Beginner to road biking/want to start racing!

[abarensfeld7]

Hi everyone,
New here! And new on a road bike. Been mountain biking for years, on and off. I randomly decided to do a century on September 10, so I had to get a road bike to train! Now I'm hooked, obviously. :) It was only a matter of time, I guess, before I finally got a road bike -- I've always had a clunker for getting around campuses and town before, besides my mountain bike -- and I've always enjoyed following road racing and all.
Anyhoo! Here I am with my new Trek 1000 (WSD), which I'm happy with, except I've already realized the limitations of the Tiagra grouppo (definitely a source of frustration). Now I need a race!
A couple questions -- hope you all don't mind.

-- I can't seem to find any races! There seem to be few races that include Cat 4 (women's beginner, right?) and what I can find tend to be on the West Coast, or elsewhere on the East Coast. Does anyone have a recommendation for finding road races? I know there must be more, I'm just not searching correctly. It seems like most of the races I turn up are more professional-type, with a variety of men's categories, but mostly only "pro" for the women.

-- If, and when, I do find a race...I wonder how much more serious training I'll need to do. I'm a fit 21-year old (play rugby in college) and for the past two weeks (since I bought my bike) I've been doing short rides a few times a a week (12, 16 miles etc) at a decent pace (about 18-21mph avg on flats, 9mph on the hills, wildly approximating since I don't look at my bike computer enough!) and then about once a week some longer rides (25, 30 miles). Need to definitely build miles and speed. As an indicator: last week I went 31 miles in 2 hours 5 minutes. I wasn't pushing myself to go fast, but I wasn't just sight-seeing either. Is that terribly slow?

OK phew! Thanks for any and all suggestions!

[spazzdog]

Hey abarensfeld7! Welcome to TE...

Go to Cycling Made Real ( http://www.cyclingmadereal.com/ ). They are a group with regional offshoots all over the country whose purpose is specifically cat3/4 women racers. And get yourself a USCF license for road racing.

Good luck!

spazzdog

[abarensfeld7]

Thanks for the help! I also found spokepost.com which had a lot of listed races...

Another Q:
Is it a bad idea to do a crit as my first race? Since I've never ridden in a pack before...

[spazzdog]

I guess you gotta do one eventually... it'll be a heck of a learning experience.

Hey BikeMomma! Are you out there? Newbie racer needs advice.

spazz

[RoadRaven]

Thanks for the help! I also found spokepost.com which had a lot of listed races...

Another Q:
Is it a bad idea to do a crit as my first race? Since I've never ridden in a pack before...


I've never ridden a crit, only watched
With my limited racing experience, I humbly suggest that you do not consider making a crit your first

If you want to jump into racing you must have some experience of pack riding, and if you have no opprortunity to ride with others, then it should be a pack race where you can sit in and learn the protocols of riding with others.

Criterions are fast paced and there is no time for learning about how to ride with others - each lap is basically a sprint and if you do something unexpected it will likely end in a crash.

If you really feel the urge to race, the best one is a TT where you ride against the clock but not in a pack.

I have real concerns about you riding in a pack with no actual basis and experience about how riding with others works.

Perhaps you can join the local club and go out on a few training rides to learn hand signals, protocols like taking turn at the front and so on? Good luck, abaren

[RoadRaven]

BTW, meant to say welcome to TE, abaren

Any one who plays rugby has my vote
We have the Lions here touring at the moment (best of the Scottish, English, Welsh, Irish) and the first test is in a few days. The NZ Maori team beat them the other day - fantastic - it was the first time ever in the history of Maori vs Lions!!! Great start.

And I can't help you with how to find races as I'm at the end of the world in NZ - but good luck in hunting them out. Surely a local club would have listings?

[abarensfeld7]

I'm at home with my parents but as soon as I go back to Ithaca, NY (where I go to school) next week I plan on joining in on the local cycling club's rides frequently!

I am jealous you get to see the Lions play. Amazing.

[SadieKate]

I would get in touch with your local club either in the community or the college. Some of them will have weekly time trials and other events that will give you a good introduction. You really do need to know the skills of riding in a pack before you jump into anything other than a time trial. You could even try a team tri as an introduction since you wouldn't be riding in a pack.

Keep us posted and let us know what you find and how you do!

[BikeMomma]

Aaaahhh....racing! Soooo much fun!

Hi there, Abarensfeld7!!! (Can we call you Abby?) Oh goodie, another racer!

As I'm at work, I can't type you a huge, informative reply right now. For now, though, I just want to know where you are? Midwest?

Right off the bat -- you need to work on bringing everything "up". By that I mean, your ride length, your intensity, your average speed, your technique, your comfort level in groups, etc. You're fit, I have no doubt about that, but racing requires sooo much more, and takes so much more out of you, than going for an average ride. I highly discourage a crit if you're not used to riding in groups....cornering can be tricky in close quarters. There's a reason that's where all the crashes happen.

That's the first paragraph....will write more later - I'll try to get back here tonight, but no guarantees...I have three kids, a new puppy, and a husband - no more explanation necessary! :D . Have fun in the meantime, go for a ride, and buy a couple books on racing/conditioning.....Chris Carmichael....others. You definitely need to get stronger, faster, and more fit to race. Chris can start you on the right path, as can your local cycling/racing club.

Talk you y'all tonight!
BikeMomma

[alison_in_oh]

Here's a race calendar pulled up on google:
http://www.nybc.net/clubs/calendar/2005raceevents.shtml

Ooh, and another:
http://spokepost.com/calendar/

I strongly suggest getting *some* group riding skills. A good start would probably be a circuit race, which tends to have a longer lap therefore a more technical course that breaks things up a bit, but without having the tedious miles of a road race. Go to the race site, check to see that they have Cat 4 women field, and do it! Show up about an hour before start time, register, warm up, and do your darnedest. :)

Heck, c'mon out to the Raccoon Rally, http://www.heartrateup.com/ and join the men's 4/5 group like I'm going to! :D

[abarensfeld7]

Awesome, everyone has been so helpful...keep it up!!! :D

I went for a relatively "fast" ride this afternoon -- 11.40miles, 40:30 including a huge 8-minute hill. I was hoping for a few minutes less but I wasn't going top effort and I didn't have much sleep last night....

Then rounded up the crew (sis, mom, dad) and got them all out for an 8-mile-slow-as-molasses cruise. My mom just got one of those "cruiser" bikes by Electra and it definitely offers up a lot of wind resistence! ha.

Oh yeah -- and I should have mentioned from the start that I don't plan on entering a race until August or September.

[RoadRaven]

Then rounded up the crew (sis, mom, dad) and got them all out for an 8-mile-slow-as-molasses cruise. My mom just got one of those "cruiser" bikes by Electra and it definitely offers up a lot of wind resistence! ha.


Great that you are going out with others now, but you'll find the experienced cyclists at the club you are planning on joining will be able to share road/courtesy/race protocols with you as well. How to take turns at the front, how to warn others there is rubbish on the road, how to slow down without making evryone else pile into you... etc etc



Oh yeah -- and I should have mentioned from the start that I don't plan on entering a race until August or September.

Great, you have plenty of time to get the pack experience. And when you enter, enter as much for the experience as for the race, as you know from rugby - a training session feels quite different to a match against rivals.

[BikeMomma]

Right off the bat -- you need to work on bringing everything "up". By that I mean, your ride length, your intensity, your average speed, your technique, your comfort level in groups, etc. You're fit, I have no doubt about that, but racing requires sooo much more, and takes so much more out of you, than going for an average ride. I highly discourage a crit if you're not used to riding in groups....cornering can be tricky in close quarters. There's a reason that's where all the crashes happen.
Ok, finally here...
Did you say that there is a club nearby that you can ride with? If you don't know of one, ask at the local bike shop. I guarantee that if there isn't a club, there are a group of guys who like to go fast, even if they don't race. Going a step further, even if they don't go fast, ride with them just to get the group experience. Hopefully though, there are some racers who you can practice and get pointers with. One thing to practice is riding in extremely close quarters - like bumping elbows and such. Do it at slow speed at first, then work the speed in as you feel more comfortable with the contact. One RR I was in, another rider and I were constantly pushing off each other, not in an aggressive way - we were just that tightly bunched.

One thing that helped me was to find a housing subdivision that wasn't too heavily trafficked to where we could do criterium practice as a group, which was an added plus. It was great - we had an "S" turn, a wide, sweeping turn, and a couple sharp corners - a little bit of everything. The residents along the street would get into it - sit outside with their lawn chairs and cheer us on. Fun! We also have a loop out in the country (getting slowly swallowed by development) that has a gentle uphill and a pretty brutal, short one to practice on too. Hopefully, you can find something like those in your area to practice on. If not, find a gravel-free, desolate corner out in Booneysville to practice on. Get a good sprint at it, pick your line, and go. Basically, any way you can do it - get cornering practice! Get comfortable taking them at high speeds - and, get comfortable taking rough corners too. City street corners can be rough - bunched up asphalt, grates, manhole covers & the like.

On that ride you took the other day (the one where you went 31 miles in 2hrs5min), I calculate your average speed to be 14.88. You'll need to bring that up. One thing to do is work on your endurance. Go for longer rides - make sure you have enough water, bring snacks (fig newtons, powerbars, cliff bars, etc) to make sure you stay hydrated and fed, but build that mileage. You'll find that 31 miles doesn't feel like so much work anymore - then you can step up the speed. Also, look for a good hill ride at least once a week. My long ride of the week (65-70 miles) used to have a looong, not terribly steep, but steady hill that would really make me work for that downhill. It was usually a 3.5 - 4 hour ride. I notice some of the women's races now are almost that long, so ride! Ride!

Doing intervals also help. That is, simulating a race breakaway situation, by jumping out of the saddle and sprinting like mad until your legs scream for mercy, then take it back down, recover, and then do it again. I'll do every other phone pole until I can't do it anymore. Intervals work on your fast twitch muscles that give you that edge in getting the jump on those breakaways.

Build leg speed - do some spinning. Build leg strength - hills or weight lifting.

To be honest, Ab, I think doing one race this season for experience' sake might be ok (if, and only if, you get used to riding in groups!!), but I would get some experience and lots of practice (log those base miles this winter!!) and just wait for next season to race. That's actually what my game plan is right now. After 12 years out of it and riding since this last winter, I'm just getting back to the point where I can keep up with the guy racers, feeling competitive with the other women who ride with our group now (yes! we'll have a women's local team yet!) and relatively feeling good. However, as good as I'm feeling, I know I'm not ready to race. Next year I'll be in the Womens Masters 35+....but I'll be there! And havin' a blast.

Good luck to you, Ab! Let me know if you need more info. But you really can get alot from other racers and by reading up on all the different techniques (and trying them!!).

Have fun! Speed rules.... :D
BikeMomma

[spazzdog]

I knew you'd come thru. :D

Perhaps this should become a regular topic... "Fireside, er Roadside with BikeMomma; training tips for the speed demon in you"

spazz :cool:

[BikeMomma]

Perhaps this should become a regular topic... "Fireside, er Roadside with BikeMomma; training tips for the speed demon in you"
Hey I'm game! I'd never in a million years call myself an expert and I really didn't race that much back then, but I've paid attention to how it's done, if that counts for anything (I just have to do it myself!). :D :D

[abarensfeld7]

OK good news.
I made my debut with the local cycling club last night. They hold a weekly TT on a 9.8 miles course, fairly flat with bits of rolling hills. I posted approx. 26:05, which was def. better than the 30 min. I was hoping to squeak by under. And that...on a lunch of pizza and Ben & Jerry's. Last time I try THAT! These guys are pretty nutso. Almost everyone has full aero gear...I guess tonight I'll transfer my clipless pedals from my mtn bike to my road bike and get a little more serious.
The club prez seems to feel that with that time I might be able to hang with the "C" group on the informal Tuesday night races they hold. They alternate hilly and flat courses, so I could start out on a flat course and just see how it goes. If I get dropped, I get dropped...
I think it sounds like a pretty good way to get experience.
Also, the club's more mellow contingent gets together on Sunday mornings for tours, and I'll be joining them this weekend.
Yay!

[SadieKate]

Sounds like a great plan. Doing a TT on a mtbike first time out? You go, girl!!

[abarensfeld7]

Haha, luckily, no.
I just have toe clips on my road bike though -- my clipless pedals reside on my mtn. bike. This will change ASAP!

[BikeMomma]

I made my debut with the local cycling club last night. They hold a weekly TT on a 9.8 miles course, fairly flat with bits of rolling hills. I posted approx. 26:05, which was def. better than the 30 min. I was hoping to squeak by under. And that...on a lunch of pizza and Ben & Jerry's. Last time I try THAT! These guys are pretty nutso. Almost everyone has full aero gear...I guess tonight I'll transfer my clipless pedals from my mtn bike to my road bike and get a little more serious.
The club prez seems to feel that with that time I might be able to hang with the "C" group on the informal Tuesday night races they hold. They alternate hilly and flat courses, so I could start out on a flat course and just see how it goes. If I get dropped, I get dropped...
I think it sounds like a pretty good way to get experience.
Also, the club's more mellow contingent gets together on Sunday mornings for tours, and I'll be joining them this weekend.
Yay!
Keep it up, Ab! That's the way to get there...just to join 'em!

But...please...no more pizza and B & J's when ya gotta ride the same day, and I think you found out why!! :rolleyes: What I do, and I have an 8-5 office job, is to make up a batch of pasta, add whatever to it, and then dump it into a container to nibble on all afternoon at my desk. My evening group rides are usually at 6pm, so it works out good for me.

How are you on hills? If you think you can tackle them, go for it. The hills will make you better faster.

Good luck & have fun!
Coach BikeMomma :p

[abarensfeld7]

hey bikemomma,
i'm pretty good at hills. i don't really know speed-wise compared to other riders, but i've always felt strong in the hills. it seems like the name of the game is just to get a cadence going and push push push, they might take awhile, but the hills always get gobbled away.
this morning i was planning on joining the club for a ride but i noticed the ride posted online is 65 miles. since i haven't been out with them yet, i was worried about that distance since i don't know how fast they go. i'd be game for trying 65 miles but it would probably take me awhile. instead i'm going to do my own 35-40 miler with some decent hills, including one huge one on the out and back. i wonder if i'm making a bad decision and should just try out the club ride? it's been tough, been thinking about it for a while...
the other issue is that it's been nearly 100 degrees out and factoring that in makes me more cautious.
besides working hard on the hills today i'm going to try to work in some intervals on the flats. we'll see how that goes.
think i should have joined the club this morning?
oh yeah and nutrition---been reading up on the nutrition threads a bunch and i decided to modify my eating. i had my usual yogurt-fruit-cereal bowl this morning but i added half a banana for some more carbs and on the bike instead of just water i'm taking one large bottle of water and one large bottle of gatorade. figure with the heat the electrolytes will probably be good. and a clif bar in my pack.
ok off i go!

[abarensfeld7]

Well you all are probably sick of me by now...sorry...
Went out for the club's Tuesday night race last night and had a blast. Rode with the C group (A,B,C flights totalling about 50 riders, which apparently is a low turnout) for about an 8.5 mile, flat-rollingish loop. People were very helpful teaching me how to ride in the peloton and once a few of us were dropped from the pack I traveled most of the race with an experienced rider, John, who was only in the C flight by way of a chest cold. We traded drafts most of the way, and finally reeled in an escapee who had been just in our sight for a few miles. He tried to escape again but I managed to bridge the gap he was opening, although I lost John in the process. I sprinted ahead at the finish to nab fourth from last (haha, probably 7th out of 11th?) but maybe that was a faux-pas in a relaxed club race? Most everyone goes for another lap but I was happy with one and took an easy ride back to the meeting point (about 5 miles from the race loop). Next week is a hilly course, only one lap, but at least I have a better idea of what to expect. I was worried that I'd be dropped immediately and be time trialling on my own but as it turned out I had a great time and finished well enough for me, and thanks to the nice help of others I learned a lot about etiquette and technique.
I am so happy with cycling right now! Tomorrow will be a slow ride and then the TT again on Thursday. Exciting...

[BikeMomma]

Hey Ab!
Keep posting....I want to keep hearing of your progress and successes!
Dig deep and go for it!

Keep it up! You'll get there! :D
BikeMomma

[abarensfeld7]

Haha, I thought everyone would be bored to tears by now.

Things are going super well...I just got back from my second Tuesday night race with the club. With the C group again (of course)...finished in the first of two packs. I even tried to launch a solo attack towards the end but I misjudged the distance left and was caught. Oops, rookie mistake! Need to get the course layout down pat first...Anyways I was very happy with how it went, and the speed was high. Don't know how fast we were moving exactly, never bothered to look at my computer.

Last week's TT was pretty darn interesting...and funny. A few minutes before the start I was tightening up my seat post collar when the bolt snapped in two (later discovered that it had seized up...the bike shop who built my bike didn't lube it at all). Not something people tend to have extras of. Uh oh! Well, lucky me, the resident guru/local bike shop owner/winner of the New York State TTs had his regular road bike in the car and we happen to be similar sizes. So I got to ride his carbon fiber Felt which just screams FAST. Problem is, I was on his Speedplay pedals with his shoes and as we all know one should practice with new pedals a bit before shoving off. Well I gave it a go in the parking lot and couldn't get my left foot out quickly enough and poof! Fell over in slo-mo. Couldn't get my left foot out while on the ground either so two people helped me up while still clipped in! Ayyyyyy. Good thing I have no problem laughing at myself...it was a pretty hilarious situation. Even without getting a chance to warm up, the TT went soooooo well. His bike didn't have a computer but I think I cut my time over the last outing by more than a minute. I don't know how much that was because his bike is screaming fast & light or because my legs are getting in shape!

Besides these racescapades...
Went on my longest ride yet the other weekend, 57 miles...by mistake. Missed a turn (don't trust Google Maps!) and ended up adding 17 miles or so but I was sort of familiar with the area so I wasn't worried. It was a beautiful day so it turned out well. Good thing I had money with me for snacks...

So I'm getting faster and adding miles and things are looking good! Wooooooo.

[CorsairMac]

way to go abarens! I loved the visual of you laying on the ground still clipped in - like a knight in ?shining? armour waiting for someone to come along and pick you up. Too precious! and wooohoo on the 57 mile ride! Don't ya just love those wrong turns that take you into places you never thought you would go!?!

[Crash]

Hey Ab...reading your delight in the Felt and your great job with racing and riding is there the dream of a new road bike to compound your new found ability? :D

[abarensfeld7]

Haha, yeah Crash, a new Felt would be nice! But won't be replacing my Trek for some time...

Good news update. My TT times have been drop, drop, dropping. Wooo. For the 9.8 mile course,
Week 1 - 26:05
Week 2 - missed
Week 3 - 25:35
Week 4 - 25:40
Week 5 - 25:05
Week 6 - 24:29

I thought my watch was lying to me today at 24:29. Last week I thought I had an awesome ride and felt really strong, and today I was worried because I had forgotten to have a mid-afternoon snack. I had a lunch at 11:30, then a large Gatorade around 3, but no food before my 5:15pm warmup and 6pm TT. I realized my mistake about 10 minutes into my warmup when my tummy started rumbling! Was worried about bonking especially when I started the TT and my legs started off already feeling tired. But...guess not! Maybe I am more of an empty-stomach type? Didn't think so. And I'd definitely rather have some glycogen ready to go...

Been riding on the weekends with the CU (Cornell) team on relaxed rides and that's going really well. They seem to think I'm a strong rider so outlook is good for racing season next spring. Last Saturday I invited a buddy who rides on the team for a 57-miler. I set pace the whole time and at the end he fessed up that I was going pretty fast and his legs were tired! Haha, surprised me.

I'm going to make my real racing debut on Aug. 27 at the Chris Thater Memorial Crit in Binghamton. There's a public race in the morning, just 12 miles, and a women's Cat III-IV race in the afternoon, 20 miles. A woman who rides for CU and went to nationals last year has encouraged me to give it a shot. She thinks riding the public race in the morning would be a good warmup, but I'm wondering if maybe it would be best for me to use that as a chance to check out how things go down in a crit? And then give it a shot in the afternoon. What do you all think?

One problem: cycling costs too much money! I always choose the pricey sports - skiing, hockey, cycling. So many parts on a bike and clothes and equipment that just beg to be bought/upgraded! I'm finding lots of things on my bike need to be upgraded/adjusted...swapped my stem out for a better fit, need a new, better fitting saddle, plunked down the cash for pedals and shoes...need some new shorts, too. Can't get by on 2 pair very well at all! They're the old school, thin chamois Pearls, and I'm interested in trying out some of the new chamois styles. I wonder how much that will help my soreness down there. I especially am uncomfortable when leaning forwards at speed, particularly during TTs, when I place my lower arms across the bar and hang my hands off the front, aero-style except without the aero bars. Ha! I find it much more efficient and I enjoy to stretch out.

Speaking of which, anyone have any experience with a Selle San Marco Aero for women? It looks cushy in all the right places, at least online. And it has a wider cutout, something that appeals to me. Pretty pricey, though.

Wow, I think I just wrote a book! Sorry...

[RoadRaven]

So you are averaging 37.8km over a 15.77km TT course?

I'm well impressed... ah... if I could achieve that... if I could do that...

And I assume you have changed the pedals so you clip in for your TT races now?

Is this Chris Tater Memorial a national? Medals at stake?
I haven't done the racing to give advice about what to enter, but I'm sure you'll do well...

[abarensfeld7]

Hi Raven...hmm...the pro categories at the Thater are part of the USA Cycling American Criterium Championships...does that make it a national? Don't know much about these races. There do seem to be medals. I think for my cat. there will be some merch. but that's it! I'll be happy if I'll be on the same lap as the winners, so not much to worry about in terms of prizes...

Yah, I'm using Shimano clipless. Been working great, can't complain!

[lkrider]

Thanks Bike Momma and all....My daughter just convinced me to sign up for a time trial this weekend--45-49 Masters Women. (She is 16 and on a local team with great junior coaching and support.) She assures me that all I have to do is just ride my bike. I am kinda embarrassed to race. I usually just do my best and have never competed sports in my whole life. It's a generational thing, but this is weird. we shall see. :D

[abarensfeld7]

That's the best thing about time trialing -- you don't have to worry about how everyone else is doing! You just get to focus on yourself. Then if you want to look at the times later...that's another story :)

[sarahk]

Hi!!

I'm not too far from you, I live on the outskirts of Utica NY. I'm excited to see that you want to get into racing. I've been doing a little more racing this season and we need more women out ther around here, especially younger ones (I'm 23).

I see you'll be at the Chris Thater crit. I'll be there too. I'm doing the women's III/IV. I may do the public women's as well, haven't decided yet. You should go, It'll be a good time.

There is also a race this Sunday, the Canal Classic. It's in Little Falls, NY. It's a citizens race, I think it's like 34 miles, but we get a wide range of people that show up, we'll get Cat 1's and 2's to beginners. It might be worth looking into. Info: www.mvbc.us

There seems to be a race every weekend until Sept 18th or so around here. Keep riding and group experience is always helpful!

I hope to see you out there.
Sarah

[sarahk]

One other question, which century will you be doing on September 10??

Sarah

[Kimred]

I did my first TT on my Mt.bike a couple years ago and have been hooked ever since. If you can make it to Erie PA on Sept 18 your should try out the 12 1/2 mile TT. Go to Runhigh.com and look under events for info. I have raced every race in that area. I also highly recommend getting a Heart Rate Monitor. I cannot train without one. I saw a coach in Buffalo and he got me started on my winter training a couple months ago. I needed to work on my endurance. Had tons of leg strength my heart could not keep up with them. Now that I have faithfully been working on long endurance rides with HRM I have improved greatly. I also work on getting my RPM's to about 120 for a minute on 2 minutes off 4 x in a row. It's a great way to work the fast twitch muscles. Truly I could go on all night on training, But I do recommend getting The Lance Armstorng Performance Program by Lance and Chris Carmichael. It's a great way to get started!!

Good Luck and keep on having fun, I love to race because it gives me goals and keeps me motivated but at the same time all the training can take the fun out of just riding to JUST RIDE!

Kim :cool:

[abarensfeld7]

hi sarahk,
thanks for all the ny info! i made a big mistake, though. i think i overdid it a bit this summer because a couple days' break from training turned into a 3 weeks off, pretty much. I did some mountain biking and a few road rides but all in all i pretty much just took it easy. now i'm definitely not in race shape anymore. probably would huff and puff through the public race at the thater crit and it just wouldn't be pretty.
stupid move!

[BikeMomma]

hi sarahk,
thanks for all the ny info! i made a big mistake, though. i think i overdid it a bit this summer because a couple days' break from training turned into a 3 weeks off, pretty much. I did some mountain biking and a few road rides but all in all i pretty much just took it easy. now i'm definitely not in race shape anymore. probably would huff and puff through the public race at the thater crit and it just wouldn't be pretty.
stupid move!
That's the thing about racing....once you get that competitive spirit, it becomes addicting, and then it's verrry easy to overdo it, as it seems you found out. I preach baby steps and above all, patience. Your form will come, but never as fast as you want it to. The most important thing in training is to remember to just have fun - don't make it work, and don't make yourself think you have to (you want to, remember?). Do fun rides, not just training rides. Good for the psyche!! :)

[abarensfeld7]

thanks for the tips bikemomma.
i've been really mixing it up recently with my mountain bike, road bike, rock climbing, etc. recently instead of all road bike all the time. i think it's important for me to keep things varied. things might be different when collegiate racing season rolls around in the spring, but for now this seems to be doing the trick!

[BikeMomma]

thanks for the tips bikemomma.
i've been really mixing it up recently with my mountain bike, road bike, rock climbing, etc. recently instead of all road bike all the time. i think it's important for me to keep things varied. things might be different when collegiate racing season rolls around in the spring, but for now this seems to be doing the trick!
I admire you for being able to do all that! I've actually never been mountain biking...I can't believe I've never tried it. Guess I need to get a mountain bike first, tho'!! :D (Ooooh...that would be another bike to name!!) I tried rock climbing a loooong time ago, in beautiful Yosemite of all places (what a place to start, eh??), and loved it so much, I bought some expensive climbing shoes and have never used them!! :D I swear I will someday! Where do you go rock climbing? (sorry, this is a little off-topic)

[DirtDiva]

I'd love to get into climbing! Problem is finding someone with a little knowhow you trust enough to hold the other end of the rope. :rolleyes:

[abarensfeld7]

I'd been rock climbing a handful of times but spread out over 6-7 years; I never remembered how to belay from one instance to the next. A few weeks ago I went climbing in the Adirondacks and decided it was something I'd like to remember how to do this time around...
Cornell (where I go to school) has a big, wonderful rock wall where you can boulder (climb at low heights off rope) all you want and climb with top rope if you get belay certified. They are open 7 days a week in the evenings so it's easy to get in there. If I'm alone I just boulder which I think is almost as fun as climbing upwards. They have lots of bouldering "problems" (difficult moves made up of only 5 or so holds) to work on which keeps things interesting. Kiwi, have you ever thought of trying this? No need for a partner.
Cheers!

[DirtDiva]

That's a good idea. No idea where there's a climbing wall around here, but that can be looked into. Hmmm. Possibly after I've paid next month's rent though.

[JmcG]

I have a question about road racing - I'm looking into possibly racing next year (I currently compete in triathlons and am thinking road racing would be lots of fun too) - so when I look up races and I find local ones - can I assume there is always a women's race associated with the races or are some only male races? Also - do you need to be a part of a local team or club or can anybody sign up for a race, esp say a TT?

Lots of good info in this thread! Thanks for all the advice,
-j

[runnergirl]

No, there isn't always a women's race, and usually there's only one for all cats of women. For your first crit or road race, I'd look for a larger race that specifically says the cat 4 women have their own start time.

You can race down one Cat with the men, so as a 4 you can race the men's cat 5. Since they're such bad bike handlers, it's not the best idea if you have other options, but depending where you are you may be forced to race with guys.

You don't have to be on a team, but since you're from a tri background, it is imperative that you learn to ride in a tight group, bump elbows and wheels, etc before attempting a crit or RR. You don't want to be the one in the pack that is obviously unsteady. TT is another story-no need for group experience.

[JmcG]

You don't have to be on a team, but since you're from a tri background, it is imperative that you learn to ride in a tight group, bump elbows and wheels, etc before attempting a crit or RR. You don't want to be the one in the pack that is obviously unsteady. TT is another story-no need for group experience.

Thanks for the info. I do need more experience riding in a group - I ride with a group at my work, but I think joining a team would be my best bet at getting that kind of experience you're talking about - bumping elbows and wheels, etc. There seem to be a lot of teams in my area (from my Google search!), I just need to pick one and check it out!

[abarensfeld7]

hi ladies!

just thought i'd check in and give a little update on what i've been up to!!!
guess everyone's prolly been busy with holidays and all, little bike riding been happening, if at all. i've been on the trainer a bit but haven't been outside nearly at all. bah!

let's see here...i'll be racing with the cornell team in the spring. there are collegiate races every weekend beginning in march (yipes...that's early). i need to get my butt in gear and get into a more specific training routine but at the moment i'm just basically moving the legs on the trainer, working up a sweat for an hour or so, some times just spinning, some times really cranking on high resistance, just mixing it up.

in the fall i raced mtb once and would have done more but just didn't have much time. i did a cyclocross race also which was AMAZINGLY fun. also bike polo when i had the time but that sort of petered out as summer turned into fall...

there's a lot of machismo on the team in regards to riding outdoors through the winter. many of the guys ride for hours outside and seem to feel it's the only way to go and the only way to really be prepared for the spring. my first attempt was on what turned out to be a particularly cold and blustery day and i had no cycling specific clothes and i don't think i've ever been so cold in my life! those shoes basically beg the cold to zip right in and freeze the toes off don't they? i ordered a whole load of stuff and outfitted myself with booties, gloves, jacket, a hat, wore some of my old fleecy tights over my shorts, etc etc and i was warm and toasty on my second attempt. but the salt on the roads made it sort of unpleasant to breathe when any cars went by. now i am home in western PA (when i'm at school i am in Ithaca, NY) and the roads here are horrible (potholed, gravel, etc) so i'm staying indoors. anyhow i think i'll do most of my training indoors this winter, venturing outside when it's nice and sunny for a change of pace!

ok ladies that's about it for me, happy holidays and go get on that trainer!

[BikeMomma]

Ab - hey! I saw your update when you first posted it, and I've been meaning to get back to this thread ever since! Great to hear how you're doing, getting more into competition and on a team - great for you! Cyclocross...I so want to try that!

Keep us/me posted....I'm always interested!
Take care, have fun!
speed rules...
-BikeMomma

[justduckie06]

it's awesome your school has a team. mine is kind of small and doens't have one, so i try and ride with a local club. this will be my first real season riding with them, as two seasons ago I was just learning and got dropped before anyone knew I was there, and last year i was touring. I don't know how much time i'll have for training as I'm about to start my spring semester with 17 credits while working full time. April will probably be the earliest i get back on my bike.

good luck with your season on the college team! It should be awesome. and yes, when you don't have the right gear, riding in the cold is soooo bitter! before my tour i got all geared out! sounds like you'll hav e aton of fun though! good luck!

[Pedal Wench]

How do you go about training specifically for a short ride, like the TT that you are doing? Do you just practice riding as fast as you can for 9 miles? Or, are intervals better?

[RoadRaven]

If you are training for TT...

Hmmm, I am no expert, but I find the way I am improving is having some short spinning sessions (about 10-15km on the road) - I don't allow myself out of the small chain ring... it sacrifices speed, but trains my legs to spin...

Because TT is what I want to race, I do not spend alot of time doing long rides, but tend to focus on 20-30km rides which are the distance I will TT over...

I do do occasional longer rides (40-50km) but these are more about increasing endurance than anything else.

Intervals are def useful for with TTs or crits... I suggest you search on this site for other discussion.

Good luck