Breakaway Do's & Dont's for Beginners (Cycling Tips)

Breakaways are a much easier way to win a race, you will have less guys to contented with. But they are hard to make happen, so here are just a few tips that I use to help give me a better chance at making the winning move.

[@PeakTorque]

Probably the best crit guide ive ever seen. Thanks.

[@TheVCAdventures]

Thanks bro! Crits are pretty big around these parts.

[@joynthis]

Don't: Initiate the winning break, work like a hardman at the front, then get dropped from it. Like me.

[@torburgmax]

for beginners: just don’t attack!

[@jadecleveland865]

Good video! Right on time ahead of my first crit this weekend.

[@TheBreakingthenorm]

Tyler, breakaways are very tricky. From my experience and observations, early attacks/breakaways usually always fail and the individuals end up finishing in the middle to end of the pack. Heck, I've seen guys lap the pack and finish at the end of the pack. You drain so much energy that by the end you have nothing to give at the sprint. Breakaways seem to work best when they occur in the latter part of the race. I always let others do all the attacking, so they wear themselves out. By the end if I see a stronger cyclist attack then I go with him or them and sprint it out. There is too many eager guys and you have to use that to your advantage. You seem like you have more experience with racing than me, so my strategies are debatable. Maybe you can make a video about how to manage any potential fear of crashing in a crit. I've been dealing with this for a while, and is the reason why I haven't done much racing. I've seen too many horrible crashes.

[@TheVCAdventures]

Oliver Maxx So I kinda tried to say that in this, like DONT be the first to go, and attack after a bunch failed attempts. The break that almost made it that I was in went at 30 mins into the race and that was AFTER 5 or 6 other attempts. So you are spot on, the problem is that to make the winning move in one shot is so rare. And like i said, if I go with a break, I have not ambitions on doing well in the pack sprint. I go all in. And I will do a video about crashing, cause that's no fun when it happens. But honestly, you have to just put it out of your mind. Like be cautious, and dont make moves that will cause sketchy riding, but if you are thinking about wreaks the whole time in a race, your mind is not in the right place you know?

[@Checkpattern]

Excellent videos, excellent channel. Thank you!

[@J-Post86]

Thanks for all the tips and tactics. Very helpful!

[@mrbillybillybill]

You have such good quality content, you should definitely have more subs! Keep up the good work

[@TreyCoursey]

Catching up on some of your "vintage" stuff...lol...you've come a long way baby, nice job!

[@williambowers9774]

Hey! This video helped me a lot to understand about brake away. Especially when you said about cat 1,2/PRO. Can't wait to upgrade to 2/1!! More videos like this please.

[@TheVCAdventures]

That's awesome bro! I will do more videos of races here soon. I just did my first race yesterday of 2016.

[@00tohsaka9]

Those breakaways are so satisfying!

[@EsDemente]

Hi here's a Venezuelan chasing Freedom on two wheels! Great vídeo Brow!!!

[@iannuhfer8895]

Thank you so much for this vid it helped alot. i dont know how you only have 600 subs with this kind of quality of video keep it up

[@cbfedge5593]

Look at how it has changed

[@highlyaggravated]

Thanks Bro, great advice!

[@anibaljesusdelgadillo2091]

Awesome video, great information, look background music.

[@jordanwalker445]

This vid is really helpful!!

[@ChambersHonda83]

Really really helpful video, been thinking about giving crits a go a lot lately, and this has helped a lot for me being someone who has never done one.

[@TheVCAdventures]

+MotoGoProVids sweet bro! Get out there smash! Check out my breakdowns, really shows the dynamics of crit racing.

[@jblafon352]

My very first crit on 8-2nd. Many great videos from the Vegan Cyclist

[@oreosaysb00]

Excellent video!

[@jackharley8564]

Another great vid as usual Tyler! I think your cycling vids are probably the best way to build up your channel, then add in the lifestyle etc vids once you've got a stronger following. Also I reckon if you recorded (selfie-cam style) yourself commentating and had that in a little box with in the bottom right hand corner of the vid, then that would allow the audience to connect to you more, which I think would (subliminally?) encourage more people to subscribe. Just my thoughts :) Keep up the great work!

[@TheVCAdventures]

Jack Harley I like the selfie-cam idea for sure. But honestly for how many views the videos get (which is small), I have a pretty good watch-to-subscribe ratio. I really appreciate your support and will try your ideas.

[@jackharley8564]

Good point. Perhaps you could also use social media to build a bit of a following too? Like have a FB page where you post a "quick tip" or something interesting, every couple of days or so. That seems to be what the vast majority of youtubers are doing to expand their outreach I think.

[@palicar]

Nice info. Can you link the rear-facing camera to the head unit to see when they're coming?

[@Matt-cj9lm]

Loved it :D Thanks !

[@TheVCAdventures]

Thanks bro!

[@ashkanahmadi]

Great vid thanks. Just a quick question: Isn't the guy's saddle height at 4:26 on the Cervelo a bit too low?

[@holyeffingcow]

What's the name of the song used in this video? I really dig it.

[@rowanashworth8032]

Idk y but “A double vegan Breakaway” cracked me up 😂

[@RaffaelMarx]

Sweet video quality Nice!

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Rafael M Amarins Thanks bro, I just picked up the new go pro and its AWESOME!

[@lucasb.3236]

Such an awesome video man, congrats 👏🏼😍 and thank you!!

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

did you drop your saddle?

[@codyturner670]

Everyone says early breakaways can't work blah blah blah... I raced a crit 2 weeks ago and first lap I hammered it with a tailwind and ended up finishing the race with about a minute on the group. I think I proved they can work... also yes it was a solo break and I'm only 16!

[@TheVCAdventures]

They CAN work, but they often dont. Great job though bro!

[@herbsmanherbs]

Cody Turner it's because of double negative breakaway rules. Common advice is to refrain from attacking when it's early in the race, or when there's a tail wind, as it won't stick . However, early in race (don't attack) AND tail wind (don't attack) = don't don't attack = DO attack!

[@markdormer2854]

What would be better purchase Power Meter or Deep Dish carbon wheels, would you go faster in a TT with areo wheel's or having power meter to pace yourself with box rims?

[@TheVCAdventures]

Power meter. Hands down bro. Wheels won't make you stronger. Improve your motor before investing in the equipment. IMO at least

[@georgejgilles.3999]

Sounds like very sound advice.

[@TacticalDannyBoy]

I had the same thing happen to me. I was out of warranty though. I used something from a company called dog ears gps. Good and cheap fix if any of your buddies come across the same problem

[@zebkyffin9755]

+Dan Per i ended up glueing my garmin into the mount, cheapo over here!

[@jacobcobb4778]

Enjoy your videos a lot. I'm going to do a long cycling event this weekend and j have a GoPro hero 3+. I bought the same mount you use in this video (stem mount) what settings do you recommend to record in?

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Jacob Cobb for the 3, I would say 1080 @ 60fps. I use 1080 @ 60 fast in super view mode, but I think that's only on the 4. Anything more then 1080 is a waste I feel,

[@jacobcobb4778]

+The Vegan Cyclist thanks for the response and kee putting out great content!

[@ondrastehlikll.1948]

What is Cat 1,2,3,4,5?

[@georgegilles9008]

Awesome

[@Itz_Timeless]

His shadow at 3:15 is spot on😂

[@BaxterRoss]

Great video

[@TheVCAdventures]

Thanks bro!

[@ChristopherJing]

Does watts/kg only matter for climbs, or does it matter for other areas, such as flats etc? Thanks!

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Christopher Jing more so for climbs. You can have a crap W/K ratio but have a smashing sprint and you could win way more races then a bro with a better Power to weight. Even road races end up in a sprint, so it's not as important as many make it seem.

[@devinbrown1995]

what do you obscure by taping your garmin in that location? and why do it? Thanks

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Devin Brown the garmin was just broken, the tape held it on

[@taylore.harris7907]

Did you start with cat 5 or 4s? If so, what kind of racing environment is it?

[@taylore.harris7907]

Taylor Harris nvm I didn get to that part of the video when I commented haha I got it now

[@TheVCAdventures]

Taylor Harris Even though the pace gets faster, the racing gets easier to predict the higher category you reach.

[@etobiCRACKscorpions]

Why do you have tape on your Garmin? Did your screen crack? Do you recommend a rubber case for the computer?

[@TheVCAdventures]

+etobiCRACKscorpions The back broke off so it wouldnt clip in. Garmin made it right though.

[@TacticalDannyBoy]

Is that tape on your garmin from broken tabs?

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Dan Per Yep, Garmin covered me though. So I am all good now.

[@lawizard3081]

What does these different CAT 5, CAT 4... means?

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

different level of pain ha ha ha

[@Toastybear1]

really great video, I've just discovered you and i think your great! i think you might get more recognition and success if you do more videos like this, and less about food!!?? as food is a quite niche market?? (still brilliant though, please don't take it as a criticism!)but you could be gcn mark 2 ?!

[@TheVCAdventures]

I would say that im 80% Cycling 20% food on Channel right now. Most of my early stuff was more food related and now its pretty heavy on Cycling. Thanks for the support bro!

[@Toastybear1]

The Vegan Cyclist I've come to realise that now man, you have had a great idea for a channel :)

[@parkercushingable]

How old are these guys? I'm 29 and just getting started cycling. Gotta get in shape but could I be competitive at age 32?

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Parker Cushing for sure bro, you can be competitive at any age really. Most of the guys I race with range from 17-50+

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

ha ha ha ha this sport is not for everyone it takes hard work... a guy that is in his 60s and puts in hard work can kill a guy in his 20s... a few triathlons ago the oldest competitor was in his late 80s... Good genetics come very handy...

[@morosis82]

I'd second that, I've seen guys finishing well in triathlons I've been in at 70+. On the other side of that, last years Ironman Taupo winner (8.5hrs or something stupid like that) was 42!!!! I realise this is triathlon, but the same basic endurance rules apply. I work with a couple of guys who are still competitive B-grade cyclists and in their 50's.

[@MorganBrown]

Lentil-powered breakaway

[@piRcookie]

nice video

[@TheVCAdventures]

piRcookie Thanks BRO!

[@Ultegra10SPD]

Still link this to new racers asking me or the local group for racing 411. -U10

[@Miles_on_bikes]

Cor, i wish English road races looked like that.

[@parkercushingable]

But CA is hotter than shit. It probably between 90 to 105 degrees during these races.

[@t.c.9838]

Fremont Early Bird Crit?

[@TheVCAdventures]

No, this was at red kite in Pleasanton. Maybe the same course though.

[@chesepuffs1]

why do you have tape on your garmin

[@TheVCAdventures]

chesepuffs1 The back broke so it would not stay in the holder, and I CANT RACE without my power numbers. But I sent it in and Garmin sent out a refuburshed one at no cost. So I am all good know.

[@BoyJukka]

nice channle. subed =D

[@TheVCAdventures]

+Wong Ju Yang Thanks BRO!

[@PrintKingdom904]

its so satisfying to watch guys creep up from behind then to see you blast them and leave them in the dust lol

[@capthook1]

Fuckin fantastic!

[@PROcrastiDRIVESVofficial]

Breakaway tips: 1) Be Jens Voigt 2) Shift into 53x11 3) Win

[@TheVCAdventures]

+PROcrastiDRIVE SV Easy Peazy

[@PROcrastiDRIVESVofficial]

Haha, hey I love your videos by the way. Cheers!

[@ryanrobinson3649]

I disagree with one point. DO attack when the pace is high. If you are stronger than the rest, you'll be able to do it, and they won't have enough gas to chase it down.

[@TheVCAdventures]

Well what I ment by a high pace is 30mph+, you will be in the draft and feel like the pace is easy, so you attack but slam into the 32mph wind and blow the fuck up. If you are strong , you can attack when the pace is fast, but it would be pointless to make an effort when the group is full gas.

[@gunthertoastbrot3738]

How do you know, that someone is a vegan? He says it to you!

[@TheVCAdventures]

Hey.....I am vegan. Just thought I would tell you. Incase maybe you didnt know. vegan

[@mohammedkhan4088]

meat Gains.