Southeast - Racing in SE Florida

I have been cycling for many years in SE Florida, doing the typical A1A ride usually solo. I got into Tri's a few years ago and am deciding that I REALLY prefer just the bike portion. I am 40 years old and typically ride 40 - 70 miles at 20 to 24 mph (wind dependent of course). I have done many longer rides, it typically comes down to time allotment for longer distances. What are my options? The little research that I have done it seems to be crit's and time trials. How do I start out?

I would suggest time trials. Time trials are really what the triathalon bike portion is all about. You could use the same bike. Criteriums require being able to ride in a pack through fiendish corners. On top of that, when you are starting out, you will be in there with some less than competent riders. If you do well on time trials, then you could go into criteriums or road races. Also time trials would give you a chance to make contacts and pershaps find a racing club to train with. Training with a group at least part of the time would help prepare you for races.

Pat's got good advice but I would state that if you want to get into racing you're going to have to take the leap and enter a Cat5 road race and start dealing with the "fun" that comes with it.

I mean you can TT for forever and a day but you still won't have any experience with riding in a pack at racing speeds. Many of the races either are "circuit" races or if they're multi-day have a circuit race as part of it. Longer courses than crits (e.g. the recent Stuart races featured a 3.2 mile circuit on Sat. and a 9/10 mile crit on Sun.) so less crazy turns and the race should be more spread out.

Good luck.

There are Crits and track racing at Brian Piccolo and there are also the Rosewood series Crits down in Miami Lakes, you can look here for some info

http://prpa-upc.com/miamimasters/miamimasters.htm

I think most of the road racing is done up North but there are a lot of good fast club rides in the area down here as well. Try posting in the racing forum for more info on Florida racing.

Show up at Pinecrest Elementary in South Miami on Saturday mornings, they roll out at 7:30AM.