"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - curious if i'm biting off more than i can chew..

Alright, well i'm 18 years old, i've been riding a road bike for a few years now with my friends and we're looking to get into road races. we normally just ride around in our neighborhoods and go 10ish miles a ride, sometimes we go on the bike path and do 20-30 miles. We've done about 50 in one day before, but with a lot of stops to just "chill" or eat or something. We signed up for a 62 mile ride/race in june and i'm just wondering if you guys think thats too much for us novices. We're doing a 28 mile ride next month, but that shouldn't be too much trouble at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and sorry if this is a regularly asked kind of thing, i'm new here :p. thanks

Probably more than you can chew. Is it a charity ride?

yeah it is, from what i've looked at about it theres a lot people that aren't "pros" that still do it and seem to get along okay. theres turn around points along the ride..i'd really rather not have to use them haha

Can you do a 62 mile ride in june? Probably. A race? No.



Do some riding during the week, and get in progressively longer rides on the weekend. Don't wait till next month to do a 28 mile ride.

yeah thats the other thing i'm not too sure about, i don't even know if its an actual race or if its just a ride. i think maybe a little bit of both pending on what the person riding in it wants it to be? i don't know..i'm new to this sort of thing.

and i'm definitely trying to do progressively longer rides, i went on a 28 mile ride yesterday on the bike path and it went really good.

most I had ridden before getting my first road bike was 20 miles on a mtn bike. In the first two weeks I had two rides that easily topped that distance (60 and 65 respectively). You'll be fine

If it's "a little bit of both" it's not a race.

i think maybe a little bit of both pending on what the person riding in it wants it to be?

It's not a race. Do it, you won't know if you can until you try.

Just ride as much as you can between now and then. Try to get some long rides in, 50+ miles. Learn how far you can go before you have to stop for a break or food. Maybe find a local bike club and ride with them a few times.

If there is registration, you pin a number to your jersey, the field starts at a whistle blow and the fields are grouped by categories you better have eaten your wheeties, because it's going to be a painful, fast race.

If not, enjoy the ride. Stop at the rest stops, enjoy the snacks that the volunteers make and have a good time.

if you don't know, it probably isn't a race. which event is it?

also, since you keep mentioning the bike trail, have you made it to yellow springs yet? there is some fantastic food in that little town - just perfect for a mid-ride refuel. i have logged many miles on the trail from newtown to urbana, not so much on the cedarville to dayton trail.

i remember the first time i tried to ride 100k, having never done that distance before. it hurt, but i made it. hint: eat during the ride. ;)

We've done about 50 in one day before, but with a lot of stops to just "chill" or eat or something. We signed up for a 62 mile ride/race in june and i'm just wondering if you guys think thats too much for us novices.

Sounds like a "fun ride". Even if they do a mass start, it isn't really a race. You can stop and eat, drink, be merry... and keep going. Hook up with people and ride together.

First ride I ever did that was longer than 25 miles, was a organized 100 miler. I was actually ok for about 60 miles. I finished...

if you don't know, it probably isn't a race. which event is it?

also, since you keep mentioning the bike trail, have you made it to yellow springs yet? there is some fantastic food in that little town - just perfect for a mid-ride refuel. i have logged many miles on the trail from newtown to urbana, not so much on the cedarville to dayton trail.

i remember the first time i tried to ride 100k, having never done that distance before. it hurt, but i made it. hint: eat during the ride. ;)



i actually haven't done the yellow springs one yet, my friends and i have talked about it, but we usually just go from somewhere in downtown miamisburg into downtown dayton and back. i'm sure we'll hit yellow springs once the weather gets (and stays) warm haha

Just ride as much as you can between now and then. Try to get some long rides in, 50+ miles. Learn how far you can go before you have to stop for a break or food. Maybe find a local bike club and ride with them a few times.

the 28 mile ride next month i'm doing is local group ride, i'm pretty excited/nervous for it. i'm definitely going to try and get a few more under my belt before the big one in june.

http://www.ridecincinnati.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.home

^thats the event for anyone who wants to look at it and whatnot

http://www.ridecincinnati.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.home

^thats the event for anyone who wants to look at it and whatnot

Definitely not a race. And if you ride it like it is, it'll be dangerous.

What fly::yes & ruff said: enjoy yourself. Stop & get food, drinks, etc... As ericm said, to train for it, put in longer rides on weekends, but make sure you're riding during the week. Probably at least 4 or more days of riding per week would be good.

Definitely not a race. And if you ride it like it is, it'll be dangerous.

What fly::yes & ruff said: enjoy yourself. Stop & get food, drinks, etc... As ericm said, to train for it, put in longer rides on weekends, but make sure you're riding during the week. Probably at least 4 or more days of riding per week would be good.

yeah i'm for sure gonna take everyones advice on here, thanks a lot! i'm sure i'll post something after i do these couple rides, i'll probably need more advice haha. but thanks for now guys :]