You should ride with the beginners because you are a beginner. I think you'll find riding with folks who are close to the same skill level to be more challenging and overall more rewarding. After all this is racing and you want to ride with folks who are just a little faster and a little slower than you so you can beat them sometimes and get motivated when they beat you.
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-----Original Message-----
From: "Matthew Lasala"
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:02:54
To: David Harvey
Reply-To: matthewlasala@gmail.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Proper Classification for Crusade?
Go Clyde. Guys are bigger but field is smaller, you race slightly later in the day and we have a lot of fun. Just make sure to take out Aaron Coker if he comes by you. ;-)
Sent from my G5 IPhone prototype
-----Original Message-----
From: David Harvey
Sender: obra-bounces@list.obra.orgDate: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:54:07
To:
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Proper Classification for Crusade?
I am a fat (6'2" x 215# Clyde), 53 yr old, BEGINNER. Never rode single track, or off road at all, until my first cross race on Saturday last at PsychoCross (and then second day on Tuesday on the same course in the Hutch's series).
I am debating the class to declare myself in the Crusade. The beginner fields are 100+, and that seems like a lot of moving road hazards. The Masters 50+ is even a larger field (numbers based on last year), but I wonder if it isn't safer for me to be at the back of that pack instead of being surrounded by folks at my skill level, or worse.
I am NOT competing to win anything - I just want to learn how to do this silly sport, enjoy the workout (am still fat, but 25# less fat than before April 23, when I bought my bike), and not get hurt or hurt anyone. I have two (repeat, 2) cross races under my belt, so I really am a beginner when it comes to skills - not trying to fool anybody, as I truly stink at this sport.
I appreciate your advice - and particularly want to hear from those of you that might have to maneuver around a moving road hazard like me.
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I am a fat (6'2" x 215# Clyde), 53 yr old, BEGINNER. Never rode single track, or off road at all, until my first cross race on Saturday last at PsychoCross (and then second day on Tuesday on the same course in the Hutch's series).
I am debating the class to declare myself in the Crusade. The beginner fields are 100+, and that seems like a lot of moving road hazards. The Masters 50+ is even a larger field (numbers based on last year), but I wonder if it isn't safer for me to be at the back of that pack instead of being surrounded by folks at my skill level, or worse.
I am NOT competing to win anything - I just want to learn how to do this silly sport, enjoy the workout (am still fat, but 25# less fat than before April 23, when I bought my bike), and not get hurt or hurt anyone. I have two (repeat, 2) cross races under my belt, so I really am a beginner when it comes to skills - not trying to fool anybody, as I truly stink at this sport.
I appreciate your advice - and particularly want to hear from those of you that might have to maneuver around a moving road hazard like me.
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