Should I take up road racing?

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it is actual averages(calculated), i should be reasonably quick as i am an national level rower who trains 11 times a week! all i was wondering is wheter i am going reasonably quick or very very quick and should take up racing.

The answer is yes - take up racing and you will find out how fast you are - but you seem very strong and fit already (all that rowing, I'm tired just thinking about it).

So don't think about it - just do it as the slogan keeps telling us! :eek:

The answer is yes - take up racing and you will find out how fast you are - but you seem very strong and fit already (all that rowing, I'm tired just thinking about it).

So don't think about it - just do it as the slogan keeps telling us! :eek:
WOW. That truly is exptional but how well do you ride. Going fast is one thing to do it a pack for hours take exeptional bike control and concentration. Gl in your endevours.

well since this thread is about young teens thinking about racing, anyone here from the peninsula (bay area) CA?
Im 17 and I've been thinking of racing too (I don't think underground races count). I wrestle on winters for school but other than that I just ride both road and off-road.
Should I quit wrestling and focus on cycling? Do cyclocross or mountain bike races instead?
I've ridden with a bunch of former mountain bike racers and they say I'm pretty fast. The thing is I don't know anyone from any local teams or any local teams at all.

I am 16 and have had my road bike for a while now, but only ever use it for rowing training. On an average day I seem to average around 24-26mph without working to hard for a couple of hours, this tends to be far faster than anyone else I cycle with. Just wondering whether this kinda of speed is good enough to think about racing? I was also a national level swimmer in the past and have done x-country at a county level so think traiathalon is a definite posibilty although I have no idea where to start. Any ideas would be great.
Just for reference, currently the Tour of Missouri time trial leader is

1 Matti Helminen (DFL - Cyclingnews - Litespeed) 41.12

Its early so there may be faster times to come, but this is a 29 km time trail with at least some of the fastest bike riders in the world. The average speed for Matti is 27 mph, so I'd say there is no way you are "average 24-26 mph without working to hard for a couple of hours." You are deluding yourself, so join a club and find out how fast you really are in sanctions time trials.

thanks for the advice, i will get out there and see how it goesi say to go and try out road racing. you will never know unless you try it. asking others opinions will always result in yay and nay responses.

when i was in my early twenties, i was a VERY strong rider and was constantly asked by my university rowing team to join since i only weighed 138 pounds at 6'2". very very thin with a huge aerobic capacity.

but!

i didnt really enjoy road racing. i was too nervous and was lucky to be strong so that i could ride in the front for a lot of the races i were in. criteriums were my greatest downfall as i lacked any form of sprint and the tight pack cornering...history right there.

i excelled in very long road races with a lot of long steep climbs.

after a few years of racing, i found that the more i raced, the less i liked the fierce competition in a pack. i enjoyed club riding and going out with a few good friends.

going pro? in my opinion is a very tough life. most end up as domestiques with very low salaries. i know we cycle and race for the love of it...but 'if' you step back and look into your future when you hit 40, unless you are at the VERY top, it would be hard to have a secure future. everything is possible when you are 16...and rightly so.

i am also a pretty decent classically trained violinist. what has this got to do with cycling? everything! unless you are at the very top of the art, you WILL have a tough time making ends meet. most (classical) musicians are thrilled to play for an orchestra for $30k or so a year (and pray that their symphony doesnt go bankrupt the next year). they then supplement their income with teaching or private gigs. there is a lot of travelling and long term future stability is like cycling...unstable and unsure (ask any pro team what effort it takes to find sponsership)!!!

yes, you are young. i was your age many moons ago as well. i had an indomitable spirit and felt that i could change the world with everything i chose to do. enjoy your journey, find the things you love to do and know that with a little luck, a lot of hard work with a dash of realistic goal attainment...you can be very successful, fulfilled and content in life!