matmille

Hello, I have been cycling for a year or so and would like to enter a few local races my goal would be to eventually move up to cat 2. I know that the best investment would be in yourself, training determination etc but i also know equipment is important. I am on sorta a budget like 2-3k I have a low grade road bike now would this get me a bike that I could progress with, maybe up to cat 2. I am still young and in school and train alot, I feel now is the time if I wanna do something btw by no means do i expect to go pro, I just love cycling

Gran Fondo

You've never raced and you're thinking about moving up into Cat2? Did you have a question? This was your first post, so you're forgiven.

evrythngsgngrn

There is also a racers forum with sticky'd threads to read and likely other threads that already discuss what you want to know...
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing

And a Juniors racing forum depending on your age...
Juniors Racing (All Disciplines)

Homebrew01

$2k - $3k is more than you need. Your current road bike is probably good enough to get started. Save some money for clothing, entry fees, gas, food ..... Find some local fast group rides to get experience riding elbow to elbow.

More specifically:

https://www.bikeforums.net/33-road-bi...s-tip-two.html

Nachoman

Since you've never raced, and are apparently setting some goals, why not shoot for the pros?

THSdrummer

Because it hasn't been said before, "race what you can replace". If you blow your whole budget on one nice bike and you go down hard - you won't be able to race again for a while.

For the record, I'm all for nice bikes. I know a lot of people race much cheaper bikes than their nicest bike (i.e. race a CAAD10, train on an EVO).

OldsCOOL

Dude, do the TdF!

revchuck 

Read what these two guys have referenced and you'll have a better idea about what questions you need to ask. You most likely don't need a new bike. Make sure your present bike is in good shape, maybe get some new tires if your tires are not racing-oriented, and show up and pin on a number. Nobody's going to give you a hard time because you don't have a new carbon bike, especially as a Cat 5. You'll get respect just by the act of showing up and pinning on a number. And don't worry about snide remarks pertaining to your goals...you'll probably change them when you find out what's involved in what you want to do.

achoo

Just don't make your first race also your first ride on clipless pedals.

No, it wasn't me.

Square Wheels

roadwarrior

Well said and great advice.

Slackerprince

What's your average weekly mileage and speed?


S

Bandera

Join a club, pin on a number and proceed.
Any decent entry level road bike in good mechanical condition will do to see if you enjoy the experience.
Have at it.

-Bandera

grolby

Those people are fools. It's much cheaper to race on what you have and buy a replacement CAAD10 IF you do wreck the nice bike. If you buy a CAAD10 and don't crash the EVO, you're out $1500 for no reason.

OP: I suggest you race your current bike. I wrote up a little article on tips for people in your situation, you can find it here: New Tips for the New Racer. The gist: find a club, ask around to see who knows what they're talking about, spend your money on race entry fees, clothing and tires, don't worry too much about doing everything right and have fun.

Darth Steele

^^^^ this. I say join Team Sky

Slackerprince

Yeah, Wiggins and Froome are both looking for domestiques.

S

caloso

On BF, visit the Racing forum, read the stickies, lurk around a bit, and ask some questions.

In real life, visit your local bike shop and ask if they know any local teams that are geared to new racers. The shop may sponsor one. This will give you access to other racers, race-oriented training rides, and probably a shop discount. You don't have to be on a team. Lots of people start out unattached. I did, but knowing what I know now, I would have joined a team a lot sooner.

You probably don't need a new bike yet as long as the current one fits and is mechanically sound. Save your money for race fees, team clothes, and consumables like tires, cassettes, and chains.

spectastic

+1 on looking in the racing forum

Creatre

Good blog read, solid tips for a newbie!

zymphad

Eh, probably want to enter a race and see if you like it before spending 2K on a new bike for racing.

caloso

That really is a great piece.

aaronmcd

Agree with others on no need to get a new bike. Unless you really really really want one and would feel 14 times better just looking at it. In that case spend away! As long as you have access to working brakes, shifters, water, and all the gears you need, your bike is fine.

I don't have a trainer, but it would be very convenient for races so maybe spend on that. If you've been riding for a year I'm you have everything you need.

What I'd recommend (after less than a year racing):
1) For flat, 4 corner crits just make sure you know how to draft and corner.
2) For technical crits, be quite comfortable cornering and moving up in a tight pack as well.
3) For road races/crits with rollers/short hills, you must have some interval training in, as everyone will ride very hard over hills.
4) Watch the front of the pack so you know when to accelerate - you don't want to accelerate and brake all the time, and knowing what the front is up to helps a lot.
5) If you aren't at the front through a corner, you will have to slow down. Anticipate accelerating out of the corner and watch several bikes ahead to time it right. If you don't time the acceleration right, you will let a gap form and have to accelerate twice as hard.
6) Watch how the guys in front of you are riding. You don't want to be behind a crash, and if you are you want to be ready for it.
7) Bumping from the side happens pretty often. Don't freak out about it. Even a good hard shove shouldn't knock anyone over.
8) I put these last because everyone says them ALL. THE. TIME.: Don't cross wheels. Hold the line of the riders ahead of you through a corner (people say "hold your line", but they really mean "hold the line of the riders ahead"). Don't swerve (in case someone is crossing your rear wheel).

buffalowings

In other words..learn to ride first.

aaronmcd

Most of this doesn't come with learning to ride unless you learn to ride in a "race" ride. I only get practice with most of this in real races or group rides with sprints that are essentially races.

When you say "learn to ride first", you really mean "learn to ride like you are racing first". Which isn't really easy to do without racing.

caloso

Spot on. I've been racing for more than 10 years and I am always working on these things. I always feel a little squirrely the first group ride or race of the season after a winter of CX and solo training rides. It's one thing to learn to ride on the rivet; it's another thing to learn to handle your bike well when you're elbow to elbow; and it's altogether a third thing to learn to do both at the same time.