thehammerdog

Looking into getting lic to race. 50 years old never raced not sure how to go about it or what level or much of anything.
Any information would be great. local TT looks fun.

echappist

go here

FBinNY 

you omitted the link. I suspect you might have intended USA cycling. wwwusacycling.org

valygrl

Welcome! I started when I was 46.

Yeah, USACycling, to get your license, but many local areas have their own web site that lists local races, and maybe a calendar and links to the race fliers. Either google or ask someone at a race - pretty much everyone at the race will know where to look in your area. My local area has a secondary membership requirement, so might be good to ask what else is needed where you are. You may be able to buy a license or day-of license at your first race.

You have to start as a Cat 5. Each event will have it's own details about what categories are offered, but generally you start as a 5 until you have 10 mass-start events (or some places have clinics that count), and then you are a 4. once you are a 4, if there is a masters Open race or a Masters Cat4 race in your age range you can race that.

You'll have to figure out for yourself in your local area, which race is the best fit for you. Sometimes the masters races are a bunch of guys who have been racing for 30 years and are way harder than the Cat 4, so don't assume old=slow. If you are lucky enough to have a masters cat 4 race, that's the best bet.

TT's can have somewhat different race categories, sometimes they are more age-group-oriented rather than category oriented. So, read the flier for the races you are interested in to figure it out. Mostly, the promoters are happy to answer questions, so if you are stumped, email the 'questions' link on the flier.

Welcome to racing!

thehammerdog

Thanks, local racing scene is pretty good. I would like to try TT as it is my strength as compared to racing. 😃

echappist

d'oh

not just usacycling, but this site https://register.usacycling.org/#!/c/pricing

as for the OP, perhaps i'll get to meet you at some of the NJ TT races (I currently live in Somerset County). We are fortunate to have 12+ races throughout the year

Heathpack 

TTs are races. They are obviously not mass start races, but they are races nonetheless. They just happen to be a test of something different than what a mass start race is a test of.


TTs are pretty straight-forward to get into. You presumably don't have a TT bike, so you go out on a road bike and race in the non-aero aka Merckx class. Each TT is a little different as to equipment that is allowed in the Merckx class, so read the rules.


There's lots of info on the "new to TT" threads about how exactly to ride a TT and what equipment is useful.


I raced my first TT on a road bike and my time was slow. But more importantly, a faster stronger more experienced friend did it with me for moral support and I beat her by 9 seconds. That was pretty cool, so a month later, I had a brand new TT bike.


I knew for months prior that I was going to race that TT but I had some long endurance events on my schedule to get through first. So during those months, I practiced a lot of TT efforts embedded other intervals that I was doing, riding negative splits, watching how the power numbers evolve during an interval. I got to be pretty good at knowing where I needed to start a long interval (power-wise) and how exactly I should unfold my power during the interval to land on the exact number I was trying to hit 5 min or 15 min or 30 min later. It was a good skill to develop, not exactly how you really do it in a TT race, but useful for sure.


Welcome to the TT game. Its beautiful stuff.

Racer Ex 

Welcome to the group @thehammerdog.

There's a couple of TT specific threads here and here. There's a fair bit of TT knowledge on this board so feel free to ask questions. FWIW I started racing at 45 and did pretty OK, age is only the limiter you let it be.

sarals 

I started racing at 60. You're NOT too old, even at 60. However, as @valygrl said, you'll be in a field (if you do mass start events) with younger people who are just plain strong and with older people who have been at this for a long time. You will get dropped. Don't let that demoralize you, you'll get there, if you decide you want to give it shot. TT's feature the same sort of the youthful strength/older experience mix, and those folks are also quite fit, strong and fast. However, as @Heathpack said, it's a really good test for the newer rider. And @Racer Ex is the TT guru here. As @Racer Ex also said, age is only a limiter if you let it be. Oh, is that ever true.