Racing

bgfalll123

Hey i am 22 and i would love to get into racing my bike ... ( ATM i just ride for fun and fitness.)

Any ideas how i can get into racing ?

Thanks

ianbar

think best thing is ride with your local club and take it from there, think basically anyone can race a cat 4 race but i know i wouldnt be fast enough lol

jordan_217

ianbar wrote:

think best thing is ride with your local club and take it from there, think basically anyone can race a cat 4 race but i know i wouldnt be fast enough lol

+1

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder

From a safety perspective (yours and others) get some experience of group riding/chaing gangs before arriving at a race. Most clubs should have a few seasoned racers that will give you some pointers and advice about holding a wheel, going thorough and off, etc. These skills can be picked up quite easily on a club run. You then just need to think about doing them quicker in a race

Jim C

Contact a local club, do a few club time trials. That will show U roughly where ur fitness is. And TTing is brilliant training in its own right, if done properly

A club will give U the advice U need for bunch or track racing

bgfalll123

Thanks guys i am going to look for a local club. My local,local club is full of 65-75 year old tube shifting blokes who remember the good ollll days

I can confirm i have won a fair few sprints against those guys

cheers.

Cleat Eastwood

bgfalll123 wrote:

Thanks guys i am going to look for a local club. My local,local club is full of 65-75 year old tube shifting blokes who remember the good ollll days

I can confirm i have won a fair few sprints against those guys

cheers.

You'll learn from them than anyone else i reckon. If you can, try and look for a club with a Go Ride affiliation.

NewTTer

Where are you? perhaps people could suggest suitable clubs for you

bgfalll123

I live in Hertfordshire ! Thanks

iPete

I've been blogging away on getting into racing myself, as at first it feels quite tricky to get into! Some of it might prove useful..

http://ctoc3.wordpress.com/

bgfalll123

iPete wrote:

I've been blogging away on getting into racing myself, as at first it feels quite tricky to get into! Some of it might prove useful..

http://ctoc3.wordpress.com/

Looks really interesting thanks ! Will give it a read tonight.

DavidJB

Ride with the fast guys of a local club (as others have said). You'll meet some racers through that I'm sure. Start interval training...anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average its the pace change you need to be able to handle.

gethinceri

"Anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average"
Not if you're me you can't.
Ludicrous statement.

NewTTer

Gethinceri wrote:

"Anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average"
Not if you're me you can't.
Ludicrous statement.

Perfectly valid and accurate statement. This thread is about racing remember, most Go Race events which is the absolute bottom of the pile will return ave race speeds of 23-24mph, but as pointed out it is the change of pace that hurts

ednino

DavidJB wrote:

Ride with the fast guys of a local club (as others have said). You'll meet some racers through that I'm sure. Start interval training...anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average its the pace change you need to be able to handle.

I can't. My 10 TTs average 20mph :roll:

gavbarron

NewTTer wrote:

Gethinceri wrote:

"Anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average"
Not if you're me you can't.
Ludicrous statement.

Perfectly valid and accurate statement. This thread is about racing remember, most Go Race events which is the absolute bottom of the pile will return ave race speeds of 23-24mph, but as pointed out it the change of pace that hurts

"Bottom of the pile" is a bit harsh, a better choice of phrase would be that it is a leaner orientated event for those with no points or license to sample racing before stepping up. The etiquette and confidence may not always be there but there are often some very handy first timers there so don't be so snobby.

You are absolutely correct about changes in pace though. I average around 25 for a TT but have done road races that average 25 and been wrecked after because that has been up hills at 15 and then onto a flat at 28-30 then it bunches up a bit and drops to low 20s before ramping back up again. The pace keeps changing and recoveries are never as long as you want them to be.

As suggested, ride with the faster club runs if you can, they'll often do some faster paced stuff and there will be a wealth of knowledge to listen to. It'll also help you get used to riding in a pack at pace and staying with a fast group through corners. (A skill people don't often appreciate but it will save you a lot of energy from having a dig in and get back on the group after every bend.)

imposter2.0

Gethinceri wrote:

"Anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average"
Not if you're me you can't.
Ludicrous statement.

It's not a 'ludicrous' statement. Nobody is saying that total beginners can just get on their bikes and ride at 21mph - you have to work up to it, obviously.

saprkzz

ednino wrote:

DavidJB wrote:

Ride with the fast guys of a local club (as others have said). You'll meet some racers through that I'm sure. Start interval training...anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average its the pace change you need to be able to handle.

I can't. My 10 TTs average 20mph :roll:

I can only manage around the 20mph average area on my rides, but sitting in the peleton is totally different. The race I have done recently (4th cat only) we averaged 25mph over the hour and to be honest I wasn't even working that hard, I was sat in waiting for the bunch sprint

gavbarron

saprkzz wrote:

I was sat in waiting for the bunch sprint

Tuts, sighs and rolls eyes

imposter2.0

gavbarron wrote:

saprkzz wrote:

I was sat in waiting for the bunch sprint

Tuts, sighs and rolls eyes

he did say '4th cat' event, to be fair

NewTTer

gavbarron wrote:

NewTTer wrote:

Gethinceri wrote:

"Anyone can ride around at a 21MPH average"
Not if you're me you can't.
Ludicrous statement.

Perfectly valid and accurate statement. This thread is about racing remember, most Go Race events which is the absolute bottom of the pile will return ave race speeds of 23-24mph, but as pointed out it the change of pace that hurts

"Bottom of the pile" is a bit harsh, a better choice of phrase would be that it is a leaner orientated event for those with no points or license to sample racing before stepping up. The etiquette and confidence may not always be there but there are often some very handy first timers there so don't be so snobby.

You are absolutely correct about changes in pace though. I average around 25 for a TT but have done road races that average 25 and been wrecked after because that has been up hills at 15 and then onto a flat at 28-30 then it bunches up a bit and drops to low 20s before ramping back up again. The pace keeps changing and recoveries are never as long as you want them to be.

As suggested, ride with the faster club runs if you can, they'll often do some faster paced stuff and there will be a wealth of knowledge to listen to. It'll also help you get used to riding in a pack at pace and staying with a fast group through corners. (A skill people don't often appreciate but it will save you a lot of energy from having a dig in and get back on the group after every bend.)

It wasn't meant as derogatory, just highlighting what sort of speeds are achievable even on the bottom rung of the racing ladder, thus proving the previous point was not ludicrous! (surprised I had to explain this but there you go)