Want to take part in some official races in 2012

[gb155]

Can you point me in the right direction ?

I've no idea what I need, where to go, etc etc

Thanks

 

[HLaB]

I've no real idea either but I start by asking my club mates, I take it you are in a club Gaz. Another place maybe to look is British Cycling.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

As HLaB says above, you will need to be a fully paid up first claim member of a BC recognised club in order to gain a racing licence. If you are aged over 40 then you can participate in LVRC races as a private individual.

 

[gb155]

MMM

No am not in a club, I find it too hard to get out when most club runs are

 

[fossyant]

BC Silver membership - but you will need day licence. Or Gold for Licence 4th cat.

There are the Tameside Crits at the new circuit in Ashton. Check BC website.

As for TT's you could do club events first.

 

[gb155]

That Ashton circuit looks amazing me and a friend had an un-official ride

 

[ttcycle]

BC membership is the way to start with the plan to work through the categories - however, it kind of depends on what type of racing you're thinking of doing and what you think you're strongest at. Ie track sprinting, TT, road races, cyclocross etc - how long is the string?? You might be interested in a few. What did you have in mind gaz?

However, I don't say this lightly and don't want to be sticking my nose in unwarranted but if you're looking at racing, recovery and proper nutrition is very, very important to repair the body as racing and training puts it under some serious stresses.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Could be a good start trying a few clubs out first, See which one suits you before you join up and do a few Sunday club runs with a few of em. Membership is only a few quid a year to join up with most

Plenty in Manchester and beyond. For cross the board in discipline's have a look at Manchester Wheelers. Seamons (Altrincham). Macclesfield Wheelers. And if the fancy the track for training. Will at Wills Wheels has a race club called Wills Wheels. The good thing about joining that club is they train a lot on the track at Tameside + you won't have that much competition within that club as they don't have a massive membership

You could pop in at Wills Wheels bike shop in Stockport and have a word, even go to Eddie Mcgraphs bike shop in Urmston about joining Manchester Wheelers or just Email any club committee member that takes your fancy about the joining fees and disciplines they offer.

 

[zizou]

I'm not sure if you would be allowed to race if you are not a member of a club (the likes of go race events will probably be different). However even if you are allowed to race that doesn't mean you shouldn't join a club - the weekly club run at the weekend might not suit but most bigger clubs will have midweek chaingangs either within the club itself (if the numbers allow) or by joining up with members at other local clubs. I cant underline enough how beneficial getting some practice of fast group riding with more experienced riders will be before you intend to race - not just for your own benefit but for the guys around you too.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Not every Sunday is a race day though I agree. You would need some insurance first before even for a none race club run

BC / CTC IS only a few quid anyway and every cyclist should have some insurance, competing or not. So joining a BC would be no loss.

 

[Chipper]

You need to get British Cycling Silver or Gold membership and a race licence unless you want to fork out loads on day licences. You don't have to be in a club for this.

Learning the etiquette of group riding is very important - you can read about it to get a good headstart. Riding in a group (fast or otherwise) on the road was something that was helpful to a large degree but is not like racing. I found it took me a fair few races to relax. Some closed 'road' circuits do training nights and also track racing is a good place to get help.

 

[gb155]

BC membership is the way to start with the plan to work through the categories - however, it kind of depends on what type of racing you're thinking of doing and what you think you're strongest at. Ie track sprinting, TT, road races, cyclocross etc - how long is the string?? You might be interested in a few. What did you have in mind gaz?

However, I don't say this lightly and don't want to be sticking my nose in unwarranted but if you're looking at racing, recovery and proper nutrition is very, very important to repair the body as racing and training puts it under some serious stresses.

really good point

Im using the goal is doing a few road races as the motivator while im in therapy for my disorder in the way I used the goal of Manchester to Blackpool in 3 hours as my motivator in weight loss......

If it works as well as that did (because of the huge desire I have to race) then its a great plan

If it doesnt i can at least say I went from 40 stone to a cat 4 racer , albeit a short lived one.

 

[ttcycle]

Thanks for taking it on board gaz,

With that in mind, join a local club with a racing focus - it'll get you disciplined for tactics, pacing etc, the issue is that the weekend club run will be good training for endurance-if you can't make that then make sure you try and do a similar ride of equal distance and length. Normally someone who has been riding for a bit of time will have developed a good base fitness with the network of capillaries and the body will have adapted to store and use glucose and energy efficiently. However, with your unique issue around food, it's hard to predict how your body will respond due to lack of nutrition as one of the things that you get taught when competing is to cut out sugar and junk a month before competition to let your body learn to use it's own systems..however, if sugar etc is your current main source of energy and there's a limit on what you can eat- it may pose a problem for you.

First of all, join a club you feel comfortable with, most will give an indication of what their focus is and see if you can train on their chaingangs, they will probably have a minimum mph that you have to be able to do comfortably before you can join the faster training chaingangs- this will teach you how to race in a group as road racing does have a good 'team' structure which utilises the skills and talents of each person...at least riding with faster riders will push you and a club will give you support and discipline. This is up to you but it may be worth speaking to someone about the SED so they have an idea, that may be a hard thing to do but it may well help you in the long term. I'm not familiar with clubs in your area but are there some with coaches?

However, part of it all is listening to your own body, pushing to a certain extent but also doing that wisely to allow yourself to repair and recover. You may find that competing and ramping it up for racing just places a whole different set of stresses on you. Be careful not to build up a deficit Gaz, Don't overdo it and be careful that it doesn't become self destructive as it can easily tie into the very negative aspects of your SED and become part of the problem. You're young, you have plenty of time to race so try not to push yourself to do it too soon and set very tough goals concurrent with treatment as you may be building up damage in your body that could cause issues down the line which will have long term health implications.

Good luck Gaz, let us know how you get on.

 

[gb155]

Thanks for taking it on board gaz,

With that in mind, join a local club with a racing focus - it'll get you disciplined for tactics, pacing etc, the issue is that the weekend club run will be good training for endurance-if you can't make that then make sure you try and do a similar ride of equal distance and length. Normally someone who has been riding for a bit of time will have developed a good base fitness with the network of capillaries and the body will have adapted to store and use glucose and energy efficiently. However, with your unique issue around food, it's hard to predict how your body will respond due to lack of nutrition as one of the things that you get taught when competing is to cut out sugar and junk a month before competition to let your body learn to use it's own systems..however, if sugar etc is your current main source of energy and there's a limit on what you can eat- it may pose a problem for you.

First of all, join a club you feel comfortable with, most will give an indication of what their focus is and see if you can train on their chaingangs, they will probably have a minimum mph that you have to be able to do comfortably before you can join the faster training chaingangs- this will teach you how to race in a group as road racing does have a good 'team' structure which utilises the skills and talents of each person...at least riding with faster riders will push you and a club will give you support and discipline. This is up to you but it may be worth speaking to someone about the SED so they have an idea, that may be a hard thing to do but it may well help you in the long term. I'm not familiar with clubs in your area but are there some with coaches?

However, part of it all is listening to your own body, pushing to a certain extent but also doing that wisely to allow yourself to repair and recover. You may find that competing and ramping it up for racing just places a whole different set of stresses on you. Be careful not to build up a deficit Gaz, Don't overdo it and be careful that it doesn't become self destructive as it can easily tie into the very negative aspects of your SED and become part of the problem. You're young, you have plenty of time to race so try not to push yourself to do it too soon and set very tough goals concurrent with treatment as you may be building up damage in your body that could cause issues down the line which will have long term health implications.

Good luck Gaz, let us know how you get on.

Superb post

Many Tanks, theres a lot to digest there (pardon the pun)

But I will take it all on board.

Gaz

 

[ColinJ]

Gaz - why don't you have a go at the Cragg Vale hill climb TT in October? The top riders will do it in about 17 minutes but a good time to have a go at would be to break 20 minutes. That's my long-term goal, though I time myself from the Cragg Vale sign at the bottom of the hill to the reservoir at the top which is a few hundred yards longer than the official TT course. My best so far is 23.5 minutes for the 5.5 miles/968 ft elevation gain but I'm taking more like 37 minutes now due to fatness/unfitness.

Of course, there is nothing to stop you riding over and having a go any time. There is usually a cross-headwind up on the tops, so you need to choose a day with not much wind to give yourself a chance of a good time.

If you have a go, you might as well complete the 20 mile loop through Littleborough, your home town of Todmorden, and back through Hebden Bridge to the start in Mytholmroyd. The target there is to break the hour. NB For anybody having a go at the that - don't take any chances on the right turns on the loop! Best done early on a Sunday morning when there isn't much traffic, or after 8:00 on a summer evening.