Racing?

[Eden]

Hi Ladies

Its snowy and cold outside in my area of the planet but I'm dreaming of spring and getting back out on my bike (the trainer and spinning is just not the same).

I started biking because I committed myself to completing some triathlons - to loose weight and get into shape. And that plan worked. But as much as I love tris, I find myself gravitating towards cycling more. So as I plan my upcoming calendar, I am looking into the possibility of racing a bit. Problem is that I can't find any information or newbie friendly websites that describe how to get into bike racing - most seem to assume that I know what I'm talking about --and I don't . So I'm turning to you, the ladies of the forum. Can you help?

What do I need to do/know to get into racing? How do I locate info on races? Do I have to be a part of a team or can I race on my own? Does anyone know of any newbie friendly teams in Utah?

I would also love to hear your experieces with racing. Pros/Cons--the good, the bad and the ugly.

Thanks

A good mentor is the easiest way to get into racing. You certainly can race without a team, but to tell the truth I don't really recommend it. If you race without a team you will be immediately suspected of being a bad bike handler. It's not that anyone really wants to offend, its just that everyone wants to keep their skin on their body, so they stay away from anyone who looks like they might be dangerous and people who are not on teams are always suspected of not having any group riding skills.

Things you definitely need to know to get started. Many races are sponsored by USAcycling so you will need to get a license. For beginners you can usually buy a one day license for $5 at the race. If you plan to do more than a few races you can save money by buying a yearly license at www.usacycing.org - as well as finding a whole lot of good information about racing and getting started racing. You can also find a list of all of the registered clubs in your state. Many of them will have links to their own web sites so you can find out more about them or even contact them. I notice there even a women's team in Sandy UT. Even if you don't live near enough to be able to ride with them, they would likely be a good source of information about racing in your state and where to find the best beginner teams/races.

You really need to have good group riding skills before you decide to start racing. If you've only ever really ridden alone its not a good idea to throw yourself into a peleton. You should know how to draft properly (no half wheeling), be comfortable riding with others very close on either side and how to corner with a pack. Joining a team is the very best way to get this experience. If that is impossible at least ride with a club. See if there are any skills clinics or training races in your area where you might be able to learn riding and cornering skills. Be aware that you must have a standard drop handlebar road bike for road racing. NO AEROBARS! when riding with others. Aerobars make handling the bike more difficult and can cause bad accidents when riding in a group. Softride style bikes and bikes with two differently sized wheels are also not acceptable.

Other important things:
Always arrive early and warm up before a race. The shorter the race the longer the warm up. You're usually not allowed on the course so warming up on the road can be hard. If you don't have a stationary trainer it may be a good idea to get one.
Try to develop a routine about packing up so that you don't forget anything. Making a check list can be a good idea. You don't want to be the one who gets to the race and realizes that you don't have your shoes/helmet etc.
Always get a good meal about 2 to 3 hours before the race. Try things out to see what will not disagree with your stomach! My races are generally early so I'm an oatmeal gal.

I started racing last year and I've really had a great time. I joined a team the fall before I did my first mass start race.

the pros:
racing is fun!

team work is awesome - cycling really is a team sport. You can do the beginner races alone and in general in their first races most people are still to intent on staying with the pack and on two wheels to pay attention to tactics, but if you go any further you will learn how important a team really is. When you do get there you'll learn that it can be incredibly rewarding when one of your team mates wins and you know you helped.

you will get stronger and more fit - if you race and train with any regularity I promise you will get stronger.

the cons:
crashing is a possibilty. I haven't hurt myself severly, just some bruises and road rash, but I have crashed.

you can spend a huge amount of time (and money...) doing this! I was at a race at least one of the days most weekends this year from April through August. Plus they were all over the state and some in the next state down so I spent a lot of time on the road. At least my husband races too so it was something we do together. It can be hard on relationships when only one party races.

It can take some time to get strong enough to stay with the pack - don't give up if you get dropped in your first couple of races - you will get better

so that's my overview... I'm sure I haven't touched on many things you are wondering about so please do ask more questions