Is a 27 minute 10 a racer like time?
08-09-18, 05:23 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Is a 27 minute 10 a racer like time?
Im 17 years old and newer to road cycling (use to do mountain biking). I did a time trial and hit 27 minute 10 mile on fairly flat (some hills) solo. Would this be a good racer time or is it likely to get me in the back if I did race?
Thanks!
Thanks!
08-09-18, 05:39 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
The Tour de France usually averages around 24 mph overall for the entire race, so you're getting close. In a race you're gonna need to be able to keep up at least 30 mph in a pack, so I would work toward that.
08-09-18, 05:58 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Lol i am not talking about tour de france. Im talking like a local race. Would I not finish last. Maybe one day I would wanna go pro but im 17 so I have 3 years to train before Im 20.
08-09-18, 06:04 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
Even local races can be fast. And when first I got my racing license, I entered my first race, I was shocked that these guys were going above 35 mph for 5-10 miles at a time.
I stayed with them for as long as I could, but eventually got dropped.
People are extremely competitive even at the lowest levels of this sport.
I stayed with them for as long as I could, but eventually got dropped.
People are extremely competitive even at the lowest levels of this sport.
08-09-18, 06:07 AM
#5
wears long socks
Cycling races are part speed, a lot of strategy and bike handling, and test your endurance.
With what you gave us, you might win or be dead last.
08-09-18, 06:07 AM
#6
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,027
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22572 Post(s)
Liked 8,918 Times
in
4,152 Posts
08-09-18, 06:14 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
I got the same advice, with the caveat, "You'll find out how competitive you are."
That's really the key, many people have the physical capability to do well in racing, but lack the motivation needed to endure all the suffering and make all the sacrifices needed . . . in to be declared winner of the race.
How important "wining" is to you means everything, because if it's not the #1 thing in your life, it won't happen. "Winning" it turns out, was not a big enough reward for me to justify all the pain and sacrifices. You need to be borderline mentally unstable to crave winning that much, IMO, but some people do crave it that much. Not me, apparently.
That's really the key, many people have the physical capability to do well in racing, but lack the motivation needed to endure all the suffering and make all the sacrifices needed . . . in to be declared winner of the race.
How important "wining" is to you means everything, because if it's not the #1 thing in your life, it won't happen. "Winning" it turns out, was not a big enough reward for me to justify all the pain and sacrifices. You need to be borderline mentally unstable to crave winning that much, IMO, but some people do crave it that much. Not me, apparently.
08-09-18, 06:34 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
You averaged less than 20 mph on flat ground over 27 minutes going all out I assume. Anyone can enter a Cat 5 race. Would you win it? Probably not but you're a new rider and you'll get stronger. The only way to know how you stack up is to do it.
The fastest time trial in the TDF was done by Rohan Dennis in '15. Nine miles, flat technical course with lots of corners, 34.5 mph.
The fastest time trial in the TDF was done by Rohan Dennis in '15. Nine miles, flat technical course with lots of corners, 34.5 mph.
08-09-18, 06:44 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 781
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 479 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
156 Posts
Races are funny. It's like they're made up of people who don't exist anywhere else. You can ride with groups, clubs, etc. and smoke everyone. Then, have your ass handed to you on race day.
I'd reiterate datlas' recommendation - do some club/group rides. Find faster rides. Go from hangin on to working at the front. Short of racing, that's going to be your best indicator.
I'd reiterate datlas' recommendation - do some club/group rides. Find faster rides. Go from hangin on to working at the front. Short of racing, that's going to be your best indicator.
08-09-18, 07:08 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
You averaged less than 20 mph on flat ground over 27 minutes going all out I assume. Anyone can enter a Cat 5 race. Would you win it? Probably not but you're a new rider and you'll get stronger. The only way to know how you stack up is to do it.
The fastest time trial in the TDF was done by Rohan Dennis in '15. Nine miles, flat technical course with lots of corners, 34.5 mph.
The fastest time trial in the TDF was done by Rohan Dennis in '15. Nine miles, flat technical course with lots of corners, 34.5 mph.
I think that’s not bad for a newbie on a (I assume) a regular road bike. Here’s the thing though, racing is more about going really hard, recovering, and going really hard again, over and over. When I started racing, I had been a triathlete and I could motor along at 22 all day long but I got dropped liked a rock on my first race ride because I couldn’t handle all the surges.
I would suggest that if you’re interested in racing first start going on the local race rides (ask at the local bike shop that caters to road racers). Then when you get comfortable in a group, enter a Cat 5 race. It’s super fun! Good luck!
08-09-18, 07:10 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
Prepare to be utterly destroyed. 
But hey, that's the only way anyone ever gets faster, by competing.
People who don't have other fast riders to compete with never reach the level of those that do.
But hey, that's the only way anyone ever gets faster, by competing.
People who don't have other fast riders to compete with never reach the level of those that do.
08-09-18, 07:43 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,473
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1743 Post(s)
Liked 1,279 Times
in
739 Posts
FWIW....I have a 6.3 mi. TT with 250 ft of elevation that I do once month just to measure my fitness. I am up to 18.4 mph. I'm 72.
08-09-18, 08:22 AM
#13
Senior Member
22.2 mph solo avg for 30 minutes is good ! Be happy / proud of yourself !
Take the advise listed above and get into some group rides for awhile, and then enter yourself into a race ! You’ll have a blast and that’s what cycling should be about !
Take the advise listed above and get into some group rides for awhile, and then enter yourself into a race ! You’ll have a blast and that’s what cycling should be about !
08-09-18, 12:05 PM
#16
Uber Goober
I might could match the 10 miles/22 mph on a good day, but I'm sure not any racer, either.
In addition to the advice above, prior to entering any event where you're concerned about looking stupid, just go out and watch one first. You'll get a pretty good idea of whether they're going faster than you ever will, or whether it's an "I can do that!" situation or what.
They used to have crit races on a section I rode through, and I'd watch them. I've seem 'em do laps at 30 mph on a 1 mile loop. I'm pretty sure I can't do that, although I haven't tried recently. That was a crit with "the local guys" more or less, so minimal spectators.
I was down watching the crit race in downtown Dallas a while back. Maybe a 2 mile loop there. But they have the motorcycle referees there, and if you get too far behind the pack, they'll pull you out of the race. So that tells me I'd just best avoid that one in the first place, or I wouldn't be in it long. On that local race, I might lose, but wouldn't look too stupid. The downtown Dallas one- well yeah, lots of people watching that thing.
I was out riding one time and stumbled across a Cyclocross race. I was riding my Worksman cruiser. They asked, "Hey, wanna go give it a try?" I declined, but the moral is- some events are more welcoming of newbies than others. Had I gone for it, I think I would have gotten a fair bit of support from the other participants. Triathlons are also vary competitive, but noted for being supportive of participants even if they're old, fat, and slow. There are some long-distance/endurance races (6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc.) that normally have a very good mix of excellent riders and regular-joes. So you may not stand much chance of winning, but you'll fit right in regardless. (Hint: Those races skew towards people my age (I'm 57) and if you're a teenager, you're likely to be the only one in your age group, which makes you an automatic age group winner. Yeah!) There are regular sanctioned time trials (40k or so) and you'll stand out much less if you're not competitive than you would on a group race.
Speaking of which- see if you can look up the results on some local time trials, and see how your speed fits in there. I did that one time, and as best I could tell, I was bound to beat SOMEBODY, but not likely to do well, either. Maybe I'm faster now, though...
In addition to the advice above, prior to entering any event where you're concerned about looking stupid, just go out and watch one first. You'll get a pretty good idea of whether they're going faster than you ever will, or whether it's an "I can do that!" situation or what.
They used to have crit races on a section I rode through, and I'd watch them. I've seem 'em do laps at 30 mph on a 1 mile loop. I'm pretty sure I can't do that, although I haven't tried recently. That was a crit with "the local guys" more or less, so minimal spectators.
I was down watching the crit race in downtown Dallas a while back. Maybe a 2 mile loop there. But they have the motorcycle referees there, and if you get too far behind the pack, they'll pull you out of the race. So that tells me I'd just best avoid that one in the first place, or I wouldn't be in it long. On that local race, I might lose, but wouldn't look too stupid. The downtown Dallas one- well yeah, lots of people watching that thing.
I was out riding one time and stumbled across a Cyclocross race. I was riding my Worksman cruiser. They asked, "Hey, wanna go give it a try?" I declined, but the moral is- some events are more welcoming of newbies than others. Had I gone for it, I think I would have gotten a fair bit of support from the other participants. Triathlons are also vary competitive, but noted for being supportive of participants even if they're old, fat, and slow. There are some long-distance/endurance races (6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc.) that normally have a very good mix of excellent riders and regular-joes. So you may not stand much chance of winning, but you'll fit right in regardless. (Hint: Those races skew towards people my age (I'm 57) and if you're a teenager, you're likely to be the only one in your age group, which makes you an automatic age group winner. Yeah!) There are regular sanctioned time trials (40k or so) and you'll stand out much less if you're not competitive than you would on a group race.
Speaking of which- see if you can look up the results on some local time trials, and see how your speed fits in there. I did that one time, and as best I could tell, I was bound to beat SOMEBODY, but not likely to do well, either. Maybe I'm faster now, though...
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
08-09-18, 12:06 PM
#17
Serious Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308
Bikes: Emonda SL6
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
99 Posts
Who cares if you do? If you want to race, you cannot be afraid of getting dropped, finishing last, whatever. There's someone off the back of just about every race at every level of competition (it's happened to literally every racer), and no one laughs at them or shames them. I don't get this fear people have of whether they're "good enough" to race. Just race! That's the only way you're going to know whether you can hang. If you get dropped halfway through lap one, whatever. Keep training and do it again.
08-09-18, 12:14 PM
#18
Banned
Sanctioned racing has an under 23 category , so why wait 3 years?
FWIW, in the Tour de France, last place finisher on the 21st day, in Paris,
is a celebrated position..
the Lanterne Rouge .
This year, that guy was an American ..
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...lanterne-rouge
...
FWIW, in the Tour de France, last place finisher on the 21st day, in Paris,
is a celebrated position..
the Lanterne Rouge .
This year, that guy was an American ..
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...lanterne-rouge
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-09-18 at 12:23 PM.
08-09-18, 12:15 PM
#19
got the climbing bug
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,204
Bikes: one for everything
Mentioned: 82 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 632 Post(s)
Liked 908 Times
in
273 Posts
Crit races in socal are roughly 25-30mph ave over the race time, cat5 are 30min races and 3s are 50min. More turns, more braking and yoyo accelerations are needed. Also same as a club ride w/ faster riders. You have to be able to recover, yoyoing from 20mph to 35mph, over and over again and still have something in the tank for a group "sprint"
Keep it up, have fun and join a few different club rides. You'll find something you might like with one or few of them.
Keep it up, have fun and join a few different club rides. You'll find something you might like with one or few of them.
__________________
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
08-09-18, 12:55 PM
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Crit races in socal are roughly 25-30mph ave over the race time, cat5 are 30min races and 3s are 50min. More turns, more braking and yoyo accelerations are needed. Also same as a club ride w/ faster riders. You have to be able to recover, yoyoing from 20mph to 35mph, over and over again and still have something in the tank for a group "sprint"
Keep it up, have fun and join a few different club rides. You'll find something you might like with one or few of them.
Keep it up, have fun and join a few different club rides. You'll find something you might like with one or few of them.
08-09-18, 01:06 PM
#21
Serious Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308
Bikes: Emonda SL6
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
99 Posts
what sucks is that there are no clubs around me. I don’t have a car because Im 17 so I cannot drive to meet ups. I have asked my friends dad who races and is on a race team and he even said there are no clubs for beginners who want to race around here. It sucks. And I ride at 5:3am because of school/homework and I don’t think anyone would be up for getting up at that time in the mornings..
08-09-18, 01:40 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
Enter a race and find out. Stay away from this forum before you get contaminated. 
08-09-18, 01:56 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Loudoun County in Northern Virginia. Nearest club would be Reston Riders but thats 12 miles down trail just to meet up with them.. unless that’s what people usually have to do.