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Doing A Road Race

  • 12-04-2009 5:02pm
    #1
    manofthemoment
    Closed Accounts Posts: 45 ✭


    Hi,

    Can anyone give me an idea of what's involved in doing a road race? I've done a few MTB races in the sports category and done ok but I think I might be better on the road.

    What is the equivalent category on the road and can you just go along and sign on before the race and race it the same as an MTB race?

    Thanks for the help.


Comments

  • #2
    bcmf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,679 ✭✭✭bcmf


    From my experience MTB'ing and roading are completly different animals.When you start roading its more muscly then off roading which IMO requires a lot more anoerbic stamina.
    As regards signing on I think you have to be join Cycling Ireland or IVCA either thru a club or as a solosist and take out ins before you can do anything.
    You will join the "c" ranks in a race and work from there.


  • #3
    niceonetom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭niceonetom


    I don't race but...

    Riding in a fast tight bunch is a technical feat that is best not first attempted in a competitive environment. Whatever your level of fitness you are likely to be a liability to yourself and everyone around you unless you know what you are doing. Club racers will do their best to stay away from a rider without club gear who signs up to have a go, it's all too easy to for them touch a wheel or do something unpredictable and the consequences are usually worse for the person right behind them than for themselves.

    If you want to race on the road, join a club and get trained up on riding in a bunch. It takes getting used to, and there is an technique and etiquette to it that has to be explained - it's not a learn-as-you-go kind of thing.


  • #4
    bcmf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,679 ✭✭✭bcmf


    Well said Tom.
    Remmber on the road you will be hitting speeds of 30mph.1 wrong move and either yu or the guy behind will be in trouble.
    Was out with Rob Fowl last week who has years of biking under his belt and his brake hoods still have the scars of a bad smash (never mind his face and teeth)


  • #5
    Esroh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,508 ✭✭✭Esroh


    Is Sports catagory the lowest rung of the MTB racing.If so then as said already join a club.Learn the ropes and have a go at the club league.
    If your up to the next step the club will encourage you plenty:D


  • #6
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,234 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    I found articles like this quite useful in explaining why, if I wanted to race, I'd need to join a club and work on group riding skills first.


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  • #7
    RobFowl
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,669 Mod ✭✭✭✭RobFowl


    Open races even at C level are hard. The speed can go from 17Mph to 35 Mph in seconds. The ability to ride safely in a bunch is essential. join a club first and when you can finish in a group then try a league race.
    I was unlucky in 2005 in Bohermeen when some guy in running tights and a team jearsey locked handle bars with a castleagh cc rider, and brought down half the bunch.
    As a result I lost half my face and 6 teeth.
    MTB races and open road races are a totaly different animal.


  • #8
    manofthemoment
    Closed Accounts Posts: 45 ✭manofthemoment


    Hi,

    Thanks for the advice. I'm not a stranger to biking, I am a member of a club and have got a cycling Ireland licence, it's just it's an offroad club, so, it's not much of a help for trying road racing.

    I have done 100kms road spins and dragged the MTB up the highest point in Dublin etc. so I've got an idea of what's involved physically but I do completly lack the skills of riding in a bunch on the road.


  • #9
    Colmhayden76
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭Colmhayden76


    Most clubs will do a wednesday league for club members and are a great way to start. A one day licence for racing will cost about a tenner at the sign on.
    You would go in the combined race but as a solo rider you would be absolutly spanked. The Vets would have you ploughing ahead and would be stoking your ego but it is a cunning ploy they use you to break the wind for them so they can saunter off with 20 km to go and win the race leaving you a quivering wreck for the next 3 days.

    Do the club racing and get a taste for it as it is normally handicaped . If you like it then maybe some c race3s twords the end of the season with some people you know other wise you will be spanked


  • #10
    bcmf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,679 ✭✭✭bcmf


    Colmhayden76 wrote: »
    Most clubs will do a wednesday league for club members and are a great way to start. A one day licence for racing will cost about a tenner at the sign on.
    You would go in the combined race but as a solo rider you would be absolutly spanked. The Vets would have you ploughing ahead and would be stoking your ego but it is a cunning ploy they use you to break the wind for them so they can saunter off with 20 km to go and win the race leaving you a quivering wreck for the next 3 days.

    Do the club racing and get a taste for it as it is normally handicaped . If you like it then maybe some c race3s twords the end of the season with some people you know other wise you will be spanked

    Ahh why did you go and ruin it for us vets..........:D


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