Looking for advice from experienced racers. I’m doing my first race this weekend, Giro Della Sicilia. I suspect there will be riders half my age. Not looking or expecting to win. Mainly looking to challenge myself. What advice would you give to a new racer like myself? TIA
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#1: Have fun.
#2: Have FUN
That race looks like a LOT of mileage and a LOT of elevation so my only advice is to not go out so hot on day 1 that you’ve got nothing left for the remaining stages.
Find your pace, (and hopefully pace group) early and stick to it.
Good luck. Also, I’m very jealous!
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Big advise take it easy, don’t sprint out with the experienced bikers and get sucked in with the testosterone you will come unstuck, if you hear a bike come down DON’T look back keep going. Ride within your limitations but MOST important enjoy, it’s your first good luck
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How many days of this are you doing? That will determine how hard you can go on any given stage. Recovery (hydration, nutrition, rest, stretching, massage) will be key if you’re doing multiple stages.
And as others have said, don’t blow yourself up trying to hang with other people. Find your pace, and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away with the energy of the event and then find yourself an hour in totally blown up!
Most of us are never racing to win these events - your race is with yourself.
I have three rules going into any race or event:
- Don’t get hurt (i.e., be able to ride tomorrow)
- Finish
- Have fun
If I follow all three of those (in that order of priority, although 2. and 3. are almost interchangeable), it will have been a good day, irrespective of the time or the result.
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@Glen.Coutts Don’t be too jealous, Mt. Etna is erupting, doing its best imitation of Mt. Sufferlandia. And I hope there is a pace group for me.
@Graham1 I’m really looking forward to this. Great advice, especially on looking back!
@way9e0 Yup, this race is about seeing what I can do. Finishing and having fun is what I am striving for. Sound advice.
Thanks all for the advice. The forum here is great. Looking forward to this.
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Forgot to say i am only doing the first two days. Didn’t want to push myself, but if after the first two days I feel good ….
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