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I just completed my first road race/ cat 5. I have been road cycling since last april with a lot of time off during the winter months. The race was 2 17 mile laps with rollers I started off great and I was pac lining right up with the main group right at 23-25 mph, but my heart rate was a tad higher then I'm normally use to but I was ok. I kept right up through the first rollers all the way until the 12 or 13 mile of the first lap. We started to hit some steeper rollers I was dropped fast by the main group and I was quickly maxing out. I tryed to bridge the gap, but just couldn't do it and I realized I was wearing my self out even more. I found my self riding alone the rest of the race with a few riders behind me. I finally got some of my legs back at around mile 22. I'm not sure where my problem starts. It might have been the rollers that I just can't handle and they just maxed me out, or maybe I since my heart rate was a tad higher then normal I just finnally maxed out from riding at such a fast tempo for so long. I think my training goal is going to be to ride some 40 milers at a fast tempo like I was in the race a few times a week on a course that has some nice rollers. Any suggestions on how to keep my speed up with the main group speaically when moving up the rollers? Any training ideas? I do planty of climbing rides, but maybe I just nbeed to increase my speed on these rides, or not even worrie about the pure climbing rides and work on incorperating climbs in my faster flat rides. My next race is in Chatanooga this Sunday. I'm not scared of loosing if anything I look at these races just as another way of training. I was partly satisfied with my first race I would have to say the cat 5 took me a little by surprise with the speed and tempo. I'm looking forward to racing again. I am also considering shaving my legs like the rest of my road buds, but the girl friend is grussed out by it =D