Recommend a good course for first-time racer

surista

ARRGGGHH - after reading a lot of advice about how I should just forget racing my first year on the bike and instead focus on getting miles under me, I'm cracking from the pressure of reading race recaps on various forums, especially from riders making their race debuts. I figure there's always going to be a 'first time', and I'd like to get my feet wet, just so a) I have a better idea of what racing is all about, and b) exactly where I stand - or perhaps more accurately, how far back I stand - in terms of being competitive. I've been doing some group rides at increasing speeds, but as someone noted, all the practice in the world never really prepares you for a real race.

So, anyway, I want to get my feet wet. I don't want to race against a bunch of sandbagging cat fives. I also want a course that's relatively safe, since (I assume) that other riders will also be newbies like me.

Can anyone recommend a good 'newbie' race in the NY/NJ/PA area? Preferably sometime in late May or June, anywhere in the Atlantic area would be fine. I've been looking at some races on racelistings.com; this one seemed interesting because it has a 'beginners' group separate from the cat fives - even if the beginners race is really really short - only 16 miles. If the race is going to be that short I'd love to be able to do a second race the next day in the same area.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

-S

Bobby Lex

No way to guarantee that you won't have any sandbaggers in your race. It's part of racing.

Most Cat. 5 courses are relatively short so you don't have to search hard for that.

I'd look for a flat road race if I were you. Technical courses are tough for first-timers. So are 4,5,and 6-turn crits.

Actually, the best environment for to get your feet wet would be a local training crit. Fees are minimal. Aggression is lower, participants are more sane because it is only a practice crit. Usually if you get dropped you are allowed to catch back on when the leaders lap you. It'll give you a good idea of how competitive you are at this point.

Bob

Demosthenes

Im not sure where you are, but in Lancaster PA a group called Red Rose Races (redroseraces.com) puts on races every couple weeks. You can find them on Bikereg.com. If you're anywhere near one of those races, I would suggest checking them out.