RACING 101

          Bike racing can be an intimidating sport but knowing a few basics will help ease tension and make your first race less overwhelming.

          There are three kinds of road bike races: criteriums, time trials and road races.        

          A criterium is a race done on a short course completely closed to traffic.  Racers do many circuits of the course over a fixed period of time.  The first person over the line at the end of the time period wins.  Since the course is short it is possible to get dropped from the main group and maybe even lapped by the main group. Lapped riders are usually allowed to finish the race but may be pulled from the race if they are a hazard to the main group or if it is a large race and it is difficult for the officials to keep track of who is lapped.  Prizes called “primes” may be given during a race for the first racer over the line on a particular lap.  A bell is rung to alert the riders that the lap is a “prime” lap.

          A time trial is a solo race over a given distance with the objective to be the fastest over that distance compared to the other racers’ times.  Racers are started individually usually 30 seconds apart.  A racer may overtake and pass a racer who started ahead of them but racers are never allowed to draft off of other racers.

          A road race is a longer distance race on public roads that are usually not closed to traffic.  The race can be a long loop but may consist of several laps of a shorter loop.  Racers may not cross the center line at any time.  Racers who cross the center line may be relegated to the back of the race or disqualified from the race. 

          Road races, time trials and criterium races may be combined in either an Omnium or a Stage Race format.  Racers may compete in any one or all of the races of an Omnium.  Points are given based on placings for each race and an overall winner is chosen based on the most points accumulated.  For a Stage Race, racers must plan to participate in all stages of the race and  must successfully complete each stage of the race to move on to the next stage.  Stage races may be based on points or best time for all stages combined (like the Tour de France). 

          Novice racers do not need to be on a team or have an annual racing license to compete in a race.  One day racing licenses can be purchased on race day.  However, if you wish to accumulate points to upgrade to another category, you must be on a USA Cycling team or club and have an annual license.  If you are not affiliated with a USA Cycling team or club, do not show up for your first race in your finest Discovery Channel team kit.  You cannot wear any clothing bearing names of sponsors with which you are not affiliated.  Wear a plain jersey and shorts.  The jersey must have sleeves.  Sleeveless jerseys are not allowed in road races, time trials or criteriums.  These rules are strictly enforced by the race officials.  It goes without saying that a helmet is required in all races but many racers are not aware that helmets are also required while warming up for a race.    

          There are 5 race categories for men (Categories 1-5) and 4 for women (Categories 1-4).  You will start out as either a Cat 5 or Cat 4 racer depending on your gender.  These are the lowest classes for men and women respectively.  Men may upgrade to Cat 4 simply by participating in 10 mass start races (time trials do not count).  To upgrade to Cat 3 and all higher categories requires upgrade points earned by high finishes in races.  There is no Category 5 for women so women must start in Category 4 and must earn points by high race finishes to upgrade to Cat 3 or higher.  The governing body of cycling is USA Cycling (www.usacycling.org).  Annual licenses can be purchased on the website.  The website also contains race calendars, race news and a complete listing of rules for racing and upgrading.

          Tennessee also has a very strong bike racing association call the Tennessee Bike Racing Association (TBRA) www.tbra.org .  The Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association (TBRA) is an organization of Tennessee bicycle racing clubs and their members. TBRA exists to help promote, develop, and grow the sport of bicycle racing in the state by helping race directors promote events, helping riders access the sport, and generating enthusiasm in the cycling community at-large. TBRA has a points competition every year for each category of road (TBAR point series) and mountain (TORBAR point series) bike racers.  Racers earn points through high places in races throughout the year (time trials count in this points competition).  The top 3 racers in each category with the most points are recognized at the annual TBRA banquet.  The points winner in each Category receives a TBRA jersey and free admission to all Tennessee races for the upcoming year.  The winner’s jersey is worn at all races in the upcoming year.  You must be a member of a USA Cycling club which has paid the annual TBRA club dues and have an annual license to be eligible for this competition.  You can find a list of all upcoming Tennessee road, mountain and cyclocross races at the TBRA website.