NickDavid

I'm sure there's many avid cyclists in this forum that are interested in racing, but haven't taken the plunge yet. This was my first official year of racing, but I had ridden my bike for a couple years prior. I was interested in riding, but never knew how to get started. Now, I'm basically addicted and it's all I can think about. I love sleep over this. I get frustrated, stressed, angry and happy. It's transformed my life.

So, for those who are thinking about it (even thought the season is coming to an end), what are you waiting for? Why haven't you done it yet?

Post up your thoughts and/or questions for all to read, answer and comment on. Try to keep this semi-serious.

Skones MickLoud

My bike sucks (for racing), and I'm poor.

I'm thinking of getting into it come spring.

jbarham

I'm not fast enough yet
Afraid of wrecking my fancy new bike
Not willing to commit to shaved legs
Afraid of becoming even more obsessed with two-wheeled vehicles

msh1283

I'm squirrely and not fast enough. Planning to start next season.

NickDavid

You don't need a fancy, bling-bling, bike to race. And the last thing you probably want is one of those if it's your first year. I've seen some gnarly wrecks this year with Cat5 guys on their carbon bikes with zipps. One crash and POOF! Those bikes were toast.

Me? I've been using the same bike I started off on. It's a 2006 Trek 1500. Bone stock except for the saddle, which is a specialized toupe. I didn't take 1st this year, it had some nice finishes including 3rd in the state race and 6th in a tt (tossed on some aero bar clip-ons).


Racing will give you a new view on training. Instead of going out for cruise rides, you'll be focused on training harder and getting faster.

Afraid of wrecking.. yea, it can happen. No doubt about that, but you can't let that stop you!

I shave, but some of my teammates don't. That, my friend, is up to you...

jrobe

I started racing in my forties and it was a big adrenaline rush at first (I would have written a post just like yours). As time went on though is started to take some the fun out of riding for me. I started wondering, does my hobby really need to be competitive and on somebody's else's schedule?

After a couple crashes (caused by other inexperienced riders taking needless risks), I found myself out of action for 3-4 months with broken ribs and a clavicle. I decided who needs this and gave it up. I went back to interval training (Powertap) just for fun. It was a big relief. Cycling once again became enjoyable and relaxing. I still race - now I just race against myself.

My new passion is taking my bike out west to ride in the mountains. This is more fun and just as exciting.

Been there, done that I guess.

NickDavid

Hey, man, at least you did it!

I hear you though. It certainly took over my summer. Go to sleep early, wake up before the sun was up. Got annoying at times, but it was worth it.

agarose2000

I should probably race bikes, as I LOVE training with competitive roadies here in SoCal. I often ride with Cat4 - 3s in the mountains, and it's a blast.

I think my bike handling skills are also adequate for the job in a race.

I admit though 2 main reasons I'm not racing bikes:

#1) Afraid of crashing in a crit - As said above, my bike handling skills are solid, but bunch sprints get CRAZY, even in practice. At my young but not SO young age, avoiding injury is critical, as I won't be winning anything big ever.

#2) Giving up running & biking - I'm primarily a triguy, and I've worked really hard on swim/run. I'm not giving up either until I have to.

And #3) I get a lot of the benefits of racing without the hazard by doing the weekly hammerfest group roadie ride which has lots of semipros thru Cat5s. Ride your %#$! off, especially on the hills, but keep it safe. I almost always skip the field sprint at the end after our regroup for safety reasons.

jbarham

I *have* done a couple of triathlons and I really enjoy racing in them. I haven't gotten truly competitive yet, but I can see it happening. Triathlons help to alleviate some of the concern about crashing, too. I think I will eventually see about doing some bike racing, but I'm going to want another road bike before I start doing that. If I start racing soon, I'll get an inexpensive steel frame bike and just go at it. If I wait a couple years I'll probably be getting a Ti bike, so I can either race on that or my Lemond Buenos Aires CF. Or not. Heck I don't know. I have nightmares about wrecking my Lemond.

SteelCan

If the intention is to climb the "Cat" ladder, starting your FIRST race now (for all intents and purposes) will NOT help move you from a 5 to a 4. UPDATE *** WRONG WRONG WRONG per MerlinE

As for me, I want better conditioning and better ability to accelerate to bridge gaps and breakaways. Maybe then, I will find the group rides limiting but for now, I am satisfied without the racing.

Who said cycling isn't a contact sport?

Quel

I like going solo. I run and bike instead of other activities because I can decide I want to do it, and walk out the front door 5 minutes later and be on my way. No driving to the gym, no waiting at race start lines, no waiting for the group to assemble, just riding/running.

merlinextraligh

Very few are when they start, but its the only way to get as fast as you need to be.

It's a tool, not a jewel. Use the tool for its intended purpose.


not required.

Problem?

merlinextraligh

Incorrect. You've got to do 10 Cat 5 races to upgrade. Doing some this fall will start ticking off those 10.

Moreover, doing a couple of races this fall will give you a much better idea of where you're at fitness wise, and where you need to get to next season.

nayr497

I thoroughly enjoy riding my bikes and seeing if I can get faster on them. I even enjoy racing riding friends/others for the sprints on group rides.

I don't race because I played competitive sports for most of my life and now, it seems, I engage in athletic pursuits simply for fun, not to compete. I don't have the same desire to score at all costs, to cleat or elbow someone for a goal/basket/score. I'm happy playing sports and cycling just for fun and exercise.

I have no problems with people who race. However, it does seem like it takes the fun out of cycling, for some. It also seems, from those I meet out riding and some posters here, that many mid-aged cyclists missed out on sports while growing up and now are trying to reclaim the glory days. The problem is they already have the girl (their wife) and instead of a Camaro, they drive a Honda Odyssey or a Subaru.

MONGO!

The end of the season is a great time to do your first races, it will give you an insight to what you need to improve and motivate you to train through the winter.

noise boy

I have a friend who summed up racing like this: "I've ruined every good hobby I have ever had by putting a number plate on it" I have to honestly say I would agree. I like riding the bike because it takes me places and allows me to see things that I would never otherwise see, as well as getting me back in shape (I've lost about 10lbs since I started riding on the road about a month ago).

agarose2000

Disagree with all the folks that think racing will necessarily suck the joy out of riding.

If it suits your personality and drive, racing will ADD to your enjoyment of the sport. Immeasurably. I don't do pure bike racing (yet), but I road race in running (5k to marathons) as well as triathlons. There is no way I'd train even half as hard as I do if I didn't race, and I certainly wouldn't push myself to near my limits if I weren't racing. Some would call this unnecessary torture as I'm not even close to winning anything big, but the reality is that the satisfaction and the excitement of the training is a joy unto itself. I can honestly say that one of the greatest satisfactions is to toe the starting line of a race after training to your limits for 18 weeks or so, pushing farther and faster than you even imagined possible, and then racing your heart out to a new PR. There's no amount of money that can buy that sort of achievement.

Not saying that you have to race to enjoy cycling - most folks never race and love cycling on its own. But for those who tend to wonder, "how good can I get?", getting into the racing world opens up a whole new dimension on the sport that has its own amazing rewards. In the vast majority of cases too,you're really only competing against yourself. You may race others in the process, but ultimately it comes down to how good you are and how good you were.

Now if you're a pro who HAS to win or go hungry, that can dramatically change the enjoyment equation. Same with super-committed elite level athletes who have a lot at stake on each win. A lot more stress and less fun in that situation.

jbarham

Well written and stated, agarose. I garee 100%.

SteelCan

Will pass along that info to a friend who is/was struggling to find a way to get his "10" in this year. He was pretty certain that the 5 he already raced would NOT count towards his upgrade and would have to start at "ZERO" again next Spring.

BTW I will search the UCAC Rulebook
https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=4220
Update: Not sure what he is fretting about. 10 mass starts, no time limit mentioned (on page 19) in the rulebook.
Unless I misunderstood and he wanted to be a "4" for some specific race next Spring.

noisebeam

Time, just not enough of it. I can put the miles in on my schedule, but wouldn't be able follow a race schedule.

ILUVUK

I would like to give racing a try, but there is really no racing scene in this area of which I am aware. There is a 3 race crit series in the area over Memorial Day weekend, but other than that, I don't know of any other races in the area. I suppose I'm not dedicated enough to drive to Chicago to race.

JoeOxfordCT

This was always my biggest fear along with trashing my bike and why I skipped the injury part and went straight to "who needs this"...

Tsuru

Did a crit and did not enjoy it at all. I do not have the competitive drive to go around and around in little circles to beat anyone except myself. I might be more inclined to try a point A to point B race but more exciting for me is the idea of randonneuring as a form of "competiting" next year (Ohio's seems to have a decent randoneurring group), though I'm only competing against a clock and my own potential fatigue.

DataJunkie

Each year I go back and forth regarding this same topic. The end result is the same.
My main issues are that I do not like riding in a large group. 6-10 is about the limit I can stand.
Secondly, I do not have the time to race often. That being said the idea of racing here and there sounds appealing.
I do enjoy competitive club rides. One should give just about anything at least one shot. *shrugs*
Maybe I should sign up for a TT and a RR after next year's schedule is posted mid winter. Crits do not sound appealing in the least.

Machka 

Been there, done that.

I raced for 3 years and got out of it for a couple reasons:

-- politics ... between clubs and within the organization.
-- inconvenience ... I didn't own a car and when the races start at 5 pm 50 km from where you work, it's impossible to get there in time.