how fast do I need to be...

[VeloVT]

I'd like to try a few races this summer. How fast do I need to be to survive/not come in last, at the beginning level? (I don't need to place but I don't want to be last). Cruising speed on a 35+mile ride is 18-22 mph, the fastest I've ever hit and maintained for any distance on the flats (with no hill assistance) is 27 (this wasn't for more than half a mile or so though and I was definitely working anaerobically). My cornering skills are not good at all. I'm trying to improve my shifting, i.e, actually using the big chainring, and generally doing a better job shifting during climbs.

Thanks for your advice...

[maillotpois]

It's more than just speed.

You say your cornering skills are not good. Please don't try racing until you have improved this - for your safety and that of those around you.

[Geonz]

Agree. Get confidence in the tight spots and the rest will take care of itself. Don't bring the pack down ;)

[Eden]

I'd like to try a few races this summer. How fast do I need to be to survive/not come in last, at the beginning level? (I don't need to place but I don't want to be last). Cruising speed on a 35+mile ride is 18-22 mph, the fastest I've ever hit and maintained for any distance on the flats (with no hill assistance) is 27 (this wasn't for more than half a mile or so though and I was definitely working anaerobically). My cornering skills are not good at all. I'm trying to improve my shifting, i.e, actually using the big chainring, and generally doing a better job shifting during climbs.

Thanks for your advice...

Until I started racing I didn't understand how difficult a question this really is. Racing in a pack isn't like going out and just going as hard as you can at a steady rate. It's often not so much the speed that gets people dropped from pack races, but the surge and slow nature and being a good strong TT'er won't necessarily mean you can stick with the pack. Also, remember the speed you can do alone will be less than you can maintain in the pack if you ride smart so if some do post what sound like fast speeds its not impossible. In any case almost everyone who tries gets dropped their first time/ first few times out just because it can be nerve wracking to ride with so many other people.

I would suggest if you haven't, that you get in some group riding in before trying racing. You really want to know how to react and the things that you should not do before you get into a situation that is potentially dangerous. If you don't know how to paceline, what half-wheeling is, how to feather your brakes or stand on a climb without shoving your bike backwards you likely need more time on the road before mixing it up in a pack. If you want to do TT's there are few limitations or special training needed.

And keep working on using that big ring - I rarely am out of mine for most races, unless it is for a sustained, moderate climb.

I've actually written a ton here about beginning racing and I love to encourage people to give it a try, though I do stress safety.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=start+racing

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=start+racing

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=start+racing

[aicabsolut]

+1 for cornering. I'm a noob racer and the cornering skills of some of the others in the pack leave much to be desired. Don't be one of them. Be someone who can get away / around them.

Tactics and fitness play different roles in different kinds of races. You are probably strong enough to hang on to some road races, but it's strategy that will assist you the most in a crit. It is being in the wrong place at the wrong time there that will get you spit OTB more so than deficiencies in strength and speed.

Do group rides. See if you can attend some local "practice" races or race skills clinics.

And join a team if you can. Team tactics can help you out more than anything else in a race situation (so long as you are all of about the same fitness level and can work together).

[PinkBike]

hey liza, if you're talking road races, i'd say go for it, you have the fitness you just need the experience. you'll love it and you'll do well.

if you're talking crits, forget everything after the word "hey" - i've never done one and i think you gotta be a little nuts

[maillotpois]

Even "just" road racing requires good (SAFE) bike handling, group riding and cornering skills. Work on this first. Please.

[Mimosa]

I'll give my 2 cents also.
Cornering is a vital element, you can loose a lot of energy/power if you brake to much or stop hitting the pedals to early before cornering and getting too late on the pedals after the corner. But the only way to learn is to try it. Look for a club (womens) ride on a closed circuit with cat.4/fun racers. When you feel comfortable in those races then you can step up to crits.
And like eden sated, be prepared to get dropped, don't feel disappointed it happens to EVERYBODY! It could take quite a few rides before you finally say 'I did it! I finaly rode like I was a member of the pack'. And that is a great feeling :D

[aicabsolut]

Even "just" road racing requires good (SAFE) bike handling, group riding and cornering skills. Work on this first. Please.

+1 My friend got pushed off the road and fell into a ditch because of another rider in the pack with poor handling / cornering skills moved into her last weekend in a road race (at least, I hope she didn't do it on purpose!).

[madisongrrl]

Before you race, maybe try a few group rides, attend a clinic and/or watch a womens Cat 4 race. It will give you some confidence and understanding of what you need to be safe and have fun while racing. Then try one....the only way to get good at racing is to race. You can always line up in back of the pack if you are unsure of yourself.

The hardest part of racing (in general) is the pace changes and hills. Don't even bother worrying about how many MPH you average on solo rides. Women's racing fields can be so small (depending where you live) that you never know what the level of competition will be from week to week in any given category. In Cat 4 there aren't as many team tactics to contend with. The race won't be as crowded and aggressive as many of the men's races are. Escape and accident avoidence are a bit easier.

I'm primarily a mountain bike racer, but I'll be racing in a few crits and road races this year. I don't really have any "road" skills, but I'm not too worried about. I've raced in Cat 3 Cyclocross against many of the Cat 3 roadies....and let me tell you, I think some of them also lack general bike handling skills.

Also, if you can maintain a 18 - 22 mph average over 35 miles, you should try a time trial or triathlon relay. You would do quite well without the worries about pack riding...though you have to worry about staying out of the draft zone (which is a little stressful when you're figuring out if you have enough in the gas tank to pass people who are going your speed).

Bottom line is to go for it.....you will do just fine and hopefully have fun too.

[smilingcat]

yeeks!! Listen to Eden and some others.

half wheeling is really dangerous for the person in front and you!! During one practice ride, one of the less experienced rider half wheeled while trying to work on a pace line. The inexperieced rider's front wheel caught the skewer of the girl in front and the inexperienced riders bike "jumped". She ended up flying over the handlebar and ended in hospital.

Pace line can be an exilerating experience cause individually you can't go that fast and keep it up for many miles. :)

And definitly, learn to group ride really close to each other without getting spooked. If I sense you are bit nervous, it makes me nervous and I stay away from you.

[PinkBike]

i agree, definitely get into some group rides

[missymaya]

This may seem silly of me to ask but I've never heard of "halfwheeling", even though I've been group riding for about a year now. Please explain. Thanks

[Eden]

when you are riding in a group you want to either be behind, shoulder to shoulder, or shoulder to hip with the other people. If you are half wheeling, basically you are doing just that - half of your front wheel is overlapping with half of someone elses rear wheel (you are beside them). If anything happens and you or they move your front wheel touches their rear and you will likely fall. The person who is in the front usually does not fall.