Thinking of racing? Here's what's required

How did you get on? Images on BC.

yep i got found out - big time.

i got dropped on the second lap of fourteen. i wasn't sure of the etiquette in such situations but i decided to retire. i just felt a little conspicuous riding round on my own and going backwards.

shortly after a few others dropped off and a bit a stragglers peloton developed. but by lap 6 there were quite a few others who had retired.

the race itself evetually formed into pelotons for a few laps and then into one. shortly after that dan craven and one other guy broke away and these two went on to win. and dan craven got it on the line.

for me it was a bit of a wake up call. i know i am pretty fit but the intensity was just too much. so i have some training work to do but hopefully i will get to a point where i can at least stay with bunch.

whilst the race continued i did a few training laps.

the weather was kind to us and the race was well organised and in a beautiful part of england.

so all in all a great experience.

cheers and see you out there.

Well you picked a pretty 'big' race. A bit of carefull selection from the calender might help.
I been dropped or been involved in incidents and I've usually managed to join a lagging group for a bit of in race competition.
I think andyp might be able to point you in the right direction for london area races.
If you can get up the M1 I know Cranfield and Towcester are pretty user friendly. Or the Hillingdon and Milton Keynes Crits, they'll get you going quicker.

Well you picked a pretty 'big' race. A bit of carefull selection from the calender might help.
I been dropped or been involved in incidents and I've usually managed to join a lagging group for a bit of in race competition.
I think andyp might be able to point you in the right direction for london area races.
If you can get up the M1 I know Cranfield and Towcester are pretty user friendly. Or the Hillingdon and Milton Keynes Crits, they'll get you going quicker.

noted re the 'big' race. it was a bit in at the deep end.

clayton velo are the cycling club local to my northern roots so i have started riding with them. i can just about hack it on their training rides. a couple of thier guys encouraged me to enter. although i noticed not many of them did the race.

you live and learn / what dont kill you makes you stronger and all that.

i will probably join east london velo for my london riding and racing and get in on the hog hill scene.

do you race ?

are you in a cycling club ?

I raced in the 70s and 80s then packed in. Discovered MTB'ing in the late 90s and now I'm returning to road racing this season after easing myself back through cyclo-cross in 2009.
Paddington Track Club
Kenton RC
Hemel Hempstead CC
Bossard Wheelers RC (Leighton Buzzard)
Now unattached will possibly join Team MK.

B&W Racer - take at look at LVRC - I'm told they are a good series of races for those of a more mature disposition ;-)

Dramatic pictures! I'd hate to be the cause of something like that.

So what did the culprit do wrong exactly? Did he cut in front of someone?

I raced in the 70s and 80s then packed in. ...
Paddington Track Club....

I, too, was a member of the Paddington club, 76-79

That looks very painfull indeed :)

(ps just filling out the 3 posts I have to do before im allowed to make threads)

BIG NEWS: If you have BC silver membership you do not have to pay for a day license (at events where they are allowed) and you can have as many day licenses as you want throughout the year! I learnt this yesterday, this means with Silver membership you could race all Herne Hill track leagues and open events and all the Crystal Palace circuit races and most of Hog Hill races without ever buying a license…..you do not get BC ranking points however.

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar! Saved me £30+. British Cycling don't seem to say this anywhere, but when you mention it to them they "come clean". My first cycle race for 20-ish years next Monday at Manchester velodrome...

For all racing enthusiasts, crits at Crystal Palace start tonight and every Tuesday throughout the season.

Probably even more up LFGSS' street however, Herne Hill Track League starts tomorrow (Wednesday 21st) and every Wednesday until mid August. You only need silver BC membership too.

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/whats-on/trackleague

Maybe try some of the Monday night race training sessions before if you inexperienced.
http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/whats-on/track-training#monday

Palace last night was a baptism of fire - did not get a chance to ride the course pre-start as Ollie was racing in the juniors. As such, going into the bottom blind corner first time round I was far too cautious and had no speed coming out. Inevitable result - I got dropped going up the hill. Ended up in group of 6 shortly thereafter and spent about a third of the time on the front (3 workers; 3 shirkers). A good technical circuit and lots of fun. Hopefully I'll be better prepared next week.

We've all made that mistake I think, it's hard to know how fast people will take that corner in a race until you actually approach it at racing speed. Mind the tree on the apex!

After missing the first two races of the year I finally got my first race of the year under my belt on Saturday up at the MK Bowl.
Open road next weekend at Cranfield.

Can you tell what the Vet age limit is?

Im not sure there is one - Ive seen people in the 80s and 90s doing TTs. As far as road racing goes Im fairly sure there are no limits, perhaps insurance maybe the limiting factor?

I'm new to cycling, can't you just turn up and race? I am entering National Championships

^ troll alert.. Alias perhaps? Or just a cunt?

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very useful thankyou...need to get racing somehow. just got to jump in the deep end! Any advise on a good race to make my first?

Whereabouts are you?

East london (Bow)...but I train mostly in richmond park and surrey

You've a choice of Hillingdon (flat and usually ends in a bunch sprint), Hog Hill (the clue is in the name so it suits those who can climb) or Crystal Palace (which has a smaller hill than Hog Hill and is quite technical). All have races during the week in the summer.

I'd pick the circuit that suits you best then give it a go. You can train and train and train, but until you have a go at racing you won't know the demands it makes on you. Most people welcome newcomers to racing (but watch out for the odd miserable git) so turn up and have a go. It's great fun (but hard!).

Hillingdon is the easiest course for the newcomer to remain within the bunch as it is the least technical; it is also the circuit where accidents are most likely for that very reason.

Hog Hill probably the safest. But there is a hill.

Palace undoubtedly the most fun - however, they do not do a Cat 4 race on its own and as such is harder for the newcomer. If you don't mind being dropped, there are always small groups of dropped riders going round on their own. There is also a hill. Reasonably safe (notwithstanding the fact that I crashed and bust my clavicle here 2 weeks ago).

Hog Hill (the clue is in the name

Is it a pig-riding circuit? That's cruel to the animals.

Thanks very much for the advice. Hillingdon Sounds most suited for me since I don't rate myself as a climber. Saying that I have no idea how well I will perform on any of them. Anyway I get to test my Cervelo s1!! Hopefully see you on the circuit!

Thanks again