aromano95

I'm relatively new to the sport of cycling, 20 years old. I bought a GT road bike for a couple hundred dollars at Dick's Sporting Goods and have been riding on it for a couple months. My progress so far has brought me to a 10 mile time of around 35 minutes, average speed just over 17mph. That times comes from a couple loops around my somewhat flat subdivision which has multiple cul-de-sacs. The fastest I've gotten up to is 28.5mph. The furthest I've gone is 21 miles in about an hour and 20 min. Never raced with a group before, just stick around my private residential area and a couple local trails.
My community is having a race in its downtown area with the different cat levels in late July. I want to do it and would sign up for the cat 5 division. I emailed the coordinator asking how long the race is and he said "30 minutes." I was expecting him to tell me a distance, but I was wrong. I don't know exactly how a cat 5 race works and what "30 minutes" even means. If someone could clarify what that means, I would really appreciate it.
Also, I'm looking for someone to give me a little rundown on how a race like this would go down...level of competition, openness to young person like me in the field, potential to do somewhat decent, stuff life that. Also, any tips on prepping these next two months for it.
Thanks so much
-Alex

CafeVelo

Chances are its a criterium, which is most similar to stock car racing in concept, they're fast, hard, slightly dangerous, and with the information you've given, you'd get your doors blown off. Crits are basically run at 100% power for no more than an hour or so. If you're not used to riding with a group don't do it. Riders will be spaced inches apart and any lack of bike handling means a crash. You must be a good bike handler, I can't stress that enough. Also, if you're riding a dicks bike, chances are you can't race it anyway. Check with the organizer, but you probably are required to have a drop bar racing bike.

Go ride and get the basics down first.

RussB

I agree that if you're not used to riding in a group, you shouldn't try a race right away. Check with Local bike shops in the area (check online first), and see if any of them have organized group rides. Some shops organize them for all different experience levels. You need to be comfortable in a group. Ride at the back at first and see how other riders react to road hazards and such in a group. Groups will have a series of signals to warn other riders of road hazards. Build up your confidence and ask other riders if they have competed in races and get their insight as what to expect.

bruce19

This.

mkadam68

"30 Minutes"
Some crits are measured in time, some in distance. 30-minutes means the race will go 'round & 'round a course, usually a bit less than 1 mile long, for close to 30 minutes. The faster you go, the more laps you do, the more distance. And vice versa.

Currently, your fitness is lacking. But don't take it personally: almost everyone's is in their first race. So much so that everyone is told they'll get dropped and in most cases, that's accurate.

A Cat 5 race will probably average close to 24.5mph for the 30-minutes. Now when I say "average", it means just that. Out of the corners, they'll be hitting 28mph, slowing on the straights to 19-20mph, then repeating for almost every corner. In a 30-minute, 4-corner race, you're talking 12-ish laps and 48 corners. In my limited, old-fogey math, that's alot of repeats. These accelerations are actually harder than just riding a steady speed. So, hopefully, you get the idea. Your 17mph avg isn't too impressive.

Now all that being said, do get up for it & give it a try. Do find some fast-paced group rides in your area and learn how to ride in a pack. Repeatedly ride in these training rides, and then enter the race. It's quite addictive & fun!