Racing? Training?

I'm not really a new rider. I've been commuting for a few years as I have no car.

I started on a super heavy, three-speed Schwinn Collegiate cruiser and I've since moved to a Bianchi Piaggio I bought at an auction for $45 and lovingly converted into a single speed. (Single because I'm small and it's all I could lift into the stupid man-height racks at my office.)

I really want to get into racing, or even legitimate training, but I'm not sure where to start. I know I'll need a new bike, as a single speed isn't going to cut it. I just wondered what kind of tips you ladies might have, and more importantly, what are your stories?

This is my first year racing, so I am a cat 4. I decided to get into racing when I found that I needed new cycling-related challenges just to keep things interesting and to set new goals for myself. I had only been cycling for a couple of years and was scared of racing (well, of crashing during a race), and didn't really know how to get involved in the local racing scene.

So, the first thing I did was to join a team. I found one that has a really great group of women. This means that a) I have teammates at races and b) I have a couple of fantastic mentors, and c) I have training partners.
Putting all those things together, it is a perfect situation for a newbie. I learn so much every day from my teammates, and even more from just being out there racing.

I am still scared every time I come to the line to start a race and I wonder what insanity possessed me sign up for the race in the first place. But then the race itself is always such an exciting adrenaline rush that as soon as it is over, I am begging for more. . . . Or just wanting a second chance at the race where I can erase some of the mistakes I made :-)

Racing is such a learning curve. It requires great fitness, which you can achieve by training. But it also requires race savvy that you can only get from, well, racing. As a newbie, that is the most frustrating thing - racing against someone that I know is less strong than I, but still getting beaten. It takes time, and some luck, but if you want to get involved, and you have the handling skills, I say just jump right in and see if you like it!!!!

I just did my first race on Sunday. My biggest goal was to not finish last! Yet, I was also mentally prepared for that realistic possibility and only hoped I wouldn't be so far behind that I wasn't even remotely in the running. I wanted to finish respectably. But you don't know until you try.

Well, I WASN'T LAST! :D This was a road race, Cat 4 (previous years they combined 3 and 4). There were 23 and I was 18 out of 23. You realize that means I beat FIVE PEOPLE!!! Hee hee! And by a fairly large margin.

I do highly recommend you get into racing if you have an inkling for it. Do you know what kind of racing you want to do? I did a road race, which was a 40 mile out and back course with 2,000 feet of climbing (that's where I lose everyone). I'm doing two others soon that are 30 something miles with a little less climbing.

There are also criteriums (known as crits), which are comprised of several short loops. These can be more dangerous than road races, which is why I won't do them. Want to stay in one piece, at least while I'm still raising my kiddos. ;) The pack often stays pretty tight and there are several turns, which is where the crashing often happens. I know several club members who have crashed. I don't want to scare you from doing it. If you are fearless and that sort of racing revs you up. A lot of people love to do it. In fact, it's too bad I don't because that's almost all there is in Southern California where I live. I have to drive pretty far to find a road race and there aren't even that many within a reasonable driving distance for me. I just drove 5 hours to the one I did and most are further. There are two coming up that are about 2 hours and 3 1/2 hours away, but as far as I can tell, nothing for the rest of the year unless I want to drive 6 or more hours, so I'm jumping at the chance to do those two.

And then there are time trials, which I might look into doing. No drafting. Each rider takes off on their own and is timed. I don't have a time trial bike, which isn't completely necessary, but that's one of the reasons I haven't ventured into that. Yet, there ARE time trials close to my house, so I think I might try one later this year and see how it goes.

As for a team, for what I do, it's kind of pointless. Because few people in our area are actually crazy enough to drive far to do a road race, there's no one to train with and race with. Like I said, I know many people that do crits and are on teams for that.

I learned most of what I know from my husband and riding with my club (not a racing club, just a multi level club that does various types of rides). He's my racing support guy. He did the same race I did and came in 2nd out of over 40 in his division. GO HONEY!!!! :D

I know this is lengthy, but that's my story. I do encourage you to find a racing club or team if you can find one that does the kind of racing you want to do, which I'm guessing shouldn't be that difficult. At the very least, get into a multi level club. You can learn a lot just by riding with other more experienced people.

Go to http://www.usacycling.org/ for a list of races and teams/clubs.

Good luck!!! Hey ... I WASN'T LAST!!!!!!!!!! :D

Congrats, Jiffer :D