Gramercy

In the race videos thread in the 33 I watched a bunch of videos posted by members in northern CT, and then out west in CA, even some in Colorado and Texas. I haven't found links to races in this area buy am very interested in doing some next spring when the season starts up.

I looked at a bunch of USA Cycling links but can't pinpoint what I'm looking for. Is anyone familiar with races in this area, or perhaps in the Hudson Valley 60 miles north? I'd be willing to travel to go race. I never have raced but would like to try it.

Gramercy

It seems there is only one in the area in an old airfield in Brooklyn that I'm going to look into. I may also look into the NJ area.

Pug

The are at least several crits in the area. Try seaching BikeReg.com or USA Cycling for: Orchard Beach, Prospect Park, Grants Tomb, Floyd Bennett Field. There's also a spring practice series at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ.

lindyfd

Isn't there some kind of racing in Red Hook, Brooklyn?

lindyfd

slynkie

err, you'll want to have quite a bit of race experience (including on a FG), before even trying to qualify for RHC.

Pug gave you the gist of it - check bikereg.com. Local racing starts early March. If you're a cat 5 then I especially recommend heading up to Bethel, CT for the spring series (and clinics). There are still some good non-crit races, too.

Gramercy

Yeah I watch the videos that carpediemracing posts (I think that's his screen name on here) - looks like they race around a stadium. I've never raced before but it looks like so much fun. I'd probably have the least expensive bike by a factor of 4 at a race.

slynkie

The videos at the stadium are at Rentschler field, up near Hartford, CT. Those are mostly mid-week training races (Tuesday nights, iirc). The Bethel races he himself promotes are much closer to NYC, and the course has a bit of elevation change.

Least expensive bike doesn't matter at all (if you're talking about the trek 1.2 in your profile, you're wrong ). If you're a first-time racer, all that matters is having some group ride experience, being aware of yourself and others (i.e. - ride safe), and wanting to learn.

Gramercy

I just don't know if I'm fast enough to ride in a race. I know drafting make a HUGE difference in speed and stamina. I usually get passed by a lot of people doing the central park loop and riding in north jersey, but a lot of guys are serious riders around here. Tonight I did 3 laps in central park, which is just over 18 miles, in an hour flat. Solo ride, no drafting. I think I was moving pretty fast (I could always go faster but don't want to get home and feel awful) but I don't know where I would stack up in a certain category or how the Crits are split up.

slynkie

All male racers start as category 5. Women start as cat 4. Bigger races will sometimes split the categories up in to age groups too (e.g. they might have a cat 5 field, and a cat 5 35+ field), but in any case, you typically won't have much of a decision to make there - it is whatever the promoter offers.

The best way to know if you're fast enough is to just go race. If you try and you find you're not fast enough, it's not the end of the world - you just know you've got some work to do before your next race. Go for it.

Homebrew01

Ask around at local bike shops to find group/club rides in your area. If a shop doesn't host a ride, they may have the contact information for someone that does. Rides are usually "A", "B", "C", with "A" being fastest and most experienced. Start with the "C" group and see how it goes. You can learn a LOT from such rides with more experienced people. For the safety of everyone, I would not suggest racing until you feel comfortable riding elbow to elbow with others.

You can race Bethel CT in the spring, which includes a very helpful Cat 5 pre-race clinic for new racers.

Gramercy

I would definitely do the Bethel races in the spring. However, it's 70 miles from Manhattan so I would prefer a closer option if there are races in Brooklyn that I can enter. I guess I'll have to do research. I do have a car in the city so I could drive up for those weekend 8:45am Cat 5 races.

slynkie

compared to the early season prospect park/central park races, and especially as a cat 5, the trip to Bethel is worth it IMO.

wheelreason

Join CRCA or Kissena, and have at it.

cafzali

Check out www.nyvelocity.com if you want the lowdown on the NYC racing scene. There are crits at Floyd Bennett Field weekly, although I can't remember the day(s). The "knock" on FBF is the surface is crap. NYVelocity has a complete calendar of events that contains races/crits throughout the metro area, including Hunter Mountain and other areas in the Catskills, as well as NY, NJ and Conn. as a whole.

Stacy

Redhook Crit as mentioned previously.
Harlem Skyscraper Classics
Grant's tomb Criterium