Starting Racing

hsilgnede

So I've been cycling for about two years now. Done a fair few Sportives and countless club runs as well as my own training and commuting. Cycled from Shannon to London last year and doing London to Paris this year.

I'd like to dip my toe into racing just to see how it goes and see if I'm even vaguely at a standard where I can keep with a field. I don't expect to win races right away, maybe not at all, but if I can finish a race half way down the order of people who started it, I'd be happy with that for starters. I'm coming to this late in life (33) like a lot of folks who rediscovered cycling in recent years.

Some of the questions I have are probably pretty obvious.

1 - Whats the average pace in an A4 race?
2 - Should I be doing any specific training, other than what I'm already doing?
3 - Are there novice races expressly for people who have little/no experience of racing?
4 - Anyone recommend a good race to get started with, preferably in the second half of the summer? Clare/Limerick/Tipp/Galway/North Kerry/North Cork would be preferred.

Many thanks.

Chips Lovell

What training are you already doing?

A4 races will generally run between 35 and 40kph. Average speed though provides very little indication of how difficult a race will be.

Best approach to start racing is to join a club with its own club league. These are smaller, local races and a bit less intimidating for a newcomer.

godtabh

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

What training are you already doing?

A4 races will generally run between 35 and 40kph. Average speed though provides very little indication of how difficult a race will be.

Best approach to start racing is to join a club with its own club league. These are smaller, local races and a bit less intimidating for a newcomer.

The 35 and 40kph seems high but given thats in a group might not seem that fast/

On a decent day I average between 29kph and 31kph on my own climbing up to 700. I reckon I'd could keep up. Just need to find the time.

Would there be many open races come may?

hsilgnede

I can roll along around 31-32 on the flat on my own without too much hassle. Maybe a bit more when I'm in decentish shape.

In terms of my own training I commute which is a 50k round trip maybe three days a week (when there isn't a hurricane :rolleyes:). I use the turbo trainer indoors once or twice a week for a pretty intense interval session. And then there's usually a longer spin on the weekend of 60-80k on my own or in a group of 5 or 6 of us.

Mugser

Don't let your age put you off either. I'm 42 and my 1st open race will be either March 2nd in Summerhill or Paddy's day in Carrick. Bug has well and truly bitten.

smurphy29

hsilgnede wrote: »

I can roll along around 31-32 on the flat on my own without too much hassle. Maybe a bit more when I'm in decentish shape.

In terms of my own training I commute which is a 50k round trip maybe three days a week (when there isn't a hurricane :rolleyes:). I use the turbo trainer indoors once or twice a week for a pretty intense interval session. And then there's usually a longer spin on the weekend of 60-80k on my own or in a group of 5 or 6 of us.

Lots of good training there. Try to add some distance on to your weekend spin, bring it up to 100k or so to build up the stamina. Although A4 races are all sub-80k this will stand to you.

As important as time in the saddle and ability to ride fast is being comfortable handling your bike so that you and evreyone around you stays safe.

I'd imagine you'll have no problem. My advice would be to just do it. You'll never look back, it's fantastic!

ragazzo

hsilgnede wrote: »

I can roll along around 31-32 on the flat on my own without too much hassle. Maybe a bit more when I'm in decentish shape.

In terms of my own training I commute which is a 50k round trip maybe three days a week (when there isn't a hurricane :rolleyes:). I use the turbo trainer indoors once or twice a week for a pretty intense interval session. And then there's usually a longer spin on the weekend of 60-80k on my own or in a group of 5 or 6 of us.

Probably about 10 hours per week with intensity built in. Should have no problem with A4 races.

Rolling along at 31-32 kph, I presume. What gearing are you using and is that regardless of wind direction?

thekooman

The club leagues start, i think, as soon as the time changes so that would give you Apr / May to get some experience... Ras Clar has an A4 in June afaik. you are well able for it with the training you are doing.

couerdelion

I was in the same position last year and in the end just decided to give it a go and see how I got on.

EDIT: I was 39 when I started racing.

The average speed isn't as high as it sounds - you get pulled along in the group - it's the surges that are the hardest to deal with as at A4 because usually as soon as someone looks like they're thinking of making a break it's shut down. Also the speed up the hills is different from a training run as everyone is trying to make the rest suffer.

First two races I did last year I got dropped. I just wasn't ready for it. Both times it was hills that got me - first time the group broke and I was held up in the second half of the pack, the second time I was at the back of a group going up a hill and didn't have the power to keep up. Both times I carried on and finished.

I did more races after these and decided I was just going to hang out at the back - it's tougher as the elastic is more likely to snap coming out of corners and when the speed is upped you are tha last to react but I finished in the pack in every race after.

Best training I did was a few of us getting together and riding a 7km circuit as fast as we could trying to drop one another.

lennymc

getting dropped is part of racing. I came late to racing, at about 36. Got dropped a bit, then got upgraded to a3 last year. Best advice is to just go ahead and do it, and enjoy it. Although I normally question my sanity during a race, once I finish, I'm reminded how much I actually enjoy it.

Smalltom

Anyone recommend a good race to get started with, preferably in the second half of the summer? Clare/Limerick/Tipp/Galway/North Kerry/North Cork would be preferred.

You could give the limerick CC summer league a go. The route is from the Roadstone Plant at Gooig to Five Alley roundabout near nenagh and back to birdhill. There are normally 3 groups with the scratch group off last. Not sure of starting date but it runs every Tuesday for about 3/4 months when it starts. Safe, wide roads, everyone will help you, well marshalled, I've never seen a crash when I've been there etc. Only a €5 per race! Btw I'm not a member of Limerick CC so that's an independent review! Good luck with whatever you do. I did my first race 3years ago and am 39 this year so no fear of ya!!!

Beasty

hsilgnede wrote: »

I'm coming to this late in life (33) like a lot of folks who rediscovered cycling in recent years.

Mugser wrote: »

I'm 42 and my 1st open race will be either March 2nd in Summerhill or Paddy's day in Carrick.

couerdelion wrote: »

EDIT: I was 39 when I started racing.

lennymc wrote: »

I came late to racing, at about 36.

Pah! - whippersnappers ...

Took part in my first club race at 49
Won my first trophies (and medals) at 50
Won my first road race and did my first World Masters at 51

... it's never too late - the IVCA has a number of guys still racing in their 70s and even one in his eighties

I would re-iterate what soem of the guys have already said - try out club league first if you can

hsilgnede

Thanks everyone. I'll have a fish about for something that looks good to start with. Nenagh Birdhill sounds a reasonable one as I know the road pretty well. Will definitly have a go.

wirelessdude01

Make sure that you get into a training group that does intervals. I thought I had a decent base until I went interval training. After 3 intervals/surges I couldn't keep the wheel on the 4th. Average pace of a race wouldn't be an issue for me but the surges are and as such I will work on that until I'm happy I can keep the wheel no matter where the surge happens be it on the flat or on a hill.

WilkBMC

How many hours a week would people expect to be doing in order to be relatively competitive at A4? I normally manage about 4-5 hrs mostly done over the weekend.

Also what sort of training do people do, I would generally do 2 of the 4hrs in the big ring on rolling hills to build strength in my legs and then the other 2-3hrs are quite random anything from steep climb repeats to just flat out from A-B is there more constructive routines people have or would recommend?

detones

WilkBMC wrote: »

How many hours a week would people expect to be doing in order to be relatively competitive at A4? I normally manage about 4-5 hrs mostly done over the weekend.

Also what sort of training do people do, I would generally do 2 of the 4hrs in the big ring on rolling hills to build strength in my legs and then the other 2-3hrs are quite random anything from steep climb repeats to just flat out from A-B is there more constructive routines people have or would recommend?

Good advice in recent thread here ....


http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057133350/1/#post88655637

onimpulse

You would really benefit from cycling with larger groups too - probably easiest if you join a local club. It's very different going from cycling on your own or a few others to the middle of a group. You need to be very aware of other peoples actions and need to anticipate them. Group training spins would definitely help with this.

You could always chance it but I've seen people in the bunch who are downright lethal just from lack of awareness and lack of bunch riding skills.