"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Want to race in 2006, how?

I've been competing in triathlon and duathlons but want to focus my attention on cycling in 2006. There are a number of races in my area but I'm not sure what to do in order to get started. Do I need to join USA cycling and/or the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association?

I assume that all newbies start as Cat5, is that true. What are the requirements to advance to Cat4 and is that possible during the season or after my first season?

First you'll have to get a lisence through the USCF (USA Cycling) and yes you will have to start as a CAT5. To move to CAT4 you will have to have started at least 10 mass start races, after that you can move up. If you are gifted and you start to win right away you can ask for an earlier upgrade. Check this site for races in your area:

http://www.bikereg.com/

finding a club in your area is not a requirement, but is helpful. You'll speed up the learning curve, and you'll save money on unattached rider fees. USA Cycling's web page has info on clubs in your area

You don't need to buy a license yet. Just show up to a race and get a one day licence and register for the cat 5 race. If you like it do it again and then think about buying a license.

Wear lots of padding... ;)

I've been competing in triathlon and duathlons but want to focus my attention on cycling in 2006. There are a number of races in my area but I'm not sure what to do in order to get started. Do I need to join USA cycling and/or the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association?

I assume that all newbies start as Cat5, is that true. What are the requirements to advance to Cat4 and is that possible during the season or after my first season?

You nailed my way into bike racing on the head. Do a crit (FLAT!) and see if you like it. It certainly isn't for everyone. My faincee can hardly watch them, let alone race.

www.velopromo.com has some good early season races. Early bird stuff with other riders, getting you used to being in a pack.

Coaches help. Matt McNamerra at www.sterlingwins.com turned my racing around. I was never training before. I was exercising. Working with a coach will show you that. I was working out less (but riding more, hard to explain), and going WAY faster.

After that, club rides are good. sit in a pack, challenge yourself by keeping up with others, etc. Tri people generally are solitary and have good TT instincts, but its a different animal then bike racing. Find a local club and latch on after you've decived if your down for a season of madness. most rides will let you mill around while you figure yourself out as long as you don't kill anyone :)

good luck! look for a big fat guy on a stripped aluminum frame :D

A recent post on our club's mailing list made mention of this (http://www.cyclingsystems.com/basic_skills2.html) clinic. You can get 5 of your 10 points toward your upgrade to CAT 4 by attending the clinic.

And yes, you can move from Cat 5 to Cat 4 in a single season. If you're talented enough and do enough racing you can make Cat 2 in a single season and get to race with the Pros in the Pro/1/2 field, Like Zakk said, the Early Bird series is a good start.

Thanks for all your help. I'll start checking into teams in the area. zakk, are you on a team? I'll probably look into Valley Spokesmen for starters.

Thanks for all your help. I'll start checking into teams in the area. zakk, are you on a team? I'll probably look into Valley Spokesmen for starters.

yeah, i'm on a start up. see the sig :)

I assume that all newbies start as Cat5, is that true. What are the requirements to advance to Cat4 and is that possible during the season or after my first season?

If your first few Cat 5 results are good, you can contact your USCF regional rep and ask for an early upgrade, citing your strong finishes so far and other cycling experience (tri and duathalons).

If your first few Cat 5 results are good, you can contact your USCF regional rep and ask for an early upgrade, citing your strong finishes so far and other cycling experience (tri and duathalons).I doubt that will work in the NCNCA region. There have been several very strong riders in the area who have been required to fulfill the 10 race requirement in order to get their Cat 4 upgrade.

I doubt that will work in the NCNCA region. There have been several very strong riders in the area who have been required to fulfill the 10 race requirement in order to get their Cat 4 upgrade.

I'm new too and plan to race in '06 and want to move from Cat 5 to Cat 4 as quickly as possible, so I will be going to this skills clinic on December 3rd.

http://cyclingsystems.com/basic_skills2.html

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told that this clinic counts as 5 of the 10 races I need to move up.

I'm new too and plan to race in '06 and want to move from Cat 5 to Cat 4 as quickly as possible, so I will be going to this skills clinic on December 3rd.

http://cyclingsystems.com/basic_skills2.html

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told that this clinic counts as 5 of the 10 races I need to move up.

if you haven't raced before, those 5 races of expereince will cost you. The class will be helpful, but a full campaign of Cat 5 would also, as far as pratical expereince in a pack, cornoring, etc.

The early bird crits are run every Sunday in January in Fremont, plus there is an early bird road race in late January (pretty good hill). Most of the early bird crits don't count for upgrade points, but they DO count for your 10 races needed for the 5 to 4 upgrade. So you can get 5 out of 10 mass start races done in January if you really want to. The NCNCA website will probably show the 2006 calendar by early December.
http://www.ncnca.org/
There is a listing of clubs on the NCNCA site and there will be a "meet the teams" day at one of the early bird crits (third one I think).

The early bird crits are run every Sunday in January in Fremont, plus there is an early bird road race in late January (pretty good hill). Most of the early bird crits don't count for upgrade points, but they DO count for your 10 races needed for the 5 to 4 upgrade. So you can get 5 out of 10 mass start races done in January if you really want to. The NCNCA website will probably show the 2006 calendar by early December.
http://www.ncnca.org/
There is a listing of clubs on the NCNCA site and there will be a "meet the teams" day at one of the early bird crits (third one I think).
Those early bird races are awsome. If you are new to racing I definetly recommend it. Although don't bring your good bike to them. One of the ones I attended someone crashed on a straight away... My guess would be someone corssed the wheel.

Question: I've done a couple of races here and there on one-day licenses and now think I want to get an annual license. Do all of those 10 races have to be in one year or can I count races from 04 and 05 in that total?

Question: I've done a couple of races here and there on one-day licenses and now think I want to get an annual license. Do all of those 10 races have to be in one year or can I count races from 04 and 05 in that total?

I've heard that the 10 races have to be within 12 months, so if you did 4 races in the 2nd half of 2005 and do 6 more in the first half of '06 you can move up to Cat 4.

Also, I do plan to do the early bird crits and road race.

Basically I plan to race or go to a clinic every weekend until I'm a Cat 3. :D

I've heard that the 10 races have to be within 12 months, so if you did 4 races in the 2nd half of 2005 and do 6 more in the first half of '06 you can move up to Cat 4.


Well, that's what I was afraid of. It looks like I could be a terminal Cat 5.

If you are interested in the clinic, better contact them soon. I was just told he has "a couple" spots left.

I do not think the 10 races have to be in 12 months. The CAT 5 class is for beginners, so they want you to have experience, as long as they are within a couple of years, you are not going to forget..

p.s. I will be at the clinic. We should meet up before(or after) the class to say hi.

The early bird crits are run every Sunday in January in Fremont, plus there is an early bird road race in late January (pretty good hill). Most of the early bird crits don't count for upgrade points, but they DO count for your 10 races needed for the 5 to 4 upgrade. So you can get 5 out of 10 mass start races done in January if you really want to. The NCNCA website will probably show the 2006 calendar by early December.
http://www.ncnca.org/
There is a listing of clubs on the NCNCA site and there will be a "meet the teams" day at one of the early bird crits (third one I think).

Thanks for the early bird crit info. I'll check this out. I wasn't planning on a new set of race wheels until later in 2006. Do you think my stock Bontrager Race wheels would be ok for the early birds?

Yeah, they will be more then enough. You will probably will see me there on my old Red Specialized Allez. :)