allen254

i had gained a massive amount of weight about two years ago , at my heaviest i was weighing about 245 lbs at 5 feet and 8 inches i was fat and ,i've always been slim but idk what happened i let myself go i guess i was depressed and drinking but, i decided to snap out of it and i lost a massive amount of weight i went from 245lbs ,to now i weigh 180lbs thanks to running and cycling and eating better, i even had high blood pressure at one point but thats gone now i'm good now everything is well, when i started cycling i was only able to ride maybe 10 to 17 miles a ride and i was averaging maybe 12 to 14 mph on a 17 mile ride. Now 7 months laters cycling everyday for 7 months i now am able to ride 30 to 40 miles at an average speed of 18 to 19 mph on a ride i feel like i'm in way better shape and i feel i now can do maybe 50 to 70 miles at that average speed lets just say ive gotten a lot faster in a short period of time or it feels like a short time for me ,,idk if 18 to 19 mph average is even good enough to race..

Well my question is for those of you who are racing in cycling races like usa cycling or whatever other races there are. When did you know you were fast enough to compete or when did you realize it was time to start racing?? i love cycling now i get angry when i have to miss a day of riding my bike i feel that at some point i want to start racing also and compete but idk when i should start ??

canam73

Find a group ride in your area frequented by racers. Ask your questions there. Take advice. You will get dropped. Come back and do it again. When you stick, sign up for a race.

datlas 

Agree with above. Actually, I suggest you find a local club to ride with, one that maybe has "enthusiast" riders rather than racers per se. I am afraid if you started to ride with the racing club you would get dropped pretty quick.

Riding with a recreational club will be a good bridge and allow you to get some experience with riding in a group which you will need if you want to race.

canam73

Datlas is probably right about where to start. Ask at your local shops about group rides in your area. Also, the usa cycling site has a portion that lists both teams and clubs for each state with contact info.

In the mean time, pick up the Friel training manual or something similar to work out a training plan.

carpediemracing 

Also scroll down in the forums. There's a separate area with racing sub forums and barring some static you'll get pretty good advice/experiences from riders who just started racing to multi-time national champions.

"The 33"-Road Bike Racing

And in there one of the sticky threads:
https://www.bikeforums.net/33-road-bi...s-tip-two.html

caloso

Definitely check out the link that CDR posted. Most of us followed that progression in one form or another. As for me, I was a triathlete nd had been riding with a guy who was a long time racer. He encouraged me to come out to the local Saturday race ride. After awhile, I signed up for a local criterium. I stayed unattached for two seasons and then joined the team sponsored by my LBS. I wish I would have joined sooner.

StanSeven

It's easy to overthink starting racing. I suggest don't read too much and just do it. Find a group that has some racers in it and seek their help and advice. Ride fast until you feel comfortable in a quick group. Then do a race. Don't go out too fast, watch what goes on, and hang in there.

Go back again. You'll pick things up quickly

mkadam68

Ha! Good one. Me? Compete? Ha!

I race, but I consider it a success if I've been active: closed breaks, bridged, attacked, etc... AND not gotten dropped until the last corner or two. But actually compete for a top placing? Ha!

McTufferton

Straight from the link posted above by @carpediemracing from @botto 's thread. It really is this simple and really is the best way to get started with racing:
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'.

allen254

Thanks you guys ill be looking into that and performance bicycles has a training program that i may attend

caloso

One thing to note is that, unless you are a time trial specialist, average speed is not a particularly useful metric. Because I had been racing triathlons, I was able to bomb along at 20-21 all day, but when the group ramped up to 27-28, I would get dropped. Mass start racing means being able to accelerate, go into the red, recover, and do it again. Multiple times. And that's why every racer I know does interval training. I'm sure they'll cover this at the performance program.

Chucka

be careful, don't ruin it for yourself This can be a dis-ease you know... I used to have it when I was younger. Now that Im older I can spot it in others.