Where to Begin?

I Don't Know What I Don't Know

I'm thinking that I'd like to begin road racing with a time trial next spring, and then get involved in some road races and/or criteriums after that. I'm also interested in trying out some mountain bike racing, as well, but not sure how soon that will happen.

In the meantime, I figure I'll start by training for next season, and I'll also get my feet wet with racing in the KissCross cyclocross series this fall.

Knowing little or nothing about actually participating in the sport of cycling,  I'm not exactly where to start. I am sure there's got to be more to it than showing up at a race with my bike. I know there's a lot to learn, but right now, I don't know exactly what it is that I have to learn.

Reading is Fundamental

Since so many of the specifics of racing are unknown to me, I've been trying to read much as I can. A couple of books I'm reading right now are Bike Racing 101 and Cyclocross: Training and Technique. Both have helped to clear up a lot of the mystery that still surrounds bike racing for me. If you have any reading recommendations, please let me know.

Join the Club

One thing I do know I have to learn is paceline riding and drafting. I've really only ridden in pacelines when I've jumped onto a line moving past me at an event century, so I really need some help here.

Obviously I can't learn to ride a paceline on my own, so I've begun looking for a club to ride with. I started my search at USA Cycling, but unfortunately links to the only two clubs listed in my town both turned up dead. I was able to find a few clubs in towns within about an hour of me, so I thought I'd start by contacting them to see what they had to say about where to begin on my quest.

I posted a query to the email lists of two relatively local groups hoping to get some opinions regarding where to start.

I've been a non-competetive cyclist for many years, mainly touring, commuting/transportation, and recreational road riding - and I'm interested in starting racing. I have no race experience, and am wondering where to begin.

I'm 37 years old, have completed several centuries comfortably, can keep an average pace of at least 20mph (not that that's anything to brag about) but have little experience riding a paceline, except for those situations where I've latched onto during an event century or pulled a couple of friends on a weekend ride.

I'm looking to learn some group riding/racing skills so that I can hopefully enter into some races next summer, and would like some suggestions as to where to start. I've been reading the ride announcements, but I'm unsure if it's a good idea to just show up for a group ride having no prior experience, or if I'd be better off waiting for the beginning of next season to start with the group rides.

Any input is appreciated.

Aside from one reply, in which I was warned of being a danger to myself "and everybody around" until I learn "basic bike handling, steering, pedaling," both groups were very encouraging and helpful.

Start next season with one of the early season time trials. This will give you an early season target to work toward.  The results also provide an honest measure of your fitness and speed relative to others in your age group.

Don't wait until next year to start riding in groups or paceline situations.  The fall is a more relaxed time for racers and they will be more open and able to provide their time.  In the spring, they will be working toward their own goals and less available to offer advice.

I would just sit at the back of the pack and watch for the first one or two times to see how thing go and then when you feel more comfortable, you can move up and start working with the group. Don’t worry about just sitting at the back and not doing any work, as long as you let the riders around you know that you are new to the group, they should not mind you sitting at the back for as long as you need.

I'm sure the warning was meant to be helpful as well, but I'm the type of person that is good at finding ways to be insulted by the most harmless of comments.

Get On Track

Among the replies were several suggestions to get started on the track; one of the clubs I contacted is relatively near the Velodrome at Bloomer Park.

It will improve your bike handling skills, teach you to correctly and efficiently ride in a pace line and give you the leg speed to sprint well.

If you have the opportunity to visit the velodrome before the season  ends, this will jump start your ability to follow a wheel in a paceline, draft effectively and improve your bike handling skills.

You should try the track. You will learn pacelines, traffic, drafting, etc much faster and in a safer environment. No cars, no cracks in road, no dumb moves by other riders.

I've been interested in trying out the velodrome for some time, and learning that it will help to improve my overall level of skill on the bicycle increases that desire. However, the track, like the club it is near, is a 1.5+ hour drive from where I live, depending on traffic. The other club is only slightly closer - about an hour's drive.

A Long Haul

Either way, I've got to leave town to do this, which means driving for at least an hour on either side of the actual ride. Not only do I really prefer not to drive - I'd much rather ride to my rides - but that's two hours I could spend riding and learning instead of driving, but if that's what I have to do, then that's what I'll do.

Both clubs seem to have something valuable to offer, so I've joined them both (only $20 per year) and will try a few of each of their group rides to see how things go. And if things don't work out, I'll keep looking.

In the meantime, I continue to ride on my own, and have been working on a training plan that includes riding, running, and strength training. My rides will probably consist of several shorter, high intensity rides throughout the week, with a longer ride on the weekend. I'll probably still do a 75-100 mile ride once or twice per month, not so much for training, but because I love long distance rides.

And, If you know of any well-organized, racing-oriented clubs in the Lansing/East Lansing vicinity, please let me know. Something tells me I might not want to drive out of town several times a week just to ride.

P.S. Thanks to all of you who took the time to read yesterday's post, say hello, or leave a comment. I'm really surprised at the number of readers yesterday and today, far more than I expected. Hopefully I won't disappoint anyone with the rambling, self-absorbed content of my future posts as I try to figure out exactly what the hell I'm doing. Also, I'm interested in your stories, so please share with me your racing experiences. I have a hunch there's a lot I can learn from you.