Racing questions: logistics, obtaining a license etc

[Andy]

I'll try and make this as simple as possible. I'm young, fit, ACC-registered, have taken three minutes off my '10' PB this year, and and want to try racing in 2009 - I'm at university till summer 09, but am aware that a license covers the whole year, so it would be a wise investment.

What do I need to do, as someone who is currently not a member of British Cycling? How expensive will it be? Renewal, I assume, is on an annual basis?

And specifically how expensive are Hillingdon Cat 4 races to enter (the ones I may be targeting to try)?

[Andrew G]

Check out the BC [url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bcf/bcApplicationFormTmp.asp?promo=club2]website[/url].
Silver membership (needed to get a racing licence) is £22 and a racing licence is £31. I believe that the membership runs for 12 months from when you take it out. If you wait until 1st July to apply then the licence will be half price. If you're not going to race this year then wait until the end of this year then you can get everything in January at it makes your renewals easy as everything then runs Jan-Dec. If you're only going to do one or two races this year then it's probably worth racing on a day licence where you just pay a £10 "fine" in addition to your race fee.

Your licence will be sent to Joyce (President) who'll forward it on to you.

I believe the Hillingdon races are the same basis as Palace, so £10 entry and entry on the line (EOL). You just turn up in plenty of time sign in, give them your licence and money, they'll give you your number, pin it on, race, have fun, return number at the end and get your licence back.

It's all fairly simple but will probably just take a race or two to get used to it all. most people tend to be pretty friendly at races so you can always ask someone and they'll help you out. The organisers will also help tell you what to do if you're not sure when you get there.