Racing?!?!?

[Esther L]

Thanks for the tips/advice chicagogal...I'll be looking into finding a team to train with. I have started riding with a couple of men, one of whom used to race, so I do work on speed work and accelerations on a regular basis.

[aicabsolut]

I agree with everything chicagogal said. However, I would add that it is necessary that you do some larger group rides before you get into a race. You should learn pack riding skills (and the safety "rules") and feel comfortable riding in a larger group before you enter a race. A team will help you do this. I say "necessary" because it really is for your own safety and for your competitors' safety.

As for fitness, you never really know until you try. Other than having a good ability to put yourself into the red and recover repeatedly, a lot of racing isn't really about being the strongest one out there. It's about knowing when and how to conserve energy and about being able to read the race (anticipate moves). There's also a big mental part to it. It's the competitive drive that pushes you to keep going when you think you can't. If you can really push yourself mentally when the pace is hot then so long as you stay connected with the group, there will be an opportunity to recover in the draft...eventually.

If you do get dropped, so what? Now you know what racing is like. Maybe it was your fitness, or maybe you wasted energy or picked the wrong wheel to follow. Give it another try.