Why do so few people race?
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I think also because less people enter cycling through the club route these days, back in the day you joined a club, went on club runs learned the etiquette and how to ride in a group. You discovered you are quite strong on the bike and your fellow members persuade you try riding the club '10'
You do quite well and a mate suggests you start riding the chain gang, you find this hard but satisfying and you fancy trying road racing. Some of the members already race and invite you along with them for a race.
You get blown out the back of the bunch on your first race but you try again and this time finish in the bunch, now you know you can survive a race so start training harder and start getting a few points.
At least thats the way it started for me.
Nowadays so many come into cycling without that route and are not naturally encouraged to try racing. Some of those that do don't realise how hard it is and get destroyed and put off for good. There are also more riders not quite strong enough and not experienced riding in groups which makes it all a bit more dangerous in the 4th cat events.0 -
Its embarrassing to see grown men cry when I easily beat them.0
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I did pretty well in my relatively short 'career', I raced for 2 full seasons, which probably equates to about 2 and a half seasons in total. Only raced twice last year, but decided I couldn't be arsed with the hassle plus we got married in September so I couldn't afford the weekends.
Still train to race, but no real intentions of racing this year as we move to Aus in May... I did really want to win a Nat B before I gave up fully. Maybe I'll do some racing in Aus.0 -
If I ask anyone in my club the stock answer is scared of crashing. From my experience of racing, one season, the chances are quite low depending on where you race. If you ride a lot of miles each year then you’ll probably stand as much chance hitting the deck but still they ride.
My first race, 100 riders, Crit, someone crashed near the front and I couldn’t avoid them, I was pretty banged up and probably concussed but it didn’t put me off.
I then did road races 3/4, they were great, only remember seeing 1 crash, and this is the crux of it, this was in the final sprint. As an 18-21 year old you’re most likely to be going for very small gaps, at 43 while being fast enough to be involved you’re not. So why bother unless you’re going to aim for breakaways?
When you’re young then you probably want to keep progressing, as an older rider you’re probably just after that one good result, hopefully getting your hand in the air.
6-7 from our club, aging around 28-51 will be having a crack again this year, none of us will want to be sprinting though, but all of us are capable of getting in a winning move, especially the 50+ guy! Fingers crossed we can stay upright.
Finally, I’d just add that unlike the Hill climb scene, road racing is not exactly welcoming, too many riders too vocal. People make mistakes, it happens, especially when fatigue sets in.Trainer Road Blog: https://hitthesweetspot.home.blog/
Cycling blog: https://harderfasterlonger.wordpress.com/
Blog: https://supermurphtt2015.wordpress.com/
TCTP: https://supermurph.wordpress.com/0 -
Now that a bit of winter racing has started I'm spending way too much time stalking on strava seeing how people are getting on.
Although I didn't enjoy racing, it at least gave me something to focus on, especially as I'm stuck with doing a lot of miles commuting. I have to remind myself of all the downsides.Supermurph09 wrote:all of us are capable of getting in a winning move,
See my first comment about boring races!
I had no trouble to be in a bunch finish with 2nd cats. But I struggled to pick up points in races because there were never breaks - I'd gap the bunch in a 4th cat race every lap via better climbing/cornering and knowing I likely had the biggest engine so I'd constantly attack but every time I'd be reeled back in and end up frustrated in a sprint. I didn't understand the mentality of everyone in the race being content to sprint because it's just a dull 45 minutes followed by 10 seconds of action. I was no sprinter and too old to be taking silly risks.0 -
Broke my back and shoulder in a circuit race due to the actions of a knob.
Started TTing and track racing instead and eventually Triathlon.Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
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pastryboy wrote:Now that a bit of winter racing has started I'm spending way too much time stalking on strava seeing how people are getting on.
Although I didn't enjoy racing, it at least gave me something to focus on, especially as I'm stuck with doing a lot of miles commuting. I have to remind myself of all the downsides.Supermurph09 wrote:all of us are capable of getting in a winning move,
See my first comment about boring races!
I had no trouble to be in a bunch finish with 2nd cats. But I struggled to pick up points in races because there were never breaks - I'd gap the bunch in a 4th cat race every lap via better climbing/cornering and knowing I likely had the biggest engine so I'd constantly attack but every time I'd be reeled back in and end up frustrated in a sprint. I didn't understand the mentality of everyone in the race being content to sprint because it's just a dull 45 minutes followed by 10 seconds of action. I was no sprinter and too old to be taking silly risks.
Agree with you about the mentality. I think most racers would rather finish in the bunch than chance a move for glory and possibly get dropped. I grabbed a 2nd by getting in a break, I’ll be chancing my arm wherever possible this year. Do or die.Trainer Road Blog: https://hitthesweetspot.home.blog/
Cycling blog: https://harderfasterlonger.wordpress.com/
Blog: https://supermurphtt2015.wordpress.com/
TCTP: https://supermurph.wordpress.com/0 -
Other than about 5 races that I've completed in my 3 year period racing have resulted in me being in the break and I think they almost always stayed away resulting in a fairly decent result. Race aggressive, nothing to lose and certainly more chance of a result than sitting in the buffet. To be fair they were Mostly Regional A's and B's but there was the odd Nat B too.0
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There will always be frustrating negative races where the bunch will chase down every break, but all my successes have come from breaks and I find unless it is pan flat it will often result in a winning break. The reason being in amateur racing team work is minimal and nobody wants to destroy themselves chasing back for everyone else's benefit for more than a short burst so the breaks often work.
The trick is getting in the winning break and that is why knowledge and tactics often count for more than who is the stronger rider in British road races.
The trouble with BC races is there is so much ego and they can be unfriendly events if you are trying to get into it from the outside, too many 2nd cats who think they are pro's perhaps. If you really want to race find a club that does road racing and go with them if you can. Nobody said it was easy.
The difference between road racing and most other endurance sports is if you can't at least stay with the bunch then you are not really racing. Other sports like Marathons, triathlon and TT's you get people who enter just to complete the event. That doesn't really happen in road racing
For the older rider then LVRC and TLI events are more appealing as most have grown out of the swollen ego0 -
my club has quite a few second/ third cats that aren't on the knob head spectrum. bit of a rarity I guess. these guys just want to race and "do something in the race" as Rod Ellingworth used to say (and at 2/3 level we had what I believe was our most successful year of racing. looking at numbers for the various winter series, it looks like they are down at Hillingdon, compared to recent years. less people means less risk, and more open races. I can't race due to a debilitating knee injury. I can't say i'll miss it, but that's just me. I also miss not being able to race at places like Longcross.0
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Whilst it's tempting to have a go - there's a circuit near me - so no traffic to worry about - it's expensive to get race licence & entry fees for what would likely be a one race wonder. I also worry about crashes - more about my ability to cause them, not that I crash (I haven't come off for years - perhaps I shouldn't say that) but then I usually ride solo - or in a small group. Getting in a large group of testosterone isn't appealing and I wouldn't win - or even place - so why would I do it?
At least with the club TTs I can record my attempts and see how good/bad I did compared to my previous efforts.
The whole Zwift race thing would appeal more - you can dip in/out as you see fit and you're not spending loads just to race - plus, you're not going to trash your bike...0 -
Slowbike wrote:Whilst it's tempting to have a go - there's a circuit near me - so no traffic to worry about - it's expensive to get race licence & entry fees for what would likely be a one race wonder.
Day licence...0 -
I'm a 50 year old cyclist, been riding for the last 12 years or so. I'm light, endurance oriented and not at all blessed with a final sprint, so hadn't really considered racing until two or three seasons ago. Instead I'd focussed on training for multi-day Alpine events, and more recently for TTs as they mimicked the steady output of a climbing a col. I enjoyed both of those, but about three seasons ago dipped my toe in the water of racing. I'm lucky to live in Hampshire, so we have access to regular Tuesdays on the Thruxton course, nice big sweeping corners, and to some fantastic events in the New Forest organised by TLI (thanks Glenn Longland!).
I loved it. I'd been concerned, like so many of us, re crashes - as has been said above, older bones heal slower than younger bones. I've been fortunate not to crash, but I've seen a fair amount while I've been learning my craft/riding in a scared fashion at the back of the peloton. I remember my first race at Thruxton - I was permanently frightened!
One thing that hasn't been said yet about the attraction of racing is the team element and the mental element. I've enjoyed the camaraderie on the start line and during races - something you simply don't get on a TT. I've also enjoyed the mental challenge - shall I chase that break? what happens if I find myself on the front in this headwind? what line shall I take into that corner? does that lad look like a good wheel to follow? I'm right on the edge right now, but if I keep pushing, then will it calm down in a minute and give me a chance to recover - and the thrill of a few laps away in a break, even if you do get caught in the end. And the outright thrill of a getting a long final lap attack right and getting the points that meant promotion to Cat 3. I think that if more people had the chance for some of those moments (which of course, they'll only get by being able to partake in the first place, on safe circuits) then they'd be more likely to keep coming back.0 -
doesn't stop the potential for crashes .... and it's still >£20 for an hours racing - fair enough given the location & size - but not my thing - any more than paying £20 for unlimited fairground rides would be ... both would be tempting - I wouldn't enjoy either.Imposter wrote:Slowbike wrote:Whilst it's tempting to have a go - there's a circuit near me - so no traffic to worry about - it's expensive to get race licence & entry fees for what would likely be a one race wonder.
Day licence...0 -
Not read all the above, but my own experiences were that it was insanely dangerous for something I do purely for fun.
Did 7 races, won one, got to Cat 3, got round in a couple of Cat 3s, but in the last 4 races someone went home in an ambulance each time. Saw £5000 bikes snapped into multiple pieces, people with severe broken bones, dislocated shoulders and facial injuries.
Just didn’t seem worth the risk. It is fun, but just takes one person to not be paying attention for a fraction of a second, or going for a gap which isn’t there, or more likely than not someone sprinting for 38th place who takes out half the field as happened a couple of times.
Shame, as it is fun and those who organize it all do so despite all the restrictions and lack of help from BC and other bodies.
Red Hook and other non-BC endorsed series are the future I think. BC points cause a lot more issues than they solve I think.0 -
BC Silver/ Gold membership is over-priced, and races are expensive and getting fewer and fewer.
TLi is a better format, low membership and low entry fee. Problem is, they're getting so popular now that they're massively over-subscribed, and entry criteria have to be applied as a result. For example, if you're not part of a club/ team who promotes other TLi races, then you'll get put to the bottom of the pile in the event of oversubscription...0 -
I'd echo the points system being an issue. As I mentioned, fine if you are the sort of rider who is looking to go from 4 to Elite (meaning you are probably a teenager or certainly under23 years of age but most people aren't they just want to win or take a podium. This might stop the sprinting for 10th place scenario.Trainer Road Blog: https://hitthesweetspot.home.blog/
Cycling blog: https://harderfasterlonger.wordpress.com/
Blog: https://supermurphtt2015.wordpress.com/
TCTP: https://supermurph.wordpress.com/0 -
964Cup wrote:It was a long way to go to trail round at the back.
yeah, pretty much this.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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Another one where risks and cost/hassle factor are the barrier. If there was a way to ease myself into it (no membership fees) with more relaxed competitors (who race, but don't push so as to put others at risk) then I suspect I would quite like it.0
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OnTheRopes wrote:
no, some of us are just naturally slow0 -
rwoofer wrote:Another one where risks and cost/hassle factor are the barrier. If there was a way to ease myself into it (no membership fees) with more relaxed competitors (who race, but don't push so as to put others at risk) then I suspect I would quite like it.
Thats not how 'competitive sports' works I'm afraid, be it running, rowing, badminton or cycling.
People do take it serious... and thats why many do malign it so , especially on here.
I do take part but also appreciate that the vast majority who want to enjoy general cycling, audaxes or sportives.
Racing is niche but not impossible to take up and survive.
As above, depending where you live in the UK, you can actually bypass the whole BC thing and race under TLI regulations quite easily.
If you are over 40 , under LVRC regs.
A sizeable majority of said racing is on open roads.
Joining an organising club can be one barrier of course but hey if you do a Park Run or 2 , you are encouraged to be a volunteer marshal at some point as well.
With cycling, comes costs - hence fees - for that you do get the support of motorbike marshalls to help with open road safety.0 -
OnTheRopes wrote:
yes but at my age I'm always going to be somewhere near the back, last race I did was about 4 or 5 years ago when I was cycling a lot as I was only working very part time. I rolled in at the back of the back of the bunch - which wasn't too bad as about half the field had been left on the climb, at least I arrived in time for refreshments :-).
Really I would have trouble riding much more than I did back then, I think recovery is the big issue for older riders.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
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JGSI wrote:rwoofer wrote:Another one where risks and cost/hassle factor are the barrier. If there was a way to ease myself into it (no membership fees) with more relaxed competitors (who race, but don't push so as to put others at risk) then I suspect I would quite like it.
Thats not how 'competitive sports' works I'm afraid, be it running, rowing, badminton or cycling.
People do take it serious... and thats why many do malign it so , especially on here.
I do take part but also appreciate that the vast majority who want to enjoy general cycling, audaxes or sportives.
Racing is niche but not impossible to take up and survive.
As above, depending where you live in the UK, you can actually bypass the whole BC thing and race under TLI regulations quite easily.
If you are over 40 , under LVRC regs.
A sizeable majority of said racing is on open roads.
Joining an organising club can be one barrier of course but hey if you do a Park Run or 2 , you are encouraged to be a volunteer marshal at some point as well.
With cycling, comes costs - hence fees - for that you do get the support of motorbike marshalls to help with open road safety.
I can go and do a running race without being a member of a club, without anyone putting me at risk, and with people who are both faster and slower than me. It's not the same at all.0 -
davidof wrote:OnTheRopes wrote:
yes but at my age I'm always going to be somewhere near the back, last race I did was about 4 or 5 years ago when I was cycling a lot as I was only working very part time. I rolled in at the back of the back of the bunch - which wasn't too bad as about half the field had been left on the climb, at least I arrived in time for refreshments :-).
Really I would have trouble riding much more than I did back then, I think recovery is the big issue for older riders.
Ah - what we could do with is a classification system .... so we can cater for big older riders ...
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KingstonGraham wrote:JGSI wrote:rwoofer wrote:Another one where risks and cost/hassle factor are the barrier. If there was a way to ease myself into it (no membership fees) with more relaxed competitors (who race, but don't push so as to put others at risk) then I suspect I would quite like it.
Thats not how 'competitive sports' works I'm afraid, be it running, rowing, badminton or cycling.
People do take it serious... and thats why many do malign it so , especially on here.
I do take part but also appreciate that the vast majority who want to enjoy general cycling, audaxes or sportives.
Racing is niche but not impossible to take up and survive.
As above, depending where you live in the UK, you can actually bypass the whole BC thing and race under TLI regulations quite easily.
If you are over 40 , under LVRC regs.
A sizeable majority of said racing is on open roads.
Joining an organising club can be one barrier of course but hey if you do a Park Run or 2 , you are encouraged to be a volunteer marshal at some point as well.
With cycling, comes costs - hence fees - for that you do get the support of motorbike marshalls to help with open road safety.
I can go and do a running race without being a member of a club, without anyone putting me at risk, and with people who are both faster and slower than me. It's not the same at all.
and your point is?0 -
JGSI wrote:KingstonGraham wrote:JGSI wrote:rwoofer wrote:Another one where risks and cost/hassle factor are the barrier. If there was a way to ease myself into it (no membership fees) with more relaxed competitors (who race, but don't push so as to put others at risk) then I suspect I would quite like it.
Thats not how 'competitive sports' works I'm afraid, be it running, rowing, badminton or cycling.
People do take it serious... and thats why many do malign it so , especially on here.
I do take part but also appreciate that the vast majority who want to enjoy general cycling, audaxes or sportives.
Racing is niche but not impossible to take up and survive.
As above, depending where you live in the UK, you can actually bypass the whole BC thing and race under TLI regulations quite easily.
If you are over 40 , under LVRC regs.
A sizeable majority of said racing is on open roads.
Joining an organising club can be one barrier of course but hey if you do a Park Run or 2 , you are encouraged to be a volunteer marshal at some point as well.
With cycling, comes costs - hence fees - for that you do get the support of motorbike marshalls to help with open road safety.
I can go and do a running race without being a member of a club, without anyone putting me at risk, and with people who are both faster and slower than me. It's not the same at all.
and your point is?
You said running was the same, but it's just not. That's all.0 -
Well what age are you, I am 60 and can still win races, try age related like LVRC, age is no excuse then really, as with any kind of racing if you want to win then you have to train harder or more effectively then the rest of them.davidof wrote:OnTheRopes wrote:
yes but at my age I'm always going to be somewhere near the back, last race I did was about 4 or 5 years ago when I was cycling a lot as I was only working very part time. I rolled in at the back of the back of the bunch - which wasn't too bad as about half the field had been left on the climb, at least I arrived in time for refreshments :-).
Really I would have trouble riding much more than I did back then, I think recovery is the big issue for older riders.0 -
I've always done competitive sports, so at the age of 50 I decided I had to try crit racing. It was tough but enjoyable, and of course, somewhat scary... but this was also the buzz I knew I'd get from it. Unfortunately, I just don't have the cardio or power I did 30 years ago, so while I've never been dropped in a race, I just can't get very near the front for the final sprints or to get into breaks.
I also did a road race which I found to be shockingly dangerous even in comparison to the frenzied world of crit racing; I wouldn't do another one. I was also glad a crash finished my race about half distance because I don't think I would have completed it as the average speed of 26mph for two plus hours.
That all said, I'd say if you're wavering just give it a go and find out. Life is all about trying new things but I can understand why crashes, costs and the thought of lots of training would put some off.0 -
I did consider it last year then decided not to for the following reasons (no particular order)
- risk of damage to bike/limbs
- lack of time to dedicate to training
- to be done properly too time consuming including travelling to events
- not fair on family (training/time)
- potential to erode my enjoyment of just riding by wanting to make every ride a training ride
Plus I could always imagine I would be good at it if I don't put that to the test!!0
