Some help getting 'out of the blocks'??

ready2burn

hello everyone,

Im new to this forum but was just wondering if i could glean a bit of advice about becoming the next Cadel Evans....!

In all seriousness though i would like some proper advice. I used to be a reasonable standard runner... however after a series of injuries over the last 2 years that have continued to haunt me like a dodgy curry, i have become fed up of running myself into the ground... I have always been interested in road racing but have never picked up a bike... that is until now. I have no injury problems when riding so i have decided that my masochistic need to inflict pain upon my body extends further than forcing myself to watch X-factor.. and thus, i would like to get into some form of road racing.

I would really like to know how to go about this... I'm under no apprehension that I'm going to force myself into the sky team (or even Vacan-Solei for that matter!) but I'm a reasonably fit guy and am confident that with a bit of training i could not embarrass myself in some local races!

So does anyone know any good sites that would give me some sort of beginner training programme so i can get to a standard in which i can join a group when i get back to the UK, and can anyone offer me any other advice!?!?

I really would really appreciate it!


PS: My steed of choice was a Bianchi Nirone 7 sora... partly because I'm a sucker for beautiful Italian engineering, partly because i found it difficult to say no to the attractive assistant in the shop that was talking me through it... but mostly because it was pretty cheap (only 740 dollars new!)

Zoomer37

Do some searching in the amateur race section on here. There's tons of threads with people asking the same question.

Worth noting though that your running fitness is not going to help much in your cross over to cycling and whilst its great that you want to give racing a go you'll need to put in a lot of hard time in the saddle to keep up with even the slowest riders in most road races.

markos1963

Zoomer37 wrote:

Do some searching in the amateur race section on here. There's tons of threads with people asking the same question.

Worth noting though that your running fitness is not going to help much in your cross over to cycling and whilst its great that you want to give racing a go you'll need to put in a lot of hard time in the saddle to keep up with even the slowest riders in most road races.

Sorry to contradict you but his running fitness will help him cross over and if he is a good un with a high VO2 max figure then he'll do well. Yes of course he'll have to adapt to cycling and learn to handle his bike well but he'll progress faster than some 40yo+ couch potatoe who's never got to a high athletic standard(I include myself in that statement)
After all you wouldn't have thought a rower would excell in cycling with little experience but I'm sure you've heard of Rebecca Romero

ready2burn

Thanks for the advice guys.... i goes ill look at becoming a member of a club and get some experience riding in a group.

Zoomer37 - Don't worry i was under no impression that i can instantly step out of my running shoes and become a good cyclist i know it will take loads of hard work... I was just trying to make the point that markos1963 was making, that because i was a reasonable runner i could have to potential to be a reasonable cyclist if i worked hard... ie. I'm a fit guy etc and have shown at least a degree of athletic potential... whether or not i can transfer it to the saddle... well ill just have to wait and see!