caloso

This time of year there is always interest among new and want to be new racers. "How do I start?" "Will I get killed?" "What's it like?"

Experienced racers always say "Go race a Cat 5 race and find out." NorCal has an Early Bird Training Series for just such a purpose. It's also good for old guys too.

Here's the link for the NCNCA Early Birds.

Post up the links for your districts here and direct the newbs from the 41 here to get the scoop.

Creatre

NC/SC Cycling:

Hincapie Greenville Spring Training Series - Feb 9/10, 16/17, 23/24, March 2/3
- No link yet, it's unofficial dates, will update when official.
- Great first few races of the season, usually RR with a few crits or circuit's thrown in.

topflightpro

NC/SC Cycling:

Triangle Velo Winter Training Series
Jan. 26th and Feb. 2.
Ace Speedway, Altamahaw, NC
Race is held on a banked oval auto race track. Rain or snow will result in races being cancelled or rescheduled. Due to the race being held on a banked race track covered in lots of auto fluids, the minute it gets wet, it gets very slippery.

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Juniors (10-14, 15-18)
[/TD]
[TD]10 am
[/TD]
[TD]20 min.
[/TD]
[TD]3 each
[/TD]
[TD]Prizes
[/TD]
[TD]$5
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Women’s Open
[/TD]
[TD]10:30 am
[/TD]
[TD]40 min.
[/TD]
[TD]3
[/TD]
[TD]$120 (cat1/2/3)
[/TD]
[TD]$25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD](cat 4 scored separately)
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD] $80 (cat 4)
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Cat 4/5
[/TD]
[TD]11 am
[/TD]
[TD]40 min.
[/TD]
[TD]3
[/TD]
[TD]Prizes
[/TD]
[TD]$25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] M30+/40+
[/TD]
[TD] 12 pm
[/TD]
[TD] 50 min.
[/TD]
[TD] 3 each
[/TD]
[TD] $100 each
[/TD]
[TD] $25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] (scored separately)
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cat 3/4
[/TD]
[TD] 1 pm
[/TD]
[TD] 50 min.
[/TD]
[TD] 3
[/TD]
[TD] $100
[/TD]
[TD] $25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pro/1/2/3
[/TD]
[TD]2 pm
[/TD]
[TD]60 min.
[/TD]
[TD]5
[/TD]
[TD] $200
[/TD]
[TD]$25
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Additional races same day are $15.'

Details will soon be posted at ncsccyclingassoc.com

wanders

Who's the ringer for Triangle Velo this year?

saratoga

Training crit (B and A races) this Saturday 12/8 in Tampa at Woodlands. Word has it that some out of town guests will be attending the A race. Begins @ 0830.

Speaking of early bird... FL road season begins on 1/26.

johnybutts

Texas wins. January 19, Copperas Cove Road Race. One of my favorite races with a downhill run in to the finish.

saratoga

Nelly, that's like six weeks out.

One of my priority races- Race of the West is in April at least. FL has usually been pretty crit heavy in the early part of the season but it looks better next year.

https://myfrca.org/la/2012/11/19/tent...road-calendar/

Creakyknees

here in DFW we never really stopped...

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/17591

johnybutts

Way to rub it in... Houston doesn't even have a weekly crit series anymore. Such a shame.

mattm

When are the Meet the Team rides/days in NorCal?

WA's MTT rides are in September-October timeframe. And no earlybird stuff here, unfortunately - races start in March.

misterwaterfall

Guess I missed the window on that one!

caloso

Sun. Jan. 27 – "Meet the Teams Day" – racers not yet on a team will have the chance to talk to teams and consider what they have to offer (and want in return) No cost, casual, pop up a tent, set up a table and enjoy the day (Teams: contact velopro1@sonnet.com to sign up). Moved to February 3 if rain on the 27th.

mattm

You can probably still get on a team after the season starts - ask around after you figure out which team you want to get with, etc. (i.e. after racing and showing your face a few times as well)

So not all hope is lost!

Creakyknees

Yeah I was talking with Hans about that, the whole situation is just typical govt bureaucratic BS. One bad apple really can screw things up for everyone.

mattm

Also can you link to or list the weekly training crits/races in Norcal?

I found one in the Sacramento area, but that'll be too far for me to make weekly - I'll be in the San Jose area.

I guess hammer rides may have to suffice, but I'd rather have a "real" race to go to on weekdays.

caloso

Good point. Rumor around town is that we'll have a Wednesday night training crit series, details to be determined. I'll make a note to post it once that happens.

gsteinb

Meet the team: 3/3/13 - Bethel, CT.

wanders

I thinking of meeting the team in Bethel sometime mid-April.

AzTallRider

No MTT's or Workshops in Phoenix, but we have a Tuesday Night Crit with a B group designated for non-categorized folks wanting to learn, with some tips and informal mentoring:

https://www.undergroundcrit.com

thechemist

Well, I haven't seen anything posted in the TN area yet but this is what I have gathered. Some other locals might have a few more mapped out for the early season.

Date Race Type Location
Sat, 3/3 Wheelman Speedway Criterium Crit Huntsville, AL
Sun, 3/4 Cumberland Classic Crit Nashville - LP Field
Sat, 3/10 Reveille Roubaix RR Austin, TX
Sat, 3/10 Ronde Van Grant RR Grant, AL
Sun, 3/11 Rouge Roubaix RR St. Francisville, LA
Sat, 3/17 Long Run Park Criterium Crit Louisville, KY
Sun, 3/18 Union City Road Race RR Union City, GA
Sat, 3/24 Tour de Tuscaloosa Crit Tuscaloosa, AL
Sun, 3/25 Tour de Tuscaloosa RR Tuscaloosa, AL
Sun, 3/25 Lexington Spring Circuit Race Crit Lexington, KY
Sat, 3/31The Hell of the SouthRRBerlin, TN

Dan333SP

I'm in Richmond, VA, and our training crit series in which I'll be participating with my team is called the "snowcone". Strange name, considering snow is rare here! It's split into A/B fields, and apparently the B field had 70+ riders last year. Should be interesting. The course features a tight 180 degree hairpin, so I'll have to do some practice laps with my teammates and get a feel for maneuvering around that bend in tight quarters.
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]January 2013
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: white"]
[TD="width: 75px, align: center"]1/19/2013
[/TD]
[TD="class: txtbold, colspan: 4"]CBC Snowcone Training Race Series #1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: white"]
[TD="colspan: 2"]online registration closes
1/18/2013 6:00:00 PM ET
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Richmond
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]VA
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]February 2013
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="width: 75px, align: center"]2/2/2013
[/TD]
[TD="class: txtbold, colspan: 4"]CBC Snowcone Training Race Series #2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="colspan: 2"]online registration closes
2/1/2013 6:00:00 PM ET
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Richmond
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]VA
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: white"]
[TD="width: 75px, align: center"]2/16/2013
[/TD]
[TD="class: txtbold, colspan: 4"]CBC Snowcone Training Race Series #3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: white"]
[TD="colspan: 2"]online registration closes
2/15/2013 6:00:00 PM ET
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Richmond
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]VA
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

topflightpro

Ha ha. I don't know. Alex is now a 2, so you don't have to worry about him. We have another new guy who apparently has done zero racing but is on one of the local collegiate teams that I hear is fast, but I don't think he is anything like Alex.

BTW, did you hear there is another Tuesday race series in Raleigh this year that will be alternating with Ace/Dixie? (They are on the same nights this year.)

carpediemracing 

The bethelspringseries.com site is starting to come alive (meaning I'm starting to put things up on it) but the main thing is that Easter is on March 31 so no race on that day and that I'm asking for a 7th week, i.e. races will go from March 3 until April 21. I'd like to get a good turnout on the last week and the 14th conflicts with Battenkill so it's a killjoy as far as turnout. Plus I want a 70 degree race day in there somewhere.

benajah

There's the Port of Oakland midweek crits if it's not too far a drive. I haven't done them in a few years, but theres a little bit of Internet information on them https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in...p/t-564550.htm here.
best I remember they run all year long, every tuesday night.
I used to live right Down the street from there and would ride over after supper. Live too far away now.

mattm

Sweet! Thx much, this is exactly what I was lookin for.

Some of the races seem more like really fast drop-rides ("outlaw training criterium"??) - which will at least be good training but it may be annoying to have to look out for cars while cross-eyed. Anyway thanks again.