Chicago is blessed with several competitive group rides throughout the entire week. From March to November. And all the local crit teams are well represented even Cat 1/2 dudes. Our Wednesday ride is packed with six (yes 6) sprint segments in a 40 mile loop! Yeah the winters suck here, but those rides have been invaluable for both my training and group dynamics. Great video Jeff and EJ!
Yessss! Go to Alviso EJ. But not with the intention to drill it all the time, just take your time to know the course, the wind direction, and maybe make some work with the group. More in the future you could race 100% when you feel ready
It would def be interesting to see EJ test his wheel holding in alviso. But solid advice about not doing anything crazy for the 1st group ride. Ej nice riding safely and not being so squirmy in the pack. Hope for the best this year!
great video Jeff. @ 1:56, the guy in gold isn't wearing a helmet. Surprisingly to see. I guess some rides still allow people to show up and ride without one.
Riding confidently in field comes only with practice. I haven't done group riders for 4 months and it was like I lost all my skills alltogether. Indeed practice makes perfect here
Hi! I am a competitive cyclist and aspiring cyclist from the Philippines. I watch your videos often and I have learned a lot of things about criterium racing from them. However, I would like to ask if you guys have any tips for winning in a flat course criterium race for someone who doesn't have a high power output, but with a higher power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a climber. Thank you guys and I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!
Jeff, how do you balance not losing the wheel and protecting your own front wheel? I'm 6'4 290 lbs and it's tough for me to feel OK with being THAT close, but then again once I get a little separated, I'm pretty much doomed. Not really interested in being a hardcore crit racer, but I think it would be fun to be a leadout for someone in the future. Would be cool to contrast team roles and go over the tactics involved for each role like you did here for the sprinter.
its always a risk versus reward balance and calculation on the fly. the more you do it the better youll get at those snap decisions without actively thinking about it. its critical as a sprinter or even someone whos just trying to be competitive. the ammount of times you hesitate and then either dont win or even worse get boxed in so you cant even try to win really pushes you to not want to end up in that position again. positioning, timing, and handling skills all really help you be more efficient and move up with less energy like jeff showed here. even 1/2 crits on the road will have people bunching up and coasting into corners when you COULD be moving up. reikert at i believe tulsa moving from back to front is a REALLY good example of that. this one guys were very relaxed on positioning, that doesnt happen in a crit. at the end of the day you gotta make the decision is it worth the risk. gaining race skills will help keep you from needing to being as risky overall. or just send it off the front with 2 laps to go and hope you can hold on!
6'4" 290? Wow. What kind of bike can take that much power?😲 Are you sure you dont want to be at the velodrome instead? 😁 You probably need 180 or even 185mm crank arms. Do watt meters even go high enough to register the kind of power you can put to the ground? I mean, I'm 5'11" now down to 230 and my bikes are always moaning and groaning. What bike do you ride anyway?
ya that's the trade-off. i think a short punchy acceleration before settling into a seated more consistent and aero effort was the right move. i just didn't need to be over 1k watts for so long
Jeff does need a teammate at Alviso. Sounds like a good idea to get EJ out there.
Chicago is blessed with several competitive group rides throughout the entire week. From March to November. And all the local crit teams are well represented even Cat 1/2 dudes. Our Wednesday ride is packed with six (yes 6) sprint segments in a 40 mile loop! Yeah the winters suck here, but those rides have been invaluable for both my training and group dynamics. Great video Jeff and EJ!
Thank you Patrick!! hopefully we can meet up again in chicago if we end up racing there again in 2023 👍
@@NorCalCycling I hope you guys come to chi! sadly i missed you last year 🥲
Would be great to see EJ at Alviso and practice never touching the wind and seeing how long he can survive.
1st real crit race this weekend Thanks for sharing
yes would love to see EJ in Alviso :)
Yessss! Go to Alviso EJ. But not with the intention to drill it all the time, just take your time to know the course, the wind direction, and maybe make some work with the group. More in the future you could race 100% when you feel ready
Nice job EJ. Spectrum is no joke and going from couch to holding the pack in a few months is pretty impressive. Keep it up!
It would def be interesting to see EJ test his wheel holding in alviso. But solid advice about not doing anything crazy for the 1st group ride. Ej nice riding safely and not being so squirmy in the pack. Hope for the best this year!
They way you explain your efforts and tactics are both super informative and enjoyable. Thanks for killing it Jeff!
great video Jeff. @ 1:56, the guy in gold isn't wearing a helmet. Surprisingly to see. I guess some rides still allow people to show up and ride without one.
Maybe it's just some guy they all passed? He didn't really look like he was in it.
based on kit, bike, lack of helmet, shoes, and hood positions he was just someone they passed on the road
He's been a staple of the spectrum ride for as long as I've been in the bay area (13+ years) and he's never worn a helmet 🤦♂️
Thanks for the video, do you usually do the spectrum ride? I live nearby and see them pass by sometimes
Riding confidently in field comes only with practice. I haven't done group riders for 4 months and it was like I lost all my skills alltogether. Indeed practice makes perfect here
EJ´s progress is awesome! myself is on a bike for about three years and these numbers a insane for me.
Nice work, EJ! Get that power out to Alviso!
Great video. Makes me feel more confident in the pack, because I am no where near aware of my pack skills yet. Everybody has to start some where.
Hi! I am a competitive cyclist and aspiring cyclist from the Philippines. I watch your videos often and I have learned a lot of things about criterium racing from them. However, I would like to ask if you guys have any tips for winning in a flat course criterium race for someone who doesn't have a high power output, but with a higher power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a climber. Thank you guys and I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!
you can do Alviso. just take some laps off if you cant hang on and roll back in when you're recovered. not into a break but into the pack.
Spectrum! Aka angry old man ride.
Good work EJ
Jeff is back!!!!!!
C'mon EJ! Get your butt out there at Alviso. Would be good to see based on your training now and then compare at end of season.
EJ Alviso! LET'S GOOOO!
Can you do videos about how to control the front and produce a leadout?
This is super helpful. TY
EJ on Alviso!👍🏻👌🏻
Looks like Cañada Road in San Mateo?
Moved last year and really miss that area.
Jeff, how do you balance not losing the wheel and protecting your own front wheel? I'm 6'4 290 lbs and it's tough for me to feel OK with being THAT close, but then again once I get a little separated, I'm pretty much doomed. Not really interested in being a hardcore crit racer, but I think it would be fun to be a leadout for someone in the future. Would be cool to contrast team roles and go over the tactics involved for each role like you did here for the sprinter.
its always a risk versus reward balance and calculation on the fly. the more you do it the better youll get at those snap decisions without actively thinking about it. its critical as a sprinter or even someone whos just trying to be competitive. the ammount of times you hesitate and then either dont win or even worse get boxed in so you cant even try to win really pushes you to not want to end up in that position again. positioning, timing, and handling skills all really help you be more efficient and move up with less energy like jeff showed here. even 1/2 crits on the road will have people bunching up and coasting into corners when you COULD be moving up. reikert at i believe tulsa moving from back to front is a REALLY good example of that. this one guys were very relaxed on positioning, that doesnt happen in a crit.
at the end of the day you gotta make the decision is it worth the risk. gaining race skills will help keep you from needing to being as risky overall.
or just send it off the front with 2 laps to go and hope you can hold on!
6'4" 290? Wow. What kind of bike can take that much power?😲 Are you sure you dont want to be at the velodrome instead? 😁 You probably need 180 or even 185mm crank arms. Do watt meters even go high enough to register the kind of power you can put to the ground? I mean, I'm 5'11" now down to 230 and my bikes are always moaning and groaning. What bike do you ride anyway?
Where can I find competitive rides like these? I live in the bay, I work during Alviso and I'm getting crazy FOMO watching you guys!
What camera do you use? keep it up Jeff!
100% yes to Alviso
I thought that Alviso was EJ's natural progression between group rides and a sanctioned crit?!
makes sense to me!!
I wanna see Jeff leadout EJ at Alviso
We want EJ @ Alviso!
Did you keep your cameras on for the entirety of the Spectrum ride?
no, batteries only last about 45 min
EJ ALVISO LEGGO LEGGO !!
EJ is going to buy a house in Alviso!
Is there a guy wearing a ball cap instead of a helmet on this ride? Yellow jersey?
Alviso Alviso,,, says that guy trying to stat Couch to Crit (Me).
Hey man
alvisoooooo!!!
My boi landshark still out there riding spectrum? 😂
can't stop won't stop 🤘
You mentioned you would've done a more even effort, but if you did that, you probably wouldn't have dropped the guy that was on your wheel no?
ya that's the trade-off. i think a short punchy acceleration before settling into a seated more consistent and aero effort was the right move. i just didn't need to be over 1k watts for so long
#Parachut-Goldilocks...
First group ride but you're riding 50kmh
EJ seems a little bouncy with the upper body on the bike.....