If you have any thoughts of racing, enter one and find out. I have been riding for about 3 years, mostly solo, but a few group rides here and there. I was always told that even in Cat5, its a hammer fest and you'll never make it blah blah blah, so I avoided racing. I finally took the plunge about a month ago, and it really wasn't that bad, and it been a blast. Right now I have 3 events/5 stages of racing under my belt, with a best place of 4th. I really wish I would have raced sooner.