Elswick Cotterpin
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
If I ever ride thirty miles I'll let you know.
I'm fairly happy with it and I seem to be going the same as most average people..... Thing is I want to race so I'm slightly obsessed with getting faster to try some cat 4 before the end of the season
I think 'wanting to race' is a worthy ambition.
However, If you are serious I'd just concentrate on getting several thousand miles under your pedals first and then seeing how things stand then. Also try a few longer club runs when you are ready - that'll give you an idea of how you are coping. Don't be demoralised though if a few gnarly old chaps leave you for dead.
Even in the lower categories of cycle racing you may be surprised at how fit and how quick people are.
You may also find out whether your physiology is suited to racing - some people can ride for hours and hours over tough terrain but a 'racer' they ain't. Best parallel I can think of is decent joggers/runners who can complete a marathon in respectable time but who are no Mo Farah 2's!
This is so true. If anything I am getting slower, but I still have good endurance and heaps of stubborness so I can plod on through bad weather and up pretty steep hills but will never win any races!You may also find out whether your physiology is suited to racing - some people can ride for hours and hours over tough terrain but a 'racer' they ain't. Best parallel I can think of is decent joggers/runners who can complete a marathon in respectable time but who are no Mo Farah 2's!
Ride more often, go faster. Join a club, you'll ride faster with others in a group. The chain gang will make you speed up
Clubs have a range of speeds, I'm sure there'd be a group that runs at 15mph with a no dropolicy. If you want to race, you'll have to ride in groups etc
There is what? Clubs usually have a range of groups, from pootlers to chain gang racers
Well it depends on the club, but that's my understanding with many. Where are you based, have you looked for ideas in the cycling club section for a local 'racing' club? If you average 15mph, you should be able to go at least a couple of mph faster. Go out with the group you think matches your speed, see how it goes for a couple of rides while you get used to group riding and step up if you need to. Depends on your timescale for getting into racingSo there's a group for all ranges in the club 10-12 mph 12-14 mph all the way to a 18-20 mph chaingang.
The thing is I'm unsure if there's likely to be any benefit to me of riding with the pootlers as you put it and whether I should keep building on my base then get out with the faster groups and the chaingangs