Just re-read top post. OP is talking 5 minutes per hour from equipment. And guesstimating a 180km road race takes 8 hours. Wrong. No equipment gives five minutes per hour. And a 180km race even over extreme terrain (paved) is five hours or less. So OP is barely beginning at what he refers to as racing. Answer is same as always. Find a club. Find a good group of guys you enjoy riding with. Let them teach you. Start with a bike that works.