topflightpro

I don't know you. I don't know how much riding you do. I don't know how tall you are, how much you weigh, what bike you ride or what average speed you can hold. I really don't care, and frankly, it doesn't really matter.

You will never know if you are ready to race until you actually participate in one. It is that simple. If you want to race, look up a race in your area, buy your one-day license for $10 and enter the Cat 5 race.

Chances are, you are going to get dropped. That is OK. If you have fun, sign up for another race. If not, don't. It's really up to you.

And if you want tips on how to race, go here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...s-a-tip-or-two

gsteinb

****

mattm

meta-sticky

motorthings

deceptively simple

caloso

Maybe a mod could set up a system where every time a "am I ready to race" thread is posted, it redirects here.

sstang13

Had to be done sooner or later.

rkwaki

And to add it doesn't matter if you are a Cat 5, 4, 3, 2,1 or Pro you will, at some point, get dropped.

grolby

Thanks to the sheer number of race days they have, most pros probably get dropped far more often than we mere amateurs.

gsteinb

in truth you're probably not ready to race.

Jandro 

Ahh! The thread tools don't have this option!

AzTallRider

Seriously guys - let's not discourage those who want to race, but don't yet understand what it's all about. Nobody who hasn't raced can understand what it's all about, but they have no doubt heard: (a) it's hard, (b) it's dangerous, and (c) newbies are sketchy riders that endanger everyone around them. So except for those of us who are the "why don't I just jump into the deep end of this here pool and see whether I know how to swim" types, it's natural for people to try and get some level of "yes, I do belong out there" feeling before they sign up. So a sticky would be great, but why not make it a bit more welcoming, huh?

sstang13

Just look at the tirreno adriatico...

bigfred 

Welcoming, like the deep end of the neighbourhood pool with a few scared and hungry, juvenile sharks through in for good measure?

Jandro 

We have a sticky for those new to racing already, but if someone wants to take a stab at a 'more welcoming' one - go for it and report it for sticky.

Those of you that have been around have seen this cycle before. Race season is beginning and people are curious so they come to this sub. Most people don't look at the stickied threads before creating their own (like every other forum in the history of ever).

rkwaki

Didn't that baby Andy drop out again? As did cavendish.

and Grolby you are correct they drop out often, all of them (except Jens)

caloso

Jens doesn't drop out of the race. The race drops out of Jens!

gsteinb

Jens craps races?

sstang13

Oh many more than that, I think it was Farrar who finished dead last, 37:37 behind and had to drop out.

botto 

correct.

botto 

will you do us all a favor, and fark off back to the 41.

thanks.

Jandro 

Contrary to what you may think, your opinion is not the only one that matters.

I'm simply telling AzTallRider (and anyone else reading) what the process is for requesting* a sticky, since he specifically asked about it in his post.

*which in no way guarantees anything, btw.

wens

Phinney. And 217.

Jandro 

And since we do already have a sticky, this is a dupe. Feel free to add your thoughts/opinions/snark here.