Racing

[bluerider]

I've just finished a wicked summer of riding and have slowed down for the fall. One of the things I want to work on this off season is getting ready for racing next year. I'm joining a racing club next year to get pack experience and have a trainer in the winter to continue high mileage rides. I read a lot of posts here about first time racers' (you guys are awesome!) experiences and am more motivated than ever to give it a go next year.

I am wondering though, it sounds like a lot of the races held in the US are split by Category and was wondering if the women race in each category or do you compete against Cat 1s?

The local races here in Canada don't have "beginner" fields and I've noticed all the women are bunched together into one category. Which means as a newbie I'd have to race against RS1s (our version of Cat 1s).

I don't think organizers will open up new fields so my best bet is to get my butt in gear to not get dropped. Just wondering if anyone has had to race in a situation like that? And if so, what was that like?!!??!!?

[Grog]

Hey Bluerider,

Vancouver speaking here (just moved in from Montreal so I'm not sure I count as an official Vancouverite yet).

I heard that Cat4 has been exploding in BC these recent years and they are starting to have separate cat 3-4 races. I'm considering starting to race too so that's great timing for me! Maybe you'll have a similar luck in Ontario?

I suggest that you get in touch with a club right now, many of them still have some kind of activity in the Winter and it'll be a good way to get to know about the local racing scene...

Good luck!

[runnergirl]

Yeah, the state of women's racing sucks. It sucks some places worse than others, compared to other women's sports it's 20 years behind.

Some races here advertise having a women's CAT 4 race, and a CAT 1/2/3 race, but when you go to line up there are so few women they combine the fields (and sometimes throw in the Jrs. ). The smaller/more local races are less likely to have a female pro team show up, but depending on what the local talent is like it may not matter.

I only started racing in August, but when I went to the Carolina Cup, I did the women's cat4 and the women's open (1-4) race. The women's open was crazy, Candice Blickman (from Quark) took SECOND (she's top 10 in the US). I was dropped and lapped, but so were several CAT 3 women who had team contracts. It's intimidating, but the faster/better a rider is the nicer they are, and pro women especially really want to see more ladies out racing.

I agree that if possible you should get on a club team now (for one, kit orders go in in Oct or Nov, and they usually don't order extra women's stuff). When does racing season start up there? Any chance of getting out for a few group rides before it gets really cold?

[bluerider]

Hey Grog,

Hope you liking Vancouver. Let me know if you start racing and how that goes. I'm hoping for a seperate category soon too. I guess unless more women show up, they don't see a need to split the cats.

Runnergirl,

I read some of your previous posts of your races and was really inspired by your experiences. Women's racing is virtually non-existent here and while it's awesome to see the ladies out there, I sure don't want my race to be with a national pro. Eeek! But I've come to realize that if I want to race, this is the scene and I've got to work with it. The riding season is drawing to an end here with probably a good two weeks before club rides finish. I wanted to join a club this year but wanted to get better first. I think I'm good enough to keep up with the club and will absolutely join them next year. The club I'm thinking about has a learn to race program and also has a few female racers.

How did you feel about racing in the open category? In some of the races here, if you get lapped, you get pulled. I think that's crazy but apparently is done for safety reasons. I am SO impressed you raced in the open cat and it soundsl like it was fun.

Thanks for the feedback!