First Road Race advice

markynulty

I am thinking of entering the Capernwray road race at the start of June. It will be my first race event (license in post as we speak). I have read other threads so know what to expect as to pace. The only thing that is slightly worrying is that it is open to cats 2, 3 and 4. Is this event normally a good beginner friendly starting place or should I be looking elsewhere? Based near Manchester and wanting to get the first race under the belt very soon to get more experience over the summer. Oh and I much prefere the thought of road racing to closed circuits on tracks.

mamba80

why not? all the stuff about riding safe applies and chances are the riding std will be higher and if you can hang in there, you ll learn more.

markynulty

Yeah good point. Will enter once license comes through.

jibberjim

A 2/3/4 pretty much anywhere is unfriendly to newbies... I'd consider it as a first road race, but I'd say it's a waste of the entry for a first race of any sort unless you know from fellow club mates that you have the power and enough experience on wheels and in a grop to stay in.

As much as may dislike circuits - they are a good place to start.

jgsi

jibberjim wrote:

A 2/3/4 pretty much anywhere is unfriendly to newbies... I'd consider it as a first road race, but I'd say it's a waste of the entry for a first race of any sort unless you know from fellow club mates that you have the power and enough experience on wheels and in a grop to stay in.

As much as may dislike circuits - they are a good place to start.

Unless you have deep reserves of what it takes to stay on the money, it is very much as Jim says.

This as an alternative https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/event ... ies-Race-6

Tom Butcher

If you know you are strong enough then technically a 234 will be no more demanding - if anything a lower cat circuit race will require better bike handling - though as a novice you might prefer to learn in the company of other novices. It is hard to generalise - plenty of people are comfy in a bunch straight away - some never. I wouldn't rule it out but I probably wouldn't travel a long way for a 234 as a first ever race.

iPete

I know you don't want to but give a crit a try, you are probably more likely to find a cat 3/4 or cat 4 only race and you'll get a good idea on bunch riding and pacing. Where I've been racing there is a cat 1/2/3 race on at the same time as the 3/4 and the pace difference is more than noticeable.

Have just started myself and have pended down all the things I've learnt here: http://ctoc3.wordpress.com/

Saying that, at the end of the day you'll never know till you've tried.

saprkzz

I raced a 4th only crit last night, and after our race they run a E123 & 3/4/W at the same time.
The E123 was so much faster and lapped the 3/4 twice on the circuit, the pace difference (as mentioned above) was more than noticeable.

Without knowing how fast you are, as you may already be at a cat 2 standard (for example) but have never raced, i know people like this, so racing in that catagory will be fine. Its not all about pace, but change in pace and tackeling corners etc.

I personally wouldnt have even considered racing anything higher than a 3/4 race for my first, infact i have been quite a wimp and only selected 4th only. oh and also Crits a fun, from what i have been told they are more casual than road races, alot more leaning on/shoulder bashing and shouting on the road. I havent raced on the road yet, so cant comment myself.

cycling prop

All depends if you like drags and climbs!!

But Capenwray is seen as a big race with being open to 2nd Cats the standard will be quite high!!

Follow the traditional route -

Join a club, ride the chaingang, ask where the race is at the weekend!!

Or in the North West book your CDNW race 3 months in advance so you get in!!! :roll: :roll:

markynulty

Thanks or all the responses guys. I know I am relatively fast, and can maintain 25mph on flats, but having never raced before the confidence is not there yet. I am also competent on hills (Snake Pass and Isle of Skye are within 3 miles of my door and are ridden regurally). Think I will try the salt ayre track races first then move on to the road stuff. Salt ayre doesn't look as bad as some tracks lol.

motd2k

If you can climb well then you'll like Capernwray. That climb, 8 times, is an absolute BEAST. I can easily hold my own in a 2/3/4 race, but I was shelled on the 3rd time up that horrible place (then again, 80kg is a pretty good excuse!)

jgsi

markynulty wrote:

Thanks or all the responses guys. I know I am relatively fast, and can maintain 25mph on flats, but having never raced before the confidence is not there yet. I am also competent on hills (Snake Pass and Isle of Skye are within 3 miles of my door and are ridden regurally). Think I will try the salt ayre track races first then move on to the road stuff. Salt ayre doesn't look as bad as some tracks lol.

Salt Ayre is a bit narrow ish for my liking but then so is Sundorne
but plenty of events organised and it does not have a tight kamikaze hairpin as far as I can recall unlike Sundorne.

Tom Butcher

markynulty wrote:

Thanks or all the responses guys. I know I am relatively fast, and can maintain 25mph on flats, but having never raced before the confidence is not there yet. I am also competent on hills (Snake Pass and Isle of Skye are within 3 miles of my door and are ridden regurally). Think I will try the salt ayre track races first then move on to the road stuff. Salt ayre doesn't look as bad as some tracks lol.

Isle of Skye ? Not heard of that one whereabouts is it?

markynulty

Isle of Skye road is the road from greenfield up past dovestones onto the tops. Ends up in Holmefirth eventually.