If you’re interested in road racing then the ACC Training Group (TG) is the best place to start . The TG is the fastest weekly group ride the club offers and it is often harder than local races. Skills learnt in the TG will help prepare you for racing and if you can ride well and ‘survive’ the weekly TG then you’re more than strong enough to start racing.
Racing and Rider Safety
Riding fast in larger groups increases the risk of accidents and it is every rider’s responsibility to ride with care and consideration for others.
Addiscombe CC have a TG code of conduct to ensure the safety of our TG rides and to ensure safety and consideration other riders and road users.
Check out British Cycling’s Race Smart program, with videos and information to promote responsible racing on the road.
How fit do I need to be?
If you’ve been out riding at the weekends with the training group and made it to the café stop you’ll be fit and ready for racing. However, nothing will quite prepare you for the shock and hopefully also the excitement of your first race. Apart from being pretty good training, the training group is also the best place for gaining the skills required for riding closely in a bunch at speed and to develop silky smooth through and off, which is essential skill for smoothness when you are racing in a group.
What do I need before I start racing?
The first thing you’ll need to sort out before you enter a race is your British Cycling membership and racing licence, as without these you won’t be able to enter a race. British Cycling Silver Membership is the minimum membership required to race and you can apply here
Next, you’ll need a well-maintained bike and you’ll want it to be in perfect condition come race day. The last thing you want is an avoidable mechanical on race day as this normally this means race over. If in doubt, ask one of the TG members for advice.
Race Preparation Sessions
In order to join and race some leagues, race preparation sessions are required for new racers before they join. This is to ensure a good level of skills before putting new racers on the road and to reinforce the understanding of the Race Smart program.
Surrey League and SERRL currently have this requirement. You will be required to complete 2 race preparation sessions, which are run on a regular basis though the year before you can join races.
How do rider categories work?
Once you’ve joined British Cycling, you’ll find that their website has a great ‘my membership’ feature that allows you to see all of your racing history, rankings and points. The other really useful feature on the British Cycling website is the event calendar, which allows you to see information on all of the races coming up; if you spot an event you’re interested in you can add it to your own calendar on the site. A filter facility is also provided to narrow down the region, event type being searched. If you’ve just started and have no racing history you’ll be ranked as a 4th category rider. If you want to move up a category then it’s good to start racing at the beginning of the season to give yourself enough time to accumulate the necessary points.
British Cycling Race Categories are explained here
Races are categorised so as only to allow riders of similar ability to race each other: 3/4th cats, 2/3 cats or E/1/2 cats as you race in higher categories the races become longer.
Most racers at Addiscombe CC hold either a 4th, 3rd or 2nd Category Licence.
How do BC points work?
Points awarded for each race depending on what category race it is. Most points are awarded in National A events, down to Regional C+ events where the least are awarded.
For example, the Crystal Palace crits are a Regional C+ race meaning that there are 10 points for 1st, 8 points for 2nd down to 1 point for 9th and 10th places.
Longer races like 80km Surrey League or SERRL 3rd cat races will have 15 points for 1st place down to 1 point for 10th.
Stage races will have points for each individual stage and also points for the final GC so you can see that stage races are a good way to accumulate points as in a 3 stage race you’ll have 4 chances to score points.
How do I enter a race?
Firstly, you need to find out the race details. Look on the SL, SERRL or British Cycling website, or riderHQ to find out what races are happening and whether you are eligible to enter.
There are two ways to enter a race. Either in advance or on the line (EOL). Most online entries are via riderHQ or direct on the British Cycling website and most races in the South East region tend to fill up fairly quickly, so forward planning is required.
Use the event calendar on the British Cycling website to search for suitable local races in your category .
Most importantly, don’t forget to take your race licence along to the race for signing in or you may have to buy a day licence.
Where can I race?
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to deciding which race to enter. Ask any of the racers in the club and they will all have their own opinions of which races are easiest or hardest. The shortest races are criteriums or ‘crits’, which are on short circuits generally closed circuits with lots of laps. Most SERRL and Surrey League road races are around 80km long for 3/4th cat races and normally take 2 hours to finish.
Whilst it’s possible to cycle to Hillingdon and Crystal Palace getting to races in Kent and Surrey is often a case of sorting out a lift with whoever is driving down; it’s always good to head down to a race with some club mates as it gives you a chance to talk tactics and plan what you’re going to try to do in the race. Other club racers will often share their race programs and notify other racers of upcoming races to enter.
Try to arrive about an hour early in order to have enough time to get your number, get changed, check your bike and warm up a little.
Crits and closed circuit races
Cyclopark, Crystal Palace, Hillingdon, Hog Hill and Lea Valley all run closed circuit races at various points throughout the year.
4th Cat only Crit races at Dunsfold Park run throughout the summer and are organised by Surrey Cycle Racing League.
Road races
Racing on the road is very different to crits, as the races are longer and you’re sharing the road with other road users, so there are more hazards to look out for. There are cars leading the race which warn traffic that the race is coming but it’s not like the Tour de France. The roads are open to everyone, so you must not cross solid white lines in the middle of the road, go round corners on the wrong side of the road, etc.
We’re very lucky in the South-East to have two of the best and most competitive leagues in the country, Surrey Cycle Racing League and SERRL (South East Road Race League) .
Both leagues publish race calendars on their websites and provide information on membership and race entry.
Addiscombe CC is affiliated to the Surrey Cycle Racing League which means you’ll get priority entry and reduced race fees, in return we promote (organise) two Surrey League Road races each season. If you’re not racing, you’ll be expected to help out or marshal these races.
SERRL has recently changed from club affiliation to individual affiliation, so if you join, you’ll need to support the league by assisting with two events during the season.
Giving back and supporting racing though marshalling is an integral part of the amateur road racing scene and for Addiscombe CC racers it is a condition of membership. Without marshals and volunteers there would be no racing.
Women’s Racing
Addiscombe CC is affiliated to London Women’s Racing, which this entitles all female members to join LWR for free.
London Women’s Racing (LWR) is a platform from which various women’s racing leagues operate. Rather than people signing up to individual leagues, individuals and clubs to sign up to be part of LWR. In return, for joining LWR all members receive access to all forums, training days and the LWR Leagues.
Check out https://londonwomensracing.co.uk for more information.
Veterans Racing
Surrey League runs a Vets racing series at Dunsfold Park throughout the summer. Adddiscombe CC members also compete in LVRC League of Veteran Racing Cyclists) events.
Check out http://www.lvrc.org.uk for more information.
Well you made it to the end, which is a victory in itself. If you’re interested in joining the club or starting to race for us come and speak to one of the Training Group on the club run or e-mail captain@addiscombe.org
