Hermes

Welcome to the forum and racing.

Criterium racing is not very welcoming to new entrants and may be even more for older master racers. More than likely, you will get dropped quickly from the pack and then pulled by the officials. Your trip to the race will seem not worth it and entry fee for two laps of racing overpriced. Getting pulled is for your safety and others but it is up to the officials and will vary from race to race. If you are okay with that...welcome to mass start criterium racing and let the journey begin.

Down tube shifters are perfectly serviceable but not as safe as modern brifters. We teach new racers to ride in the drops and keep your hands on the bars to protect from hooking another rider or being hooked. You will have to reach down and shift with one hand. That is not terrible per se but not as safe as keeping your hands on the bars. Plus you are a new racer such that keeping the hands on the bars is even more important. But down tube shifters are perfectly fine.

I do not think bike racing is any different from competing at a tennis or golf tournament. Casual golf or tennis is completely different from tournament play. Bike racing is tournament play. These guys are going to be very good and significantly surpass recreational cyclists in speed and execution skills - just like golf and tennis or any other sport.

To consider mass start racing, IMO, one must develop pack riding skills before the first race and even take a bike racing skills course.

IMO, considering your statement about riding in close quarters, I would suggest that you start with time trials and ride your current bike in a Merckx category. This way you are on the course by yourself, you will get to finish and you do not have to change a thing with your setup. In fact, others will think your older bike is very cool for a Merckx time trial. Time trials are hard but you will get the idea of racing your bike in a safer environment with less skills required. Racing develops fitness and you can work on your pack skills in group rides and when you are ready, start mass start racing. Good luck.