Maumee Valley Wheelmen
The Toledo Area Bicycle Racing Club
Racing Information

So you want to RACE…
By Rachel Steele

1.       What you will need

·         USCF License - usacycling.org

·         Road bike in good working order – no aero bars

·         Helmet

·         Jersey with sleeves (it’s a rule)

·         Spare tube and tools to change a flat tire

·         Energy food

2.       What is a USCF license?

A USCF license is your authorization to race at any USCF sponsored road race.  After completing your registration online, you will be mailed a license card valid for one calendar year.  As a new license holder, you will be assigned to Category 5.  If you are a female, you will be Category 4.  If you are a junior you will be placed in the appropriate age bracket.

 You will race in your category until you meet the upgrade requirements listed online.  This is attainable in two fashions – either you gain enough “points” by placing well in mass start events or you upgrade based on “experience” – meaning you haven’t necessarily finished well, but you have done a whole lot of races.  See usacycling.org for more info.

 USCF Men’s Category Breakdown (women have only 4 categories)

Cat 1 – national pro level

Cat 2 – serious dedication, probably winning or nearly winning Wheelmen races

Cat 3 – level of most Saturn/Shell riders

Cat 4 – level of most Wheelmen members

Cat 5 – starting category to gain racing experience

3.       Where to race locally

Maumee Valley Wheelmen

The Wheelmen gather every Thursday from April through September for a club race.  The club is highly competitive and is a great place to learn from experienced racers.

You must be a paid member to participate in the races.  You must also possess a USCF license.  There is a great deal of camaraderie amongst the club members.  Typically, races are followed by dinner at a local restaurant.    

1 year Individual - $40           1 year Time Trial only - $30         1 year Family - $50 11-year non-racer - $10

 If you are interested in trying out a race before committing, you may purchase a one day USCF license ($10) and try out a Wheelmen race.  A [first-day] Wheelmen membership is still required. ($5)

4.       Where to race regionally

There are many races hosted regionally, depending on how far you would like to travel.  The Saturn of Toledo/Shell cycling team focuses on the Michigan Challenge Series because the venues are relatively close and it is a very well organized series.  See mbra.org for more info.

Also, see the resources for websites to find other great regional races.

5.       Where to Train in Town (see http://www.thebikeworks.com for complete ride listings)

Breakfast Ride – [Riders] meet every Saturday and Sunday at Fort Meigs ( River Rd. ) for a fast-paced ride to Grand Rapids , OH .  Meet 15 minutes earlier for a slower paced group.  This ride is a great place to develop group riding skills.  Ride time: 9am after April 30 – 8am

 Tuesday Night Ride – Many Wheelmen gather to ride at tops speeds at Southview High School at 6:30 .  This ride shows no mercy from Southview to Swanton and back.  This ride normally reaches race speeds.

 Wednesday Night Ride – Let your legs recover before race day.  Meet at the end of the University Parks Trail and King Rd. for a low to medium intensity ride.

 Saturday Morning Plus5 Ride – Meet at St. James Club (Bancroft b/w McCord & King) at 7:30am .  Route tbd by riders and weather.  Typical ride = 50 miles with options to cut short or go longer.

6. Types of races

Criterium

• short course, circuit race
• length determined by time or laps – usually shorter than a road race
• high intensity and high speed
• require a mix of good technical skills and exceptional fitness to accelerate hard from corners
• primes (pronounced preems) or prizes often offered for intermediate laps

Road Race

• typically longer than criterium
• can be a circuit course or a point to point course
• because they are usually longer, road races are not as high of intensity at the beginning

7. Type of Riders 
 
Sprinter – This type of rider is fast-twitched.   Sprinters are usually not great time-trialists, but rather save all of their energy for an explosive sprint to the finish line.  This style of rider must develop the ability to be in the right place at the right time.  The placement of a sprinter into the last corner of a criterium can often times be their deciding factor on winning.

Time Trialist  – This person is able to ride longer and harder than other riders and is capable of doing so on their own or with the help of only a few other riders.  This type of rider must develop a strategy to “break away” from the group, so that a gap will develop between the lead and chase group.  When a rider “breaks away” from the group, it is called an “attack.”

Climber – Strength to weight ratio will determine a rider’s ability to climb well.  A climber will excel on hilly courses where they will naturally “drop” riders on the hills. 

8.       Preparing for a Race

The night before the race:

1.       Do no major adjustments or parts replacements.  At most, clean and lube the chain, check to make sure bolts are properly tightened.

2.       Do not mess with your diet: don’t over or under eat, or try new foods.

3.       Pack your race bag (clothes, shoes, helmet, gloves, license, baby wipes, chamois creme).

4.       Have your bike, spare wheels, tools and trainer ready to load.

5.       Get your pre-race, race, and post-race food and drinks prepared and ready to go.

6.       Make a check list for loading the car. 

7.       Write down race site info, phone numbers, time you expect to leave and return to give to those you live with.

Day of race:

1.       Eat and drink smartly.  Hydrate throughout the day (and previous day if it is an early morning race).

2.       Make sure you have clear and accurate directions to the race site and parking lot.

3.       Plan to leave so that you are at the race site a minimum of 30 minutes before your start (better to be at least 60 minutes early, especially at a race with more than 50 entrants).

4.       Load the car.

5.       Drink clear fluids or energy drink as you drive to the race site.

At race site:

1.       Register/pick-up race packet – bring license & $$

2.       Get your bike set up – pump up tires!

3.       Get dressed and stretch!

4.       Ride the course (if possible) - become familiar with the course, select best lines through corners, identify road hazards (pot holes, sewer grates, gravel or sand in corners, get a sense of wind directions at various legs of the course.

5.       Warm-up on the course if you can, otherwise use a trainer or pedal in the near vicinity

6.       Show up to the starting line 3-5 minutes before the start (whether or not you have done a warm-up.)

9. The Race

• The winner is the one who crosses the line first.  In most races, there are no points or awards for leading the pack before the finish.  It is always easier to ride in the draft than at the front.
• Know what to expect in the race. 
• TT - get up to speed over the first 30-60 seconds and try to maintain that intensity for the duration.  RR - the first quarter to half might be easier, then it generally gets hard.
• Crit -  the first quarter to third might be excruciatingly hard, then a breakaway of serious contenders gets clear of the field or the weaker are dropped and the pace becomes more bearable.
• Safety first and always.
• Know your skill and conditioning limits, and ride within them
• None of us are professional racers and there is no need to risk injuring yourself or others due to unskilled bike handling.
• If you are new to racing, start at the back of the group, where you can avoid “mixing it up” with the strongest riders, who tend to move around a lot in the front.
• Never overlap your front wheel with the rider ahead’s front wheel.  Alternatively, if you do so and crash because the rider ahead moved, took out your front wheel and you crashed, it is your own fault.
• Ride a straight line.  Do not move left and right much at all, even to avoid a road hazard.  Knowing the course in advance can help you set up well in advance (a minute or more) to avoid potential hazards.
• Stay in a pack as long as you can.  Working together even with one other rider is easier than being all alone.
• Do not open up gaps.  If the pace of the riders ahead of you is over your limit, signal (with your hand) the riders behind you to take your space and let them “take the wheel” of the rider ahead of you.
• Learn how to ride a pace line: how to maintain the speed (not accelerate or decelerate, which direction to pull off, how to catch the tail of the line, how close to ride to others).  Slowly improve those skills.
• Practice those things you can practice alone, like cornering.  Learn how tightly you can corner, how far you can lean your bike without losing traction.
• Expect to take a few or several years to become a skilled pack racer.  Do not put others at risk while you are learning.

10. What happens if…

• I get dropped in a criterium?
• I get dropped in a road race?
• I am a lapped rider and the group passes me? 
• I am a lapped rider and the group catches me at the final sprint?
• I get a flat tire?
• I crash?

Recommended websites:

http://www.freewheel.com/mvw – local race club info

http://www.thebikeworks.com – ride schedule, event calendar, forum and product info

http://www.Usacyling.org – buy a USCF license, find anything about USCF racing

http://www.Usacyling.org/cycling101 – great info for beginner racers

http://www.Truesport.com – regional race calendars nationwide

http://www.MBRA.org – Michigan Challenge race calendar

http://www.Midwestcyclinggroup.com – local road racing bulletin board

Recommended reading:

Cyclist’s Training Bible by Joe Friel

Racing Tactics for Cyclists by Thomas Prehn

Greg LeMond’s Complete Book of Cycling by Greg Lemond

Road Racing: Technique & Training by Bernard Hinault – Specifically recommended for tactics

Bike Racing Slang

Attack - A sudden attempt to get away from another rider

Blocking - When a rider tries to get in the way of other riders, usually done as part of a team strategy to slow down the main field when other team members are ahead in a breakaway

Bonk - Known as "hitting ht wall" in marathon running, this is when a rider completely runs out of energy

Breakaway - When a rider or group of riders is attempting to reach a group farther ahead

Bridge the Gap - When a rider or group of riders is attempting to reach a group farther ahead

Chasers - Riders who are attempting to "bridge the gap" to catch the lead group

Drafting - Riding closely behind another rider, which creates a slipstream, or air pocket. The lead rider expends up to 30 percent more energy than the following rider does

Drop - To leave another rider or riders behind by attacking. Losing contact with the group in which they are riding will drop fatigued riders

Echelon - A line of riders taking orderly turns at the lead and staggered so that each rider will get maximum protection from the wind. Also called a "pace line"

Field - The main group of riders, also known as the "pack," "peloton," or "bunch"

Field Sprint - The final sprint between a group of riders, not necessarily for first place

Jump - A sudden acceleration, often at the start of the sprint

Lead Out - An international and often sacrificial move where one rider begins a sprint to give a head start to another rider (usually a teammate) on his rear wheel, who then comes around at an even faster speed to take the lead

Prime - Pronounced "preem." A race-within-a-race where riders sprint for prizes on a designated lap or at a certain point in a race, i..e., the "sponsor" Teamwork Challenge

Pull - To take a turn at the front and break the wind for the other riders in the pack

Sitting In - When one rider refuses to take a pull and break the wind for the group in which he/she is riding. A derogatory term is "Wheel Sucker"

Wheel Sucker - A derogatory term, referring to a rider who always sits in and never expends any energy by taking a pull at the front.

Last Updated 01/12/08