Interested in road racing

[jdewitt]

Anyone have any info on getting started racing? What is the usual disctance, how fast do they ride? etc. I have been riding for last 2 years-need a challenge.thanks!

[abvnx]

i would also be interested in this info...:)

[Eden]

search around the forum - I and several others have posted a lot of information about how to get started racing.
I don't know if I've ever answered how long are races, so I'll do that now. Generally beginners road races in my area are around 25 to 36 miles long - and don't worry, even if you are a century rider, this will be challenging enough. There are more challenging races, often if not usually raced in combined fields with higher level races. The longest I've done this year was about 101 miles.
Beginners crit races are usually from 25 to 35 minutes long.
TT's for all categories run from around 10 or 12 miles (typical) to about 24 miles for state championships.
People considering racing almost always want to know if they are fast enough to start racing, but pure speed isn't the determining factor as to whether or not you'll be able to stay with the pack in a race, so its not really possible to say if you can do x mph you'll be a successful beginner racer. Even very strong people can fall off the back if they have a hard time handling surges, hills, or just can't get comfortable in the pack, while weaker riders can take adavantage of tactics and good postitioning to get good finishes.

[smilingcat]

Join a club where they have a racing team. Many of the clubs are recreational or touring in its charter and they also have racing teams within the club.

Examples here in Southern California are:
Orange County Wheelmen (serious touring and recrational cycling). They have Paramount Racing Team. Women's team is well organized and very strong.

South Bay Wheelmen again large group for touring and recrational and they have South Bay Wheelmen racing teams. Also very strong with depth. They always show up in force at Redland Classic (stage race). SoCal season opener!!

Just two of the bigger ones around here.

By joining a club and then joining the racing teams, you learn about riding in a crit, and the team will also train you to become a good rider and prepare you for a race. If you are new it's probably the easiest and safest route. Being un-attached rider isn't a way to go if you are new to racing.

smilingcat

[Eden]

Some of the previous threads with information
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=13556&highlight=beginner+race

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12659&highlight=beginner+race

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=8430&highlight=beginner+race

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=13834&highlight=start+racing

[SheFly]

People considering racing almost always want to know if they are fast enough to start racing, but pure speed isn't the determining factor as to whether or not you'll be able to stay with the pack in a race, so its not really possible to say if you can do x mph you'll be a successful beginner racer. Even very strong people can fall off the back if they have a hard time handling surges, hills, or just can't get comfortable in the pack, while weaker riders can take adavantage of tactics and good postitioning to get good finishes.

Eden is a great resource on racing, and has given some great advice. One of the local legends here told me during my race clinic that racing wasn't "about who's the strongest or who's the smartest, it's about who crosses the line first."

I didn't realize at the time how much I would use this advice, but it is true - a strong rider does not always = a successful racer. Find a club and give it a try, and if you can, do a race clinic. Most of all, HAVE FUN! No one pays us to race - quite the opposite!

SheFly

[Eden]

Bump! - its that time again when people are starting to think about joining teams (and teams will be starting to actively recruit). For anyone who is interested here's the answers to most of your most burning questions :p.

[Kelly728]

Thanks for bumping, Eden. I'd love to try out racing someday, once I can get off the injured bench! I need things like that to satisfy my uber competitive side.:o

[Andrea]

I race a lot, and I've been pretty successful, and I have to say that the main reason behind the success is both good training and, well, racing a lot. You learn something at every race. Sometimes you learn the hard way. Don't be discouraged by that. Take it and file it away for next time. I'm still learning the hard way every now & then, but occasionally I find myself being the one dishing out the lessons ;)