"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - I asked this last year, but: Getting into racing

My goal last summer was to have entered my first race by summers end. I got a job at a factory. It paid well but it turned me into a grumpy ******* with no time to ride (r=.98).

I'm setting the same goal for myself this summer and i've got a job lined up that should offer me much more free time to get ready. I know there is no science to this (or maybe there is) but when did you know you were ready to race? I know i'll get my ass handed to me regardless, but i'd rather not finish dead last with everyone waiting on me :o.

I know time on the bike is important, intervals help, etc...but any tips on getting "race ready" would be great. I bought a training book last year but i don't have the time/tools to follow that program unfortunately.

My goal last summer was to have entered my first race by summers end. I got a job at a factory. It paid well but it turned me into a grumpy ******* with no time to ride (r=.98).

I'm setting the same goal for myself this summer and i've got a job lined up that should offer me much more free time to get ready. I know there is no science to this (or maybe there is) but when did you know you were ready to race? I know i'll get my ass handed to me regardless, but i'd rather not finish dead last with everyone waiting on me :o.

I know time on the bike is important, intervals help, etc...but any tips on getting "race ready" would be great. I bought a training book last year but i don't have the time/tools to follow that program unfortunately.

Sorry. Race ready. Just do it. Find a race (preferably a TT where you are not likely to hurt anyone or yourself), get a one day license and race. You can follow Botto's advice (see the sticky in the forum) if you have the time. But if you don't, just race. Someone has to be DFL, and who knows, maybe you won't be. If you wait to you are ready you will never be ready.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=380788

Just get out and ride. Only way to know your true potential and fitness.

****. Botto is going to yell at me now, isn't he?

Dude... why worry if you come in last? It's all about having fun!

And you're telling me you don't have time? You got a full time job, kids, family, own a house? I do and I'm sure others which race have the same burden, which takes a lot out of available training time. I still get about 45min. to 1hr of roller time in every night, despite the time constraints.

Just hop into a race and enjoy.

Racing takes TIME.

TIME to read that book you talked about (and many more).

TIME to read through and digest the posts in Botto's sticky at the top of this message board.

And last, but not least, SADDLE TIME.

If you're doing anything but any or all of the above you are wasting TIME.

Bob

Dude... why worry if you come in last? It's all about having fun!

And you're telling me you don't have time? You got a full time job, kids, family, own a house? I do and I'm sure others which race have the same burden, which takes a lot out of available training time. I still get about 45min. to 1hr of roller time in every night, despite the time constraints.

Just hop into a race and enjoy.

Working in a factory from 5am-2pm 6 days a week doesn't lend itself to riding much ;). All shall change this year.

...

I know i'll get my ass handed to me regardless, but i'd rather not finish dead last with everyone waiting on me :o.
...




It doesn't hurt that bad. Trust me, I know first hand.

pay attention (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=380788).

take a ball pin hammer and smack yourself in the forehead with it. when it stops stinging, do it again. when you can get to 3, you're race ready.

****. Botto is going to yell at me now, isn't he?

Like clockwork


pay attention (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=380788).

take a ball pin hammer and smack yourself in the forehead with it. when it stops stinging, do it again. when you can get to 3, you're race ready.

+1,000,000 :beer:

Bob

Like clockwork

he wasn't the first.

A motivational nugget from Dr.W in another post. Tony Robbins would be proud.


Going to have to do it eventually. Get it out of the way early. Remember, in a pack of 50, there are 49 losers. Chances are, you will be one of them.

Working in a factory from 5am-2pm 6 days a week doesn't lend itself to riding much ;). All shall change this year.

That is all you work? that gives you plenty of daylight to ride.

I work 2 jobs, first job involves 45min-1.5 hour commute each way. 40 hours Mon-Fri on that one. And my 2nd job is at a bar on the weekends. Fri-Sat-Sun nights I get to be ~3-4 in the morning.

And you complain of having no time to ride?

HTFU

That is all you work? that gives you plenty of daylight to ride.

I work 2 jobs, first job involves 45min-1.5 hour commute each way. 40 hours Mon-Fri on that one. And my 2nd job is at a bar on the weekends. Fri-Sat-Sun nights I get to be ~3-4 in the morning.

And you complain of having no time to ride?

HTFU

Summer classes my man. Also, you'd be surprised what standing for 54 hours a week does for your motivation to run out and be active. No more harping on it, that 'life' is over :o

Like clockwork

that wasn't yelling.

that wasn't yelling.

I respect you.

http://www.fanfromfla.net/lee/images/ww_iloveyou.jpg

why not race in the spring? no need to wait for summer.

Just do it.




+1

I work 6am to 6pm and still find time to ride. Stop making excuses.

when did you know you were ready to race?

When the gun went off at my first race and my right cleat clicked in.


I know i'll get my ass handed to me regardless, but i'd rather not finish dead last with everyone waiting on me :o.

Nobody will wait for you.


I know time on the bike is important, intervals help, etc...but any tips on getting "race ready" would be great.

Take the word "no" and any of its derivatives out of your vocabulary.


I bought a training book last year but i don't have the time/tools to follow that program unfortunately.

You have a bike, right? You took time to write this post, right? Sounds like you've got both time and tools.

Working in a factory from 5am-2pm 6 days a week doesn't lend itself to riding much ;). All shall change this year.

Actually that's a damn good schedule to ride around.

Actually that's a damn good schedule to ride around.

Why are you debating me on this? If all you look at is the clock that's fine, but you're not accounting for homework and a sore body and the need to get **** done before you go to bed so you can punch in on time in the morning. There is a reason blue collar workers are often overweight and it's not because they are lazy.

timmy, you're starting to sound like a young Luke Skywalker to the Yodas on the board.

Why are you debating me on this? If all you look at is the clock that's fine, but you're not accounting for homework and a sore body and the need to get **** done before you go to bed so you can punch in on time in the morning. There is a reason blue collar workers are often overweight and it's not because they are lazy.

Dude.... other people that have triple the workload of you are racing as well. Stop crying.

**** man...what are you folks trying to prove?

The cycling crowed typically isn't made up of people who go do manual labor all day. I'm not ****ing crying, i'm telling you that i didn't have the time (54 hours of work, 2 night classes and homework) or motivation (daily soreness having nothing to do with riding) to do much riding last year. That actually has nothing to do with anything right now though because that was in the past and has, again, nothing to do with today.

Get off the ****ing high horses eh?

PS

No one works 160 hours a week...

we're trying to prove that your mentality and approach to this is a bit off-target. We're trying to prove that you know you're ready to race when you squeeze in a ride whenever you can. Don't be obsessive about it, but definitely be an opportunist. We're trying to tell you that you need to stop worrying about if you're ready to race, and just go race. Sign up, get a one-day license, and step up to the start line.

we're trying to prove that your mentality and approach to this is a bit off-target. We're trying to prove that you know you're ready to race when you squeeze in a ride whenever you can. Don't be obsessive about it, but definitely be an opportunist.

Good grief. What about last year do you not understand? I've been an athlete all my life, i know what it takes to succeed. I brought up my riding habits last year because i clearly didn't have the motivation to do it last year...

Then stop dwelling on it and ignore those who do.

But you have spent this whole thread defending yourself instead of saying how much you are doing now that is different.

But you have spent this whole thread defending yourself instead of saying how much you are doing now that is different.

I'm posting in between study breaks for a psychopharmachology test that is in 60 mins...
I don't have a running bike right now that i'd be willing to put in the snow or could even ride across the 1 inch thick ice on the roads (see sig)

I didn't come here looking for mentality coaching guys...thanks, but no thanks...mmmk

Get a trainer. That's almost a must if you want to start racing seriously.

Get a trainer. Get rollers. Get to a gym. If you are in school, you have access to their gym...

stop making excuses. if you want it, you will find a way.

Get a trainer. Get rollers. Get to a gym. If you are in school, you have access to their gym...

stop making excuses. if you want it, you will find a way.

For starters, being in school doesn't get you into a gym, so i'm not sure why you think that is. Second of all, i play basketball 2-3 nights a week, i go to the gym 4 days a week to lift and run.

I don't look like this
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1051832/2/istockphoto_1051832_fat_man.jpg

I'm not making excuses for anything. I didn't have the motivation last season, so it didn't happen. I have the motivation today, i want it to happen, do you have any training advice or are you just going to berate me on my training habits...habits that you are clueless to.

timmy, being physically active is a big help. If you want to get serious about racing, though, you need to ride more. Lots more. Most do higher volumes of cross-training in the winter (running, skiing, basketball, whatever) and taper that while simultaneously increasing time on the bike. By the time March rolls around, all of my exercise is on the bike.

It's impossible to ride every ride outside, which is why a trainer or set of rollers is so important.

The sticky link from Botto is all the advice you need.

I'm posting in between study breaks for a psychopharmachology test that is in 60 mins...
I don't have a running bike right now that i'd be willing to put in the snow or could even ride across the 1 inch thick ice on the roads (see sig)

I didn't come here looking for mentality coaching guys...thanks, but no thanks...mmmk

Toughen up, this ain't no foo love in.

PS

University is a cake walk, and most in this sub forum know it because they have been there themselves.

University is a cake walk, and most in this sub forum know it because they have been there themselves.

Tell me about it, why do you think i'm dreading graduation ;)

I don't look like this
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1051832/2/istockphoto_1051832_fat_man.jpg



..but you're acting like this

http://www.denalidrafthorses.com/uploads/Denali_Pics/Kiowa/Kiowa%20Butt.gif

Working in a factory from 5am-2pm 6 days a week doesn't lend itself to riding much ;). All shall change this year.


Dude that means you have from 2pm to 8pm to train 6 days a week.

As alluded to above, try 7AM to 6pm, plus taking work home, plus traveling around the country most weeks, plus wife, plus kid.

Either you want to race and you find the time, or you aren't willing to commit, and there will never be enough time.

Timmy,
http://www.bikeiowa.org/
http://www.bikeiowa.org/Sked/Sked.shtml - Calendar

Dude that means you have from 2pm to 8pm to train 6 days a week.

Incorrect...

Again, though, that was 9 months ago...so i'm not sure why we're still discussing it.


*EDIT*
There were also circumstances at that time in my life that made it hard to do much of anything...but we don't really need to get into the personal details of my life ;)

Timmy,
http://www.bikeiowa.org/
http://www.bikeiowa.org/Sked/Sked.shtml - Calendar

Thanks. Do you have such a source for Illinois though...? I'm moving out of Iowa in May.

timmy, i'm going to stop trying. you seem to be picking out all of the inflammatory posts and ignoring all of the constructive ones. There's plenty of good advice in this thread, I hope you take some of it.

timmy, you're starting to sound like a young Luke Skywalker to the Yodas on the board.

excuse me?

Thanks. Do you have such a source for Illinois though...? I'm moving out of Iowa in May.

http://www.usacycling.org/events/index.php?race=Road - That's a great source.
http://illinoiscycling.org/modules/news/ - Illinois Cycling Association
http://www.bikeiowa.org/home.html - Iowa bicycle racing association

excuse me?

"whine whine whine, i can't believe it" "and that is why you fail"

excuse me?

He thinks you're Yoda. I think I fall more into the Jar Jar category. Or maybe a storm trooper with short timer's syndrome...I dunno.

http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/index.php/races

This covers Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana