So you want to start racing

Anyone can ride a bicycle, most learn to do it quite proficiently at an early age. Almost anyone can ride a bicycle fast, do it often and continuously. So when is a good time to start racing?

Bicycle racing is tough to simply jump into due to the skills and fitness required. Some natural athletes may only need some technical instructions (follow everyone else, be first across the line) while others may benefit from a lot of training to bring their fitness levels up.

We get many calls and inquiries regarding how to start racing. There is a great community on Ottawa which makes it easy to develop skills and fitness. The following points will describe some basic events and guidelines to help you prepare for entry into racing.

Training and coaching

• In the beginning, ride your bike. It may take over a year (entry level athletes can consider themselves on a 5 year plan) to build the base fitness required to handle the training needed for racing.
• The OBC has many touring events and weekend rides where you will be able to build your fitness and comfort riding in a group. It is important to take the group riding clinic early to ensure your safety and that of your companions.
• The OBC Open Time Trial series allow you to test repeatedly in similar conditions your fitness progression. Do them as often as you wish, but don’t be afraid to skip one if you’d prefer a hard ride in the park for a change.
• Study training plans and think about your goals and the objectives required to reach your goals. The OBC has a fully stocked library for this purpose. We suggest Friel’s Training Bible for a great start on why and how we train with a purpose.
• As you progress, you may desire personal coaching. There are many facilities which offer training services, and these are useful for testing and general planning. There are also training services delivered long-distance over the internet. But a certified cycling coach can add personal services and specific advice required for road cycling. Certified cycling coaches have NCCP certification and are highly recommended.

Getting ready to race

• The OBC holds Learn to Race clinics in the spring. Consider these mandatory if you want to learn to ride in close proximity with other racers(the peleton). You will be safer and more confident in your first races. In fact, some ‘seasoned’ racers need to and do attend a clinic to brush up on basic skills from time to time. Some coaches drill basic skills weekly with their teams.
• The Seenite Criterium series (http://seenite.org/) offers one of the best developmental racing series in the country. There are no winners, no losers, and no scores or points are kept. These are strictly a developmental opportunity to train to race. The series starts up in the spring and continues every Tuesday throughout the summer. We all start in the B-race. When you are ready to try an A-race, you will be told. Please follow the rules of this series as they help our community maintain its good standing with the facilities and stakeholders.
• At some point, you will consider purchasing a license. A citizen’s permit is needed for the Seenite criteriums and a few other events in Ontario. Most other races sell one-day licenses. A UCI license (an international license) is more expensive, but allows you to race in all events, all provinces, and into the USA without having to purchase any more licenses.
• For more on licenses and cycling in Ontario, see the Ontario Cycling Association website: http://www.ontariocycling.org
• The Quebec cycling association also has a website with all of their racing calendars, news, and regulations: http://www.fqsc.net/accueil.htm
• To keep up with what is happening in New York and Vermont, check out http://spokepost.com/ for great racing calendars and links to all races in the North East.

Racing Classes and age groups

• U13 – Under 13 (10-12) as of December 31 (MINIME)
• U15 – Under 15 (13-14) as of December 31 (PEEWEE)
• U17 – Under 17 (15-16) as of December 31 (CADET)
• U19 – Under 19 (17-18) as of December 31 (Junior)
• Elite – 19+ experienced provincial and national level riders (Senior 1 and 2) to introductory to racing (Senior 3)
• Master A – Ages 30-39 as of December 31
• Master B – Ages 40-49 as of December 31
• Master C – Ages 50-59 as of December 31
• Master D – Ages 60+ as of December 31, 2006

Gear Restrictions for Riders Under 19 Years of Age

The international governing body for cycling is the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).The UCI rules are the basis for the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) Rule Book (http://www.canadian-cycling.com/English/information/rulebook.htm). The UCI has specific limits on the gears used by young riders in road events. The main reasons for restricted gearing are to prevent injury and to encourage development of good pedalling technique (although this is subject to great debate!).

Since 2004 the OCA has enforced gear restrictions for young riders at all OCA sanctioned races. For the Junior (U19) category the restrictions are defined by the UCI. For all other riders (cadets (U17), U15, U13, U19 riders racing Senior etc) the U19 gear restrictions will be applied. This means that bikes for all riders under 19 year of age riders will be checked before and after every race to insure that they are not using illegal gears. Please note that the OCA strongly advises that all young riders chose their gearing with care. It is ultimately the responsibility of the rider to use the proper equipment.

2.2.024 For Junior Men and Junior Women, the authorized maximum chain gear ratio is 7.93 metres.

What does this mean?

When the bike is in the largest gear (big ring on the front, smallest gear on the back) it must travel less then 7.93 m when the pedals are turned exactly one full circle. This is tested by doing what is called a "roll-out". At the race, the commissaire will shift your bike into the largest gear available (biggest front, smallest back), and then roll it backwards watching one pedal. When the pedal goes around exactly one time, the distance will be marked. If it is more than 7.93 meters the bike will be illegal, and you will not be able to ride. At the end of the race the same check will be done, and if your bike fails, you will be disqualified.

So how do I comply?

The best way to insure that you bike will pass the test is to make sure that your "big ring" has 52 teeth, and that your smallest rear gear is 14 teeth. This combination is by far the most commonly used and will be very convenient if you need help with a flat or require other mechanical support during a race. These are standard parts that are readily available from your local bike shop, and should be provided at no extra cost on a new bike.

The other way to pass the test is to "block out" some of the gears on the back. If you have a 52 tooth "big ring" on the front you must block off all gears smaller that 14 on the back. If you have a 53 tooth "big ring" you must block off all gears smaller than 15 in the rear. The best way to do this is to adjust the limit screw on your rear derailleur to prevent the use of the smaller gears. Some commissaires may also require you to make the illegal gears unusable by wrapping them with tape and/or cable ties. Remember that your bike will be checked after the race – if the adjustments slip during the race, or if you get a spare wheel that has different gearing you could be disqualified.

Special Note for Younger Riders

The CCA Rule Book states that gear restrictions may be applied to younger riders as follows:

• Under 17 6.94 metres or 52 X 16 chain rings
• Under 15 6.00 metres or 45 X 16 chain rings
• Under 13 5.60 metres or 42 X 16 chain rings

These restrictions will not be enforced in Ontario. Riders entering races in other provinces may find that these restrictions are enforced there. This is especially true for cadets (U17) who travel to Quebec for major races as part of OCA development projects. If you plan to race outside of Ontario make sure you find out if gear restrictions are enforced, and that you have the correct equipment on your bike.