Bat and kill

I don't know much about racing, but I definitely don't know anything about road racing. I have a road bike and it's about as old as me. It's nice and I enjoy riding it, but I'm not sure if it's what people consider a race bike. Actually, there's no question that it is not what people consider a race bike.

You may have heard about the Tour of the Battenkill. It's a race that everyone seems to like in the Northeast. It's got some dirt.

So, I've entered this race. Like most 'cross races, I will be on the cheapest bike and wearing wool. I'm not sure if that's actually allowed in a big fancy race like this.

I entered as a Cat 5, because I've never done a road race before and I think that's what you're supposed to do. Also, all the Cat 4 spots were taken.

Any advice? Cat 5 doesn't seem like it'll be that high pressure. The scenery sure looks nice.