So you think you want to race? The Woman's Perspective

[Continuing the excellent series David Kirkpatrick launched is Jen Cheng, offering up the woman's perspective on getting started in racing. Success follows Jen. Her NCVC squad of 2007 won the team BAR. 2008 saw her with Artemis, who also won the team BAR. In 2009 she dons the green and yellow of Team CycleLife, and will continue to compete in the Mid-Atlantic - one of the deepest talent pools for women's racing in the country. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Jen has made it - so mark her words today, and mark her wheel on race day.]

So you think you want to race?
The Woman's Perspective
by Jen Cheng, Team CycleLife

When I first got into bike racing, I had a lot of fears and worries. If you’re anything like me, it might take a lot of convincing before even trying the sport.

“Will my legs get super huge from racing bikes?” (This was personally my biggest turn off because I am vain, and rest assured ladies, cycling doesn’t make your legs bigger – stronger and more defined perhaps, but not necessarily bigger.)

“Am I strong enough to ride with men?” (Just because the person riding next to you might be a man, it doesn’t mean he’s suffering any less than you.)

“How far does the group ride, and what if I can’t stay with them?” (You pick an experienced riding buddy for your first ride, and he/she will look out for you.)

“Will there be other women?” (Most likely, the answer is yes. We have a lot of women in this area who ride and race.)

“What if I don’t know how to ride in groups?”

The list goes on.

The truth of the matter is that you won’t know until you try. I can tell you stories after stories, give you answers after answers, and overload you with information, but you still won’t really know until you go out there and put yourself to the test. I cannot guarantee that your fears will not materialize. Maybe you will get dropped from a group ride after only 30 minutes. Then again, maybe you’ll realize that you’re a whole lot stronger than you think, and at the end of the ride, you’ll be thirsty for more!

What I can guarantee is that you will have learned something from that experience. You may learn something that is fitness related. You may learn something about the bike community and culture during the friendly chat you had with the person next to you. You may learn for the first time that some men look good in spandex with shaved legs. Bottom line: your new knowledge will help you determine if you want to try this again.

My personal preference is to throw myself into fire and see if I come out alive. In my first year of racing, I tried the noon ride at Hains Point, and lasted for maybe half a lap. I didn’t go back right away because that was quite a humbling experience, but I did use that as a reference point. I returned a short while later, and I lasted for a lap and a half. I was clearly not strong enough to train with this group of people (and now that I know who they are, I am thoroughly surprised that I lasted even that long), but I used that opportunity to learn from more experienced riders and racers. Keep in mind that I didn’t attempt the noon ride as my first “group ride,” but rather as my first high intensity training after having already raced a little bit.

It is important to note that David Kirkpatrick would probably never give this advice to the men because more often than not, they have the opposite problem; men are often anxious to get in the mix – almost too soon sometimes.  In my experience, women tend to be more conservative, allowing trepidation to trump  self-confidence. For the women who really want to approach this the right way, I would suggest finding a good mentor. When you have questions about riding or racing, ask her. She’ll be able to give you proper guidance, suggestions, and help alleviate your fears. A good mentor would never pressure you to do anything you don’t want. She’ll just help you on your journey into the cycling community. Be confident, and go out and ride!

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See the entire series here.

Comments

[Chuck Hutch]

I think having a mentor is key, even for men. I remember in the 80's, when I was a junior, training and going to races with a guy named Mike Thredgal. He was like the bus driver from the Simpsons and blasted AC DC and Black Sabbath from his orange datsun station wagon. Anyway, having him around made the formative years of getting my butt kicked much more enjoyable. I learned a lot about training, racing and basic bike mechanics from him.