A Beginners guide to Competitive Cycling

A beginner's guide to COMPETITIVE CYCLING wwwwMMw Are you looking to get into competitive cycling? Whether it's to compete or just keep fit, racing is a brilliant way to have fun and keep active. Have a look at our rundown of the different competitive races you could be part of and see if you could be first over the finish line. START CYCLE Born on the bomb sites of post war Britain, Cycle speedway consists of four riders, with no brakes, racing head to head round a small oval track. It is the only form of body contact cycling. SPEEDWAY Required skills: Sprint racing Tactical Great awareness handling Nerve + 30" → Bikes only have one gear and no brakes Handle bars cannot exceed 30" Required skills: BMX racing Is the newest Olympic discipline seeing its debut in Beljing in 2008. Eight riders start at a ten metre ramp and make their way round a dirt course of jumps and rollers. It began in California in the late 60's, born from the popularity of Motocross. Sprint racing Bike Nerves BMX control of steel Quick reactions Ensure your bike has sealed bearings; these will allow your bike to ride smoother for longer Beginners tip Originating in California in the 1970's, mountain bike racers have to complete a set amount of laps on off road terrain, with races offen lasting between 90-105 minutes. The tracks vary greatly and test a wide range of off road abilities. MOUNTAIN BIKING Required skills: Downhill Endurance racing Technical off road ability Going uphill - On rocky climbs keep peddling, the slower you go the harder you work Going downhill - Keep your pedals parallel to the ground, so they don't catch on the terrain Road racing Is the oldest form of bicycle racing dating back to the origins of the bike. There are different types of road racing including, time trials, single day races, multi day stage races and ultra marathons. Required skills: ROAD Endurance RACING Bike Race handling planning Tactical knowledge Beginners tip Training for intervals? Begin with mastering this set: 2 minutes hard » 2 min. easy » 1 min. hard » 1 min. easy » 30 seconds hard » 30 seconds easy » 15-second sprint » 5 min. easy Short, sharp, off - road races featuring various obstacles including; wood trails, grass and steep hills requiring the rider to dismount and carry their bike at times throughout CYCLO CROSS Required skills: the race. Off road Fluid dismount Technical Power ability Maintaining traction Cyclists can dismount between 40-50 times per race. Beginners tip Practise mounting and dismounting on a paved surface which meets a grassy area Required skills: Track racing is held in velodromes on fixed speed bikes with no brakes. There is a range of different events involving individual and team races. The sport has been popular since the 1800's and is one of the most popular sports within the Olympics to date. Power Speed control Counter steering Maintaining high speeds over long TRACK RACING distances Inflate your tyres more than normal to minimise rolling resistance Beginners tip 'Inside suicide' - Never pass another rider on the inside of the track CO cycleplan SPECIALIST CYCLING INSURANCE