Yea I’m definitely confident in my handling, it’s the packed in a group that is my weakness for sure.
My advice for your first race? Keep the rubber side down. Everything else is gravy and learning.
Without meaning to sound negative, if this is your first race you will be one of the least experienced riders in the field. This race will have nothing to do with FTP, but all about skills in the bunch.
Be safe, listen to those around you. Don’t be alarmed when you get shouted at, and don’t shout back! Be prepared for how fast the corners will be and be prepared to follow the lines.
Britich Cycling Race Smart are a great series of videos that will help you prepare for your first race.
I can overlook some other parts of your comment cause maybe you didn’t read my whole post, but I’m not signed up to race so I can simply sit in and shut up. It’s also hard to reiterate my riding experience with local racers without sounding like I’m patting myself on the back, so I’ll just say my main concerns are not how to navigate corners in a pack (done that) or how to read peoples wheels, my main concern is to avoid any potential crashes that are more likely in a Cat5 field.
I think you missed the point - people will shout at times during a race, more so than in training rides. It can be a bit unnerving if you’re not expecting it. I’ve seen it, literally, come to a punch up after the race between tow members of the same club!
Another way to look at it is that if you have more bunch riding skills than the rest of the field you can help make sure the race stays safe by leading by example.
Until you’ve been in the heat of a race, you’ll not appreciate that it is a different beast than a training ride or race simulation.
Please post a follow up post of how you got on in the race.
Race coming up Sunday. Did the practice crit Tuesday and won, took off yesterday. Thinking the following
90 minute hard tempo/thresholdy outdoor effort today
Z2 90 mins tomorrow outside
Z2 with some “openers” Saturday indoors like Bays or something
Race Sunday. Not sure if my plan is solid or not
Pre-race routines are very individual. What works for one doesn’t for others. It is only through experience that you find what works for you.
I personally found that taking the day off 2 days before a race and then a short, easy ride with some jumps (3-5) worked best for me. Others like a rest day the day before.
Your plan seems reasonable…try it and see how you feel.
Agree, pre-race routine is individual. Personally, I’d be going into the race pretty fatigued on your prep. I’d likely skip the 90 min tempo/threshold day, rest or 30-45 min zone 1 on Friday, Saturday 5x 1min efforts with at least 5 min between as openers.
Short openers @ V02 the day before for a crit race. Probably an easy day off the bike before a long road race
Didn’t do a ride today, planning on 60-90 on the trainer tomorrow, or about the same outdoors aiming to stay all endurance with a few short efforts. If I’m inside should I do something like Mokelumne?
I’ve got a crit at 5pm (wtf, race organizers?) on Sunday.
Doing my favorite 40 mile loop tomorrow at Z2/Z3.
On normal non-racing weekends, I ride outdoors back to back Sat/Sun and often ride better on Sundays.
Been watching videos of the course as well as general videos with tips and I think I’ve figured out a few plans for where and when to attack. Also looked through who’s registered and identified a few heavy hitters, the guy who placed 2nd in this race last year is back in so I’ll be looking for his jersey out there. Weather is set to be hot, with a tailwind to the finish.
Going to do an easy hour or so today with a few short efforts and then it’s just a waiting game till tomorrow
It is weird. I race with Penn State and we always to in with these plans like you have but they’re just so hard to execute. Sometimes you litterly cannot do anything because the field is so wide you cannot pass or make any moves. The most important move is getting up to the front ASAP. If you say “oh I will just give it a few laps then move up” then you and probably not going to have a lot of opportunities to move up. Especially pickle juice where there are tons of corners. Don’t try and make a move in corners or you will crash out like me.
Also watch out of KBS they’re fast and they’re sketchy. They have good bike handling but they won’t care if they run you off the road because USAC wont do anything about it.
Oh yeah and don’t upgrade to cat 4 ASAP because then you’re going to be riding with teams of 4-6ppl and no matter how powerful you are they’re going to be so hard to beat especially in a sprint.
and FYI my FTP is 250 and w/kg is 4.5.
I think there’s only one KBS (Kim’s bike shop) guy in my field. I’m at 4w/kg (maybe 4.1 now) and 325ish FTP so I should have an easier time bridging gaps if I can get around.
How’s the body? How’s the bike?
Heal up soon! 
that sucks! Sending healing vibes and well wishes for a speedy recovery.
Assume you are OK since posting pictures.
How did it go up to the finale?
Interesting thread. Loving the information!
I was spectating the race (had a teammate racing his first race in the field). From where I sat, obviously miss quite a lot not being in the race…
Race of attrition, the selection came from guys dropping off the back, not a breakaway. I think they started with around 50 or 55 (I believe 65 were registered, but it felt smaller than that to me at the start).
By the end of 3-4 laps it was down to 15-20 guys in the front group. That group kept the pedal down for another 4 or 5 laps (20 lap race, I think it was 10 or 11 to go when they finally eased off). At that point the group hadn’t really shrunk any more and no one who got dropped was coming back. I think the officials ended up pulling just about everyone else as the remaining group was lapping people even when the pace was off
I’m pretty sure @Cleanneon98 spent a couple of laps solo off the front (maybe laps 5-6, while the pace was still hot) - but they let him dangle and he went back to the group
Destined for a bunch sprint - sometime in the last lap I think someone took a long flier and just held off the group
Fairly typical for a cat-5 race on a hot, windy day - the folks without fitness drop quickly, but no real chance for a breakaway because everyone with fitness wants to cross the line first
I’d defer to @Cleanneon98 - but based on the photos I took I’d say he was sprinting for maybe a top 5 or top 7, but the win was out of reach