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The specialist for circuit races or the criterium. The Sprinter is a fast tyre for the shorter road events like criteriums.
With a nylon puncture protection breaker it is now even more reliable without losing its terrific rolling qualities. Its flexible casing and the extremely adhesive BlackChili Compound keeps contact with the road even in fast 90° bends. With its low weight and good acceleration it is most definitely the fastest tyre in the last 400 metres.
Continental Sprinter Tubular Review:
The Sprinter has dominated modern road racing for nearly a decade now and is a favorite of some of the most famous racers on the planet. The tire’s biggest mark is in the discipline of Crit racing, where its 90-degree hookup is unparalleled and it is a stalwart in the pro peloton. For the rider that is looking for a high-end, season-long racing tire that will last through a whole racing calendar then the Continental GP4000S II is a great choice for race day.
Review Summary / Continental Sprinter Tubular Review:
Like the GP4000 S II, the Continental GP4K III is also a high-end, race-day tire that performs best when the road is slightly curved. This tire is best used on dry pavement, although it will offer a great ride in wet/muddy conditions as well. Being that the GP4K III is an all-around marking, it is a fine compound of slickness and durability and will handle itself well in a variety of races and weather conditions. In fact, the Continental GP4K III is the tire of choice for many top pro riders in the world.
Overall Performance / Continental Sprinter Tubular Review:
Handling / Speed: The Continental GP4K III handles well in a variety of situations. The tire performs well on both the dry and wet surfaces and handles particularly well in curves.
Cornering traction / Tread life: The GP4K III offers satisfactory cornering traction and a long lasting tread life, but the cornering traction may be a little less predictable than other brands.
Tire Wear / Endurance: If the Continental GP4K III is well maintained and properly worn, it will last for a long time without the need for any truing.
Speed / Acceleration / Rolling Resistance: The Continental GP4K III is one of the faster tires in the best. However, the harder compound of the tire may reduce some acceleration potential.
Applying these tire tips to any ride will result in a greater awareness of your strengths and weaknesses in a variety of situations. In the words of professional triathlete Chris Lieto, often times his competitors were surprised when he attacked when they expected him to slow down or “no one would have ever expected the second attack,” he exclaims.
One of the most misunderstood rules of racing is how the breakaway is initiated. Yes, there are two parts to that rule: there must be a “move from the field” and there must be a “committing move.”
The distinction here is how you define what is considered a “move from the field.”
For example, if you’re 20 wheels behind, you might be tempted to throw yourself into the breakaway group from too far back.
“This is often counter-intuitive to what most beginners to intermediate racers do. They may try to make a move from “out of the saddle”, moving into the wind and into an aggressive position. This leaves the bike out of control, takes a lot of energy, and often times fails to move you past the breakaway riders.”
Lieto states. “You want to move up as close as you can to the breakaway group without too much effort (Effortless Effort).”
Maintaining your momentum is key to closing the gap between you and the breakaway group. And the fastest way to accomplish moving up through the field is to cruise along on the flats with a steady effort, then move into an “attack” when you see a subtle move from the breakaway group.
For example, if you’re 150 meters away from the breakaway group on the flats and you see a rider of the breakaway group look back and raise their hand, stay calm and settled on your bike. Once the breakaway rider moves past the field (about 15 meters after they look back), move smoothly into the wind.
Follow this rule and you will reduce energy expenditure while moving from the back of the pack the breakaway.
Spend As Little Energy As Possible Trying To Enter The Breakaway.
In an earlier article, I outline why you should spend as little time as possible trying to enter the breakaway. It’s faster to let the breakaway rider make an opening move to reduce the distance between you and the breakaway group (tries to “reduce the field”), then you will be there to chase those breakaway riders to the line.
As soon as you see that the gap is closing between you and the breakaway riders, you have to decide on your level of effort to chase the group.
There is a fine balance between giving an all-out effort and saving an energy reserve for the end.
Reduce your effort if you feel a slow-down is coming and your speed is getting closer to the breakaway riders.
Assuming that your effort at 80% is the same speed as if you were 100% (your speed is the same), you will have saved some energy for the end.
Remember, the hardest part of the race is the last 10 miles, not the first 50. Therefore, you want to make sure that you have the energy to go hard towards the end of the race.
Depending on your racing goals in a group sprint, you have to decide whether or not to sprint. A good sprint is psychologically more powerful than a good acceleration.
Being able to sprint for the line increases your chances of winning when the field sprint is against you. A sprint will also give you some points towards the competition in your category.
Knowing the pros and cons of sprinting will help you decide to advance or not in the sprint.
Even though there’s a lot more to improving your road race skills, these tips are a great way to get started.
Many cyclists don’t remember their formative years as a cyclist. They probably turned a blind eye to what made them love this sport in the first place. A lot of riders lose their passion because they get wrapped up in the pedigree of bike riding, when in all actuality, it’s pretty simple. Just like beginners, our riding experience should be about having fun.
At this point, you may be wondering if I’ve come completely ’round the bend. Ride what bike? To ride how?
Everything you have learned and experienced in competitive road riding flies out the window with an Audax ride or randonnee.
Let’s be honest, even the most researched article can’t give you all the information you need to know about Audaxing. However, this article will give you a bunch of information, links to other resources and enough inspiration to carry you through to the next ride!
Audaxing Has A Language Of Its Own. Here Are Some Of The Basics:
Fast: A ride up to 120 kilometers (70 miles). Very fast: A ride longer than 190 kilometers (120 miles).
Raw: A ride without a shower. You can write “raw” after the event name of the ride to indicate a ride without mechanical assistance.
Brevet/Brevet Rank: A certificate issued by a French institution (capitalized). The Brevet de Randonneur Mondial is an award for completing a series of rides of various distances over a period. The award is not competitive, you hold the same rank regardless of your performance in any one ride.
