Half shorn, but ready to race

My New Year's resolution (self-serving though it may be) is to start racing bikes. Bicycles, that is. Motorcycles go really fast and I've already crashed them, so I wanna try crashing something new while I'm only wearing a thin layer of elastic.

I've been riding for about four years now. I like to say that I've started riding again, but my wife points out that I took a 20 year break, so my biking when I was 15 doesn't really count. She could has a point.

So, I've been riding and training for four years. I've ridden 9,576.45 miles since I got a Garmin 305, and I've been pushing myself pretty hard every year to best my personal records up Tunnel Road and around The Three Bears. My training, however, has had no focus beyond beating myself. I want to try to beat some other people.

So, the first thing I've gotta do? Wax, of course. It's Pro, right? Adds at least 15 Watts? In truth it was more of a throw-down from my wife based on a sale at The Body Shop. For a home job, I think it actually came out pretty well. I even finished up the other side.

I've got a few things I hope to get out of this year:

• Focus my training on improving race-specific strength
  
• Learn racecraft
  
• Become part of a cycling community
  
• Win
  

I'm pretty sure I can do the first three. On the last, I've got to balance work and my commitment to my wife and two girls. I've got a ton to learn. Perhaps the most important thing I need to learn is how to get strong fast.

I'm at least half ready to go.

Giro di San Francisco

On Labor Day, the 3rd of September, I'm headed out for my first ever bike race, the Giro di San Francisco criterium. Frankly, I'm a bit daunted. I chose the race because it's close to home (despite the fact that I'll have to take the BART in, as the Bay Bridge will be closed).

I'm daunted because it's likely to be a large event, and I've heard all the horror stories of crashes and broken collarbones in crits (especially among us rank beginner types). I figure if any red mist moron is going to show up, it's going to be at one of these high-profile races.

Although I've been riding with Team Oakland for a little while now at the weekly Port of Oakland ride, I'm basically getting my butt handed to me by lap 4. The only consolation is that there are often Cat 1/2s and some Pros out there. It's certainly increased my fitness and my comfort level riding in a tight, fast pack. I hope it translates into some comfort in the pack in San Francisco.

Ever since I started riding the aforementioned POO rides, my wife has been encouraging me to go out and try racing. This, alone, would make her a keeper; she's got quite a bit going for her beyond being the love of my life. She even used to be my pit crew when I did some amateur car racing. I'm a lucky man (on many fronts).

So, starting from ground zero (Cat 5 rank beginner), I figure it requires at least the following to be a successful racer:

1. Fitness
   
2. Tactical insight
   
3. Some modicum of explosive power (to cover breaks and attacks)
   
4. A willingness to be somewhat aggressive
   
5. Bike-handling skills
   
6. "The Look"
   

Okay, so that last one may not be necessary when barely holding onto the back of the speeding train of the pack, but I'll practice in the mirror "just in case".

So, in reality, I've got some fitness, a willingness to be cautiously aggressive (oxymoron?), and questionable levels of skill on the other fronts. I just want to sit in and make it to the end without getting dropped or crashing.