Topic - New Racer Information

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installemnts of this interesting and informative series.
by David Kirkpatrick, NCVC

Having just begun my “official” yearly training plan, I suppose it’s time to think about that first race.  Nothing keeps you going through alternately (even simultaneously) boring and painful winter training quite like looking forward to racing.

There are four critical aspects to racing: long term preparation, registration, short term preparation and execution.  Long term preparation covers your training plan, which we’ve already covered, so we’ll focus on the last three.

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installemnts of this interesting and informative series.
by Jen Cheng, Team CycleLife

When I first got into bike racing, I had a lot of fears and worries. If you’re anything like me, it might take a lot of convincing before even trying the sport.

“Will my legs get super huge from racing bikes?” (This was personally my biggest turn off because I am vain, and rest assured ladies, cycling doesn’t make your legs bigger – stronger and more defined perhaps, but not necessarily bigger.)

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installments of this interesting and informative series.

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installemnts of this interesting and informative series.

by David Kirkpatrick, NCVC 

One of the decisions that you’ll approach between your first group ride and first race is whether to join a team or not.  Teams are the basic building blocks of cycling, as they host the majority of races.  No teams equals no races, so if for that reason alone, teams are an indispensable part of the cycling landscape.

Through watching the Tour on TV, you’re probably aware that cycling is a team sport.  The team will enter a race with a pre-determined strategy of creating their most favorable outcome (generally a win) and then spend the race executing tactics to secure that goal.  Unfortunately, as a new racer you are a pretty long way from experiencing this.  Although there have been some good instances of quality teamwork in the lower categories this year, it’s definitely the exception rather than the rule.

So if you’re such a long way from effectively racing as a team, why join one?

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installemnts of this interesting and informative series.

by David Kirkpatrick, NCVC

Before your first group ride, it’s natural to feel a bit unsettled.  You’re about to go out with a group of people whom you’re sure are faster, more experienced and better bike handlers than you are.  Surely they’ll smell your fear and pounce all over you.  Really, there isn’t a whole lot to sweat.  If you’ve followed the advice in Part 1, your equipment is in great working shape and you’ve made sure that you’re capable of handling yourself on the road.  Now the key is

Reprinted from http://www.gamjams.net Watch for weekly installemnts of this interesting and informative series.

by David Kirkpatrick, NCVC

So you’re into bikes, huh?  You ride enough that people don’t believe you when answer their question of how many miles you do.  You’re pretty much over the whole dressing up in lycra thing, and may have even flirted with the idea of shaving your legs.  Now you’re thinking that racing’s what you want to do.  So how do you get started?