An outsider looking in

Kate's mum, Cheryle, tells us about her second Novice race and how it is to be a new racer

My second novice race was exciting, fun and a great learning experience. It was held at a dedicated criterium track at Casey Fields on Sunday 3^rd March 2013. Unlike the first race there were no sharp corners to tackle. After the first race I decided to read some tips on riding crits and thought it is so hard to keep all these tips in mind during the race yet it all made sense.

Tip 1# “Stay at the front, but not on the front”.

It is hard not to get excited and want to try to chase down attacks or get on the front and do a turn (because that only seems fair). Yet it is a race and not a social ride so it is not about helping each other out. I was on the front during the last 3 laps and I hear a voice rising from the crowd “Get off the front”. Yes I thought, very good advice Kate and promptly dropped back.

It is also hard to make the call when there is an attack as to whether to chase them down, let someone else chase them down, keep the attack going because you might get away or should you conserve your energy and drop back into the bunch? I actually enjoy being able to chase down an attack but when you look around and see everyone else is also there you realise you have just put in a massive effort that others in the bunch benefit from without having to put in the effort you just did. Oh so many things to consider and before you know it you are on the final lap getting ready for the sprint.

Tip 2# is similar to buying or selling real estate – position, position, position!

I had heard Kate say at the start of the race that you need to be second coming around the final corner to have a good chance of winning. However, in the final lap I found myself boxed in after getting off the front earlier in the race. I moved a bit to the right in the hope that the rider next to me would move aside. The response from another rider behind was “hold your line 189”. 189 was my racing number and rider etiquette is apparently you should not push your way out from being boxed in for safety reasons – particularly at novice level. So I watched a few Hawthorn Cycling Club women start moving up for the final sprint and dropped back a bit to go behind a few riders and started my chasing. It was an exciting finish and the first time in racing I had something left in the tank to sprint. I finished 0.001 of a second behind the third place rider. I was absolutely thrilled at being in a bunch sprint and coming fourth.

When I read the tip on sprinting after the race it suggested placing yourself at the edges to allow yourself to catch a free ride with the swarm of riders as they move past to move up the bunch. Similar advice was given from the more experienced riders in the Building Champions Squad.

It is clearly different when you are part of a team rather than being an individual in the race. During the A grade race I could see our team working well together. Though you discuss strategies before the race you need to be able to read the race and respond accordingly. At many times during the race I saw both Lauretta and Kate near the front of the bunch and in a break-away group. Kate seemed able to be in the attacking group without having to chase them down. It was also one of the best races I have seen Nicole race. She did a massive turn at one point and was still able to be with the lead bunch at the finish. During the race there were many times Lauretta chased down a group that had broken away or do a turn on the front and though she put in a 100% in the final sprint after a lead out from Kate it seemed  she had used up a lot of energy earlier in the race. 

Final comment –

So next time I will try and not work so hard at the front during the race, sit on the outside edge to catch the fast moving train of riders for the final sprint and continue to enjoy the excitement of racing (while trying to be safe and holding my line!).

I still have a lot to learn; when to attack; when to chase down attacks; when I should bridge the gap or when I should let others bridge the gap and so on. And some people think racing is just about being the fastest.