Question for those who have travelled for races. How does the racing in various parts of the country compare. I'm especially curious how Florida racing stacks up to other flat land racing given that folks in FLA can ride/race/train all year round...

I'm not sure that being able to train year-round is actually a good thing. One of the fastest regions in the country is the Colorado Front Range (Boulder-Denver). I think CA is probably the fastest though.

I still don't think TX is as fast as Colorado, after riding with another Cat 3 and a former pro out there last summer. TX is a lot faster now than it was 10 years ago though. I have no idea about FL, but I don't recall any current Euro pros who grew up racing there...

My experience has been that Florida's harder than Georgia. I can't speak for other states..

states? petty small scope, no?

i live and race in the washington dc area. its super competitive and crit heavy. Last year I went to phoenix arizona and found the racing to be a lot different. First of I was able to win a crit relatively easy out there. Its like they didnt under stand the concept of the race. The road race I did out there was an actual 64 mile out and back with real climbing instead of the typical 10 mile loop courses that go on in the east coast. I got crushed in the road race in AZ where over on the east coast I would generally be able to hang in even the hardest races because of the lack of serious climbing.

Ive also done some racer group rides while in chicago and found the total flatland thing to be much different than the rolling terrain in the dc area. It definitely changed the rythem of the riding.

I suspect the biggest factor is the size of the racer population. More racers mean more races and more super fast guys who drag the pack around. USCF somewhere on the site has a breakout of licensees by geography.

Just fyi, Texans usually compete pretty well when in other states. John Korioth just won 40-44 nats, the juniours/u23's have been placing in their NRC events and the ladies have been placing well in the NRC events.

I'm just curious. Ocassionally I travel for work or for pleasure and I would like to get an idea of the scene in various places. For example, I'm planning on doing the 1st Annual Chicago Crit. on July 27 since I lived in Chicago prior to moving back in Miami and love the idea of a race in Grant Park near the lake and on Michigan Ave.

I think (based on no evidence of course) that Miami may be a little tougher since 1) there are a lot of cyclist down here period; 2) a lot of folks from countries where cycling is much more of a national pastime than in the US; 3) and the riding all year-round (i.e. folks may be on form more of the year since they don't hang it up for long winters).

If you are going to think of it that way than chicao is probably tough since the are a lot closer to some of biggest races of the year, superweek.

Never thought of that... but I was referring more to the Cat 3 and under folks. The locals... that month is big up in Illinois, with Elk Grove and and Int'l Cycling Classic in Wisconsin.

Chicago is host to half of the SuperWeek series, host of the national criterium championships, and host of the biggest money races in the US.

Do you really think racing around here is easier than Miami?

The racers make the races hard. Race long enough and you'll find out that's true regardless of where you are.

I used to do the early season collegiate races in Florida. Most of us were just coming off of winter riding and so weren't back in the groove with large pack dynamics. The higher speeds and lack of pack riding practice made for some very harrowing crashes. The only times I ever crased in races was in Florida. Other bad things always happen to me when I go there, so I will never race or even ride there ever again.

Also, I believe that the off season for Florida is actually during the summer when it's just too friggin' hot be away from an air conditioner. Kinda like Texas.

True...

That said, I think early season racing in the colder parts of the country could be a bit easier for someone who can train comfortably outside all winter.

In the winter in N. Carolina I can ride nearly every day. If it's too bitterly cold to break out the road bike, it's NEVER too cold (rarely below 20 degrees) to ride trails on the MTB or CX bike. Hence, it's a lot easier to bang out rides at least mentally, than it is on the trainer.

I plan on testing this theory out early one spring in Iowa after riding my ass off in our comparatively balmy weather

Considering Belgium is smaller than Maryland, I don't think so.

Tell me where a mediocre NorCal crit guy can go and be a big fish in a small pond. I'll be on the first plane out.

Not if I beat you to it!

Yeah baby!!!

or for that matter, that the US is 2.5 times larger than the entire EU .. . . .

Chicago.

botto is correct on this one.

I know the question is regarding the USA, but others responded to his comment.

If the us is 2.5 bigger than the eu, how come there is not 2.5 as many good cyclists? and the racing not 2.5 times as better or harder?

2.5 times as many rednecks? I think there are a lot of cultural differences that mean several of the world's potential top cyclists never even slip into a cycling shoe. And that goes for other countries as well.

Wow, this is the first I've heard of Korioth's victory. Impressive. Makes me not feel so bad getting 15th in races where he's held to 3rd or so. I still plan to get to his level though.

true.

When I was a junior 1990-91ish, racing in CO state titles was more or less = to racing the USA national titles.

But I had been living the 3-4 years before in Europe, in a mountains region and there is just the sheer numbers there to make it much harder.

Because the talented athletic teenagers who could develop into top cyclists in America become track and field athletes or swimmers. Watch us get 2.5x more medals than the EU next month and you'll see where our potential top cyclists are.

B/c less than 1% of the US population gives a hoot about bike racing.

I owe you a beer for this excellent response.
Also, check out the Weightlifting competition at the games. Watch the Super Heavy Weight from Iran, he should win gold. Here in the states he'd be on the O-Line in the NFL making millions.