[NCNCA] Early Bird note

[Larry Nolan]

Early Bird racers- when our mentors are talking to brand new racers we're asking them to keep their perspective out there.  
 
Mostly in these areas:
- very few people win their first race!
- crits are just one type of bicycle race
- better to keep the wheel in front of you in your peripheral vision and be looking up the road then to stare at it
- its January and there are plenty of races left in the season
- sitting in and sprinting may not be your strength (yet)
- don't sit back, attack!
- everyone has their own learning curve
 
Why rehash this old stuff?  Well, this is my 21st year of racing and I like to help new riders.  When new racers think and act like they know it all, its downright scary.  We want people to come out and learn the basics.  If you know the basics, then January is the perfect time of year to practice the fundamentals.  For instance,
- a paceline is a basic skill, yet a perfect paceline needs to be executed for a successful breakaway at the TdF or for a winning time in a team pursuit.
- riding assertively is a basic skill, yet countless riders will tell you how they were "swarmed" at the finish, as if they could not see that coming!
 
Mostly, I want to encourage the people that do the first race of the day to stick around for the mentoring.  Just because you are a 4 or have 5 races of experience as a 5 does not exclude you from practicing basic skills.  Change your clothes and join us at 9:30am!
 
Thanks, Larry Nolan, Early Bird skills pusher