Tips for Racing a Points Race

Ride faster than everyone else. 😄

Shreklookalike said:

Ride faster than everyone else. 😄

excellent! thanks for the insightful advice....being that I am unable to ride faster than everyone else, do you have a plan B?

roundsquare1 said:

excellent! thanks for the insightful advice....being that I am unable to ride faster than everyone else, do you have a plan B?

Sorry, I'm not a racer, just a smart-a$$. 😉

I hope someone else can help you out, and that you have fun and do well in your race. 🙂

I hate replying to these things!

Always think you sound like a know it all, but this time im going to give it a go!
Tactics for points races, well depends what kind of rider you are and how quick you recover?
The two main tactics are
1. constantly place in the sprints, lots of seconds and thirds are better than one or two wins.
2. brake away, this is best done imediatly after a sprint when there tends to be a lull in the pace.

Hope this helps
Lee

Lee Povey said:

I hate replying to these things!

Always think you sound like a know it all, but this time im going to give it a go!
Tactics for points races, well depends what kind of rider you are and how quick you recover?
The two main tactics are
1. constantly place in the sprints, lots of seconds and thirds are better than one or two wins.
2. brake away, this is best done imediatly after a sprint when there tends to be a lull in the pace.

Hope this helps
Lee

Thanks,
I have avg endurance and a pretty good sprint. I have asked a few people and most say for a rider like myself, your advice is pretty on.

Thanks!

roundsquare1 said:

I'll be entering in a 40 minute points race this Thursday. Since I have never raced this sort of race and being new to the track, does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

Below is the format of the race.
40 minutes points race,

Quoted message said:

sprints every 5 laps
(5-3-2-1)

Thanks in advance.

Larry

40 minutes is much much longer than most amateur points races. I assume you will be racing the C category so there will be riders of vastly disparate abilities. I am fairly certain if there is any turnout at all, the faster riders will lap the field multiple times. One key is to try and figure out who these guys are at the start line. 🙂

Woofer said:

40 minutes is much much longer than most amateur points races. I assume you will be racing the C category so there will be riders of vastly disparate abilities. I am fairly certain if there is any turnout at all, the faster riders will lap the field multiple times. One key is to try and figure out who these guys are at the start line. 🙂

Again, right on the money. I'll let you know how it turns out on Friday.

I tried this unsuccessfully last year in a points race, only to have another guy in the same freakin' points race ride the whole race using the same strategy successfully.

You have to time it just right, but if you attack early on in the five lap cycle, you can stay away until just after the points. The group will work their butts off to chase you down on laps 4 and 5, and tire themselves out. If you get the timing right, attack again on lap 2 when they're still tired and you've had time to recover. Keep doing that, and they'll be demoralized and hate you. But you'll win. If you're a monster, you could just try to lap everyone.

roundsquare1 said:

Again, right on the money. I'll let you know how it turns out on Friday.

We have to wait until next week with the dam release. I was going to help officiate or turn number cards but I only had time to do that this week. I may come out in a few weeks to race.

alright, im a junior rider but i race cat 3 at my local drome, and as a pursuiter i tend to have a pretty good plan going into every points race, although they usually end up different. most importantly be prepared to adapt, if u need to do something outside of ur plan that will get u a few points, dont hesitate and go for it. first off, unless there's a breakaway, count out the final sprint unless u can really sprint like hell. generally the second last sprint will end up being the slowest and most important, make sure if ur anywhere near the lead u win the second last sprint, just cuz u never no where the leader will finish in it. also, make sure u learn what riders are sprinters and what are pursuiters, if u see a breakaway of all sprinters, (duh) wait in the feild. also, it can be tricky but very benefiial, see which riders are dumb attackers and which riders are smart. if a bunch of dumb attackers go off, it might be a good idea to bridge up to them and use them as a "launch pad" for a solo break. if theres a smart group off the front, you have to do something, either take a good strong pull or go balls to the walls to bridge the gap solo.
finally, and most importantly, keep a mental log of points. this can be very very cnfusing, but it is imperative if want to ride a smart race.

hope it helps
-nitro

roundsquare1 said:

I'll be entering in a 40 minute points race this Thursday. Since I have never raced this sort of race and being new to the track, does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

Below is the format of the race.
40 minutes points race,

Quoted message said:

sprints every 5 laps
(5-3-2-1)

Thanks in advance.

Larry

Memories of intense pain and trackside vomiting flooding back.......

roundsquare1 said:

Again, right on the money. I'll let you know how it turns out on Friday.

OK, no one named Larry turned up in the results. I backed out because it was raining where I was working that evening. I'll be there next week because I am skipping Sea Otter.

Woofer said:

OK, no one named Larry turned up in the results. I backed out because it was raining where I was working that evening. I'll be there next week because I am skipping Sea Otter.

Sorry in the delay in posted.

So, the first race I did I had no idea what was going on, how to race it, who was racing and just ened up trying to stay with the field. There were 4 guys from the same team that attacked and blocked.
Results from that race:
C Group Results
1st- 116 points- David Anthony (EMC Documentum)- 5 laps and 2 victories
2nd - 79 points- Rob Collier (EMC Documentum)- 3 laps, 3 victories and
2
brownie primes
3rd - 45 points- Eugene Beyer (ICCC)- 2 laps
4th - 43 points- Carl Andreson (EMC Documentum)- 1 lap, 1 victory and 1
brownie prime
5th - 6 points- David Puglia (LGBRC)- even laps
6th - 0 points- Greg Machez (Equip Matin))- even laps
7th - -18 points- Larry Rosa (Roaring Mouse)- down 1 lap
8th - -52 points- Dave Tabor (unattached)- down 3 laps
DNF- Erik Gaze (Webcor/ Alto Velo)
DNF- Carol Chang (Webcor/ Alto Velo)

The following week I think it was rained out and I went the week after with a better idea of what was going on.

C Group Results

Quoted message said:

1st- 51 points- Ted Burns (Alto Velo/ Webcor)- 2
laps and 2 victories
2nd - 28 points- Erik Gaze (Alto Velo/ Webcor)- 1
lap, 1 victories
3rd - 25 points- Dave Ohst (Southbay Wheelmen)- 1
lap, 1 victory
4th - 24 points- John Sevic (LGBRC)- 2 victories
5th - 21 points- Larry Rosa (Roaring Mouse)- 1 lap
up
6th - 6 points- Radboud Bruinsma (Alto Velo/
Webcor)- even laps
7th - 5 points- Hillary Daniels (unattached)- even
laps
8th - 3 points- Kevin Torbett (Pegasus)- even laps
8th - 3 points- Martin Thomspon (RHVilla)- even laps
10th - 2 points- Keith Rabbin (unattached)- even
laps
11th - -18 points- Mike Krynock (Alto Velo/ Websor)-
down one lap
12th - -20 points- Gregg Machacz (Equip Le Matin)-
down one lap
13th - -37 points- Dave Tabor (unattached)- down two
laps

The third race I did I was totally flat and had nothing in my legs, just was happy to stay with the field and finish without being lapped.

On the downside, I slight crack in my frame turned into a bigger crack and can no longer be raced.

I had a PLANET X and Woofer maybe we met at the track?? But was going to get another one but was also looking at the FELT track bike.

anyone know anything about these?

feltracing.com2005 tk2 frame.htmlOpen ↗

I think we met at Santa Rosa and on the warmup last time. I was on the black bike with Los Gatos.

You can use a rental I think for five times in the C races until you get a new frame.

That was a great improvement. Points races can be very confusing at times, even without the other group warming up behind you.

Couple of notes watching you guys race --

1) Don't be afraid to ride and advance at the bottom of the when you are going slow. There's no reason to ride at the stayer's line (black) when not much is happening.

2) Don't be afraid to be aggressive and attack. If you watch the A's, they're full gun for the 100 laps. As soon as a break is caught, someone else will throw it down.

3) During the points sprints, most riders are coming from too far back. It depends on your speed and style, but you probably don't want to be worse than 2nd or 3rd coming out of turn 2. Punch it and try to make your pass on the back straight.

4) It's hard to even be in contention for a points sprint if you are wrong wheel. Figure out who's going forwards and who's going backwards every time there is a sprint. Remember, you have to be in position before the bell so the real fight takes place on the lap before (or more if its fast) and the contenders really show their cards on the home straight as they ring the bell... Also figure out which Los Gatos rider is working for whom...

5) I've also noticed that the riders who are leading it out are going way too early to win the sprints themselves. One tactic from the lead out position is to take the pole at the bell, "float it" (fast but not all out) through turns 1 and 2, and then open the throttle on the back straight. You have to give it enough throttle to keep the other riders behind you or at least on your hip. I like to just punch it coming out of turn two. Other riders like to open up the throttle gradually, often even starting at the bell, and try to keep constantly accelerating to discourage the other riders from coming over the top.

Woofer said:

I think we met at Santa Rosa and on the warmup last time. I was on the black bike with Los Gatos.

You can use a rental I think for five times in the C races until you get a new frame.

I think I am going to pick up another Track Bike within the week. I have one on order from the shop I ride for.

due to rain, I didn't bring my stuff for the Track tonight and don't want to drive down there again and have it cancel. EMC sunday tho.

tobu said:

Couple of notes watching you guys race --

1) Don't be afraid to ride and advance at the bottom of the when you are going slow. There's no reason to ride at the stayer's line (black) when not much is happening.

2) Don't be afraid to be aggressive and attack. If you watch the A's, they're full gun for the 100 laps. As soon as a break is caught, someone else will throw it down.

3) During the points sprints, most riders are coming from too far back. It depends on your speed and style, but you probably don't want to be worse than 2nd or 3rd coming out of turn 2. Punch it and try to make your pass on the back straight.

4) It's hard to even be in contention for a points sprint if you are wrong wheel. Figure out who's going forwards and who's going backwards every time there is a sprint. Remember, you have to be in position before the bell so the real fight takes place on the lap before (or more if its fast) and the contenders really show their cards on the home straight as they ring the bell... Also figure out which Los Gatos rider is working for whom...

5) I've also noticed that the riders who are leading it out are going way too early to win the sprints themselves. One tactic from the lead out position is to take the pole at the bell, "float it" (fast but not all out) through turns 1 and 2, and then open the throttle on the back straight. You have to give it enough throttle to keep the other riders behind you or at least on your hip. I like to just punch it coming out of turn two. Other riders like to open up the throttle gradually, often even starting at the bell, and try to keep constantly accelerating to discourage the other riders from coming over the top.

That's really good advice, thanks.

roundsquare1 said:

That's really good advice, thanks.

The great thing about the track is that you can get instant feedback about how you rode, especially if you are riding multiple events in an evening. You also have multiple chances of trying different things. There are some really knowledgeable people who don't mind dispensing advice. People like Bob Muzzy, John Simmons, Larry Nolan, or Ruggy come to mind. The track scene may sometimes seem like an inclusive club, but there are a lot of really friendly people out there who don't mind teaching people how to better their skills and tactics. The more you talk to them, the faster your learning curve will be and you'll be riding B's in no time.