Beginner to road biking/want to start racing!

[sarahk]

Hi!!

I'm not too far from you, I live on the outskirts of Utica NY. I'm excited to see that you want to get into racing. I've been doing a little more racing this season and we need more women out ther around here, especially younger ones (I'm 23).

I see you'll be at the Chris Thater crit. I'll be there too. I'm doing the women's III/IV. I may do the public women's as well, haven't decided yet. You should go, It'll be a good time.

There is also a race this Sunday, the Canal Classic. It's in Little Falls, NY. It's a citizens race, I think it's like 34 miles, but we get a wide range of people that show up, we'll get Cat 1's and 2's to beginners. It might be worth looking into. Info: www.mvbc.us

There seems to be a race every weekend until Sept 18th or so around here. Keep riding and group experience is always helpful!

I hope to see you out there.
Sarah

[sarahk]

One other question, which century will you be doing on September 10??

Sarah

[Kimred]

I did my first TT on my Mt.bike a couple years ago and have been hooked ever since. If you can make it to Erie PA on Sept 18 your should try out the 12 1/2 mile TT. Go to Runhigh.com and look under events for info. I have raced every race in that area. I also highly recommend getting a Heart Rate Monitor. I cannot train without one. I saw a coach in Buffalo and he got me started on my winter training a couple months ago. I needed to work on my endurance. Had tons of leg strength my heart could not keep up with them. Now that I have faithfully been working on long endurance rides with HRM I have improved greatly. I also work on getting my RPM's to about 120 for a minute on 2 minutes off 4 x in a row. It's a great way to work the fast twitch muscles. Truly I could go on all night on training, But I do recommend getting The Lance Armstorng Performance Program by Lance and Chris Carmichael. It's a great way to get started!!

Good Luck and keep on having fun, I love to race because it gives me goals and keeps me motivated but at the same time all the training can take the fun out of just riding to JUST RIDE!

Kim

[abarensfeld7]

hi sarahk,
thanks for all the ny info! i made a big mistake, though. i think i overdid it a bit this summer because a couple days' break from training turned into a 3 weeks off, pretty much. I did some mountain biking and a few road rides but all in all i pretty much just took it easy. now i'm definitely not in race shape anymore. probably would huff and puff through the public race at the thater crit and it just wouldn't be pretty.
stupid move!

[BikeMomma]

hi sarahk,
thanks for all the ny info! i made a big mistake, though. i think i overdid it a bit this summer because a couple days' break from training turned into a 3 weeks off, pretty much. I did some mountain biking and a few road rides but all in all i pretty much just took it easy. now i'm definitely not in race shape anymore. probably would huff and puff through the public race at the thater crit and it just wouldn't be pretty.
stupid move!

That's the thing about racing....once you get that competitive spirit, it becomes addicting, and then it's verrry easy to overdo it, as it seems you found out. I preach baby steps and above all, patience. Your form will come, but never as fast as you want it to. The most important thing in training is to remember to just have fun - don't make it work, and don't make yourself think you have to (you want to, remember?). Do fun rides, not just training rides. Good for the psyche!!

[abarensfeld7]

thanks for the tips bikemomma.
i've been really mixing it up recently with my mountain bike, road bike, rock climbing, etc. recently instead of all road bike all the time. i think it's important for me to keep things varied. things might be different when collegiate racing season rolls around in the spring, but for now this seems to be doing the trick!

[BikeMomma]

thanks for the tips bikemomma.
i've been really mixing it up recently with my mountain bike, road bike, rock climbing, etc. recently instead of all road bike all the time. i think it's important for me to keep things varied. things might be different when collegiate racing season rolls around in the spring, but for now this seems to be doing the trick!

I admire you for being able to do all that! I've actually never been mountain biking...I can't believe I've never tried it. Guess I need to get a mountain bike first, tho'!! (Ooooh...that would be another bike to name!!) I tried rock climbing a loooong time ago, in beautiful Yosemite of all places (what a place to start, eh??), and loved it so much, I bought some expensive climbing shoes and have never used them!! I swear I will someday! Where do you go rock climbing? (sorry, this is a little off-topic)

[DirtDiva]

I'd love to get into climbing! Problem is finding someone with a little knowhow you trust enough to hold the other end of the rope.

[abarensfeld7]

I'd been rock climbing a handful of times but spread out over 6-7 years; I never remembered how to belay from one instance to the next. A few weeks ago I went climbing in the Adirondacks and decided it was something I'd like to remember how to do this time around...
Cornell (where I go to school) has a big, wonderful rock wall where you can boulder (climb at low heights off rope) all you want and climb with top rope if you get belay certified. They are open 7 days a week in the evenings so it's easy to get in there. If I'm alone I just boulder which I think is almost as fun as climbing upwards. They have lots of bouldering "problems" (difficult moves made up of only 5 or so holds) to work on which keeps things interesting. Kiwi, have you ever thought of trying this? No need for a partner.
Cheers!

[DirtDiva]

That's a good idea. No idea where there's a climbing wall around here, but that can be looked into. Hmmm. Possibly after I've paid next month's rent though.

[JmcG]

I have a question about road racing - I'm looking into possibly racing next year (I currently compete in triathlons and am thinking road racing would be lots of fun too) - so when I look up races and I find local ones - can I assume there is always a women's race associated with the races or are some only male races? Also - do you need to be a part of a local team or club or can anybody sign up for a race, esp say a TT?

Lots of good info in this thread! Thanks for all the advice,
-j

[runnergirl]

No, there isn't always a women's race, and usually there's only one for all cats of women. For your first crit or road race, I'd look for a larger race that specifically says the cat 4 women have their own start time.

You can race down one Cat with the men, so as a 4 you can race the men's cat 5. Since they're such bad bike handlers, it's not the best idea if you have other options, but depending where you are you may be forced to race with guys.

You don't have to be on a team, but since you're from a tri background, it is imperative that you learn to ride in a tight group, bump elbows and wheels, etc before attempting a crit or RR. You don't want to be the one in the pack that is obviously unsteady. TT is another story-no need for group experience.

[JmcG]

You don't have to be on a team, but since you're from a tri background, it is imperative that you learn to ride in a tight group, bump elbows and wheels, etc before attempting a crit or RR. You don't want to be the one in the pack that is obviously unsteady. TT is another story-no need for group experience.

Thanks for the info. I do need more experience riding in a group - I ride with a group at my work, but I think joining a team would be my best bet at getting that kind of experience you're talking about - bumping elbows and wheels, etc. There seem to be a lot of teams in my area (from my Google search!), I just need to pick one and check it out!

[abarensfeld7]

hi ladies!

just thought i'd check in and give a little update on what i've been up to!!!
guess everyone's prolly been busy with holidays and all, little bike riding been happening, if at all. i've been on the trainer a bit but haven't been outside nearly at all. bah!

let's see here...i'll be racing with the cornell team in the spring. there are collegiate races every weekend beginning in march (yipes...that's early). i need to get my butt in gear and get into a more specific training routine but at the moment i'm just basically moving the legs on the trainer, working up a sweat for an hour or so, some times just spinning, some times really cranking on high resistance, just mixing it up.

in the fall i raced mtb once and would have done more but just didn't have much time. i did a cyclocross race also which was AMAZINGLY fun. also bike polo when i had the time but that sort of petered out as summer turned into fall...

there's a lot of machismo on the team in regards to riding outdoors through the winter. many of the guys ride for hours outside and seem to feel it's the only way to go and the only way to really be prepared for the spring. my first attempt was on what turned out to be a particularly cold and blustery day and i had no cycling specific clothes and i don't think i've ever been so cold in my life! those shoes basically beg the cold to zip right in and freeze the toes off don't they? i ordered a whole load of stuff and outfitted myself with booties, gloves, jacket, a hat, wore some of my old fleecy tights over my shorts, etc etc and i was warm and toasty on my second attempt. but the salt on the roads made it sort of unpleasant to breathe when any cars went by. now i am home in western PA (when i'm at school i am in Ithaca, NY) and the roads here are horrible (potholed, gravel, etc) so i'm staying indoors. anyhow i think i'll do most of my training indoors this winter, venturing outside when it's nice and sunny for a change of pace!

ok ladies that's about it for me, happy holidays and go get on that trainer!

[BikeMomma]

Ab - hey! I saw your update when you first posted it, and I've been meaning to get back to this thread ever since! Great to hear how you're doing, getting more into competition and on a team - great for you! Cyclocross...I so want to try that!

Keep us/me posted....I'm always interested!
Take care, have fun!
speed rules...
-BikeMomma