New racing - whats the steps?!

[mlocke]

This has probably been covered in topics on the forum before but please could someone tell me the steps to take to do some racing?

Literally from the beginning and include what races I cold enter (probably starting in April time) etc. Never done it before but figured that I might try it to see what its like as the reports from races sound really good.

Also, for those of you who know me and have ridden with me...could I do it or would I be dropped on the first lap?

Cheers
Mark

[Ivor]

Trying to work out the same myself at the moment!

Step 0: Join a really friendly club. (done)
Step 1: Join british cycling and apply for a racing license. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/s ... romo=club2

Then look for Cat4 races:
Surrey league calendar: http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/calendar.htm
Southern Counties calendar: http://www.sccu.co.uk/Programme.htm
Rider HQ calendar: http://www.riderhq.com/
British cycling (lets you filter by region/category): http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... sultspp=30

Thats as far as I've got so far!

[Toks]

Thank god for that. What with recent no shows at Chertsey I was starting to worry that the addiscombe newbie/4th cat race conveyer belt had malfunctioned. Basically guys once you've sent off and got your race licence you're good to go. Some races will be EOL (Entry on line) so you need to ring up organisers or send off race forms. As 4th cats I don't think you can do many 'real' road races so your options will be circuits: Hillingdon (as a 4th cat race, easiest and best one to start with), Crystal Palace (Hardest, not for softies); Hog Hill (Not sure?), Dunton (Fine, a banked track), Chertsey ( I hear its ok never done it myself), Dunsfold Aerodrome (flat, bit boring), Eelmore (flat and even more boring than Dunsfold). There are others to...If you post what races you plan to do I'm sure we can tease out a few others to race on the same day. There's a 3/4 race at Hillingdon this saturday (1/03/08) by the way... I'm not sure what kind of other help you need. Hopefully Mr Tunnel and Mr Green will embelish things a bit more

[quote]There's a 3/4 race at Hillingdon this saturday (1/03/08)

[mlocke]

Cheers guys

I think i'll have a look at racing first.

I can't make this Saturday as I was planning on going to brighton with Mr Tunnell and also thought I would wait till April when I have a bit more speed in me legs.

Any more info anyone???

How about a step by step guide somewhere on the forum

[Andrew G]

Ask yourself what do you want to get out of the racing. If you want to start at an easier level then Hillingdon is probably better when the series starts around April as they are 4th cat only races (Tuesday evenings). You'll also be able to pick up points easier here to progress to 3rd cat as you only get points for finishing in the top 10.

Hillingdon isn't convenient for me and I don't care about points, I just do a bit of racing for the enjoyment of it. So I go to Palace, also Tuesday evenings from April time. The circuit is harder and it's a mixed 3/4 (3rd and 4th cat) race so you'll be competing against 3rd cats. You still only get points for the top 10 so it's harder to score points, but like I say that doesn't bother me as even if I became a 3rd cat I'd still be in the same race at Palace.

Quite a few ACC do Palace so you'll be guaranteed some friendly faces, and as it is a harder circuit it tends to be quite safe as I think it scares a lot of 4th cats away so less novices.

I was dropped at all the races I did at Palace last year (7 or 8 ) but so are a lot of other people so you are not alone. I just tried, and managed, to improve at each race. i.e. last that bit longer each week before being dropped and try not to lose as much ground. I couldn't make each week (also did the club 10s) so probably lost out a bit through that. All said I really enjoyed it and will be back there this year.

Both Hillingdon and Palace are £10 entry on the line (EOL) with your racing licence.

Chertsey has unlimited fields but you should in addition to your racing licence also buy a Surrey League licence if you are going to do their races. Personally I don't think I'll race at Chertsey while a 4th cat as the apparent safety of the circuit (which is quite nice) tend to attract too many nutters and people not used to bunch riding for my liking.

Don't know about any of the other circuits but I would suggest you get a licence and then come April just give it a go at either Hillingdon or Palace depending what you fancy. I think Palace is nicer, and more convenient for me, but if you want points then probably head to Hillingdon first.

Just remember that usless you are super strong you aren't likely to challenge for honours straight away, and if you go for Palace take in to account that you are learning so don't get too down hearted when dropped. I found it took at leat 2 or 3 races just to get used to what racing is. It isn't just riding fast and that little bit of early learning will probably account for at least 2 races while you get the hang of it.

Hope to see you both, and others, at the great CP.

BTW the evening races start at about 7 - 7:15 so you probably want to be there for 6:30 ideally to get yourself signed in, number pinned on, couple of warm up laps after the juniors etc.

[Andrew G]

I've just re-read what I put and hope it doesn't put you off , it wasn't meant to sound tough but the likes of Stu and George are a bit different to most of us. I just didn't want you to read some of their reports about ripping Palace apart and think "I fancy some of that" and necessarily be doing the same. It was noticable that once Stu, George, Sylv moved to 2nd cat that the racing was slightly easier as previously everyone had waited for them to do the work and set the way the race was going.

Honestly it's great fun, just give it a go and see what you think of it. If it's not your bag then you haven't really lost anything, you just don't do it again.

On the time trialling front Marco covered it really. For Open events (any time trial run by a club under CTT regs - all the Saturday and Sunday ones mainly) you just need to fill out the CTT entry form and send it to the organiser 2 weeks before the race. If you need a hand just ask on the forum and someone can help. Open events cost £7 this year and you just send a cheque off with your form. The organiser will then send you a start sheet during the week before the event with instructions on where the HQ is and the course details. It will show a full list of riders and their start times and you just need to be there warmed up and ready to go in time. For your first few it's best to start with 10s.

Details of the events are in the handbook which Jon Hemming probably still has some copies of and also check the website [url]http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/[/url].

The tricky thing with the time trials is what the codes mean and again if you ask someone will help you. Our district is London South and our local courses are the G courses. e.g. G10/42 is the course we have the evening 10s on and it is near Dorking (North Holmwood).

[Ivor]

[quote]I've just re-read what I put and hope it doesn't put you off

[Andrew G]

Not really tricky, one tight bend (hairpin at the end of the s/f straight) and one tightish (90 degree) left hander at the bottom of the hill which is taken quite fast.

I found it a bit daunting in my first race last year but that's only normal to have some nerves. Once you throw yourself in to it and realise that it doesn't really matter you just relax in to it. What I mean by that is that it's not as though everyone's looking at you and the tv cameras are on you.

It's easy to stand at the side and pass comment, at least you'll have been and had a go at it.

The single most alarming thing I found in my first race was the speed from the gun. Without having raced before and only watching on the TV you half expect some kind of neutralised roll off, that doesn't happen . 2nd race I wouldn't say I was ready for it but it didn't catch me out completely.

[mlocke]

Where do you get the licence from ?

Anything else that I would need (insurance etc)?

[quote="mlocke"]Where do you get the licence from ?
Anything else that I would need (insurance etc)?

[Andrew G]

I'll bring it up at the next committee meeting which is round the corner as I don't know dates that are good for Joyce to open up at the mo. March would be a perfect time as it'll be just before the main RR & TT seasons start and we can catch people before they forget the promises they made in the new year .

I think a "Covering the basics - RR & TT combo" as you suggest would be perfect if MrPVT and JonH are happy display their prodigiousness together - chaps?

[Stu Merckx Man]

mlocke, orv-

definately give racing a go. its so much fun, and you can put all those clubruns into practise.

even if you dont like it, what have you got to loose? (beside a bit of cash). at least you will never be left wondering 'what if?'

training wise you dont have to be that fit for a 4th cat race, especially at hillingdon or chertsey. if you can keep up with the 19s, and be comfortable doing turns on the front of that, then you will be fine.

last year steve B got away with just doing the club run and palace as his training, and he managed a 2nd place (see addiscombe 1,2,3 ) and i think a few other top 10s.

orv- dont worry about age, i was at a 2nd cat race with a 52 year old and he was going fine (until we both punctured). Your only as old as you feel!

[Antloony]

I really fancy doing a bit of racing this year so maybe us newbies get together and go along to a few and have a go.

[Stu Merckx Man]

how about a 'newbie' training group to help all the new racers bond with eachother, and get a kind of a team spirit going on