bother you and you crash on grass.

"steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago I attended a local bike race. Now I'm inspired to try
my legs. I used to do a fair amount of road racing. My PR in the
Marathon is just over 3 hours. As I've gotten older I've become more
interested in bike riding. Racing is something I've always wanted to
try but at the age of 57 maybe I should give it up.

Now is the time that you can improve the most. But don't give up if you do
really bad. It took me something like 3 years of attending master's crits
before I could ride at or near the front most of the time. I would never
have believed that from the first year when I couldn't even finish with the
group.

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago I attended a local bike race.
Now I'm inspired to try my legs. I used to
do a fair amount of road racing. My PR in
the Marathon is just over 3 hours. As I've gotten
older I've become more interested in bike riding. Racing is
something I've always wanted to try but at the age
of 57 maybe I should give it up.
Steve

Steve as previously suggested I think you're a prime candidate for
CycloCross.
While I'm not doubting your competitive desire or ability, I believe
you would find CX gratify.
While the running in CX differs greatly from marathon running
(assuming you never carried a bike in a marathon did you?) I think your
running background would be a huge plus in CX.

Best of Luck & Regards!

Mike Baldwin

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Michael Baldwin) said:

Quoted message said:

A few weeks ago I attended a local bike race.
Now I'm inspired to try my legs. I used to
do a fair amount of road racing. My PR in
the Marathon is just over 3 hours. As I've gotten
older I've become more interested in bike riding. Racing is
something I've always wanted to try but at the age
of 57 maybe I should give it up.
Steve

Steve as previously suggested I think you're a prime candidate for
CycloCross.
While I'm not doubting your competitive desire or ability, I believe
you would find CX gratify.
While the running in CX differs greatly from marathon running
(assuming you never carried a bike in a marathon did you?) I think your
running background would be a huge plus in CX.

Best of Luck & Regards!

Mike Baldwin

The maximum 80 metres of running in CX racing is unlikely to give even
the most dedicated marathoner much to work with, especially since he's
likely to lose more than he gains (at least at first) on the dismounts
and remounts.

Steve: bike racing is category based, so there's a class for every
racer. The simplest, least risky form of racing is time trialing,
because nobody else will run into you, and it favors sustained power
(though usually more like 30-60 minutes, not 3 hours).

Road racing is fun, with the caution that as a novice road racer, you
will end up with some pretty sketchy riders in your first races, thanks
to the joys of novice/Cat 5 races.

Cyclocross does have some advantages here: the races are fairly short,
the tactical thinking is much less demanding than road racing (though
the technical skills required are greater), and it's hard to get
yourself really badly hurt in cyclocross. Accidents are relatively
frequent, but low speed.

I LOVE cyclocross. It's the bee's knees, and would encourage anyone to
try it. Note also that while people will look at you funny, a cyclocross
bike with a set of road tires is a perfectly usable first road-racing
bike.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

Ryan Cousineau said:

I LOVE cyclocross. It's the bee's knees, and would encourage anyone to
try it. Note also that while people will look at you funny, a cyclocross
bike with a set of road tires is a perfectly usable first road-racing
bike.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden]://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Agreed on both TTs and Cross. One more thing I'd add about cross is
the laid back, much friendlier attitude that's pretty general. Even
folks competing to get to Worlds are pretty approachable and willing
to talk as long as they aren't getting ready or just finished. You're
gonna get pulled in most crits too, and that's pretty rare in most
cross events.
Like you I can't say enough good things. Our club has actually
started a spring/juniors cross group. It's cool,there's enough people
to make it go, it sucks that I can't be more involved with it, but it
will give our kids racers somewhere to graduate too right off the bat.
Hopefully we can feed some of the older ones right into that group,
and then straight into cross season, and races a couple of months
later.
Cool thing about TTs is that people are supportive of newcomers, and
I know lots of people who are uncomfortable in groups who do love to
come out and TT. The challenge for them is just to be a few seconds
quicker and more fit as the series go on.
If injuries are a concern then TTs are a great place to recover/avoid
them too, as you can really listen to your body.
Don't know where Steve's at but I'm sure he's close enough to someone
here to get some good local suggestions on clubs and rides to do first
too.
Bill C

Replying to Steve, Mike wrote

Quoted message said:

While the running in CX differs greatly from marathon running
(assuming you never carried a bike in a marathon did
you?) I think your running background would be a huge
plus in CX.
Best of Luck & Regards!
Mike Baldwin

Then RC wrote;

Quoted message said:

The maximum 80 metres of running in CX racing is
unlikely to give even the most dedicated marathoner much to
work with, especially since he's likely to lose more than
he gains (at least at first) on the dismounts and
remounts.

Thanks for the clarification RC. I was unaware of the _maximum_ 80
meter rule. - Mike Baldwin

Steve, if you do choose CX don't forget your rangefinder!

Best of Luck & Regards - Mike Baldwin

Ryan Cousineau said:

I LOVE cyclocross. It's the bee's knees,

Dumbass -

Is the "bee's knees" coming back into vogue?

We use that term at the shop. God forbid. It's bad enough that
"dumbass" is now mainstream.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

Like a virgin, Kurgan asks;

Quoted message said:

Is the "bee's knees" coming back into vogue?

No, still pretty much apple knocker talk. But using the word vogue sure
is the cat's whiskers!

Best Regards - Mike Baldwin

(Michael Baldwin) said:

Like a virgin, Kurgan asks;

Quoted message said:

Is the "bee's knees" coming back into vogue?

No, still pretty much apple knocker talk.  But using the word vogue sure
is the cat's whiskers!

Dumbass -

I thought it was cat's pajama's.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

(Michael Baldwin) said:

Replying to Steve, Mike wrote

Quoted message said:

While the running in CX differs greatly from marathon running
(assuming you never carried a bike in a marathon did
you?) I think your running background would be a huge
plus in CX.
Best of Luck & Regards!
Mike Baldwin

Then RC wrote;

Quoted message said:

The maximum 80 metres of running in CX racing is
unlikely to give even the most dedicated marathoner much to
work with, especially since he's likely to lose more than
he gains (at least at first) on the dismounts and
remounts.

Thanks for the clarification RC.  I was unaware of the _maximum_ 80
meter rule.   - Mike Baldwin

Steve, if you do choose CX don't forget your rangefinder!

There's a maximum 80 meters of running in cyclocross
rule? Who knew?

Any course, with enough mud, will require more running
than its nominal design. The issue is really that cyclocross
courses, because the terrain and obstacles change so
quickly, require the ability to surge, recover, and surge
again. This is very different from marathon running, or
stage racing or (thank god) triathlism for that matter.

However, most beginning CX racers are pretty bad
runners unless they came from a running background,
so someone who actually practices running can
overtake fellow newbies in running sections. Of course,
the real key is practicing dismounting and mounting.
But, all beginner racers have weak points. That's
why they're beginners. The important thing is go
out with some friends and have fun. Cyclocross is
a good introduction to that. Plus, you come home
cold, smelling like beer and covered in mud.

Ben
That's a plus, right?

Quoted message said:

the real key is practicing dismounting and mounting.

Not until you're in the top amateur or pro level, I think. Before that,
train more, train harder and choose better parents.

Quoted message said:

Then RC wrote;
The maximum 80 metres of running in CX racing is
unlikely to give even the most dedicated marathoner much to
work with, especially since he's likely to lose more than
he gains (at least at first) on the dismounts and
remounts.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the clarification RC.  I was unaware of the
_maximum_ 80 meter rule.   - Mike Baldwin
Steve, if you do choose CX don't forget your rangefinder!

Quoted message said:

There's a maximum 80 meters of running in cyclocross rule?
Who knew?

Quoted message said:

However, most beginning CX racers are pretty bad runners unless
they came from a running background, so someone who actually
practices running can overtake fellow newbies in running sections.

Thank You Ben. Your rendition may pass inspection of the scrutineers
of RBR.

Best Regards - Mike-.... 78,79,80 REMOUNT! - Baldwin

In article <[email hidden]>,

Ted van de Weteringe said:

Quoted message said:

the real key is practicing dismounting and mounting.

Not until you're in the top amateur or pro level, I think. Before that,
train more, train harder and choose better parents.

Absolutely. I am easily top-5 in the local "B" group in terms of
dismount and remount skills, and way up there in terms of technical
ability.

And my results reflect that:

http://www.escapevelocity.bc.ca/2007/gpcxresults

38 Ryan "Sharky" Cousineau 164 Escape Velocity

The first number is my placing out of 45 finishers,

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Kurgan Gringioni said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

I LOVE cyclocross. It's the bee's knees,

Dumbass -

Is the "bee's knees" coming back into vogue?

We use that term at the shop. God forbid. It's bad enough that
"dumbass" is now mainstream.

I think dates to the 1920's at the latest.

--
Michael Press