how do you know when your good enough to race ???

bianchi bates

At what point will i be good enough to race as i have no experience, the only thing i have ever done was the bicyclemania Lincolnshire Wolds thingy. That was more like a 40 mile time trial being clocked out and in. The event had a few short climbs and took me 2hr 24 mins there was no pressure or any real urgency to the event.

What sort of markers should i be setting myself, i can not join a club as I work as a HGV driver all over the place not knowing what time i will be finished or if i will get home that night.

I commute to work 36 miles a day 3/4 days a week and ride out with friends every other weekend.

I would like to get better and pic a race and have a go, any advice how to and what sort of race to have have a stab at, not really interested in tt whats my options ????
How do you get a license ???

Toks

bianchi bates wrote:

What sort of markers should i be setting myself, i can not join a club as I work as a HGV driver all over the place not knowing what time i will be finished or if i will get home that night.

???

The BCF website will deal with your administrative queries. Joining a club is best route but quite a few people race as Private Members. http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... oad-Racing
Some questions to think about perhaps
Can you ride safely in a group? (sitting on wheels? following the racing line? riding on the drops etc)
Can you average 20mph for 30-60mins on flattish tail wind free terrain?
Can you respond quickly to surges in pace?
If yes, then you'll be ready for a 4th cat race at least. Good luck

bianchi bates

thanks i will give it a look, I am well on my way with the pace. Time to get some close contact riding in. Cheers

nochekmate

bianchi bates wrote:

thanks i will give it a look, I am well on my way with the pace. Time to get some close contact riding in. Cheers

I'm not sure that 40 miles in 2 hrs 24 quite fits in with the above line, although terrain and weather conditions all play their part - not sure that Lincolnshire is really renowned for the hills??!

Nevertheless as a regular commuter, you will be getting time on the bike, which is important. If you can improve your time by half an hour or more (not easy!), you certainly will be 'well on the way with the pace'.

Good luck.

Anonymous

I wouldn't race until you've done a few chain gang/fast group rides or there is a high likelihood of a crash.
I did a hilly time trial yesterday with a few very steep long drags in 2hrs 13mins on my road bike and I can barely hang on in a 4th cat race, and that's with me riding 'smart' (I.e. Hiding in the bunchn doing no work and moving up towards the front whenever there's a lull...)

Homer J

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. If you find it too hard you can pull out, maybe you get lapped, you will not be on your own. Not many people find their first race easy. my advice would be to do a cat 4 only and not a 4/3 race.

amaferanga

Just do a race and then you'll know if you're there yet or not. If you get dropped then its no big deal and you'll know then how much quicker you need to be. I got dropped on the last lap on my first two races (TLI) and found them really hard. My third race was quicker than the previous two, but I was much more comfortable and even managed to pick up some points. Not sure how the pace of the TLI races compares to BC races, but my races have averaged 24mph.

gsk82

get yourself down to a tli lincs road race league event. every other wednesday from this week.

chaffordred

Are there any Go-Ride(uncategorised) races near you? These might be a good test to see if you are ready to race without the expense of forking out for a BC Racing Licence. You might do well and enjoy it or you might get spat out on the first corner and hate it.

I used to think it was all out power that won races, but this isn't running. In Cat 4 races dealing with the change in pace and holding a wheel/racing line are just as important as maintaining a good average speed.

The only way you will learn to hold a wheel is to ride with other people.

Pross

I'm not sure that 40 miles in 2 hrs 24 quite fits in with the above line, although terrain and weather conditions all play their part - not sure that Lincolnshire is really renowned for the hills??!

The Wolds are hilly and very steep in places. 2.24 for 40 miles solo around there isn't bad.

The only way to know if you are ready is to go and try one. Also, don't be put off joining a club just because you can't get out much with them. It's not compulsory to ride with them regularly but for the sake of £20 or whatever membership costs you can benefit from those occassions when you do get to go out in terms of fitness, experience of riding in a group and picking up tips from people who in many cases will have been riding 20 years or more.

GiantMike

Linc Wolds can get very hilly (but quite short)

I'm doing the Lincs TLI races this year, they look like fun.

Gav888

I was told that if you can average 18mph over 50 or so miles you will be quick enough to join the fast group at a local club, once you are comfortable riding in a fast group and take turns at the front have a go at racing...

Toks

Homer J wrote:

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. .

I don't think this is very good advice at all. I reckon most people that post on the training forum could ride 100 miles. Does that mean we could all keep up with the domestic Pros in a Premier Calender event? :roll:

penugent

Gav888 wrote:

I was told that if you can average 18mph over 50 or so miles you will be quick enough to join the fast group at a local club, once you are comfortable riding in a fast group and take turns at the front have a go at racing...

This, more or less, fits my profile. I was able to do solo 50's on undulating roads at 17.5-18mph last year so I joined my local club in January to get experience of bunch riding. I took about 10 weeks to settle in to the groups pace and I then entered a couple of TT's. I was happy with the TT's and now have my first closed circuit race set for 2 weeks time. If the closed circuit races go well I plan to do an open road race later in the Summer.

SteveR_100Milers

To the OP, the beauty of time trialling is it is very much a race, but all you have to be able to do is ride a bike without falling off. Most clubs will let you join a summer evening event, typically £2 to enter as a come and try. Ultimately you would need to join a club to ride a CTT officially sanctioned open event, but then there are lots of other additional benefits to a cycling club than just racing.

Homer J

Toks wrote:

Homer J wrote:

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. .

I don't think this is very good advice at all. I reckon most people that post on the training forum could ride 100 miles. Does that mean we could all keep up with the domestic Pros in a Premier Calender event? :roll:

Hellooo, it does say cat 4 :roll:

Bronzie

Homer J wrote:

Toks wrote:

Homer J wrote:

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. .

I don't think this is very good advice at all. I reckon most people that post on the training forum could ride 100 miles. Does that mean we could all keep up with the domestic Pros in a Premier Calender event? :roll:

Hellooo, it does say cat 4 :roll:

Most 4ths only races are 20-25 miles in distance, but there is a big difference between riding 25 miles at your own pace and racing in a bunch at 23-25mph

robert-sb

Toks wrote:

bianchi bates wrote:

What sort of markers should i be setting myself, i can not join a club as I work as a HGV driver all over the place not knowing what time i will be finished or if i will get home that night.

???

Can you average 20mph for 30-60mins on flattish tail wind free terrain?

I have just done this out and back route at lunchtime, would this satisfy the criteria above ? If so, just two more to go

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/32303562

SteveR_100Milers

Bronzie wrote:

Homer J wrote:

Toks wrote:

Homer J wrote:

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. .

I don't think this is very good advice at all. I reckon most people that post on the training forum could ride 100 miles. Does that mean we could all keep up with the domestic Pros in a Premier Calender event? :roll:

Hellooo, it does say cat 4 :roll:

Most 4ths only races are 20-25 miles in distance, but there is a big difference between riding 25 miles at your own pace and racing in a bunch at 23-25mph

Or even on your own at 23-25mph off the back!

markos1963

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Gav888

markos1963 wrote:

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Good luck with the racing mate... Go Race events are a good way to get a feel for what racing is all about.

markos1963

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Good luck with the racing mate... Go Race events are a good way to get a feel for what racing is all about.

Gonna see you sunday Gav?

Gav888

markos1963 wrote:

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Good luck with the racing mate... Go Race events are a good way to get a feel for what racing is all about.

Gonna see you sunday Gav?

Yep, doing the 50 miler though as ive not had time to train for the 100 mile route

Weather is also looking wet!

markos1963

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Good luck with the racing mate... Go Race events are a good way to get a feel for what racing is all about.

Gonna see you sunday Gav?

Yep, doing the 50 miler though as ive not had time to train for the 100 mile route

Weather is also looking wet!

We're starting at 0730-0800 if you want to tag along in our group and get a tow until the split you're very welcome.

Gav888

markos1963 wrote:

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Gav888 wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

The only way is to give it a go. I joined a club to get used to bunch riding and have done a few TT's to get my pace up. I'm now going to start off racing by doing a Go Race event at the Lotus test track league. Mininmal cost is involved in these(my BC Bronze membership is free due to being in a club)

Good luck with the racing mate... Go Race events are a good way to get a feel for what racing is all about.

Gonna see you sunday Gav?

Yep, doing the 50 miler though as ive not had time to train for the 100 mile route

Weather is also looking wet!

We're starting at 0730-0800 if you want to tag along in our group and get a tow until the split you're very welcome.

Sounds good, I was planning to start about that time aswell... im gonna need a tow!! LOL

PM me before the weekend, we cannot hijack this thread anymore

Toks

Homer J wrote:

Toks wrote:

Homer J wrote:

if you can cover the distance you are good enough to race. .

I don't think this is very good advice at all. I reckon most people that post on the training forum could ride 100 miles. Does that mean we could all keep up with the domestic Pros in a Premier Calender event? :roll:

Hellooo, it does say cat 4 :roll:

Er...Hello! :roll: As a newbie racer the OP was/is looking for racing tips? You said, being able to cover the race distant means you're "ready to race". It's almost like saying having a racing bike means you're "ready to race". If two people ride 25miles and one covers the distance in 1 hour 10min and the other takes two hours one of them in my book at least is not ready to race.

Corporate Ascents

Best is to just go and race, if you get dropped so be it. Then you know.

jibberjim

Toks wrote:

If two people ride 25miles and one covers the distance in 1 hour 10min and the other takes two hours one of them in my book at least is not ready to race.

Yeah, we don't want those fast people in the race, get the 2 hour guy in!

Anonymous

jibberjim wrote:

Toks wrote:

If two people ride 25miles and one covers the distance in 1 hour 10min and the other takes two hours one of them in my book at least is not ready to race.

Yeah, we don't want those fast people in the race, get the 2 hour guy in!

Heh heh!

MikeWW

Corporate Ascents wrote:

Best is to just go and race, if you get dropped so be it. Then you know.

I'm not sure.

I think you are far better getting some experience of riding in a group and ideally do a few sessions on a circuit. Failing that spend at least a couple of weeks doing some interval work

If you do that you have a fighting chance of staying with the bunch. The big difference with a race is the change of pace. Whilst the average will be 24 mph or so it will be varying between say 18 and 32 with sprints out of all of the key bends. If you are only used to a constant pace it can be hard to begin with

Dess1e

Get used to riing in a group. Either on club runs or if your local circuit does sessions like Prime Coaching at the Hillingdon Circuit. Being fit and able to last the pace counts for little if you're on the tarmac with half a dozen other guys. It wil also give an indication of your form and allow others to give you feedback.