A Triathlete's Guide to Road Racing

Last Sunday, I joined the Aboitiz Tour of Subic Cycling Event in Olongapo. I prioritized Stage 3 since I wanted to have a really hard long ride that weekend.

Initially, I thought it would be the same as last year's road race.Which was an out and back ride from Subic Holiday Villas to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. That ride was one of the hardest routes I've done. The hills ("hells" seemed more apt) were steep and quite numerous. Going back, there were riders literally lying on the floor; it was a crampfest.

ToS Stage 3 for 2012

The organizers changed the route this year due to the numerous road repairs going to Bataan. The course, despite being faster and easier, was still quite enjoyable. It consisted of 4 loops inside the Subic Freeport Zone. There was a steep climb from Edgewater (near Dungaree Beach) towards CUBI (top of Tarlac road). This made it a great training ride for 5150 in June.

ToS Stage 3 for 2013

Of course I entered this race with training in mind. I love the thrill joining of these races and will continue to do so as long as schedule permits. Road racing adds another aspect in training in terms of bike handling, strategy, and physical conditioning. First of all, one must be confident with his/her handling skills especially when riding in a group. Be prepared to literally rub elbows with the riders beside you. Energy conservation and team tactics are also important in these types of events. Whilst this might not be very beneficial for triathletes, it is quite interesting especially when you watch the grand tours like Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, etc. Surges are also more prominent in these types of races versus the steady pace riding in triathlon bike legs. Attacks are more common and you are often out of your comfort zone. To prepare for these types of events, make sure you do a lot of VO2Max work and hill repeats. 

I compiled a short list for triathletes who wish to venture into road racing but are somewhat apprehensive in doing so.

Road Racing Tips for Triathletes

1. Remove the Aerobars - These aren't legal in cycling races unless you're joining a Time Trial event. Riding them in pacelines and pelotons is quite unsafe. It takes more time to reach for the brakes than if you were to ride the hoods or drops of a road bikes. This also means Time Trial or Tri Bikes aren't allowed unless you put drop handlebars and roadbike brake levrs (aka STI or Brifters).

Safe hand position to ride in a group or paceline.
Photo Credit http://www.nzta.govt.nz

2. Practice Riding in Pacelines - This skill is seldom used by triathletes since most triathlon races are non draft legal. As mentioned in #1, riding your aerobars in a group is quite dangerous and should be avoided (even in training). There are certain rules in paceline riding that are very important the most important one would be not to "half-wheel." This is when a rider overlaps his front wheel with the rear wheel of the one ahead of him. Once the rider in front suddenly decides to change lines, it would be a recipe for disaster.

Paceline by Leroy and TheBrick (Photo Credit to Garmin Center)

3. Look Through the Riders Ahead of You - Don't stare at the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you. Be aware of what the riders in front are looking at or doing. This gives you more time to react especially when there are obstacles, potholes, or turns that the group must navigate.
4. Microadjust - Don't make sudden changes in steering and pedaling; when riding in excess of 35kph, small changes are quite noticeable. More importantly, if you need to slow down, just feather the brakes to make sure that you wont surprise the riders behind you. In the event of a sudden stop, make sure you alert the people behind you and try to get out of the way of their "braking space".
5. Shave Your Legs - More Aero? Probably not, but it does look nicer! On a serious note, the main reason for this is to help clean "road rash" (knock on wood) easier. Bandages stick better and wounds are less prone to infection.

I Think This Guy (I shall not name) Prefers Waxing :P

6. Don't be a Tri-Geek - I know I'm guilty of this one so learn from my mistakes. Ditch the Aero Helmet, Speedfil, and other tri specific gadgets at home. Compression socks are a gray area since some people consider them Tri-Geeky. In my humble opinion, if you feel more comfortable with them then go ahead.

If you choose to wear compression socks, choose black or a dark color. The grease smudges from the chain won't be too obvious. Photo Credit CW-X

On a final note, since I wasn't able to use my tri-geek-gear this weekend, I'll use them this Sunday in Triman by www.SwimBikeRun.ph ... Of course I will write about my experience in this event so please check back in a week or so. Better yet, watch and experience the event!

www.SwimBikeRun.ph's Triman Sprint Triathlon