AzTall Rider
Another option is to do the entry level races and ride at the back of the pack. The races may spread out anyway, where you will be riding with a few other riders to finish out the race. Road races can be crashfests also. My only crash in a race was 3 miles from the end of the State Masters Championship last August. I've done plenty of training crits over the past three seasons without incident. At some point you will have to get your feet wet. For most racers the first year is spent working to stay with the pack. If you wait until your fitness equals that, the next step is to get "pack racing" experience. Starting now will most likely allow a few laps of in-pack racing. Just my take, and as always, "consult your physician before beginning any intense physical activities".
