Race Advice please?

[Pink Kona]

Hey Runner Girl - I highly recommend reading what BikeMomma wrote in the crit advise thread... it was extremely helpful. Looking back on my experiences in racing thus far - I also recommend surrounding yourself with other women who can provide support and insight into the racing scene. It's hard to jump in with both fet if you haven't even tested the water. There are many common tips that you can learn - such as taking your chamois off immediately after racing, sipping your recovery cocktail, nutrition, etc... and unfortunately there isn't a book yet that mentions all of these things - it comes with experience. You came to the right community though!

I will say - crits can be difficult at first to learn how to manuever in the pack and then downright exciting once you master that and start bringing in the premes or wins. Make sure you don't get stuck behind any slow pokes - and if you do, move around them as quickly as possible.

Is your race a women's only one or are they putting you with the guys? Where are you located too?

[runnergirl]

Here is the current club situation for me...

There is a regional club which is mainly for the 55+ crowd going fairly slow. There are a couple B pace rides (which I go on), that group is guys in their 30s/40s who don't race. I have learned to work a pace line with them, and we occasionally bump arms etc, one guy has been really helpfull in showing me how to stay close to a tire w/o touching, etc. But that is the extent of bike handling skills I'll learn there.

There is a local team, but to the best of my knowledge, they are all really fast (25mph+) guys. There were two women, but through my use of google, it appears they have both moved (one to a pro team up north).

I'll be joining a college team this fall, and I'm trying to find out if the only other gal on the team (an A rider) might be around for the summer. I'm also going to ask the LBS guys if they know any women in the area, maybe I'll have some luck there.

The race I'm looking at has a seperate cat 4 women's race, it's 15 one mile laps, no women (any cat.) have registered yet, but the men's fields are almost full.

[Pink Kona]

Maybe that local team is a good starting point to finding the group you're looking for. I would contact them and ask them what is available locally. Another option is to see if you can locate a cycling coach and use them as a resource. In the fall we have "meet the team" rides - where anyone can go for a leisure ride with teams to find out where you fit in - maybe your area has something like that too?

I have a friend who does collegiate racing for the University of Washington and she said she wishes she had joined a local team because there are more events she can participate in. But on the other hand, she loves racing collegiate because she isn't pulled from the races once she's lapped and their rules are slightly different.

Don't worry about the lack of registration - that always happens. People love to procrastinate! Good luck in finding some peeps!