I Want to Get Serious..
10-16-15, 10:30 AM
#1
Broke With $$$ Hobbies...
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I Want to Get Serious..
I have been riding bikes for a little over a year now and I think I want to get into racing. Just this past month I have started doing longer rides with groups. My longest so far being 35 miles last Sunday, and on Wednesday I rode 20 miles. I started this last ride averaging around 18mph and towards the end I caught up to the front pack and we were riding around 20-22 mph.. I didn't have my computer yet, it will arrive in the mail today. So I had to rely on other people to tell me my speed. I will continue to do no-drop rides until I can keep up with the people on the regular rides (The people that go with the regular drop rides are much faster). Am I off to a good start? Feel free to give me advice that helps you on your rides. 
10-16-15, 10:41 AM
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I have been riding bikes for a little over a year now and I think I want to get into racing. Just this past month I have started doing longer rides with groups. My longest so far being 35 miles last Sunday, and on Wednesday I rode 20 miles. I started this last ride averaging around 18mph and towards the end I caught up to the front pack and we were riding around 20-22 mph.. I didn't have my computer yet, it will arrive in the mail today. So I had to rely on other people to tell me my speed. I will continue to do no-drop rides until I can keep up with the people on the regular rides (The people that go with the regular drop rides are much faster). Am I off to a good start? Feel free to give me advice that helps you on your rides.
I started out commuting. The first time I tried to ride up the hill by my work I had to stop 3 times. Old women were passing me. Most everyone starts somewhere like that. Even when you're in prime shape, 49 guys lose a 50-person race.
10-16-15, 10:42 AM
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The most effective approach for race prep that I've seen is described by botto in the "new to racing" sticky. Looks like you're taking an appropriate approach thus far. Keep on keeping on and you'll be fine.
1. Find some group rides, fast group rides. Sit in the back.
2. Don't get discouraged if/when you get dropped from those group rides.
3. Go back the following week and do the fast group ride again.
4. If you're dropped a 2nd time, repeat steps 2 & 3
5. Once you're comfortable with the group and pace (and vice versa), take some pulls.
6. Once you're comfortable taking pulls, try some attacks (if it's that kind of group ride).
7. Once you're comfortable with steps 5 & 6, it's time to enter a race.
8. At your first race, repeat steps 1-6, but substitute 'race' for 'group ride'.
2. Don't get discouraged if/when you get dropped from those group rides.
3. Go back the following week and do the fast group ride again.
4. If you're dropped a 2nd time, repeat steps 2 & 3
5. Once you're comfortable with the group and pace (and vice versa), take some pulls.
6. Once you're comfortable taking pulls, try some attacks (if it's that kind of group ride).
7. Once you're comfortable with steps 5 & 6, it's time to enter a race.
8. At your first race, repeat steps 1-6, but substitute 'race' for 'group ride'.
10-16-15, 11:17 AM
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After years of being out of shape, I got a road bike and pedaled down the flattest road around until I felt like I couldn't go any farther, and turned around. Now the road where I turned around is a landmark for "almost home" at the end of a ride.
10-16-15, 12:15 PM
#5
out walking the earth
it's as good a start as any. just know that when you first race it is likely to be very hard. Don't let it get you down.
I started out commuting. The first time I tried to ride up the hill by my work I had to stop 3 times. Old women were passing me. Most everyone starts somewhere like that. Even when you're in prime shape, 49 guys lose a 50-person race.
I started out commuting. The first time I tried to ride up the hill by my work I had to stop 3 times. Old women were passing me. Most everyone starts somewhere like that. Even when you're in prime shape, 49 guys lose a 50-person race.
On California 45 out of 50 lose, and 30 of those losers are national champions.
10-16-15, 02:56 PM
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10-16-15, 03:27 PM
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Save this URL: Northern California Nevada Cycling Association and check it in December when they post the dates for the Early Bird clinics in Fremont. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
10-16-15, 03:48 PM
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I can't wait for the early bird crits. My last chance to validate myself through riding bikes before kids ruin my life.
10-22-15, 01:48 PM
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I have been riding bikes for a little over a year now and I think I want to get into racing. Just this past month I have started doing longer rides with groups. My longest so far being 35 miles last Sunday, and on Wednesday I rode 20 miles. I started this last ride averaging around 18mph and towards the end I caught up to the front pack and we were riding around 20-22 mph.. I didn't have my computer yet, it will arrive in the mail today. So I had to rely on other people to tell me my speed. I will continue to do no-drop rides until I can keep up with the people on the regular rides (The people that go with the regular drop rides are much faster). Am I off to a good start? Feel free to give me advice that helps you on your rides.
10-22-15, 03:57 PM
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Save this URL: Northern California Nevada Cycling Association and check it in December when they post the dates for the Early Bird clinics in Fremont. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
10-22-15, 04:06 PM
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are you saying to cherry pick from other parts of my life to validate my worth, or to cherry pick certain races and try to remain competitive despite having my life ruined by this unwanted second child! They'll be delivered via c-section for sure, but whichever is pulled out second is growing up wearing potato sacks and grocery bags with arm holes cut out.
10-22-15, 06:26 PM
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As others have said, find the fast group rides. Get dropped. Learn to keep up. Go race. Get dropped. Learn to keep up. ...and continue as you cat up. Racing will humble you, but don't get discouraged. It happens to nearly everyone.
10-22-15, 07:01 PM
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Those of us who already have twins, plus other kids too, would like you to stop complaining about the twins you don't even have yet.
10-22-15, 09:20 PM
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I am good at cycling because I dedicate a lot of time and energy to being good at it. Kids, meh.
