Active Community: Message List - Can a hybrid bike do well in criterium?

Re: Can a hybrid bike do well in criterium?

MotiveForcer — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:51:14 GMT

Well, to quote from an old Little Rascals flick..." WELL, WELL, WELL, you fell in the well." You asked and have not posted a subsequent report so I presume the race came and went. Aero bars can't race but straight bars on an FX bike are legal. In a criterium race on a .8 mile course I've averaged, not top end, averaged 26 mph or more. I'd say that aerodynamics does play a role at that kind of speed. The trick is holding a strong pace through the turns and being skilled enough to do so. Do you even have step in pedals? The tires on FX bikes are wider and therefore heavier and therefore slower. The advice to swap to a racing tire is good or even a race wheel too. BUT your bike won't b equipped to keep up with the racing bikes out there. That said, a strong rider could do it and kick butt as well. You would be doing a Category 5 race or citizens race if they have it. You will have to buy a one day license which is from the USCF. To get back to your question, the same rider on a an FX bike will, simply put, lose. A strong rider/racer would be able to sit in. Lance will win.

My advice: Start doing training rides with riders on road bikes and learn how to ride a paceline, sit on a wheel, learn the terminology of group riding, get step in pedals which you can put onto a new racing bike should you want to, and don't race. Save your money. Go watch the races and talk to the racers. Watch them in the turns, with their inside leg up, and note the difference in power from a cat 5 to a cat 1,2 race. Cat 5's still rip. Let us know what the deal is and if you want to start racing get good advice on how to start and what to do about the bike. This forum works for that or click on my profile and email me.

By the way, I love the FX bikes and would love to have one. You can even get a $2,000.00 full Carbon FX bike.

Re: Can a hybrid bike do well in criterium?

oldnfat — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:03:40 GMT

A great motivational speaker once said, " anything worth doing is worth doing poorly".

Engine and Lungs and Heart are the essentials. Above poster may be right about the handlebars. Check with USCF guidelines. Also, if this is not a USCG-sanctioned event, the organizer may simply ask if anyone has a problem with your bike being out there.

But go have a blast! make sure you are doing some group rides so that you gain confidence and predictability within a pack..

In my experience, (cat 5-4-3 and collegiate racing) The upper categories may have some more fitness, but the big difference is they are smoother, more predictable and more "professional" in their bike handling and courtesy.

Re: Can a hybrid bike do well in criterium?

omabikeryder — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:24:01 GMT

Never having done a criterium, take all this with large grain of salt. I assume you will be in the lowest category. Race with whatever you want or have. I don't know if there are regulations concerning handle bars since this one has straight bars. I do know you can't race with aero bars for instance, safety issue. Check with race director before hand. Will they think you are outclassed, probably? Will some of them even laugh at you, maybe? Sounds like that might be good motivation to put them in their place. Treat it as a learning experience and have fun. Don't crash, that's not fun. Strip off all unecessary weight, see if you could borrow a good set of rims, put light racing tires on, that will help. Good luck. Post a follow up please.

Can a hybrid bike do well in criterium?

wing zero — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:51:38 GMT

Hi, I am thinking on doing my first race. Its a local 20mi Criterium. I feel good and my engine and lungs are strong. But this being my first race I dont have an all out expensive road bike yet.

I will be racing with a stock '08 Trek 7.3 FX Link to my bike

My question is... If two ppl with the same physical strength and endurance race against each other, one of them with a $2,000 carbon fiber road bike and the other with my trek, how much of a difference could there be? Will the road bike finish 5 miles ahead of the Trek FX or could it possibly be a close race?

I know aero dynamics are a big deal in racing, but this is a 0.8 mi loop criterium with many 90 degree turns, so I dont think we will getting up to a speed fast enough where aerodynamics are a big deal.

What do you guys think?

Also, will people just flat out laugh at me with my hairy legs and hybrid bike when I pull up to the starting line? I dont care if they do but all the cyclists that I have met so far are kind of snoody. I wouldnt mind beating a few of them with several thousand dollars more in gear.

Thanks