Originally Posted by vpiuva
At this point, the best race is the closest race. Like my daughter's travel v-ball team coaches said when the parents were picking tournaments, travel just as far as it takes you to lose, no further.
correct, but think about closest in time, not distance. as in when's the next race in the general area?
IMO it's best not to over think things, just get stuck in.
on top of that, i'll repeat a previous posting:
1. Find some group rides, fast group rides. Sit in the back.
2. Don't get discouraged if/when you get dropped from those group rides.
3. Go back the following week and do the fast group ride again.
4. If you're dropped a 2nd time, repeat steps 2 & 3
5. Once you're comfortable with the group and pace (and vice versa), take some pulls.
6. Once you're comfortable taking pulls, try some attacks (if it's that kind of group ride).
7. Once you're comfortable with steps 5 & 6, it's time to enter a race.
8. At you first race, repeat steps 1-6, but substitute 'race' for 'group ride'.