{"id":41993,"date":"2022-09-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/?p=41993&preview=true&preview_id=41993"},"modified":"2022-10-04T17:40:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T15:40:36","slug":"road-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/2022\/09\/30\/road-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"Road Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Technique Tips <\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Road Racing<\/h2>\n\n

All you need to know about getting in on some asphalt action <\/p>\n\n

Photography<\/strong> Joolze Dymond<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
01 <\/span>Which category? <\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

If you want to feel like a Tour de France star, road racing is your scene. British Cycling oversees the main races, which are divided into national A and B events, regional A, B, C or C+ events, male and female categories, and senior, junior and masters groups. Race distances, circuit race times and rankings are adjusted accordingly. Riders are divided into categories, from Cat 4 for beginners to Elites \u2013 experienced riders who clock up 300 points in a season. As a beginner, you\u2019ll start as a Cat 4 racer in regional events. Over the season you\u2019ll clock up points for yourself and for your club. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

02 <\/span>Bunch up<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Whether racing on open roads or closed circuits like airfields, road racing involves riding in a bunch. \u201cGet out on your local chain gang or join a fast group ride to experience riding around people and feeling on your limit,\u201d says racer Amy Marks of Parcours (parcours.cc<\/a>). <\/em>\u201cSome places offer pre-race training, for example Team Brother UK LDN\u2019s \u2018race training sessions\u2019 at Redbridge Cycling Centre near Romford.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

03 <\/span>Get smarter <\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

\u201cCornering, positioning and gearing are vital skills in races,\u201d says trainer Chris Stanton of Wattbike (wattbike.com<\/em><\/a>). <\/em>\u201cLearning to distribute your weight effectively, and carry speed around corners, can make a significant time difference. To maintain efficiency, adjust your gearing in anticipation of the acceleration, deceleration or gradient changes ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cLEARNING TO DISTRIBUTE YOUR WEIGHT EFFECTIVELY, AND CARRY SPEED AROUND CORNERS, CAN MAKE A BIG TIME DIFFERENCE\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

04<\/span> Refine your race craft<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Racers need to be savvy with their tactics too, so practise your positioning. \u201cStay close to the front, in the first 5-10 wheels, to watch for attacks,\u201d advises Marks. \u201cIf you\u2019re feeling good, try your own attack. You never know what might stick and who might come with you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

05<\/span> Pay attention to details <\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Small things, such as stashing your drinks and gels in accessible jersey pockets and bottle cages can make a winning difference. \u201cLearning to hydrate and take on fuel at high speeds without struggling to get a bottle back in the cage are all underestimated race skills,\u201d says Stanton<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
TRY THESE RACES <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Find an event that appeals to you <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Lothian Flyer Road Race <\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

\u25cf In 2022, this was a 77.9km Regional B race for Cat 3 and 4 racers (juniors, seniors and vets). The August event will see you zip past castles and rugged countryside in the Scottish borders. This year\u2019s competitors had to conquer around 1,000m of elevation and a seven-lap circuit. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Herne Hill Crit League <\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

\u25cf Enjoy some fun but technically challenging circuit races using inner sections of tarmac as well as the main outdoor velodrome circuit at this iconic south London location. It welcomes riders in Cat 3 and 4 and this year\u2019s league took place on several evenings in May and June, \u00a312 a session. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
ROAD RACING KIT <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Top kit picks for tackling road racing <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

01<\/span> SunGod Airas ZF glasses <\/strong><\/strong>
\u00a3105 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf These high performance glasses combine a light frame (just 27g) with advanced 8KO lenses for extra visual clarity during frantic races. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

02<\/span> Le Col Pro Air Mountains Alps Jersey<\/strong><\/strong>
\u00a3130 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf With ultra-light meshed fabric for extra weight-saving and breathability, this jersey will keep you fresh during hot summer road races. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
The Session <\/strong>
Road race VO2 max builder <\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Coach<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>Chris Stanton, Wattbike <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>Road races tend to be shorter and faster than sportives so you need to be ready to pump up your power, adapt to pace changes and recover quickly. \u201cVO2 max (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise) is a key parameter in races,\u201d says Stanton. \u201cThis workout will improve your topend aerobic capacity and stimulate adaptations for coping with higher aerobic stress.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Kit needed<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>Road bike, power meter (or smart trainer with power meter integration), clothing, shoes <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

HOW TO DO IT <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm-up <\/span><\/strong>Cycle for 10mins building to 100% FTP (functional threshold power, or the highest average power you can sustain for one hour, measured in watts); Recover \u2013 2mins at 50% FTP <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main set <\/span><\/strong>Effort \u2013 4mins at 115% FTP; Recover \u2013 4mins at 50% FTP; Effort \u2013 4mins at 115% FTP; Recover \u2013 4mins at 50% FTP; Effort \u2013 4mins at 115% FTP; Recover \u2013 4mins at 50% FTP; Effort \u2013 4mins at 115% FTP; Recover \u2013 4mins at 50% FTP; Effort \u2013 3mins at 115% FTP <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cool-down<\/span><\/strong> <\/strong>12mins at 40% FTP <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All you need to know about getting in on some asphalt action <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5673,"featured_media":41996,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"","purple_seq_number":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"","purple_source_article":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"","purple_source_issue":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_external_id":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"November-2022-7aca2ddb-bb22-46a0-ab5c-92d91cc9bb1d","purple_issue_code":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000111762||","purple_android_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_ios_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-09-29T16:18:59Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"4cbef42c-6d21-45c3-998d-49def1df7df4","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-10-04T15:40:44Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ATL70LG0hRcOZjUne8d999A","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[27],"tags":[158],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"ella.copping-howard@immediate.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/ella-copping-howardimmediate-co-uk\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited.jpg",1756,1853,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited-284x300.jpg",284,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited-768x810.jpg",768,810,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited-970x1024.jpg",800,845,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited-1456x1536.jpg",1456,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/783ed8ef-d416-4db2-8475-2863cd3da8b9-edited.jpg",1756,1853,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"ella.copping-howard@immediate.co.uk","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/ella-copping-howardimmediate-co-uk\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"All you need to know about getting in on some asphalt action","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5673"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41993"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42295,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41993\/revisions\/42295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}