"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - How far will you ride?

Following from the 'How far will you drive?' thread, how far would you/do you ride to races?

Due to work commitments I drive to 99% of training rides and races (yes, it seems illogical to drive to a training ride!). It takes me 30 mins to drive from work to crits, it would take me close to an hour to ride there and I would probably miss my race if I rode. It usually takes me 15 mins to drive to the usual meeting spot for training rides (before work) and about 30 mins to ride there. The training ride usually finishes 30 mins before I am due at work so it works out well to drive so I have time to get there and get changed (not enough for a shower though).

The other day I was feeling guilty about driving and not riding so I decided to ride 1.5hrs to a road race and ended up being too stuffed to ride afterwards and had to get a lift part of the way home!

you're day late, and a dollar short.

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=382328

I ride about 60mins before and after training/racing. Sometimes about 2hrs depending on where it is!

I know Chessum rides up to 2.5hrs before road races. I also know Tom Leaper does similar tapping out 40kmh tempo 1-2hrs before a race. They still finish in the money more often than not too!

Get up at 4am like everyone else.

I would find a way to have a shower before work too. Would be yuk being all sweaty all day long??

I ride about 60mins before and after training/racing. Sometimes about 2hrs depending on where it is!

I know Chessum rides up to 2.5hrs before road races. I also know Tom Leaper does similar tapping out 40kmh tempo 1-2hrs before a race. They still finish in the money more often than not too!

Get up at 4am like everyone else.

I would find a way to have a shower before work too. Would be yuk being all sweaty all day long??

What he said.

1 hour for "serious" races, 1-2 hours for club races.

Get up at 4am like everyone else.

I would find a way to have a shower before work too. Would be yuk being all sweaty all day long??

I get up at 4.30am now, getting up earlier wouldn't help. The crit races are on Wednesday afternoon, my race starts about 5.45pm and I finish work (30 min drive away) at 5pm. The training rides usually start and finish in the same place and start at 6am and finish 7.30am, I start work (20 min drive away) at 8am. So no time to ride out or indeed time for a shower. I have a can of BO spray in the glovebox of the car! Most of my other cycle club buddies have Govt office jobs and don't start 'till 9am and they can leave early if they need to, plus their workplaces and home seem to be closer to the rides than mine.

I get up at 4.30am now, getting up earlier wouldn't help.

Yep it helps by giving you more time in the saddle. Try and be rolling at 4.30am rather than climbing out of bed.


The crit races are on Wednesday afternoon, my race starts about 5.45pm and I finish work (30 min drive away) at 5pm.

Race on Sundays.


The training rides usually start and finish in the same place and start at 6am and finish 7.30am, I start work (20 min drive away) at 8am.

Sounds like the NRR to me. Or some other bunch kick. Why not train alone and finish at or close to your work. So you have time to shower.


So no time to ride out or indeed time for a shower. I have a can of BO spray in the glovebox of the car!

How do you expect to pick up all those hot office chicks if you dont have a shower!:p


Most of my other cycle club buddies have Govt office jobs and don't start 'till 9am and they can leave early if they need to, plus their workplaces and home seem to be closer to the rides than mine.

Time for a new job? :)