Getting started racing - part 2

This is part 2 of my quick run down of the things that made me the most nervous before my first Cat 4 race. Let's get straight into it, then...

2)  How fit should I be?

Other versions of this question: How much power do I need? What should my power to weight be? What should my weight be?

None of these questions can be answered. If you are sharp enough tactically, you can race successfully with minimal power and maximal weight. If you are super-powerful, you can pull away on certain courses no matter what your weight. If you're super-light, you could well finish with so little fatigue that you can mix it with the big sprinters.

None of this comes close to assuaging the fears of a first-time racer, though, so let's try to be more concrete.

Firstly: if you can, join in with a chaingang at least once or twice. Regardless of whether it fits in with your training, getting your head in that wheel-following, high-speed zone is going to make far more difference to your success in racing than a missed interval session. Most chaingangs are considerably faster than a C4 race - expect to get dropped at some point, but try to hang on for as long as possible.

So, if chaingangs are faster than a C4, how can you tell if you're fast enough?

Ok. If pushed, and I had to put a number on it, I would say that I would have been happy enough racing when my fitness was at a level where I could sustain, without being on the rivet, 20mph for more than 25 miles over undulating terrain. So there you go. If that's a struggle, you may find your first race a rather demoralising experience. If that's not a struggle, you may still find your first race a demoralising experience if you don't use your head and follow the race.

C4 races can be viciously fast. 40kph averages are quite a step about the low 30s a reasonably sharp club run will be running. However, they can also stop dead - very frustrating if it's because the bunch is being controlled to let a dangerous break go. If you don't have the fitness to go all the way, it's better to just sit in an accept the will of the peleton for the time being. You will be left to dangle if you find yourself in no-man's land.

I guess that those are the two biggest points I wanted to address, but I guess there's time for a few quickies:

3) Will I crash?

Maybe. People will undoubtedly crash into you. If the questions are: Will I hit the deck? Will there be damage? The answers are yes, and yes. Sorry.

4) Will I be shouted at?

Yes. Sometimes it's because you're doing something dangerous. Sometimes it's because some people have a lot of pent-up aggression. Just watch your line and learn when you can.

5) I can't corner. Can I race?

Sadly, yes, and if there's one thing that you can guarantee, it's that you won't be the worst. Less facetiously:  if you can hold a line, yes. You may make it harder on yourself and whoever's behind you, but that's their tough luck. Most races take very safe lines and speeds around all sharp corners and roundabouts, since everybody's tyres are different and nobody wants to be the guy to slide out or to be next to the guy that slides out. If you're in a break, expect to push things quite a lot harder, and descent speeds can be quite scary in a bunch, especially in the wet, so a little bit of confidence won't go amiss, but so long as you're not a danger to anyone else, and you're willing to make back any lost ground, you can learn on the job.

6) Can I cross the centre line?

Commissaires will tell you that you cannot cross the centre line of the road, and that riders doing so will be removed from the race. This does happen, so don't get stuck out there, but it's a simple fact that a bicycle race doesn't work if people can't change their position in the bunch, which frequently occupies the entire lane. If you need to move up, do so on a clear piece of road, do it quickly, and slip back in as soon as possible. There is a considerable advantage to be had for groups attacking on the opposite side of the road around blind curves, but don't be that guy. You could have a serious accident and, worse, get the race called off.

7) What's the best regional-level racing bike?

Why, the Cannondale CAAD 10, of course! Although, if Glasgow Green Cycle Club's new sponsor, Dales Cycles, wishes to lend me some test bikes to try and change my mind, I'm open to experiment...

Good trails!