Race with or without a team?

New here to this forum, so first off: hello hello :) :)

Next year I am set on giving racing a shot. I have been training/working hard this summer, getting more serious, more structured, and plan to continue through fall and winter. I got myself a power meter, plenty of books, and do lots of reading on proper training techniques - so I feel very good about that aspect and have made excellent progress in my fitness.

For ladies that race or have raced - can you tell me about the pro's and con's of trying racing with and without a team? Better to start solo or with a team?

If you pick a team, then what do you want to look for? how does it all work within a team? I have a sense of how pro cycling team's work, with certain riders having roles, etc, but have no clue how it is for non-pro and local teams.

So far as events go, I am interested in time trials, road races - but not sure about crits (they look a bit sketchy, dangerous even!)

So many questions I know. Would appreciate your feedback.... :cool:

Pros of joining a team
mentoring, mentoring, mentoring
no one trusts an unattached rider
can help with the expense - many teams offer some support for race fees and have sponsor deals
many teams offer workshops
training with a group is motivating
racing using team tactics is fun! (and unless you are much stronger than everyone else you will have a harder time going solo)

cons of joining a team
its a commitment....

Honestly I think most if not all people are better off on a team than racing unattached. No- in the lower categories it is not like the TDF. You are not going to get immediately pigeon holed into a role and while team tactics are fun, it takes time for everyone to learn them, so they aren't going to be playing as big a role in your first races as they will later on, but the support of a team is really good to have. You will be at a big disadvantage if you don't have group riding experience before you ever race and worse could be a danger to yourself and everyone else if you are strong and have no group experience. Having a winter of mentoring by experienced racers is the best way to get a good start to racing. I highly recommend joining a team.

How to choose? I'm not sure where you are located, but in this area right about now is when teams are recruiting. We have "meet the team" rides every weekend for a month or so. Riding with a team and meeting the members is a great way to find out if you might be interested in joining. Find the right culture for you - some teams are more relaxed, while others are very regimented. Looking for your local racing association would be good way to start.

Join a team. It's good for training and learning about racing if nothing else.

However, since I am typically the lone woman on my team, I will say that for lower category racing, having teammates in the race is nice, but not necessary. I'm trying to find a bigger women's squad for next year, and a few teams are recruiting me, but I am really not that happy with my choices. I've gotten to know a few people well from each team, and we enjoy racing together. We often work together in races despite our team affiliations. Sometimes, it's because they are low in numbers too. Sometimes, it's because not everyone is on the same page physically or with their egos. I've seen strong women on the same team refuse to work together on the last lap of a race. Both wanted glory. Neither got it. I've seen women who would love to work with their teammates, but their strengths differ too greatly. The strength difference part is more common in low category racing, because there's a reason we're at the bottom! Either we're novices with tactics and fitness or we just don't have the athletic talent or the commitment to have a lot of strengths.

So, teams can be great. Definitely join one for the camaraderie, learning experience, training partners, sponsorship deals, etc. whether or not they have a bunch of people on it who you will be racing with. Whether you join a team with a big women's squad is up to you. I kind of like it that I can sometimes work better with a few women from team X than their own teammates because 1) the team is too big and unorganized or 2) they are all in it for themselves anyway. Some big teams also don't treat the newer or weaker riders very well, because they want the stronger ones to advance. They would probably advance anyway, and part of teamwork is to have some workhorses. However, would you want to always be sent off the front to make other teams chase when you know they don't care that you will blow up and maybe not even get to finish the race? That doesn't teach you a whole lot about how you can race well.

Take some time getting to know the teams in your area, and see who you like being around. That's probably the most important part.

Thanks aicabsolut & Eden for your enlightening comments on cycling teams.

Mentoring and getting advice from people would be excellent. It would seem that more experienced riders can be a great source of knowledge and insight into so many things, be it tactics, training, or intangibles in racing.

I can understand the issue of trust perhaps with an independent or unattached rider - presumably other rides simply don't know you or your skills or competence in getting around a race course.

While I've hardly been in the situation personally, from what I've seen in some parts of the country - there are surely events with few women and that alludes to aicabsolut's point about the lack of teammates or participants.

Regarding commitment - would you be expected to compete in a certain number of races, after joining a team?

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Originally Posted by BalaRoja

While I've hardly been in the situation personally, from what I've seen in some parts of the country - there are surely events with few women and that alludes to aicabsolut's point about the lack of teammates or participants.

Regarding commitment - would you be expected to compete in a certain number of races, after joining a team?

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Around here we certainly are not suffering from a lack of participation - we are getting to the point where, at least early in the season, we are filling cat 4 fields and have separate cat 3 fields in a good many races. I'm on an all women's team so having teammates around is certainly not an issue for me. We have about 80 members, the majority are 4's, there are a handful of us 3's and a pretty good 1,2 team

As far as commitment goes - it totally depends on the team. Some teams are more strict than others. Some require a commitment to race, some require participation in team rides, others have no formal requirements at all.

Yeah, it can be all over the place in terms of commitment, but frequently, they want you to pay some membership dues, show up to something (races, group rides, team social events), and volunteer at races they host.

Ask around at your LBS or if you know any racers to see what your options are. Then, sometime this fall, go on a group ride with several teams. See who you get along with and if you like their group dynamic. Tell them that you are thinking of racing and want to get to know the team. Ask them about the size of the women's team (for a mixed group) and what they are about (what categories, and do the women actually show up to races?).

That, plus location of their training rides, will help you figure out who you mesh with. You want to have a good experience your first year racing, but don't feel pressured to find your team for life. When you get some more experience and get to know more people in your racing community, you may want to change teams the next year, and that's ok.

+1 with aicabus and Eden,

Go on a club ride and see how it feels. See where you are in your conditioning... Lot of clubs require you to volunteer at the races and other events. Like sign-up... if you don't mind the extra hours you may have to commit, being attached may be for you.

Being unattached and new to the "scene" you might be viewed as a leper.

Ride in a group and train with the boys. You'll learn about bike handling in a pack even on a weekend training ride or mid week evening training ride. You need to learn to "jump" coming out of the corners... so its bit more than just riding hard and fast.

Lastly don't lose the sight of fun even in racing.

enjoy and lots of luck. Remember only one person gets to win ;)

Thanks Ladies for the informative responses.

I think I'll surely want to spend some time talking to different people, checking out various groups, and getting a sense of where I might fit in best.

The women's fields here seem to be varied - some events have huge contingents while others are fairly sparse based on what I've seen.

Where do you live (you don't have to be specific...state or region can help). Some people on here might be familiar with the teams in your area to at least give you some names to look for.

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Originally Posted by aicabsolut

Where do you live (you don't have to be specific...state or region can help). Some people on here might be familiar with the teams in your area to at least give you some names to look for.

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I am in the san francisco bay area. If anyone knows of teams here or has personal experience with them, then I'd appreciate your comments :)

Talk to Lori, VeloGirl,
She should be able to help you out with everything!!!

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm curious what the age range is for female racers? Sometimes I feel like I'd like to do more racing but then think I'm just too old for it? :)

on our team we have teenagers to 50+, several of our stronger riders are over 50. I'd say the majority of us are over 35.

3 of our team members went to the Senior Games last month (and brought back multiple medals!) where there were women up in their 70's and maybe even 80's still racing. One of our team members went to cross worlds last year and took 4th place in the 50+ category.

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Originally Posted by WindingRoad

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm curious what the age range is for female racers? Sometimes I feel like I'd like to do more racing but then think I'm just too old for it? :)

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Like Eden, I have teammates who range in age from 12 to 68. The 68 year old is a multi-time national road, crit, TT and 'cross champion who comes out to EVERY race. Personally, I am in my early 40s, and race with some women around my age, but many who are younger.

My $0.02 - there is no TOO OLD to race! I'll be racing till they pry the handlebars from my cold hands :D.

SheFly