Quote Originally Posted by XMcShiftersonX View Post
How does one get in to road racing? I think it would be fun, but I don't think I'm nearly fast or experienced enough to actually do it. So, just curious! How fast are the women's teams actually going?
You can get into road racing as an "unattached rider" at any time, but IMHO, joining a team is the best way to get some experience, some mentoring and to have a good experience. I'd say keep riding all this summer and do the CTS rides. If you feel like you want to be challenged some more, keep an eye out in the fall for the "Meet the Team" rides. (I always post them here). Teams in this area recruit in September-October.

If you are itching to try out racing you can go to Tuesday night races at Pacific Raceways in Auburn. It's the one venue around that I feel totally comfortable telling a newcomer to jump right into. These are basically circuit races on a closed racing track (its a car racing track at other times). There are experienced mentors that ride with the newbies at every women's only race. Last year they started splitting the women into a regular 4's group and a group for total newbies. I'm not entirely sure how they are working it this year. Go to www.buduracing.com and check out the women's training series.

How fast.... as always a tricky question. Most of the time its not how fast you are going on average, but the surges in speed that pop people. It depends on the racers who show and the tactics (or lack there of...) being used how fast the race will run. Just remember that its pack riding, so even if it seems or sounds faster than you think you can go, its not as hard as riding alone.