Would new cyclists be stronger in year 2 if spent year 1 training only (not racing)?

Typical Analytical

What the title says with a clarification that I really mean stronger only, i.e. not faster or better or more competitive, etc. because obviously bike handling, experience, etc. all count but I'm just throwing a theoretical out there regarding fitness only.

webboo

It’s a bit of an arbitrary question because unless someone was a gifted individual. The chances are that racing would take the form of seeing the back of the bunch for a brief while, then riding on their own.

MishMash95

From my experience, I'd almost say I don't really think it matters what you do in your first year. The most important key is consistency and recovery. The downside of racing is that you can't really control what happens. Sure, it can be a really high-end threshold session, but equally, it can be a lot of surging and then pootling, which doesn't necessarily target any specific zones.
Equally, it can leave you feeling too fatigued to want to ride more, leading to poor consistency.

However, I think you should just do what you find fun, definitely no harm in doing a few races, probs not worth doing a whole season, but 4 or 5 events can give you a flavour and plenty of opportunity for skill development and intensity.

MiddleRinger

Just to clarify, are you asking if a new cyclist would be stronger if they did some training...?

Errrrr... Yes!

(racing is not necessarily the best way to get stronger)

cooldad

I doubt many 'new cyclists' plan their racing career before buying their first bike.

imposter2.0

‘Stronger’ is a pretty arbitrary definition. You need to clarify what you mean.

OnTheRopes

Imposter wrote:

‘Stronger’ is a pretty arbitrary definition. You need to clarify what you mean.

Exactly what I was going to say, you need to define stronger.

kingstongraham

What racing were you thinking of in the first year as a cyclist?

cougie

You'd have to be a pretty good cyclist to race in your first year of cycling.

zeee

cougie wrote:

You'd have to be a pretty good cyclist to race in your first year of cycling.

That's me screwed this year then

And to answer the OPs question I think no matter how fit/strong you get, without race craft and experience you will struggle. I'm racing this year just to get the experience then hoping to be competitive next year.