To join a team, or not?

Rompinrhino

I'm thinking about "joining" a team. I'm curious about the benifits of it. At Cat 5, and a Cat 4 level, is there really any actual team activities, like tactics in races, or training rides. Joining involves sending in a few bucks, and then your on. What's the purpose?

nitrogenmustard

i'm a junior road and track racer (cat 4-almost cat 3) and i have my team to blame for that.
although they're usually not of much service in races at this level, i couldn't train nearly as hard without my coach and my teammates pushing me on. The big thing about a team, for me at least, is the regularity of practice races and close, tight pack riding. don't worry about the money, it is well well worth it.
-nitro

memphiscyclist

The answer to your question is a resounding "YES" to joining a team, but only if you plan on putting some work into it. You will be the new guy, which has its pros and cons. In any decent team you will be accepted with a positive attitude on the part of the other members...but only as long as you show that you really mean business, and aren't just there to play around, be fickle, and occasionally show up on training rides and at races only when you "feel" like it. If that's all you want to do, you should probably just hang out on open club rides. As nitro said, you will not get much team support (other than moral support) during events while you are a 5 or 4. You are just learning the ropes at that stage. Once you make it to 3, you will have really earned your position and this is where you will begin to get more involved with the team. This of course, is generally speaking. I did a RR and crit this past weekend and saw an actual Cat 5 team with a coach, wheel support...the works. Don't know what that was all about, but they were good.
Anyway, it just depends on what you want to do. If you want to move up in the categories, then you will have to join a team eventually because if you ride unattached then the other teams who are tactically supporting each other during a race will kill you every time. The best way to get faster and learn how to move through a pack is to race as often as possible, and being with a team gives the added benefit of moral support and training rides. Riding with a group that is pushing you hard will always train you harder than just doing it by yourself.

Aztec

This is interesting. I always kinda figured that riders got drafted or recruited for teams. Huh.

I'd think a team would be great fun. As a rook, I wouldn't have any issue with blowing myself up to help my team's strongest rider win. That would be part of the fun. And of course, if my fitness ever beat that of the others, then I guess I'd expect the same treatment.

Team = fun.

memphiscyclist

Well, for the most part you are right. Many times the terms "team" and "club" become synonymous it seams. Real pro teams are not usually connected with a club...(USPS, 7-Up, etc.) But many local clubs also have their own team, and even may have several representing each grade. Depending on what the stipulations are, you may or may not be able to wear the actual team colors regardless of your category. If you are a category 5 for example, and they allow you to wear team colors once you join the club, you will still not actually be representing the true team, which will generally be made up of 1-3's, or whatever kind of deal they have going on...you will just be affiliated. It's really confusing, but every club is different. Right now I am actually a member of a club whose team was just picked as the wild card team to compete in the TDF. Now, I do get to wear the team uniform at my events, however I am in no way a member of the pro team and am certainly not going to the TDF!