Thinking of trying racing...
Discussion
Not really sure why - cycling is my secondary sport but I guess I'm just too competitive and the idea of being able to do some racing on weekday evenings seems quite attractive.
Never done any kind of racing before, just go out for rides (usually on my own, none of my friends can stay with me in the hills) at the weekend when I've got some spare time and do some commuting during the week.
What do I need to know? I'm guessing applying for a BC racing license is a good starting point, I would either go to hog hill, hillingdon or crystal palace (work in canary wharf and live just outside SW london) which seem to have a fair few races on. Do you just turn up, enter and race?
Never done any kind of racing before, just go out for rides (usually on my own, none of my friends can stay with me in the hills) at the weekend when I've got some spare time and do some commuting during the week.
What do I need to know? I'm guessing applying for a BC racing license is a good starting point, I would either go to hog hill, hillingdon or crystal palace (work in canary wharf and live just outside SW london) which seem to have a fair few races on. Do you just turn up, enter and race?
Yep, get a silver membership, get a racing license, wait for it to arrive (although you can enter with just the confirmation that you have got one coming) then turn up early, pay your cash and get entered.
Some races will be entry on the line only, which Hillingdon and Hog Hill etc are (well, the midweek ones anyway), some will allow you to enter online in advance (Surrey League Road Races are good for this) and some will require you to post a cheque, which is quite old school, but still common. The general rule of thumb is that you'll get a ride MOST of the time at a crit if you turn up a good hour before and get signed on.
Hillingdon is a good starting point as its flat, fairly safe (when they run it the right way round!) and has a wide open finish. Hog Hill is slightly more technical apparently, and obviously has a hill each lap, Crystal palace is meant to be the toughest of the lot and I'd really be wary of racing there if you've not had that much bunch riding as at times its very close together round the tight course.
Some races will be entry on the line only, which Hillingdon and Hog Hill etc are (well, the midweek ones anyway), some will allow you to enter online in advance (Surrey League Road Races are good for this) and some will require you to post a cheque, which is quite old school, but still common. The general rule of thumb is that you'll get a ride MOST of the time at a crit if you turn up a good hour before and get signed on.
Hillingdon is a good starting point as its flat, fairly safe (when they run it the right way round!) and has a wide open finish. Hog Hill is slightly more technical apparently, and obviously has a hill each lap, Crystal palace is meant to be the toughest of the lot and I'd really be wary of racing there if you've not had that much bunch riding as at times its very close together round the tight course.
Yeah there's some footage on youtube of hog hill races - that final hill looks nasty... but then I am only 70kg so I don't see that as being a problem. Much less able to sprint to 40+ mph on the flat than I am to blast up hills.
How does a 3/4 race work? Do they split out the results between the cat 3s and cat4s or is there some kind of handicap system? Or do you just have to beat cat3 riders too?
How does a 3/4 race work? Do they split out the results between the cat 3s and cat4s or is there some kind of handicap system? Or do you just have to beat cat3 riders too?
BMWBen said:
Yeah there's some footage on youtube of hog hill races - that final hill looks nasty... but then I am only 70kg so I don't see that as being a problem. Much less able to sprint to 40+ mph on the flat than I am to blast up hills.
How does a 3/4 race work? Do they split out the results between the cat 3s and cat4s or is there some kind of handicap system? Or do you just have to beat cat3 riders too?
It is very similar to Dark Hill in Richmond Park I've been told (except it doesn't have the flat bit in the middle) - http://app.strava.com/segments/820282How does a 3/4 race work? Do they split out the results between the cat 3s and cat4s or is there some kind of handicap system? Or do you just have to beat cat3 riders too?
Maybe it will suit you then, a guy I ride with who found it much easier to get points there than Hillingdon. But he has a big power output and weighs less than you so he really flew up it (he's second in that list on Strava).
You just have to beat cat 3 riders too most of the time. They do sometimes run 4th's only races though. But the difference between 3/4 isn't that much.
I've said it before, if you're a decent 4th then you're probably as good as most 3rds, if you are finishing races often in the top few of a 4th race then you'll be just fine in a 3rds race. But as pointed out I've only done one 4ths only race, so actually I'm maybe not the best person to advise.
Get comfortable riding in a group first. It doesn't matter if you are Lance Armstrong, if you can't handle a bike in a bunch then you are just a danger, cat 4 races can be absolute crash-fests at the best of times.
Don't mean to sound negative or put you off, but a race is not the time to find out that you get nervous around other riders and that you have the bike handling skills of a hairy-legged triathlete
Don't mean to sound negative or put you off, but a race is not the time to find out that you get nervous around other riders and that you have the bike handling skills of a hairy-legged triathlete
okgo said:
There is not a simulation you can do of racing that isn't racing. Riding with a club is not anywhere even close to being in a bunch. If he commutes through London traffic on a road bike that's probably more than enough to be OK in a bunch.
I disagree completely. Riding in a paceline is far closer to riding in a bunch than commuting or riding alone - commuting or alone and you see a pothole last second - its fine to grab the brakes or swerve - try that in a busy cat 4 bunch...Stand up alone or commuting with no group experience and you will hapilly chuck your bike 2 ft backwards, again, try that in a cat 4 bunch.
Riding around other cyclists should come way before racing around other cyclists.
okgo said:
There is not a simulation you can do of racing that isn't racing. Riding with a club is not anywhere even close to being in a bunch. If he commutes through London traffic on a road bike that's probably more than enough to be OK in a bunch.
Have been doing that for the last 3 years. I know there'll be a lot to learn but I'm not so nervous about that. I'm pretty confident of my bike handling (come off enough times to be 
) Just signed up for my license, will aim to win my first race just like you did 
BMWBen said:
Have been doing that for the last 3 years. I know there'll be a lot to learn but I'm not so nervous about that. I'm pretty confident of my bike handling (come off enough times to be ) Just signed up for my license, will aim to win my first race just like you did
Good luck, let us know how you get on over in the Palmares thread ) Just signed up for my license, will aim to win my first race just like you did Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff