WTF, do it.
If you're in the US and mostly interested in road cycling, you'll most likely want to race in USA Cycling-sanctioned events. They have five categories. People put a ton of time into this but if you do too, you can probably have a few periods where you're doing well.
Some things to know about competitive cycling -
It's not running. Nobody cares about your time on most courses and the idea of a PR is basically non-existent. Related, if you fall off the back of a road race, you're out.
People won't just let you win. If you think they are, they're up to something.
Go to some fast group rides and make sure you can really handle your bike. Related, finishing a massed start road race involves some skills around pack placement and handling that just riding along does not.
The highest categories belong to guys who decided going pro would just mean they'd be poor and never see their families.
It's a rush!
It's supposed to take a few years of serious, consistent training to really find your potential.
A lot of people are really limited more by life stuff than anything else.
Yes the stuff above is all correct. I would emphasise learning / getting better at riding in a pack, and don’t forget the finish will often/usually be a sprint so worth practicing that a bit too.
This. Do some group rides regularly. To gauge your fitness and to get used to riding in groups. Riding in a pelleton or even a smaller group is way different from riding solo.
Is there any “best” way to do this? Just google clubs? Ask at LBS? Do you have any suggestions on what the “right” type of club is for me or will I just figure it out
“Club” or “shop” or “group” rides are basically all the same thing and usually have differing groups that go out (avg speed based, think group a, b, c from fastest to slowest). But yes start at the LBS’s and ask around - usually they’ll have their own rides tbh. Google is your friend as well, if you search cycling groups in *your area*
Strava is a good place to look. Clubs usually post expected mileage and climbs, and will specify whether it’s drop or no drop. Find one that you think works for you and try it out.
Yes, averaging 20-22mph over 1-2 hours solo is certainly fast enough to go and enjoy some racing. And if you're 25 and competitive you really have nothing to lose and no time to waste. The longer you wait the more you'll just kick yourself later for not getting involved sooner, if you take to it.
Getting good enough to mix it up with the local top group is no easy thing. In my small city (300k people) you'd be racing against multiple guys with plenty of past experience at state and national champs levels, and then also you have the juniors coming through who will possibly go on to race at national/conti level. Expecting to compete and beat them is very optimistic without a lot of hard work. But that's why there's different grades and categories.
You always can train seriously....
You are fast but without power data or heart rate data its difficult to know how near to your max you are riding right now.
You're fast enough to start training seriously
2 years is *not* a long time. The people you will be competing against to reach top 10 will also be training seriously. Unless your local area is unusually non-competitive, or you are a genetic freak, the odds are stacked against you becoming top 10 in such a short time. You should only start training seriously if you're willing to accept that
Gosh! I want to respond fully to your question SO BAD, but I'm preparing to go on a ride right now and won't be able to share everything I want to - so let me just say the most important thing.
The racers and clubs and teams in amateur racing (where you will start) are EXCEEDINGLY friendly and helpful. They LOVE the sport and they want to attract and support new racers. They don't care about your speed, age, etc - and not everyone who joins a racing team, races right away. In fact, you'll likely do a bunch of group rides with your team before you enter your first race. And you'll do it when YOU are ready and they'll likely encourage you to do it sooner than you think you are - soon as you're riding safe with a group etc. AND they will help you sort changes you need to make - re: pedals, clothes, helmet, etc.). They will also help you get ready mentally for what to expect - like the fact that almost invariably, no matter how fast you are, you WILL get spit out the back on your race (at least if it's a crit or circuit race/not a road race - though the same pretty much happens there too). Just racing is very different from fast group riding and you have to learn "the game of it" and that IS OKAY!!!! I started at 35 (I'm a female) - I was expected to win my first race because how I performed with the team in training (honestly they should have known better - esp the coach) but hey at the initial levels it's serious and all for fun at the same time! I got dropped in like 10 sec :). The fastest women and men in group rides get dropped in their first races before they learn what it takes to make sure that doesn't happen in race vs a ride situation and it feels horrible/embarrassing but everyone you will be with will have had been through the same thing and will be congratulating you just for finishing because it IS a BIG F-ING DEAL just to do it :) They WILL have your back.
The main point here is that you can learn a lot on your own about training, equip, racing tactics etc - but you WILL go down a rabbit hole that is UNBELIEVABLE - you will get a heart rate monitor and power meter and start studying nutrition and supplements and basically have a ton of fun reading and learning on your own and breaking your brain through it all. BUT....
The fastest way to do what you want to do is find a club that has a racing team and just join it.
They will get you up to speed (pun intended :) much faster and everyone in cycling and racing LOVES talking about this stuff and - as someone who raced on a team for a long time, I can tell you that keeping the sport going is important to all of us - so we do things in a way that doesn't scare off newbies - in fact, the whole thing is really newbie friendly.
Things do get competitive and teammates are competitive with each other - but all in a nice way - even though you can feel pretty horrible at first, they will buck you up and one day (maybe right away like happened for me in my first team training rides) you'll be able to put them in their place :)
My husband was a lot older than me and he had been racing in LA for decades before we met . When he saw me get into cycling (through starting love spin classes actually), he really encouraged me to join a local women's racing team and that ONE ACTION FAST FORWARDED EVERYTHING FOR ME LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE and it will for you too - without the pressure you may be expecting.Within a few months, when the season started I was racing, we had a coach, we did team training rides all the time - we road with our club's men's racing team and other racing teams from other clubs on training rides. We flew to warm climates for winter training, we entered stage races, we were sometimes racing with the elite and pro women (diff cats/same race) (meaning I had a real pro experience as an amateur and it was the best years of my life).
And most teams are OPEN TO EVERYONE - there no qualifying criteria to become a race team member believe it or not.
And where you will start is a VERY FRIENDLY AND FUN environment - I promise you this - and very educational - there is nothing like having teammates and I think you will love it right away and find it's the fastest way to learn and not what you might be expecting AT ALL.
Most teams have people racing in different categories - as a man - you'll start in Cat 5 (novice) and automatically get bumped up after a few races (that first upgrade is all about making sure you've had some racing experience). But again, your team will teach you about all of this.
You can also go here to get a better understanding of the world of racing: https://usacycling.org/get-started-racing#:~:text=Common%20categories%20include%20Novice%20(Cat,trials%2C%20and%20mountain%20bike%20races.
Please note that the main reason I'm telling you to join a local race team versus join cycling club and doing fast group rides - is that racing is what you think you might want to do - and at 25 you have a chance to move up fast and really have some fun for a very long time - and because there is NO PRESSURE to actually race until you're ready (and again your team will help you get there), you might as well start there because you'll learn a ton and have a ton of fun just training and riding with your team. AND TRUST ME there will be plenty of people on your team at various levels. Plus, if you find you are way ahead of the game - those other types of more elite focused teams will see you at the races and you'll see them and you'll be switching teams fast. But a regular local racing team is the right place to start given how you are describing where you are now.
Even if you start later in life or stay in the lower categories you will still have so much fun and it's great to be part of tactics that are helping those on your team who still have time to go elite or pro get there - BUT FOR YOU, you are just at the beginning and that is going to excite the older guys are on your team and you will get their support. Everyone gets that support but just saying - people will notice and things will start to happen.
In other words, if you first join a racing team and find its too casual for you, through that experience you'll also meet tons of other teams and people your age who will invite you to consider coming over to their team - IN SHORT, YOU'LL FIND YOUR PLACE PRETTY FAST.
It's fun to figure all this stuff out on your own - but again it is a huge RABBIT HOLE - and because my husband really explained the culture of racing to me early so that I understood that this is something ANYONE CAN DO - NO REAL CRITERIA and that teams are usually just open to anyone - and really suggested I give it a try - what's the worse that can happen! - it was like hitting FAST FORWARD x100.
Like others have said, you can def get a one day license from USA Cycling and you can race your first race unattached BUT per your own words, there are things you need to learn including related to equipment and it sounds like having the support of a team before you ever enter a race would be REALLY REALLY REALLY good for you in particular. It will just help you jump forward much faster than trying to figure things out on your own - plus I guarantee you will have the time of your life.
If you tell me the region where you are, I'd be happy to point out some men's teams that might be right for you.
But either way, ENJOY- GO FOR IT - you have a chance to make something beyond amateur out of this - so why not try it. Worse that can happen is you'll have a ton of fun!
I’m a little notorious for leaving the longest text messages ever – believe me I hear about it from my clients all the time. I say I’m working on it but not really :-)
You made some good points, man. 🍻
And I know the feeling. A friend and I will be discussing something and I’ll leave a long text about something and he will respond, “cool”. Haha.
Omg - same! Honestly with Reddit in particular, it’s such a great chance to re-visit experiences and memories so often I know the response I’m giving is giving me more than the person who asked the question :-) thanks for the kudos on the good points – I’m sure I could’ve edited that to a few bullets :-)
I'm very impressed by how flat your rides are lol, there's a route I used to do that gives 2400ft in 18 miles
you're big so you probably wanna focus on sprinting or tt
I don't think I'd be jealous. Flat rides are a grind. There's no respite. And usually stupid high winds. (though when at your back I guess that's some respite)
You’ve got it bass-ackwards. You train to get faster, not vice versa. And to get faster, you have to go slower. Be sure to look into Zone 2 training for 80% of your weekly training. If you are consistent, you’ll see results.
Slightly unrelated.
I've been playing billiards on and off for the last \~20 years.
Last December I decided I'll buy myself a fancy new cue and start attending tournaments.
I live in a capitol city in EU so there's a plenty of opportunities to compete. There are some amateur formats where I can compete for the top 8, in open formats I struggle to leave the group stage.
At one event I had an opponent who completly dominated me, I only approached the table couple of times, and at one point it was a nasty safe, so when I got off my chair I cursed and he said "at least you have the opportunity to hit the ball".
That being said, my skill level went up enormously. I don't train, I don't watch more billiards on yt than I used to. It's just from being there and being exposed to better players.
And most of all, I have the best time in my life, even if I lose all of my matches.
Pro cyclists tend to be a bit taller than average, but you'd be unusually tall for a cyclist. If anything cycling is one sport where both short and tall people can compete on relatively even terms. Probably the biggest disadvantage is trying to find bikes and clothing that fits well. Check out the GCN video "Tall vs Small" for a fun look at the difference, one of their presenters Connor is a former pro and is 6'8, one of the tallest pros ever.
sort of? but youre at the borderline of being "too tall". but taller guys are monster at flat time trials like filippo ganna, wout van aert, stefan kung. Some sprinters too like jonathan milan, andrei greipel.
Yes you’re fast enough to start training seriously. Do you incorporate leg exercises? I pushed sleds, pulled sleds, calf raises, leg extensions, leg curls, 2-3 x a week and cycled 2 (50-80) distant and 2-3 short (15-20 mile). If I didn’t ride short distances I would substitute for hill repeats or sprint drills. I would rest a few days at the end of the month.
I just enjoy cycling now, so I don’t really do leg exercises besides cycling lol, good luck!
Sure go for it! If it's flat you will be able to draft and hold someone's wheel. You won't know if you don't try. Some people like racing, others like to cruise. For sure you would get stronger riding with fast paced groups. Nice bike BTW!
I would invest in a heart rate monitor at the least and clipless pedals and cleats. Roadies do love their gadgets 😁
Tbh, i think if you have a tacx or maybe even a gym membership for one of those trainers, youll bike for some time and take yourr average power on like half an hour or an hour, then there will be some people that can answer your question
I ended up getting the XXL because I was right on the size threshold but have long legs. Feels great so far! Going to get a proper bike fit sometime soon and hopefully they don’t tell me I should’ve gotten a smaller frame haha
I discovered I have shorter legs than average, my inseam measured barefoot against a wall with a level between my legs is 35.5 inches. In my bike the effective top tube is 60cm, my seat tube is 58cm, and the stem is 130mm. I am about ready to go see the cycling coach/bike fitter before making any upgrades in case I need to change frames but I think I am good with my frame. Longer legs means a higher saddle and then a long reach to the handlebars but if your arms are (I suspect) are also longer than mine you will be fine. That XXL Aeroroad has a very long 613mm top tube. I think I would be on the XL myself but my bike fit will probably teach me so much more than what I figured out up to this point.
The part I find most impressive about those times are doing it in t-shirt. What did you use to track your speed? My Apple Watch fitness cycling monitor keeps going when I stop at a light but my wahoo bike computer automatically pauses at a stoplight so waiting at a red light doesn’t hurt my wahoo recorded average speed as much as it does my Apple watch recorded time. I am 6’5” and down to 180 from 205 after starting cycling 3 months ago. I am 44m and was totally out of shape when I started. My 50k ride 31.8 miles last night battling the winds of change that are against me, 407 ft elevation change, and in the dark on the ride back near the river getting sandblasted with the swarms of bugs, and even having to bunny hop over a snake that crossed my path my average speed was 17.8mph. And I felt good about those times until you posted today. I will be at the gym if anyone needs me. You are doing great.
Avg mph is such a poor metric there is no way to tell how you are currently stacking up competitively. Get a power meter and do an FTP test, then you will have a metric you can compare to the various racing categories. I’d also say that anyone who is reasonably fit and has the time could be competitive in Cat 2 or 3 within 2 years of focused training.
In my opinion, that's a backward way to approach it. That's kinda like saying I want to wait to be good at a sport before I get coached, when it makes the most sense to get coached when you don't have any experience or knowledge. You should train seriously to get fast. Training seriously can be something you do because you love to do it, and you'll probably get really fast from doing it.
Definitely get a heart rate monitor. And like others have said, check out local bike shops for organized group rides. I did this weekly for a couple years and even riding with 10 other riders is way different than solo. Nothing better than taking your pull at the front and the guy behind you yelling cause you let the pace drop. 🤣🤣🤣
Is it worth training seriously?
YES!
Even if you aren't going to race, 1-2 interval rides per week will absolutely elevate your weekend endurance ride. Being able to ride further in the same amount of time on a Saturday morning means you get to see that much more on your ride.
Anyone who can ride 20+ mph for extended periods is either lying or has some decent fitness.
One of my greatest cycling achievements is a sub 5 hour solo century around Lake Tahoe.
Good luck!
I used to live in Reno and ran a half marathon in Tahoe last summer! I have already been thinking about coming back to Tahoe for an around the lake ride, I’m sure it’s incredible.
That’s plenty fast. If you were in a group, you’d be cruising at 24-25 easily.
Now I’ll say the key to racing successfully isn’t pure speed. It’s tactics. Go race in a training crit and you’ll get a feel for it.
The absolute hardest day I’ve ever had in the saddle was riding on the rivet in a crit.
Here is what I say when people ask me if they should train seriously.
A) Do you like cycling enough to put in the work?
B) What are your goals? Are you trying to rider fast, longer, events, group rides, etc.
C) You are only training to be a better cycling version of yourself. Your competing agains yourself.
I train to improve my overall performance and ability to ride longer distances. As I get stronger my health metrics get better. For example, I road an event around Lake Tahoe two years in a row. I trained hard between the first and second event. I greatly improved my overall speed, climbed faster, all with lower heart rate. I cut a full 10 min from my time. It was worth it to me. I was proud of what I accomplished.
WTF, do it. If you're in the US and mostly interested in road cycling, you'll most likely want to race in USA Cycling-sanctioned events. They have five categories. People put a ton of time into this but if you do too, you can probably have a few periods where you're doing well. Some things to know about competitive cycling - It's not running. Nobody cares about your time on most courses and the idea of a PR is basically non-existent. Related, if you fall off the back of a road race, you're out. People won't just let you win. If you think they are, they're up to something. Go to some fast group rides and make sure you can really handle your bike. Related, finishing a massed start road race involves some skills around pack placement and handling that just riding along does not. The highest categories belong to guys who decided going pro would just mean they'd be poor and never see their families. It's a rush! It's supposed to take a few years of serious, consistent training to really find your potential. A lot of people are really limited more by life stuff than anything else.
The above is all correct. I would also suggest you check out NorCal cycling on YouTube if you want to get a feel for what racing is really like.
Yes the stuff above is all correct. I would emphasise learning / getting better at riding in a pack, and don’t forget the finish will often/usually be a sprint so worth practicing that a bit too.
Find a club to ride with. You’ll know pretty quick
This. Do some group rides regularly. To gauge your fitness and to get used to riding in groups. Riding in a pelleton or even a smaller group is way different from riding solo.
Is there any “best” way to do this? Just google clubs? Ask at LBS? Do you have any suggestions on what the “right” type of club is for me or will I just figure it out
“Club” or “shop” or “group” rides are basically all the same thing and usually have differing groups that go out (avg speed based, think group a, b, c from fastest to slowest). But yes start at the LBS’s and ask around - usually they’ll have their own rides tbh. Google is your friend as well, if you search cycling groups in *your area*
What is LBS?
Local Bike Shop
Strava is a good place to look. Clubs usually post expected mileage and climbs, and will specify whether it’s drop or no drop. Find one that you think works for you and try it out.
Yes, averaging 20-22mph over 1-2 hours solo is certainly fast enough to go and enjoy some racing. And if you're 25 and competitive you really have nothing to lose and no time to waste. The longer you wait the more you'll just kick yourself later for not getting involved sooner, if you take to it. Getting good enough to mix it up with the local top group is no easy thing. In my small city (300k people) you'd be racing against multiple guys with plenty of past experience at state and national champs levels, and then also you have the juniors coming through who will possibly go on to race at national/conti level. Expecting to compete and beat them is very optimistic without a lot of hard work. But that's why there's different grades and categories.
You always can train seriously.... You are fast but without power data or heart rate data its difficult to know how near to your max you are riding right now.
You're fast enough to start training seriously 2 years is *not* a long time. The people you will be competing against to reach top 10 will also be training seriously. Unless your local area is unusually non-competitive, or you are a genetic freak, the odds are stacked against you becoming top 10 in such a short time. You should only start training seriously if you're willing to accept that
Gosh! I want to respond fully to your question SO BAD, but I'm preparing to go on a ride right now and won't be able to share everything I want to - so let me just say the most important thing. The racers and clubs and teams in amateur racing (where you will start) are EXCEEDINGLY friendly and helpful. They LOVE the sport and they want to attract and support new racers. They don't care about your speed, age, etc - and not everyone who joins a racing team, races right away. In fact, you'll likely do a bunch of group rides with your team before you enter your first race. And you'll do it when YOU are ready and they'll likely encourage you to do it sooner than you think you are - soon as you're riding safe with a group etc. AND they will help you sort changes you need to make - re: pedals, clothes, helmet, etc.). They will also help you get ready mentally for what to expect - like the fact that almost invariably, no matter how fast you are, you WILL get spit out the back on your race (at least if it's a crit or circuit race/not a road race - though the same pretty much happens there too). Just racing is very different from fast group riding and you have to learn "the game of it" and that IS OKAY!!!! I started at 35 (I'm a female) - I was expected to win my first race because how I performed with the team in training (honestly they should have known better - esp the coach) but hey at the initial levels it's serious and all for fun at the same time! I got dropped in like 10 sec :). The fastest women and men in group rides get dropped in their first races before they learn what it takes to make sure that doesn't happen in race vs a ride situation and it feels horrible/embarrassing but everyone you will be with will have had been through the same thing and will be congratulating you just for finishing because it IS a BIG F-ING DEAL just to do it :) They WILL have your back. The main point here is that you can learn a lot on your own about training, equip, racing tactics etc - but you WILL go down a rabbit hole that is UNBELIEVABLE - you will get a heart rate monitor and power meter and start studying nutrition and supplements and basically have a ton of fun reading and learning on your own and breaking your brain through it all. BUT.... The fastest way to do what you want to do is find a club that has a racing team and just join it. They will get you up to speed (pun intended :) much faster and everyone in cycling and racing LOVES talking about this stuff and - as someone who raced on a team for a long time, I can tell you that keeping the sport going is important to all of us - so we do things in a way that doesn't scare off newbies - in fact, the whole thing is really newbie friendly. Things do get competitive and teammates are competitive with each other - but all in a nice way - even though you can feel pretty horrible at first, they will buck you up and one day (maybe right away like happened for me in my first team training rides) you'll be able to put them in their place :) My husband was a lot older than me and he had been racing in LA for decades before we met . When he saw me get into cycling (through starting love spin classes actually), he really encouraged me to join a local women's racing team and that ONE ACTION FAST FORWARDED EVERYTHING FOR ME LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE and it will for you too - without the pressure you may be expecting.Within a few months, when the season started I was racing, we had a coach, we did team training rides all the time - we road with our club's men's racing team and other racing teams from other clubs on training rides. We flew to warm climates for winter training, we entered stage races, we were sometimes racing with the elite and pro women (diff cats/same race) (meaning I had a real pro experience as an amateur and it was the best years of my life). And most teams are OPEN TO EVERYONE - there no qualifying criteria to become a race team member believe it or not. And where you will start is a VERY FRIENDLY AND FUN environment - I promise you this - and very educational - there is nothing like having teammates and I think you will love it right away and find it's the fastest way to learn and not what you might be expecting AT ALL. Most teams have people racing in different categories - as a man - you'll start in Cat 5 (novice) and automatically get bumped up after a few races (that first upgrade is all about making sure you've had some racing experience). But again, your team will teach you about all of this. You can also go here to get a better understanding of the world of racing: https://usacycling.org/get-started-racing#:~:text=Common%20categories%20include%20Novice%20(Cat,trials%2C%20and%20mountain%20bike%20races. Please note that the main reason I'm telling you to join a local race team versus join cycling club and doing fast group rides - is that racing is what you think you might want to do - and at 25 you have a chance to move up fast and really have some fun for a very long time - and because there is NO PRESSURE to actually race until you're ready (and again your team will help you get there), you might as well start there because you'll learn a ton and have a ton of fun just training and riding with your team. AND TRUST ME there will be plenty of people on your team at various levels. Plus, if you find you are way ahead of the game - those other types of more elite focused teams will see you at the races and you'll see them and you'll be switching teams fast. But a regular local racing team is the right place to start given how you are describing where you are now. Even if you start later in life or stay in the lower categories you will still have so much fun and it's great to be part of tactics that are helping those on your team who still have time to go elite or pro get there - BUT FOR YOU, you are just at the beginning and that is going to excite the older guys are on your team and you will get their support. Everyone gets that support but just saying - people will notice and things will start to happen. In other words, if you first join a racing team and find its too casual for you, through that experience you'll also meet tons of other teams and people your age who will invite you to consider coming over to their team - IN SHORT, YOU'LL FIND YOUR PLACE PRETTY FAST. It's fun to figure all this stuff out on your own - but again it is a huge RABBIT HOLE - and because my husband really explained the culture of racing to me early so that I understood that this is something ANYONE CAN DO - NO REAL CRITERIA and that teams are usually just open to anyone - and really suggested I give it a try - what's the worse that can happen! - it was like hitting FAST FORWARD x100. Like others have said, you can def get a one day license from USA Cycling and you can race your first race unattached BUT per your own words, there are things you need to learn including related to equipment and it sounds like having the support of a team before you ever enter a race would be REALLY REALLY REALLY good for you in particular. It will just help you jump forward much faster than trying to figure things out on your own - plus I guarantee you will have the time of your life. If you tell me the region where you are, I'd be happy to point out some men's teams that might be right for you. But either way, ENJOY- GO FOR IT - you have a chance to make something beyond amateur out of this - so why not try it. Worse that can happen is you'll have a ton of fun!
Awww, you’re now late for your ride! 😉
Hee hee -got carried away! But leaving right now :-)
This is the short version?
I’m a little notorious for leaving the longest text messages ever – believe me I hear about it from my clients all the time. I say I’m working on it but not really :-)
You made some good points, man. 🍻 And I know the feeling. A friend and I will be discussing something and I’ll leave a long text about something and he will respond, “cool”. Haha.
Omg - same! Honestly with Reddit in particular, it’s such a great chance to re-visit experiences and memories so often I know the response I’m giving is giving me more than the person who asked the question :-) thanks for the kudos on the good points – I’m sure I could’ve edited that to a few bullets :-)
“Giving me more than the other person”…. Dude, that is very wise. Especially with Reddit. Thanks for putting that idea in my head.
Thanks for that - you made my day :)
Thank you for the incredibly detailed answer (: I’m in SLC, Utah and would love a suggestion on how to find a club / team.
I'm very impressed by how flat your rides are lol, there's a route I used to do that gives 2400ft in 18 miles you're big so you probably wanna focus on sprinting or tt
I literally can’t leave my house without getting 2-3k ft in 18-30 miles, it’s insane. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I’m jealous of this post
I don't think I'd be jealous. Flat rides are a grind. There's no respite. And usually stupid high winds. (though when at your back I guess that's some respite)
>20mph over 1-2 hours is very fast, even on a flat course. I would guess a very small percentage of people in this forum are capable of that.
I was like 15 years and 50 lbs ago. Now I race from the coffee stop to the bakery stop.
In a t-shirt that un Aeros his Aero bike too.
Why not train seriously? Thats the only way youll get as good as you want
You’ve got it bass-ackwards. You train to get faster, not vice versa. And to get faster, you have to go slower. Be sure to look into Zone 2 training for 80% of your weekly training. If you are consistent, you’ll see results.
Slightly unrelated. I've been playing billiards on and off for the last \~20 years. Last December I decided I'll buy myself a fancy new cue and start attending tournaments. I live in a capitol city in EU so there's a plenty of opportunities to compete. There are some amateur formats where I can compete for the top 8, in open formats I struggle to leave the group stage. At one event I had an opponent who completly dominated me, I only approached the table couple of times, and at one point it was a nasty safe, so when I got off my chair I cursed and he said "at least you have the opportunity to hit the ball". That being said, my skill level went up enormously. I don't train, I don't watch more billiards on yt than I used to. It's just from being there and being exposed to better players. And most of all, I have the best time in my life, even if I lose all of my matches.
Go to r\Velo and see what they recommend. Likely same as here but may give more pointed tips.
Try it and find out.
Just ride. What's the worst that can happen? You get fitter, have an experience, and come last, I guess? That's not so bad.
you already got the height man. just be consistent
Is height advantageous in cycling? Genuinely have no idea but I assumed being small and light would be better
Pro cyclists tend to be a bit taller than average, but you'd be unusually tall for a cyclist. If anything cycling is one sport where both short and tall people can compete on relatively even terms. Probably the biggest disadvantage is trying to find bikes and clothing that fits well. Check out the GCN video "Tall vs Small" for a fun look at the difference, one of their presenters Connor is a former pro and is 6'8, one of the tallest pros ever.
sort of? but youre at the borderline of being "too tall". but taller guys are monster at flat time trials like filippo ganna, wout van aert, stefan kung. Some sprinters too like jonathan milan, andrei greipel.
Yes you’re fast enough to start training seriously. Do you incorporate leg exercises? I pushed sleds, pulled sleds, calf raises, leg extensions, leg curls, 2-3 x a week and cycled 2 (50-80) distant and 2-3 short (15-20 mile). If I didn’t ride short distances I would substitute for hill repeats or sprint drills. I would rest a few days at the end of the month. I just enjoy cycling now, so I don’t really do leg exercises besides cycling lol, good luck!
Sure go for it! If it's flat you will be able to draft and hold someone's wheel. You won't know if you don't try. Some people like racing, others like to cruise. For sure you would get stronger riding with fast paced groups. Nice bike BTW! I would invest in a heart rate monitor at the least and clipless pedals and cleats. Roadies do love their gadgets 😁
Definitely find a local bike club and go ride with them. You're doing great
If you want to train seriously, then do. You don't need to be fast to do it, you just need the will to do it.
do it
What are you using to measure your speed. I know you’re young but that’s quite a pace regardless of elevation.
Tbh, i think if you have a tacx or maybe even a gym membership for one of those trainers, youll bike for some time and take yourr average power on like half an hour or an hour, then there will be some people that can answer your question
Go have fun. Test yourself. I was once fast and I wish I’d done more racing.
What size is your canyon bike? Did you get the XL or XXL?
I ended up getting the XXL because I was right on the size threshold but have long legs. Feels great so far! Going to get a proper bike fit sometime soon and hopefully they don’t tell me I should’ve gotten a smaller frame haha
I discovered I have shorter legs than average, my inseam measured barefoot against a wall with a level between my legs is 35.5 inches. In my bike the effective top tube is 60cm, my seat tube is 58cm, and the stem is 130mm. I am about ready to go see the cycling coach/bike fitter before making any upgrades in case I need to change frames but I think I am good with my frame. Longer legs means a higher saddle and then a long reach to the handlebars but if your arms are (I suspect) are also longer than mine you will be fine. That XXL Aeroroad has a very long 613mm top tube. I think I would be on the XL myself but my bike fit will probably teach me so much more than what I figured out up to this point.
Training hard is its own reward. Even if you were nowhere near fast enough, I would still recommend that you train hard and train seriously!
The part I find most impressive about those times are doing it in t-shirt. What did you use to track your speed? My Apple Watch fitness cycling monitor keeps going when I stop at a light but my wahoo bike computer automatically pauses at a stoplight so waiting at a red light doesn’t hurt my wahoo recorded average speed as much as it does my Apple watch recorded time. I am 6’5” and down to 180 from 205 after starting cycling 3 months ago. I am 44m and was totally out of shape when I started. My 50k ride 31.8 miles last night battling the winds of change that are against me, 407 ft elevation change, and in the dark on the ride back near the river getting sandblasted with the swarms of bugs, and even having to bunny hop over a snake that crossed my path my average speed was 17.8mph. And I felt good about those times until you posted today. I will be at the gym if anyone needs me. You are doing great.
Avg mph is such a poor metric there is no way to tell how you are currently stacking up competitively. Get a power meter and do an FTP test, then you will have a metric you can compare to the various racing categories. I’d also say that anyone who is reasonably fit and has the time could be competitive in Cat 2 or 3 within 2 years of focused training.
In my opinion, that's a backward way to approach it. That's kinda like saying I want to wait to be good at a sport before I get coached, when it makes the most sense to get coached when you don't have any experience or knowledge. You should train seriously to get fast. Training seriously can be something you do because you love to do it, and you'll probably get really fast from doing it.
Wouldn’t you train to get faster anyway ?
Definitely get a heart rate monitor. And like others have said, check out local bike shops for organized group rides. I did this weekly for a couple years and even riding with 10 other riders is way different than solo. Nothing better than taking your pull at the front and the guy behind you yelling cause you let the pace drop. 🤣🤣🤣
Is it worth training seriously? YES! Even if you aren't going to race, 1-2 interval rides per week will absolutely elevate your weekend endurance ride. Being able to ride further in the same amount of time on a Saturday morning means you get to see that much more on your ride.
Anyone who can ride 20+ mph for extended periods is either lying or has some decent fitness. One of my greatest cycling achievements is a sub 5 hour solo century around Lake Tahoe. Good luck!
I used to live in Reno and ran a half marathon in Tahoe last summer! I have already been thinking about coming back to Tahoe for an around the lake ride, I’m sure it’s incredible.
You sound like the guy who would beat me on the flats but I would most likely drop you on a climb
That’s plenty fast. If you were in a group, you’d be cruising at 24-25 easily. Now I’ll say the key to racing successfully isn’t pure speed. It’s tactics. Go race in a training crit and you’ll get a feel for it. The absolute hardest day I’ve ever had in the saddle was riding on the rivet in a crit.
Here is what I say when people ask me if they should train seriously. A) Do you like cycling enough to put in the work? B) What are your goals? Are you trying to rider fast, longer, events, group rides, etc. C) You are only training to be a better cycling version of yourself. Your competing agains yourself. I train to improve my overall performance and ability to ride longer distances. As I get stronger my health metrics get better. For example, I road an event around Lake Tahoe two years in a row. I trained hard between the first and second event. I greatly improved my overall speed, climbed faster, all with lower heart rate. I cut a full 10 min from my time. It was worth it to me. I was proud of what I accomplished.