Interested in learning about road racing

[rabidgirl]

I've been considering entering a road race. When I looked up registration, there are many classes. There are also a variety of race types. Does anyone know of a resource where I can find out what the different types of races are, what the categories of racer are, etc. I am so new, I don't even know what it means to say that someone is a Cat 1 racer.

Thanks.

[NJBikeGal]

Hey there...

Categories indicate your level of experience and/or performance. For the east coast of the states (I'm not sure where you are) the starting Category for women is Cat 4. (I think the west coast has Cat 5?) As you race, you accumulate points (USA Cycling has a system for points awarded for place, etc.) and you can upgrade to a higher category ( 3, 2 and 1 is the highest) based on the collection of those points.

If you go to the USA Cycling website, there is a lot of information regarding races (assuming you are in the US of A!)!

Good luck...ask more questions here if you have them...the TE ladies are ALWAYS full of useful info and hints!

[Eden]

(I think the west coast has Cat 5?)

We wish..... nope we still don't have the numbers or the support to merit a cat 5 field. Our races here in WA usually have two women's fields cat 4, and the cat 1,2,3's together. In Oregon its usually a 3/4 field and a 1/2 field.

Please do search this fourm. I and several others have written pretty extensively on begginner racers and how to get started.
a few of those old threads
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=beginner+race

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=beginner+race

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=beginner+race

I know there are some more - just search around using the advance search and you may come up with some more interesting stuff.

Feel free to ask specific questions too!

[RoadRaven]

Welcome Rabid, you have come to the right place.

I know nothing about US categories except what I have picked up here (NJ, very succint, thanks on my behalf too)

And Eden, thanks for hooking her up to those threads

[rabidgirl]

Thanks for the links. It is all quite informative.

I do a good bit of "joy riding" in groups out of the local bike shop and long, hilly rides (3 hours or more) on the weekends. While I am not fast (avg 15-16 for 3 hours of hills), I have a pretty good endurance base. On a short ride (one hour) I can go at a pretty good clip, even dropping some of the military guys I ride with. I really love flying past people and I've been feeling a bit more competitive with the group rides getting bigger as the weather warms up. I'm not so certain my group or cornering skills are up for racing just yet. I think I'm gonna go to the LBS and chat with them a bit about my training.

Thanks again for the input.

[RoadRaven]

Hey there again Rabid
When you are at your LBS ask about any regular training rides... we have three that the local club promotes. All start on Sunday mornings

- my partner does the Taradale 8am ride (the guys call it the Sunday punishment... its more like another race than a recovery ride from Saturday's racing). They ride 90-120kms, and sit in the mid-30km section for much of it (sometimes more when they 'attack' each other.

- there is also the Hastings 9am ride which is about 60kms in the mid-20s - much more a recovery ride.

- there is the Taradale 9am ride for beginners and people gettings back into cycling and that is 20-30kms at about 20kph.

All the LBSs know about and suggest these to their customers...