 Ok.... who couldn't sit there and not be inspired by our cycling girls in the Olympics!!??... Awesome efforts from team GB and all that excitment has gotten me back out on my road bike... riding and not just commuting to and from work! So thinking...where might a girl go if she wants to have a dabble in the road race world....looks like it can be fast, perhaps too fast for me......really have no idea what it entails.... So....I know some of you out there race......I would really appreciate some advice about how fast i should be riding, where i might find a girls race and i suppose whether this is really a good idea.... Thanks, look forward to your replies..
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.jpg) Hi Windygirl, Where abouts do you live? As some area have novice womens races on. You will also have to have a BC License to race, although if you are not sure it is something you will want to do more than once, so can buy a day license at the race. If you want to PM me i can give you more info
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 I'd join a club and take advice from there. try the British Cycling Federation website. Good Luck !
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 After Time trialling for a couple of years I tried my first Road Race event on the 23rd August at Darley Moor. It was part of the ladies team series I loved the race its self and finished 13th in the end but to be honest I found it all a little bit clicky and the comment of 'oh it's you first race, just make sure you ride in a straight line' was slightly off putting when turning up on your own. On the plus side there were a couple of people that were friendly.
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A good place to start is to try and get involved with a club and get on some group rides so you get used to riding a bunch preferably at speed. You'll find that a bit of experience will make it a lot easier it is not all about supreme fitness, knowing how to sit close to a good wheel can save you loads of energy! As for events if is does depend on where you are but closed road circuits are a good place to start as you can join back in the bunch if you get lapped - as long as you don't interfere with the race leaders. The BC website lists facilities that might be near you, but places like Hillingdon, Hog hill, Darley Moor, Milton Keynes etc will have races you can ride, you don't have to ride womens only events either! It is probably too late for this year though but you might like to look out for the Womens handicap events at Milton Keynes in about April next year they would be a good place to start.
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 I tried to get involved with a local roadie club, emailed them, mentioned that im not that fast at the moment on the road,distance isnt a problem, and was told to try the local touring club.... Looks like i will be continue riding on my tod
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Ta for the info, I go out with a few different cycling groups...the road club were the most "interesting".. all blokes mind and if i hadn't have been so thick skinned i may have been put off as at first they didnt seem that welcoming..especially as the only female.... .however after a year im pretty much accepted, i think it was just a bit "new" to the boys.....so dont give up pootle, most reasonable girlie riders can wheel suck at a decent average speed and each club often has a slower and faster group ride. Think i have now found a club to feed me into a few races.... ....pity the road season is coming to an end...duh!
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Hi Pootle don't give up. It's a shame you don't live near Nottingham. I ride for Nottingham clarion CC and we have a few ladies in the club and lots of varying abilities! It sounds like you just got in contact with the wrong club, I've never had a problem with any of the Nottingham clubs (Long eaton cc, ashfield RC, Mapperley CC) and quite often do other peoples club runs/club events - they all welcome me along.........
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Hello If any of you live near South London or Surrey you are very welcome to come out with Addiscombe CC. About 12 or so women riding every Saturday among everything else thats going on , all sorts of levels and groups - some experienced in racing, some learning about racing and others out for a fun easy ride in good company http://www.addiscombe.orgmeeting at Coulsdon South Station on the A23 heading out for about 30 mile spin. Meet 9am for 9.30am depart. Cafe stop half way and choice of routes for return with more cafe stops if people have got the time!
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