Maybe this should be under the racing forum, but I wanted to get a broader input than just "serious racers". Since I'm about Lance's age, and they make it sound like he is "over the hill" I don't have an aspirations of racing at any kind of an elite level. I just want to go out and have some fun without embarrassing myself too much. I guess my biggest motivation is I think it will help me keep... motivated.

Bike racing was never been on my radar screen before a few months ago, so here are the steps I've taken so far:

1) Ride as much, as far, and as fast as I can whenever I can.
2) Been reading all of Chris Charmichael's stuff
3) Lost about 35 pounds
4)Watched my first Crit in person last week.
5) Going out on my first "group ride" this morning

What else would you enlightened folks recommend?

My last ride was 44 miles of rolling hills and I averaged 17.6 mph. Do I have any business thinking I can "hang" with entry level racers?

Go for it. I didn't start racing till I was 30, after a bit of a medical scare and about six years of near couch potato lifestyle. That first year I was dropped regularly and thought I'd never win. But I was hooked from the moment I first sat in with a group of 30 guys zipping along at 30 mph on the flats. There's a rush that you get from the whirring of wheels and chains and gears that can't be accurately put into words.

Actually your description of your fitness sounds about like mine was back then... I remember thinking a 40 miler was a huge ride and only dreaming of doing the "fast" group ride. Fastforward to this season (four years later) and I raced with the 'A' group and even won a few.

You won't be turning pro (EVER), but there are lots and lots of weekend warriors like you out there to have some fun. Lots (most?) of them don't start until their 30s either. Cycling in the US is kinda a yuppie sport, ya know?

If you are in the U.S., the racing season is likely over where you live. Group rides generally keep going through the winter, though. You'll need to stick with those and get lots of group experience before you go out and try a crit. You need to be comfortable riding in tight quarters for crits, and trying to learn when your HR is pegged and your brainpower has regressed to cromagnon is not the place.

Do a search in the racing board for posts from lonefrontranger. She's posted TONS of good advice...

If you can do 44 miles at a 17+ mph avverage by yourself, you're more than ready for the cat. 5 crowd fitness wise. Bike handling skills are at least as important as fitness so you may find after a race or two that you still need some work there.

I'd say jump in a race or two now if you can find one...season's quickly winding down...actually, this might be a good time as a lot of guys have already parked it for the year so you'd be riding in smaller fields.

If you end up waiting until next spring to race, be careful. Lots of people brand new to the sprot are coming in, and most everybody has gotten rusty with their group riding/bike handling skills over the winter.

As for you age, I started at 35 and know lots of guys in their 40's and 50's who can kick my tail in 4 years later!!

Good Luck!!

Bike racing was never been on my radar screen before a few months ago, so here are the steps I've taken so far:

1) Ride as much, as far, and as fast as I can whenever I can.
2) Been reading all of Chris Charmichael's stuff
3) Lost about 35 pounds
4)Watched my first Crit in person last week.
5) Going out on my first "group ride" this morning

What else would you enlightened folks recommend?


I'm curious which ride you did and how it went.

Went out with the folks that meet in front of the Lobo statue at 9:00.

It was an awesome ride. By the time I got home I had rapped up nearly 70 miles with a 17.9 mph average (including some slow meandering while waiting for some slower riders).

The group was great. I confessed my inexperience upfront and asked them to let me know whenever I needed to be doing something different. They did, but it in very friendly terms.

The best part was when we got up in the 30's on the flats and took turns pulling for about 5 miles or so.

My only complaint is the late start time. I usually start riding at the crack of dawn so that I still have time for the wife and kids afterwards. This pretty well shot the day, so I'm not sure how often I can justify it.

Maybe this should be under the racing forum, but I wanted to get a broader input than just "serious racers". Since I'm about Lance's age, and they make it sound like he is "over the hill" I don't have an aspirations of racing at any kind of an elite level. I just want to go out and have some fun without embarrassing myself too much. I guess my biggest motivation is I think it will help me keep... motivated.

Bike racing was never been on my radar screen before a few months ago, so here are the steps I've taken so far:

1) Ride as much, as far, and as fast as I can whenever I can.
2) Been reading all of Chris Charmichael's stuff
3) Lost about 35 pounds
4)Watched my first Crit in person last week.
5) Going out on my first "group ride" this morning

What else would you enlightened folks recommend?

My last ride was 44 miles of rolling hills and I averaged 17.6 mph. Do I have any business thinking I can "hang" with entry level racers?

Just jump in and do it. You'll either discover you can and have a good time, or discover you can't quite, and you'll have a good time. And you'll learn your weaknesses, and either work to improve or decide you should just watch from now on. But what ever happens is better than getting old thinking you coulda/shoulda/woulda been a racer (or whatever......fill in the blank) if it hadn't been for whatever lame reason you invent for not having the willingness to try.

Here is a link to www.usacycling.org it is the governing body of the sport for most of the US. Good stuff with rule books and links to local organizations and races.

At 32+ you're over the hill to go pro, most teams won't look at you if your over 26-27 unless you have a good track record already. However, it does not mean you can't be topnotch on the local, regional or even nationally on an amateur basis. I know a few 50+ riders that can hang with the Cat 1,2 crowd and can do a 40K TT in well under an hour. So 32 is far from being over the hill for the amateur races.

For a lot of the country, the road season is over and won't start up again until spring. Training for the season starts in November December for a lot of folks.

As far as speed, it may be a little slow to win or stay with the lead pack but that can be worked on. You don't really know how fast you can go until you're in the group and know that if you fall off the back your SOL.

Find some fast group rides (race training rides) and get a taste for the pace lines and speed. Since the season may be over fast group may be about it for now. Cyclocross or gravel racing is starting in some areas of the country if you are interested in that. If there is still racing in your neck of the woods, you could just go. Try to hang on as long as possible so you get a taste. You can get one day licenses at most races. If you like it you can get a yearly license next year.

Here is a link to www.usacycling.org it is the governing body of the sport for most of the US. Good stuff with rule books and links to local organizations and races.


ACA in New Mexico: http://www.americancycling.org/