Crit Race | Newbie races Dalton Crit Cat 4

So im new to this and thought i would give it a go. Here's how things worked out for me on my first ever race and certainly my first ever crit race. It was a lot of fun and im determined to head back and give it another go. First goal was to simply make the finish line. I absolutely loved the sprint finish on this and its got me excited for me. I have another couple of races coming up so plenty more bike racing action to come.
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[@JordanPalfrey]

(#18 in the video here) Nice chatting to you Max and glad you enjoyed that sprint, it was great fun. Thanks for recording, it's useful to have some footage to analyze! Hopefully see you around Dalton more often. That was a particularly hard night, those guys on the front were shifting, but we didn't get lapped in that group of three, and that's what I'm happiest about. No advice, you did great for your first race.

[@thewattlife]

Great to race with you Jordan, will be back for sure 👌🏻

[@NLAS_Cycling]

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. The first race is always special for everyone. And to be honest, it doesn't matter how many participants there are. At my last race there were about 3.100 participants in a controlled mass start. It wasn't a CRIT, but a 127 km road race in the mountains. What applies to road races also applies here. The only difference is the course remains the same. Look at how the people in front of you are riding. Analyze whether there is a team that works together. See who is setting the pace and who is being pulled. Ride the corners properly, stay on the track, ride in the slipstream, close gaps if it makes sense to stay in a group. Pay attention to body language, looking behind is always a sign to position/attack/break. If possible, start in a group of three, then you can share the work. Because CRIT Racing is a team sport. But the most important thing: stay true to your pace. Don't be tempted to waste your "energy" too early. Well done

[@thewattlife]

Thanks, hoping that with a few more races the positioning will change and it will get a tiny bit more comfortable

[@0ldw3lshm4n]

the event you rode was a sportive not a race. This was a crit under bcf rules and license required, unlike a sportive which anyone can enter.

[@AndrewMMMMM]

Hiya, #06 here, the other guy in the 3-up. If I'd known I was on camera, I'd have hit out on the last lap and made it more exciting 😂 Did that at Dalton back in March, and got a few points out of it. Nice chatting with you afterwards, and good luck in your future races!

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Andrew. Will come back up another week soon and now you know when to put on a show for the finish

[@jonathancooke542]

Well done. I think you pretty much nailed it for your first. Finished wheels down and safe. Now to make progress. I’m surprised that was a Cat 4 race, wow they were moving. I think the good weather brought out some fast riders.

[@thewattlife]

Thanks, they are steep learning curbs but it was a lot of fun

[@kevinclark5086]

Just remember you don't have to be a champion to start but you have to start to become a champion. Just turning up you're beating 99% of people. Don't feel so nervous or that you shouldn't be there. Those pre race nerves really help to push yourself even though they do feel horrible. 😂

[@DarenC]

Loved this! Do like a bit of crit footage and commentary (watch loads of NorCal for example). I totally get that excitement of the sprint regardless of where you are. I'm always up for a group sprint on Zwift, even though I'm sprinting for 70th, 300th or whatever. Kudos for having a go at this; like the chaingang, I've never been brave enough

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Daren- I have a great video out tmrw from an Urban crit race from the weekend which was awesome

[@reecedawson6113]

Crits are all about being smooth, saving energy and tactics, similar to road races. Just never sit on the bavk or you'll lose the groups as i think you found out. I'm not a racer really as I'm not punchy enough for the UK racing scene so i specialize in tt and long distance stuff as my power profile suits that. Maybe you try a local 10 mile tt on your road bike

[@ColoCX]

Good job. 3:35 when solo car key goes on one of your car tires. If you were to crash it could fall out and end up on the course and potentially lost. 4:45 flat course, race < 1 hr bring 1 water bottle. 23:41 advice from a sprinter: three man group you want to be 3rd wheel going into the sprint.

[@thewattlife]

Massively regretted no taking at least 1 bottle after tearing around for 40 mins… thanks for the tips

[@globebusmotorhomeadventure8112]

Really enjoyed your footage and commentary on your 1st cat 4 race I'm looking at doing my 1st one soon that has given me some inspiration and pointers to give it ago👍😊 Good luck with future races

[@thewattlife]

Thanks kindly- hopefully this was helpful. Give it a go, dont be afraid to just chill and enjoy it

[@jacklalalaful]

Your best video so far

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Jack 🫡

[@lefrickolas]

As someone toying with starting Cat 4 racing, I think I felt all the nerves vicariously through you as those are exactly the things that run through my mind. Inspired to take the plunge after watching your dig here.

[@thewattlife]

Do go and give it a crack. Hopefully back racing this week or next

[@1carusjohn32]

Great Vid Max. Anxiety to elation in 45 min. Similar to zwift, but different skill set and things to learn. IRL speed is not just a function of power. Much speed to be found. As with Zwift, it will be fun watching you work your way up the bunch finishes with this group. Also great to see how much fun taking part is rather than the focus on performance or a win.

[@g_ridesbikes]

Can’t beat the feeling of an IRL race!

[@thewattlife]

Was a lot of fun and a good one for my firsy

[@TBBCycling]

Nice race Max! I've just started my crit racing journey this year as well and also learned quite quickly that fitness is only a small part of racing!

[@thewattlife]

This is true, next race im going to really try and push better positions

[@tehdaveeh]

Great video again Max, thanks for sharing. Starting your first race is always the hardest but everyone is lovely and youll want to go every week. Good luck and see you on the circuits around London soon I'm sure

[@thewattlife]

It was a great way to spend an evening that’s for sure

[@AntonioDiaz]

Looks like so much fun!! I want to try this out one day!

[@gordonwalker4909]

Just wanted to say thanks for this great video. Has made me think seriously at having a go at a Crit.

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Gordon, it’s been positive experiences so far and everyone is very supportive

[@martinandrews2860]

Well done, entertaining, informative and fun to watch. Bring on the next one. M.

[@thewattlife]

Hopefully back racing this week. Plus have an urban crit race vid out tmrw

[@Boothster084]

Good video 👍🏻. If you can, always try and stay a few places from the front, but not on the front lol. It’s actually the safest place to be (as there are less people in front of you risking a crash) and it’s surprisingly easier. You have a few more seconds to react to moves and there is not as much surging in and out of the corners. There is always a ‘concertina’ effect in corners. If your towards the back of the bunch, your going into a corner as the leaders are coming out. The constant surging eventually builds fatigue. Keep at it and you’ll pick this all up anyway mate. Nice work.

[@thewattlife]

This is what I want to try and do next time I take one on. By the time the move had gone I was having to really push to hold on and it eventually killed me

[@sams247]

Hi Max, turning up is always the biggest step, everything else can be learnt. Small tip: A wind direction(al arrow) next to the little race track would be lovely

[@thewattlife]

Sure thing- will try to wind and a lap board

[@TheCoeliacCyclist]

Great video Max, looking at doing my first crib race next week. Just wondering what software you are using to put the overlay on your video. Keep the great videos coming.

[@thewattlife]

Hey- nice man, yeah definitely do it. I just use the Garmin Virb software. You can just google and download it. Then you can match up your GPX/FIT file with your video footage

[@stephendailey3108]

Hey Max, Great chatting with you outside Via Saturday gone Sir 😊

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Stephen, Saturday was such a great day. The Brompton races were awesome but the fast crit stuff was just insane and great to be part of

[@0ldw3lshm4n]

Just some practical advice, join a club or join in some club rides, there you will learn a lot about riding on wheels, echelon, cornering, positioning before a corner so you can get some slip so no need to fight to catch wheels, dont use all energy trying to stay on wheel in corner, move up before and let others close up.

[@thewattlife]

Thank you. Check out some of my Fight Night videos / Chain Gang videos on the channel, been using them to try improve my skills

[@HeyWattsUpCycling]

that was a great sprint, especially to break 1k a 2nd time after the initial first hundred meters or so

[@johnfox709]

perfectly executed sprint finish

[@thewattlife]

Means a lot, thank you. All that time watching Netflix’s unchained hasn’t gone to waste 🤣😂

[@chewy425ify]

Great Vid! Really enjoyed this, how did you find the race. I'm really keen into my cycling and want to find something competitive but it always seems hard to find, especially up in Shropshire/ Cheshire where I'm based

[@thewattlife]

Some of the guys at my local ride had mentioned it, but then another friend said she was going to go and do the women’s race at 19:30 so I thought I’d go do the Cat 4 at 18:30. Worked out pretty well. So I found out through word of mouth really

[@Gixer750pilot]

Abingdon is close to me . I would like to come watch this

[@werdsmyth]

Coming over to my neck of the woods for some racing, eh? Dalton is a good one. Castle Combe too on Thursday night if you’re still about.

[@thewattlife]

Willing to travel on perfect summers evenings

[@werdsmyth]

@@thewattlife weather looks good this Thurs. Cat 3/4 race is at 7:30pm. Search 'Castle Combe Summer Series' on British Cycling.

[@thewattlife]

Thursday actually works well for me

[@ScottVandersluys-tt8db]

Great vid

[@thewattlife]

Cheers

[@phil_d]

What's the general weekly turnout like? They've closed Bovingdon Bombers down for the rest of the year due to low turnout. Great content as always, Max 👍🏻

[@thewattlife]

Im not sure what the normal numbers are but on this night the numbers seemed like they were really good and i was impressed. I guess the weather was a big help.

[@bitminerbob6731]

Bugger you got dropped from the front group. My strategy is to never attack but to sit mid-pack conserving as many watts as possible and when the attacks happen (they usually do) let a few wheels go over me and use them to stay connected in the bunch. It's all about staying connected and not falling off the back.

[@thewattlife]

I can’t wait to go back and try sit a bit further up. Just nerves being new to it I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way, but I guess that’s what racing is all about

[@paulbrown4235]

Baptism of fire, that. But then again your first race always is! However, now you’ve done it you’ll know what to expect next time. Sit in, do NO work (or as little work as possible). Remove everything from your bike you don’t need. Next, if you can find one, try a road race.

[@jamesvaughan7274]

Don't ride on the front - ever. Stay out of the wind. Keep moving up, particularly when it has just eased off. If it feels difficult - that's probably the same for everyone. Carry speed through corners and learn how pedal through the corners if you can. Never attack off the front - always from several wheels back and move out from the group so it's harder to jump onto your wheel.

[@thewattlife]

Cheers for the tips- hopefully back racing this week or next so will try implement a few of these

[@scotty811]

Enjoyed that, good vid

[@thewattlife]

Cheers man

[@wordupcornflake]

great video, numbers from the race?

[@bobbafett1971]

So in UK is it different. I had to do several cat 5 before doing cat 4 here in USA. I had to submit my races then they approved.

[@thewattlife]

Slightly different here. These races are hosted by British Cycling so all results are registered. You have to start Cat 4 and then once you get into Cat 3 you never have to go back to Cat 4

[@daryltill70]

That was a hell of a cat 4 bunch

[@thewattlife]

They were QUICK

[@saracen888]

Draft draft draft!

[@thewattlife]

Goals for next time

[@johnlewis17]

Good effort for a first race. My advice would be to follow riders a little more. for example @16:03, the rider in black goes past, then another riding goes past a few seconds later, try and jump onto their wheels and let them do the work in pulling you back rather than having your nose in the wind.

[@thewattlife]

Yeah those guys rode up well but some of them didn’t make it and I passed them half a lap later. I think we, towards the back, were all feeling it

[@josephclarke7133]

Will you be making an appearance at Hillingdon?

[@thewattlife]

I’m going to try and get one in there midweek soon for sure.

[@dennisbaron5680]

all amateur races have two crazy laps at the start , well done you are becoming a cyclist

[@thewattlife]

Goal is to hang on next time till it calms down a bit- please tell me they calm down!!!

[@bitminerbob6731]

Watch for breaks forming off the front, suck wheels as much as possible, and sprint at the end. You were in a bad spot, being too far back with too many riders ahead. That group could have easily rode off leaving you in the 2nd group. You wouldn't let that happen in a Zwift race. For tactics, if you treat crits the same as Zwift racing, you've got that nailed. Congrats on your first crit!!!

[@thewattlife]

But closer to the front for me next time. Positioning seems to be everything

[@threeshirescyclist554]

If you want to learn about crits, watch a channel called Norcal. He is rather good at them in the USA.

[@thewattlife]

NorCal was where I learnt how to try and execute a sprint- I have Jeff to thank for my fonish

[@threeshirescyclist554]

@@thewattlife Just need to match his 1300watts now :D If ever in MK, Thursday night Crits on closed circuit around MK bowl, not flat though. Team MK run them, along with great 10mile TT's

[@thewattlife]

Will check out the Crits and see if I can make one

[@bobbafett1971]

Curious is those guts on from are sadbagging

[@thewattlife]

Felt like a pretty fast race and i think because it was a really nice evening it got a few people who dont normally come so often to come on down.

[@oscarcloherty8181]

Wind = Bad - stay in the slipstream

[@thewattlife]

Noted. Racing again this week

[@paullacy9406]

Great video. Loved the insight on racing for a newbie. I’m 51 yrs of age and would love to give it a go. You’ve made me really think I’m going to give it a go. 🫣😂👏

[@thewattlife]

Come on down to an event. I think we had about 35 in our start list for this one