Road Racing.
In the North West of England, and around the North West Region in particular, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of road racing events.
Events are usually held at the weekend, but from Late April to August there are midweek evening races too.
Whether you are an “old hand”, a complete novice, young or old, quick on the flat or a mountain goat, there will be something for you take part in.
AM I FIT ENOUGH?
You never know until you try but as a general rule, if you are reasonably OK with the Club’s Tempo groups, or can generally manage the pace of the Half Day group, then you should definitely give it a go! The important thing is that you are comfortable with and able to ride safely and closely to other riders, at a fast pace.
Before entering a Road Race you should have developed your bike handling skills by riding regularly in a Club group.
In a Road Race everyone’s safety depends on everyone else’s competence.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Let’s assume that you have enjoyed/coped with the Club’s Tempo or Half Day groups, have a road-worthy racing bike (No Tri Bars) and want to compete against others.
In general, if you are 16 or older you may choose to enter a road race on a public highway course. These events are well marshalled, with warning vehicles ahead of the race, and often supported by experienced motor bike marshals. There are also events on closed (traffic free) circuits which cater for younger riders as well as those aged 16 and over.
The three organisations that oversee cycle road racing in England are: British Cycling (BC); TLI Cycling; and British Masters Cycle Racing (BMCR).
If you are under 40 years of age, you can join either BC or TLI Cycling. If you are 40+, you can choose to join both of these and BMCR. You will need to apply for a Racing Licence from one or more of these organisations to enter the events they support.
Each organisation provides up to £10million of Third Party Liability Indemnity for racing and there are also various degrees of cover for general cycling.
Refer to the websites of each organisation for the full details, and CLICK HERE to download a brief guide to the three organisations so you can find out how to join, details of their racing programmes, and how to enter.
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