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New road racer

hello im new to road racing and using the cycle Ireland site, ive just recently received my uci licence. But how do I get points and register for competitive races..i see them on cycle Ireland web site but I don't see an option on how to sign up for register for a race, id like to get points and hopefully move up from a beginner licence. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Beasty

Moved from cycling training logs

Plastik

Turn up, pay money, win race, get money, get points, get girls, move up to next cat.

inc21

^^^ Yep, it is that easy

not yet

Expand on the girls part please, and leave nothing out..

killalanerr

Plastik wrote: »

Turn up, pay money, win race, get money, get points, get girls, move up to next cat.

Plastic has it spot on but lets tease it out bit
Turn up: check the CI calendar for a race in your area

Pay your money:No need for prentry you pay on the day the fee is set at €15

Win the race,get points:You will start at a4 to make your way up the caterories you need to score points theses are awarded to the first 8 i think in each race,

Get money:prize money is payed for wining

Get points: when you reach 10 you will be up graded to the next cat,,nothing to it really!
Don't worry about the girls as you will be training your ass off you won't have time for that sort of thing

rollingscone

killalanerr wrote: »

Don't worry about the girls as you will be training your ass off you won't have time for that sort of thing

For further information on this part please refer to ''Jan & Klodi's party bus''.

XtotheZ

not yet wrote: »

Expand on the girls part please, and leave nothing out..

nothing gets the women wetter than rock hard, shaved, tanned..... legs!

Dont forget the baby oil

New road racer

Awsome cool and thanks so i just look at what ever race is going on and just turn up on the day

New road racer

Do you get points on leisure cycles as well ?

New road racer

Do you get points for leisure events ?,, so i just turn up for wat eva race and pay on the day ?

killalanerr

New road racer wrote: »

Do you get points for leisure events ?,, so i just turn up for wat eva race and pay on the day ?

I always enjoy a few pints after a leisure event.....

detones

killalanerr wrote: »

I always enjoy a few pints after a leisure event.....

...... Or even during ;-)

smurphy29

New road racer wrote: »

Do you get points on leisure cycles as well ?

No. You get points for placing in the top eight in road races (or top three if it's under 50k). Eight points for the winner, seven for second, down to one for eighth.

Have you done any club racing or are you a member of a club, out of interest?

New road racer

I'm not a member of any club im an individual.. I've recently changed sport from cross country running know to cycle so im new to this..not to sure wat clubs are about like benifits or advantages e.t.c

07Lapierre

No offence intended OP, but unless u have raced before, you are a potential liability to yourself and other riders if you turn up at an A4 race. Join a club go on a few group rides and "learn the art of group riding" before you enter a race. Better for you and others.

Lusk_Doyle

New road racer wrote: »

I'm not a member of any club im an individual.. I've recently changed sport from cross country running know to cycle so im new to this..not to sure wat clubs are about like benifits or advantages e.t.c

Sure, we're all individuals on here!

Edit: The Chairperson of McNally Swords CC is very good at taking new riders under his wing and helping them develop. I'm sure that he would be more than happy to help you not be a "liability".

laraghrider

New road racer wrote: »

I'm not a member of any club im an individual.. I've recently changed sport from cross country running know to cycle so im new to this..not to sure wat clubs are about like benifits or advantages e.t.c

Have you ever cycled in a group? I get the impression from this that you have not. Going straight into racing in a group is a little less than ideal. I'd say go out with a local club, get comfortable in a group and then consider racing.

smurphy29

New road racer wrote: »

I'm not a member of any club im an individual.. I've recently changed sport from cross country running know to cycle so im new to this..not to sure wat clubs are about like benifits or advantages e.t.c

Bike racing is inherently dangerous as you are riding wheel to wheel at speed. Although A4 may be described as a beginner's category the races are fast and often littered with crashes. Being strong enough is one thing, but it's essential to be able to handle your bike with the appropriate level of skill.

My advice would be to wait until next seson and get a winter's training in a club under your belt before doing it.

CramCycle

Sign up for some club league racing as well, great way to gain more experience, the etiquette as well as confidence building. If you have time the track accreditation in Sundrive is a nice start to wheel to wheel riding in controlled conditions as well as learning the importance of observation, something some A3 and A4 riders lack

Taxuser1

this smacks of another runner who thinks he can be a cyclist !

what is it with these Gerry Kiernans ?

New road racer

I have done a few group rides.. I have like 3 points.. Will look into joining a club but not sure yet

CramCycle

New road racer wrote: »

I have done a few group rides.. I have like 3 points.. Will look into joining a club but not sure yet

Where are you based, then you can let the regulars try and suck you in.

New road racer

Dublin south.. Thanks for all the tips really helpful

killalanerr

New road racer wrote: »

I have done a few group rides.. I have like 3 points.. Will look into joining a club but not sure yet

Is it just me ....? How did you get these point

killalanerr

New road racer wrote: »

I have done a few group rides.. I have like 3 points.. Will look into joining a club but not sure yet

Is it just me ....? How did you get these point

New road racer

Im not totally new to cycling just to competitive cycling

CramCycle

CramCycle wrote: »

Where are you based, then you can let the regulars try and suck you in.

New road racer wrote: »

Dublin south.. Thanks for all the tips really helpful

Tiernans it is so, have a good, well run club league, training rides for racers, friendly atmosphere. Orwell is to big, you'd get lost in the crowd.

Let it begin

simonrooneyzaga

I have started cycling regularly this year with the aim of getting fit and set a target of a 160km sportif which I am to complete in a few weeks. I will probably try and do a 200 by the end of the summer at this stage also.

I think I will join a club next year, but I am unsure of whether I want to race or go a completely different route and train for Audax events. What kind of standard is A4? I'm averaging around 28kmph on most spins solo at the moment. Obviously there are other factors (bike handling etc) to bear in mind but I just want to know do I have the required stamina / fitness before deciding.

Any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Lusk_Doyle

killalanerr wrote: »

Is it just me ....? How did you get these point

See here you big goldfish!

CramCycle

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

I have started cycling regularly this year with the aim of getting fit and set a target of a 160km sportif which I am to complete in a few weeks. I will probably try and do a 200 by the end of the summer at this stage also.

I think I will join a club next year, but I am unsure of whether I want to race or go a completely different route and train for Audax events. What kind of standard is A4? I'm averaging around 28kmph on most spins solo at the moment. Obviously there are other factors (bike handling etc) to bear in mind but I just want to know do I have the required stamina / fitness before deciding.

Any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

Audax themselves have weekly spins over the winter and in to the spring until the calendar fills up, even if you went for racing over Audax it is a great place to get the base miles in over the winter, cheapest membership fees in Leinster as well so your not throwing money away either. You definitely have the base stamina there but it won't really expand until you test yourself a bit by pushing it out a bit, your averages and distance will jump easily in a group as well if you haven't done group riding before. Even Audax Ireland are great for giving pointers in the etiquette for club rides, positions, the do's and do not's etc. Most of them would have been either experienced club racers or long distance guys so they know their stuff.

Taxuser1

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

I have started cycling regularly this year with the aim of getting fit and set a target of a 160km sportif which I am to complete in a few weeks. I will probably try and do a 200 by the end of the summer at this stage also.

I think I will join a club next year, but I am unsure of whether I want to race or go a completely different route and train for Audax events. What kind of standard is A4? I'm averaging around 28kmph on most spins solo at the moment. Obviously there are other factors (bike handling etc) to bear in mind but I just want to know do I have the required stamina / fitness before deciding.

Any tips / advice greatly appreciated.

first advice would be to join a club as you're new to the sport. there you can get dedicated advice and help make a more educated view after you learn to cycling in a group. you can be in a club and do leisure activities, some of the bigger clubs have dedicated sections principally for leisure alone. of course, there's racing also which is quite specific in its training.

audax/marmottes and racing is like chalk and cheese - sure you need the miles but not for A4, you need to be quick, sharp and be able to respond and relax many times. you might have endurance to burn but racing is fine tuning for many different efforts over a period of time, speed is key in shorter races. you'll get better with racing as you get used to but you won't know until you try it.

simonrooneyzaga

CramCycle wrote: »

Audax themselves have weekly spins over the winter and in to the spring until the calendar fills up, even if you went for racing over Audax it is a great place to get the base miles in over the winter, cheapest membership fees in Leinster as well so your not throwing money away either. You definitely have the base stamina there but it won't really expand until you test yourself a bit by pushing it out a bit, your averages and distance will jump easily in a group as well if you haven't done group riding before. Even Audax Ireland are great for giving pointers in the etiquette for club rides, positions, the do's and do not's etc. Most of them would have been either experienced club racers or long distance guys so they know their stuff.

Thanks CramCycle. There's something about these crazy long cycles that really appeals and good advice to pop along over the winter. Sounds like the kind of guys that can really help with pushing to the next level, whatever that may entail.

I've done a little bit of group riding within a couple of sportif's this year which I found really enjoyable too. Havn't taken a tumble in a group though which I'd imagine could make my mind up for me either way!

Thanks again for the reply

CramCycle

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

Thanks CramCycle. There's something about these crazy long cycles that really appeals and good advice to pop along over the winter. Sounds like the kind of guys that can really help with pushing to the next level, whatever that may entail.

I've done a little bit of group riding within a couple of sportif's this year which I found really enjoyable too. Havn't taken a tumble in a group though which I'd imagine could make my mind up for me either way!

Thanks again for the reply

No problem, drop me a PM if you would like any more info or a contact mail for them.

simonrooneyzaga

Taxuser1 wrote: »

first advice would be to join a club as you're new to the sport. there you can get dedicated advice and help make a more educated view after you learn to cycling in a group. you can be in a club and do leisure activities, some of the bigger clubs have dedicated sections principally for leisure alone. of course, there's racing also which is quite specific in its training.

audax/marmottes and racing is like chalk and cheese - sure you need the miles but not for A4, you need to be quick, sharp and be able to respond and relax many times. you might have endurance to burn but racing is fine tuning for many different efforts over a period of time, speed is key in shorter races. you'll get better with racing as you get used to but you won't know until you try it.

Thanks Tax User. Yeh totally different training regimes I can imagine for two very different skill sets. Good advice again - perhaps I'll join a club for the last few months of the summer and see what happens from there!

This board has been a great reference point for me throughout the last 15 weeks. Very helpful users and an incredible backlog of useful info - the 'search this forum' option is invaluable, most questions I can think of have usually been asked already.

Taxuser1

no problem,

invest in chamois cream is my last bit of advice.

seany15

killalanerr wrote: »

Is it just me ....? How did you get these point

not just you....

Lumen

seany15 wrote: »

not just you....

In my club you get points for leisure events and trips to the pub.

inc21

... Garda will give you points when driving home from pub.