Beginner to road biking/want to start racing!

[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

[justduckie06]

it's awesome your school has a team. mine is kind of small and doens't have one, so i try and ride with a local club. this will be my first real season riding with them, as two seasons ago I was just learning and got dropped before anyone knew I was there, and last year i was touring. I don't know how much time i'll have for training as I'm about to start my spring semester with 17 credits while working full time. April will probably be the earliest i get back on my bike.

good luck with your season on the college team! It should be awesome. and yes, when you don't have the right gear, riding in the cold is soooo bitter! before my tour i got all geared out! sounds like you'll hav e aton of fun though! good luck!

[Pedal Wench]

How do you go about training specifically for a short ride, like the TT that you are doing? Do you just practice riding as fast as you can for 9 miles? Or, are intervals better?

[RoadRaven]

If you are training for TT...

Hmmm, I am no expert, but I find the way I am improving is having some short spinning sessions (about 10-15km on the road) - I don't allow myself out of the small chain ring... it sacrifices speed, but trains my legs to spin...

Because TT is what I want to race, I do not spend alot of time doing long rides, but tend to focus on 20-30km rides which are the distance I will TT over...

I do do occasional longer rides (40-50km) but these are more about increasing endurance than anything else.

Intervals are def useful for with TTs or crits... I suggest you search on this site for other discussion.

Good luck