Tucson Bicycle Classic versus Fitness...

I am going to be in Tucson during the time of the Tucson Bicycle Classic (March 14-16).

I live in the upper mid-west where we have 8" of snow on the ground now so my outside riding has
been minimal. I will have about two weeks of solid road time before I get to AZ and was wondering if
I should do this race. I would be racing just for fitness but I don't want to get dropped.

Anyone done this event? Is it brutal? Am I going to get my ass kicked? Would my time be better spent
just riding all day instead?

<catbsq@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3qc2a.95355$Gm2.2582698@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> I am going to be in Tucson during the time of the Tucson Bicycle Classic (March 14-16).
>
> I live in the upper mid-west where we have 8" of snow on the ground now so my outside riding has
> been minimal. I will have about two weeks of solid road time before I get to AZ and was wondering
> if I should do this race.
I
> would be racing just for fitness but I don't want to get dropped.
>
> Anyone done this event? Is it brutal? Am I going to get my ass kicked? Would my time be better
> spent just riding all day instead?

You're going to get your ass kicked. Spring is the peak of the season in Arizona. The summer is too
hot for them to ride so everyone peaks for the Spring races.

I don't know about hte Tucson Bicycle Classic but my first question would be what category are you
and how long are your events?

If you are pro/1/2 it's hard to get in shape without some major time on the road so you probably
should just skip the race and train.

If you are riding cat 5 or cat 4 you should be able to get in pretty good shape by spending some
serious time on the indoor trainer. With good indoor trainer fitness you might be able to pull off
something interesting in the race.

Basically if your race is shorter then two hours you can train mostly on the indoor trainer and
still expect to do reasonablly well.

....Mark

<catbsq@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3qc2a.95355$Gm2.2582698@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> I am going to be in Tucson during the time of the Tucson Bicycle Classic (March 14-16).
>
> I live in the upper mid-west where we have 8" of snow on the ground now so my outside riding has
> been minimal. I will have about two weeks of solid road time before I get to AZ and was wondering
> if I should do this race.
I
> would be racing just for fitness but I don't want to get dropped.
>
> Anyone done this event? Is it brutal? Am I going to get my ass kicked? Would my time be better
> spent just riding all day instead?

<catbsq@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<3qc2a.95355$Gm2.2582698@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>...
> I am going to be in Tucson during the time of the Tucson Bicycle Classic (March 14-16).
>
> I live in the upper mid-west where we have 8" of snow on the ground now so my outside riding has
> been minimal. I will have about two weeks of solid road time before I get to AZ and was wondering
> if I should do this race. I would be racing just for fitness but I don't want to get dropped.
>
> Anyone done this event? Is it brutal? Am I going to get my ass kicked? Would my time be better
> spent just riding all day instead?

It's a good race for training. I went there last year from CO and wasn't as far behind the sunbelt
folks as I expected. The prologue TT is on a tough rolling course. Just be careful not to scorch
your lungs in the dry air. The RR course only has one obstacle, the half mile steep section over
Gates pass. If you're a good power climber, it's not hard to stay at the front or at least within
chasing range for the long descent that follows. The circuit race has a long gradual grade with a
few rollers. Hard enough to stretch things out and cause some attrition, but not really break things
up. Certainly successful breaks (Jeanson) are possible, but the packs generally stay together.

Bret

"Kurgan Gringioni" <kgringioni.remove.it.for.mail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<L7d2a.6210$jR3.3192859@news1.news.adelphia.net>...
> <catbsq@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3qc2a.95355$Gm2.2582698@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> > I am going to be in Tucson during the time of the Tucson Bicycle Classic (March 14-16).
> >
> > I live in the upper mid-west where we have 8" of snow on the ground now so my outside riding has
> > been minimal. I will have about two weeks of solid road time before I get to AZ and was
> > wondering if I should do this race.
> I
> > would be racing just for fitness but I don't want to get dropped.
> >
> > Anyone done this event? Is it brutal? Am I going to get my ass kicked? Would my time be better
> > spent just riding all day instead?
>
>
>
> You're going to get your ass kicked. Spring is the peak of the season in Arizona. The summer is
> too hot for them to ride so everyone peaks for the Spring races.

I concur with Kurgan, you will get your ass kicked for reasons he listed. Also, it's a stage race.
That's no place for someone who hasn't been training.

I was in Tucson training back in January. It's a great place to ride.
Enjoy the great weather, great scenery and get plenty of miles in.