WARMING
UP:
A Plea from LGBRC
TACTICS
AND TIPS:
General warm-up and mental preparation notes
that apply to racers of all categories.
Warming up: A Plea from LGBRC
Racers - Please!
We have received requests from residents to
ask prospective racers to observe stop signs
when they are practicing on the course, and
to stay on the right side of the street on neighborhood
roads (Ridgecrest, for example.) Since the race
is dependent on cooperation from residents,
let's all work together on courteous riding,
so Cat's Hill will always be welcome in Los
Gatos.
Thanks, everyone!
***
Tips and Tactics
1) Setting realistic expectations-
Cat's Hill is a great race because it's got
a festive downtown setting, it's safe, and it's
a great course! The hill keeps the riders
honest, but most races are tactical with attacks
and breaks. One way to keep riders in this sport
longer is to have them set realistic expectations.
Simply put, Cat's Hill is not an industrial
park crit that ends up in a field sprint. Training
and preparation for the two are not the same.
2) Teamwork- another great way to keep riders
in this sport is to teach them their role in
the team. As stated above, Cat's Hill can be
a very tactical race. If you work out your team
tactics before the race, even the rider that
does not finish the race but helps out their
team can feel good about their contribution.
3) Training- if Cat's Hill is an important race
to you then specificity in your training may
have looked something like this: 2 minutes just
below AT, 30 seconds above AT, 30 seconds recovery...
repeat for as many laps as your race.
4) Warm-Up as this is a "classic" criterium
course, and the hills will zap your strength,
you will want to warm-up before your race. Use
Highway 9 in Los Gatos (towards Saratoga) as
your warm up route (complete with bike lanes,
but watch for traffic). If you do not have your
ideal criterium warm-up routine established,
talk to your teammates.
5) Preview the course- get to the race early,
register and then walk the course at least once.
Walking the course in reverse is best because
you can see the riders more often and you can
see how the riders take the course.
6) This is a classic race,
work hard and have fun!! The
pain is temporary but the memories live forever!
Good luck to everyone that is racing,
especially the Juniors! Come on out and
cheer for the Juniors if you have the time (12:15
and 12:55 PM).
Good luck to everyone that is racing,
especially the Juniors! Come on out
and cheer for them.
Junior Mentoring
Because the younger juniors no longer have their own race, junior mentoring has been eliminated.