Cry Baby Hill - Cat 4, Tulsa Tough 2022 

This channel is like norcal cycling, only instead of seeing how it's done. Claudio shows how not to do it.

I’ll be racing this coming up Sunday ! Wish me luck 🍀! Great video !

What a nightmare of a course, well done!

You inspired me to go to my first beginner local crit practice race! So down to earth and relatable. Thanks and keep the footy coming!

Loving the commentary videos! Keep it up

Me: I hate getting pulled Also me: Thank God I'm getting pulled Great job and content, Claudio

love your videos man keep it up!

if your frame has the clearance, I highly recommend 28 size tires (and wheels that are made for that size of tire). you will be able to run at a crazy low pressure and have tons of grip (you will feel the difference in the grip ). The added grip does wonders for cornering confidence. Some people think the added weight or marginally less aero of a 28 size tire is bad for crits, but not having to surge so hard out of the corners because you can maintain a higher speed thru the corners because of the confidence from the tons of grip will much much more than make up for any penalties (maybe unless you were a break away specialist), especially for a lower category or newer racers. I use 28s and convinced my cat 4 teammates to do and we all love it.

“You don’t want to be on a wheel that’s going backwards!” - as he lets a huge gap open and people have to frustratingly going around you to keep contact

love your videos great work!!! you should come to Chicago for the intelligentsia cup awesome event!!

Turns like that you want to hit the apex later, you hit it too early and therefor go too wide on exit, most guys hit the apex like it’s a 90° corner but it’s like 130 I think, so turn in a bit later hit the apex later and you can carry a lot more speed that way! It’s like what Phil did, if you see him he gets to the outside of you in the beginning and then he goes inside, this is because he turned a bit later but has a great exit. Hope this helped a bit. Good effort up the hill though.

The front isn't just strong guys, it's the most efficient racers. This is really magnified in a Cat 4 field where the skill set is so broad. It's 100% worth burning a match early to get on wheels that lead you skillfully through a corner like that. You don't have to think, you just have to follow them. Within a few laps, you are one of them. It saves insane amounts of energy. Plus, it's fun as hell.

I’m a noob so feel free to ignore me but I think it’s just a case of identifying a braking point for yourself. There’s tonnes of markers with that track like the trees or a particular barrier fence that you could say ‘when i hit that marker’ im gonna brake and then adjust to it accordingly each lap. It’s the fundamentals drivers use when racing with the wall to apex to wall process. Great vid💯

#1 stunna

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? Do you understand the concept of counter-steering? Turning right to turn left, turning left to turn right, etc? That could explain why some of those guys can shoot that apex so closely and use their speed. It's a cool concept once you actually use it for the first time...scary, but fun! Cheers!

Nice man! Never brake during a turn

Love all your videos. You definitely NEED to work on your cornering, for real you need to get with one of your buddies that corners well and find someplace to do cornering drills or make up a handling course (school or church parking lot has worked well for me) and have your buddy coach you thru the corners (by riding infront of you to show you the line and talking it thru with you). You have a ton of race experience and if you don't make a dedicate effort to improve your cornering, you will not advance. Also in the more local crits, I recommend you do the masters races before your cat 4 race, masters go faster and even if you get dropped it will be a great warm up and the cat 4 will feel slow motion and you will have already learned the lines from the better racers in masters race and will be comfortable with the course and taking the turns at speed.

I had a friend hit 1000 watts every time he hit that hill. At one point he peaked at 1100. My advice to prepare for that corner is to find a path that pretty twisty and take them fast and, wherever its safe, try to get as close to the apex as possible every time. It's sort of a "Oh course! Why didn't I think of that!" sort of advice but it really helps you gain confidence in your bike handling skills.

Phil cut one right in front of me. Sorry bro!🚴💨

great effort Claudio

What is the song on the exit?

Open wide ,then it the apex . When you come out of the corner sweep left. No one won't pass you .

Looks like I missed some good racing. After about 6 or 7 years of racing triathlons, I am thinking of going back go racing road bikes next year. Right now I don't have the sprint/surge speed to race a crit :) .

Are you going to GMSR this year?

Cry Baby Hill??? This should be good :) .

Racing 100 degrees mid day is not my idea of fun

You need to get a coach or someone that you pay to teach you bike handling. Its lacking and you will have wayyy more power later in the race from being efficient. Watch the riders that are NOT taking inside lines / diving for corners. It looks like you want free speed by "wanting" the inside line, and thats killing you. Start wide and commit to a smooth and fast ark. The fastest ark is the one without choppy line changes. Start wide and hold your speed. Practice! Minute 1:50 you are looking for the inside line again. look were all the strong riders are... not trying to get free places there. Sit in, get a wheel and learn the fast lines. almost everyone at the front has better handling, so learn from their lines. Not trying to be hurtful, but it got you dropped and will cause wrecks. Keep at it Claudio.