Road Racing
 

Recently I have started road riding about a month ago after getting a job at my LBS previously this year, for a while I was skeptical about going on the club ride (a 30 mile ride, fairly little for hills) and my boss wasn't sure I would be able to keep up, i tried it a few times on random bikes we had in the shop and didn't do to great, i was one of the last people in. Then I bought my bike and everything took off, I was able to average 20.5 for the ride, hanging with the guys that have been doing this for years. People are saying maybe I should look into racing, I'm 16 right now, 17 in about a week and a half. (Not that it effects my skills) any other opinions? I'm just curious what people think :]

20.5 is a low average because the first part out group of about 40-50 goes out together and split at about mile 15

I think you should forget about being a roadie and just go right into Broadcast Journalism. FOX would love you, man.

There's a huge difference between keeping up on your local club rides and racing.

As a junior, things are a little tougher. The level of the competition varies immensely.

The season is almost over/ is over for a lot of the country. Keep riding, and race next season.

Go for it. I raced with minimal group ride experience, none fast, and am doing ok. Now I ride with the big guys on the sprint rides (I'm a week 17) and don't get dropped.

Yea, I was thinking about next year mainly, but I wanted opinions from people who won't be bias, and tell it how it is :D

Just look for a race that has a junior feild for you to race in, those are always slow for some reason. That is unless it is US nationals junior racing where there are 175 people there from all over the country, then you be lucky to make it back home alive.

Uh huh.

I've done better in cat 5 races that junior races. You don't know if there's a cat 2 junior who's going to own you in those.

Not all of them but when I was a junior most of the feilds would have like 12 people in them and no body would want to pull. We would ride around at a grandma pace till the race was almost over then we would jump for the line.

Wait till next year, it's late in the season and the racers are really fast right now. Train hard over the winter, and start racing early next year.

So all junior races must be like yours? Uh huh... :rolleyes:

OP, read the sticky at the top of the racing forum, it has a lot of good advice for getting started in racing.

Was that dumb ass comment even necessary.

yeah it was.

Given your previous post, yes.

OP. Go look around and see if there are any racing skills clinics and go to one of those.

Get some experience in clinics and group rides and then go line up. Racing is a blast. You're 16, and if you start now you'll really be able to grow in the sport. It's a great sport to get into at that age.

If you're interested, go check it out. And, if you're interested in racing -- after doing research listed above -- go do it. It is a ton of fun!! Don't worry about sticking with folks or speed, just go and ride safe and smart. The other stuff comes around.

Go for it and have fun. Don't worry if you get lapped. Racing is a blast. But fyi, the junior races here are almost harder, faster, and a lot more sketchy than the cat. races.

If he waits until next year will he even be able to race as a junior? Since he is about to turn 17 his current race age is 17, beginning 1/1/11 his race age will be 18. I can't log onto USA cycling from work so I'm not sure if junior class goes to 17 or 18.

Juniors go to 18.

Thanks, I couldn't remember.

but your age on your licence is the age that you are (grammar fail) on 12/31/11 i think i may be wrong.

You are correct, that is why I mentioned above that on 1/1/11 his race age would be 18. This is due to the fact that he will be 18 before 12/31/11.

I recommend the Botto Progression.