Peter Drake

----- Original Message -----

From: "Peter & Laural" <wind-@hevanet.com>

To: <ro-@aracnet.com>

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 6:46 PM

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Suggestions for a newbie's first race?





 Justin,



Bike: Take out your bar-ends, it'll make your bike lighter and faster.

This will be even more important before your first crit; all the kewl kids

will be missing one or two.



Fellow racers: The official pronoun for your competition is "girlfriend"

i.e. "center-line girlfriend!" Also, your results are all their fault,

not

 yours. "I would have placed, but no one wanted to chase the break."



Strategy: Sit up unexpectedly at speedy or sketchy moments, especially in

the pack sprint. Your fellow racers, erm, girlfriends, will appreciate

your

 sacrifice to help them hone their reflexes. Take an inside line on the

corners for even more fun, never mind those guys that seem to always get

in

 your way at the exit.



Boring parts of the race: Get everyone around you involved in a

sing-along.

 The "happy happy, joy joy" song is especially popular during long climbs

or

 dull crosswinds.



Clothing: As an unattached rider you're required to wear something lacy

and

 provocative under your lycra. It does get a little itchy, so use extra

chamois butter; yeah, it sucks not having teammates.



Officials: Bitterly contest your placing, especially if you're back

around

 25th place or so. Wait until their undivided attention is on the finish

tape, then do your best whiny tantrum. Drop kicking your helmet will make

them more sympathetic. If first-aid doesn't have any ice for your

post-race

 cocktail you're going to have to throw an even bigger hissy fit.



Post race: Start right away on inflating your race account to epic

proportions; the hills were higher, the wind was stronger, softball-sized

hail, you get the idea. Don't forget to exaggerate all the details of how

your girlfriends robbed you of your rightful victory by riding like a

bunch

 of losers.



Seriously: Race hard, be nice, and have fun.



Irony Alert: The preceding is meant to be funny, don't try any of this on

race day, save it for the training rides.



Cheers,



Peter







----- Original Message -----

From: "Justin Rock" <ro-@aracnet.com>

To: <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 8:54 AM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Suggestions for a newbie's first race?





 This Sunday (POC) is going to be my first road race. I would appreciate

any advice, suggestions, things to expect to make my introduction a

little easier. Also, as I am not on any team, what is the rules on

clothing / jerseys?



Thanks in advance,

Justin



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David Auker

Justin, Welcome!



"(Munchkins)

We welcome you to Munchkin Land

Tra la la la la la la la la la la la



(Munchkin 1)

From now on you'll be history



(Munchkin 2)

You'll be his..."



Your first race! Wow!



POC is about as flat as a pancake with a dab of butter on top. Yum! On

flat courses it's important to conserve energy by drafting, as the pack

nature of bike racing is really pronounced. Any wasted effort (being

exposed in the wind), adds up quickly. My advice is to seek the leeward

side of a big, smooth rider...imagine you are in tow by a tether, and

friction will let you drift to "behind" your tower, in relation to the

direction of the wind. A slight side wind from the right will have you

seeking shelter ("Gimme, gimme shelter, or I'm gonna fade away...") slightly

to the opposite side, the left. Careful overlapping wheels,

however...especially be careful around riders that don't seem to be able to

ride a straight line (this could be a "weakness of local racing" in some

minds)! Mustn't cross the center line, so you will have to bit the bullet

on side winds unless you are lucky enough to get into a rotating paceline.

Be sensitive to which way the wind is blowing. If it's impossible to get

shelter, the situation will change as soon as a corner is made. This may

sound weird, but a headwind is a lot easier to draft in, than a sidewind.



Between now and the race, you might find some friends and go practice a

rotating paceline/echelon! Come find me down at POC, and I can help explain

and depict it on paper for you!



Your clothing / jerseys question might be answered here

9.2 - CLOTHING



9.2.1 All riders must wear jerseys that cover the shoulders. Shorts must

reach mid-thigh. No



article of clothing may be worn that serves solely an aerodynamic purpose.



9.2.2- No rider may wear the jersey of a club or team that the rider is not

eligible to



represent.



In mass start events Category 1 and 2 riders from the same club/team must

wear uniforms



that are obviously similar unless the rules for the specific event require

otherwise.



(from http://www.obra.org/pdfs/obra%20rules.pdf)



Basically, our "local racing" is great for both racing and camaraderie.

We're here to compete and to help each other!



Have fun,



David

Clif Bar/TRC/RCB





 This Sunday (POC) is going to be my first road race. I would appreciate

any advice, suggestions, things to expect to make my introduction a

little easier. Also, as I am not on any team, what is the rules on

clothing / jerseys?



Thanks in advance,

Justin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

Justin Rock

This Sunday (POC) is going to be my first road race. I would appreciate

any advice, suggestions, things to expect to make my introduction a

little easier. Also, as I am not on any team, what is the rules on

clothing / jerseys?



Thanks in advance,

Justin