Hoping to do some racing this year
Tom BB
Posts: 1,001
Hi guys,
As the title says, I'm hoping to start doing some racing this year. I've been cycling for just under 2 years, and have been road riding for just under a year. I've done a few mtb races, did ok in them, and this year I'm going to do some more. I'd like to do some road race too thoug, so here's where I'm at:
I'm in the process of joining a club-did my first club run this weekend, and may do another one this weekend-I'm also doing the Tour de Nock reliability ride so am starting to get some experience of riding in a bunch. I'll also be doing training sessions on a closed circuit one evening a week when the nights are longer to get more bunch riding practice etc.
I'm thinking of going down the TLI route, as it is cheaper (I'm on a bit of a budget this year, and am getting married in July!) and with the mtbing stuff that I do, plus work, plus the wedding etc! I may not end up doing a whole load of races so the membership + race
license for BC might not be value for money. I like the look of a couple of TLI Road Races held on the Swynnerton circuit that is local to me....think the first one is on the 10/4/2011-its 55 miles, and theres also some circuit stuff I fancy too.
If things go to plan, the the Swynnerton race could be my first.....is a 55 miles road race too ambitious for my first attempt? I climb pretty well as I'm nice and light not sure if its ahilly circuit though?-I'm under no illusions of how hard it'll be though!
Any thoughts/experiences would be very welcome
And apologies for a very long post! :oops:
As the title says, I'm hoping to start doing some racing this year. I've been cycling for just under 2 years, and have been road riding for just under a year. I've done a few mtb races, did ok in them, and this year I'm going to do some more. I'd like to do some road race too thoug, so here's where I'm at:
I'm in the process of joining a club-did my first club run this weekend, and may do another one this weekend-I'm also doing the Tour de Nock reliability ride so am starting to get some experience of riding in a bunch. I'll also be doing training sessions on a closed circuit one evening a week when the nights are longer to get more bunch riding practice etc.
I'm thinking of going down the TLI route, as it is cheaper (I'm on a bit of a budget this year, and am getting married in July!) and with the mtbing stuff that I do, plus work, plus the wedding etc! I may not end up doing a whole load of races so the membership + race
license for BC might not be value for money. I like the look of a couple of TLI Road Races held on the Swynnerton circuit that is local to me....think the first one is on the 10/4/2011-its 55 miles, and theres also some circuit stuff I fancy too.
If things go to plan, the the Swynnerton race could be my first.....is a 55 miles road race too ambitious for my first attempt? I climb pretty well as I'm nice and light not sure if its ahilly circuit though?-I'm under no illusions of how hard it'll be though!
Any thoughts/experiences would be very welcome
And apologies for a very long post! :oops: 0
Comments
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Nice circuit, good roads, small but hard hill. you should be o.k.
Cheshire Road Race Series good as well + Oulton Park
You live in a good area 0 -
Sounds like a good place to start - hilly circuits aren't necessarily any harder they are just a different challenge. If you are a great bike handler, confident in a bunch, good sprinter and have good recovery from repeated efforts then a crit is likely to be an easier place to start.
A lot of people are more suited to rolling open road courses though - especially if you lack experience in a bunch and haven't done a huge amount of high intensity training
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
If your in Stoke, Don't forget the South Staffs and shropshire league http://www.sssccrrl.co.uk/ league.
If you want to learn about racing and test yourself then you cannot do much better than this league. 80 quid for 13 midweek races is a bargain. Its a well run handicap each week and it more than often comes together on the last lap. Courses are challenging and the racings hard but relaxed in that everyone treats them as training races. Done them for the past 3 years and the folk are lovely too.
Oh and you might get some bloke called Roger Hammond turning up and ripping it up
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Thick Tester wrote:Oh and you might get some bloke called Roger Hammond turning up and ripping it up
Not any more... BC changed the rules so that UCI pro's are not allowed to rock up to your e/1/2/3/4 handicap for fun. Happened middle of last year.
Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/0 -
Thick Tester wrote:If your in Stoke, Don't forget the South Staffs and shropshire league http://www.sssccrrl.co.uk/ league.
I like the look of these.....would I need a BC licence to race them though?0 -
Tom BB wrote:Thick Tester wrote:If your in Stoke, Don't forget the South Staffs and shropshire league http://www.sssccrrl.co.uk/ league.
I like the look of these.....would I need a BC licence to race them though?
yup but it's well worth it in the long run -0 -
Just out of idle curiousity - as the possessor of a BC provisional license, if I raced and everyone in front of me were to fall over and I got some points, would I be able to get them put on my 'account' if I upgraded to a full license the next Monday?0
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Zachariah wrote:Just out of idle curiousity - as the possessor of a BC provisional license, if I raced and everyone in front of me were to fall over and I got some points, would I be able to get them put on my 'account' if I upgraded to a full license the next Monday?
no0 -
Oh well.0
