Racing...how, what, when, where...?

[Jiffer]

Ok, I know that was long, but wanted to add something else! During the time we did those races my husband did have a coach. I have used this same coach in the past for about a six week time frame, but didn't want to spend the money to go to him again. Since my husband was doing the same races (along with some other things I didn't do), I kind of followed some of what the trainer gave him to do. Doing that training, and doing the actual races, made a faster rider. I may not have stayed with the pack, which was kind of depressing, but my own personal riding got much stronger, and that is part of the reason I did the races. To push myself, and it worked. I was riding the best I ever had during that time. Right after that I developed anemia and then one thing after another has kept me from keeping up with my training and I'm not at the level I was at. But I'm making my way back now.

[bonnypriest]

Ok, I know that was long, but wanted to add something else! During the time we did those races my husband did have a coach. I have used this same coach in the past for about a six week time frame, but didn't want to spend the money to go to him again. Since my husband was doing the same races (along with some other things I didn't do), I kind of followed some of what the trainer gave him to do. Doing that training, and doing the actual races, made a faster rider. I may not have stayed with the pack, which was kind of depressing, but my own personal riding got much stronger, and that is part of the reason I did the races. To push myself, and it worked. I was riding the best I ever had during that time. Right after that I developed anemia and then one thing after another has kept me from keeping up with my training and I'm not at the level I was at. But I'm making my way back now.

Wow Jiffer! Sounds like really cool experiences with your first races. I'm even more excited to do them now. Thanks so much for sharing that with me & anyone else who's wanting to race. There aren't many women around here that I know of who race & it's been really hard to figure things out on my own. I had no idea where to start. I really do appreciate the help.

Oh...by the way...I'm with you on the crits. Dang that sounds scary. I'm 38, married, no children, but have no desire to end up in the bottom of a pile of bikes & women skidding on pavement. NO WAY! Not for this girl. One of the guys that rides with us says I'd be good at crits & tt's, but I think I wanna jump into the road races first. It's not my ability that I'd be worried about in the crits, but someone else messing up & we all go down. (Not that I wouldn't be that girl, but I sure wouldn't want to be!)

Again Jiffer...thanks so much for sharing your experiences with me. I wish you lots of luck this year. Keep training hard to get back to where you were. You just keep pushing hard! Then...go kick some butt on those hills!

[aicabsolut]

I would like to say that road races are not any safer than crits. Both are risky.

If you can't handle the possibility of crashing for whatever reason, then racing isn't for you. I go back and forth with myself about this all the time.

I'd say for your first race, pick an event with a Cat 4 only field and just go have fun.

BTW, I put together a PowerPoint presentation for my collegiate team about racing basics--strategy and basic rules. It's a bit easier to read than going through the whole USAC rulebook. It does contain some collegiate-only rules (like points for intermediate sprints in crits and an overview of collegiate categories), but if you'd like to take a look, PM me an I'll send you a PDF.

[aicabsolut]

It would be interesting if you could post this online somewhere. I've no intention of racing, but the information sounds valuable

Maybe someone has a website that could host it?

I'll see if the team wants to put it up on the team blog or something. If so, I'll let you know.

[Aggie_Ama]

I know a few of the Flyers, great women. Some of the team are mountain bikers and cool chicks, I consider one pretty good friend. If you ever want to come to the dark side (mountain racing) I would have more advice! But whatever you do, fun is the KEY!

[bonnypriest]

aicabsolut & Amanda...I just sent you both a PM! Thanks to both of you for the added help.

[Jiffer]

You're welcome Bonny. I'm glad my long stories didn't go to waste. I know I was very intimidated about my first race (and the others!) ... so I thought hearing someone else's experience as a newbie might be helpful. I just know I was really curious what it was like and how well I'd do. I figured, I'll never know what it's like until I try and I never have to do it again if I hate it and/or totally suck. My husband really encouraged me to do my first one. He had done that particular one before and saw what the riders were like in my category and said I could totally do it. After that first race I got to talking to another rider, one of the few who I actually beat. We were both excited to not be last and had stuck around to see the list and find out just how far from last place we were! Kind of funny! I told her it was my first race and I really wasn't sure I was racing material, but wanted to try it. She really encouraged me to keep racing, which was nice. I never forget that.

As for danger, I can't speak for crits as a person who has even been to one, let alone ridden in one. I just know some stories I've heard, which probably make it sound worse than it is, but people I've talked to who have done both seem to think there's more of a chance of going down in a crit than road race (and may have experienced same). Of course, when you lose the lead group in a road race and you're either by yourself or with one or two other people, how dangerous can it be?! But my husband knows what it's like to be in the lead pack in tight quarters and, while you can of course get tangled up and bump into each other, he also agrees that it's over all safer than crits. Now there may be road racing courses that are a lot more dangerous out there along with more extreme circumstances depending on number in the pack, competitiveness of riders, etc. than he or I have ever experienced. Just giving my two cents worth from my little world of knowledge.

By the way, just writing out my lengthy story and telling you how I'd probably be good at TT's made me get excited about the idea. I checked out all the TT's in my area, of which there are way more than road races, and I'm SO going to try them! My first one is March 6th. In looking at previous race results, I feel I can actually be competitive in those. Can't wait! Thanks for the inspiration.