Insider's Guide to Road Racing
What is USA Cycling and how is the United States Cycling Federation associated with USA Cycling?
USA Cycling (USAC) is a national governing body of competitive cycling in the US. This organization is comprised of branches covering several cycling disciplines such as road, mountain biking, track, cyclo-cross, and BMX- the road component is referred to as the United States Cycling Federation (USCF). Additional information on USAC and USCF is available here.
What is the difference between the USCF and American Bicycling Racing (ABR)?
Both USA Cycling and American Bicycling Racing are governing bodies for US competitive cycling; however, ABR is independent of the USAC. While USAC and the USCF are national organizations, ABR is mainly linked to the Midwest; however, ABR is part of Federation of Independent Associations for Cycling (FIAC), which means that an ABR license could be honored in other regions covered by independent governing bodies. (Editor: Confused yet?) The ABR was formed by a collection of promoters, official, and racers that split from USAC. Additional information on ABR is available here.
Why does a USCF license cost sixty dollars?
Cycling is inherently a dangerous sport that exposes riders, teams, promoters, and municipalities to some level of risk and liability. Part of your license fee goes to cover insurance policies that cover towns and villages generous enough to close roads for our races. Other initiatives funded by your license fees are elite and junior squads, participations in world championship and Olympic events, official programs, and grassroots grants.
Why would I need licenses for both USAC and ABR?
USAC licenses are not honored at ABR events, and vice versa. Each organization charges a one-day license for riders who don’t have a current license and wish to race in their event. As of 2007, the one-day license for ABR is $5 per event while a full year license costs $25, so it would make sense to buy an annual license if you plan to do more than 5 ABR races.
What’s with the USCF category system?
The United States Cycling Federation has a 5 tier classification system to help balance out the ability levels of cyclists. Anyone new the sport gets their license as a Category 5 rider, regardless if they have the potential to ride like Lance Armstrong or an Average Joe. As you place towards the front of the pack at races, you accumulate points that lead to upgrades to higher categories. As an example, the upgrade from Cat 4 to Cat 3 requires 20 upgrade points in a 12 month period. First place in a road race or crit gets 7 points, so you need to basically dominate a category to upgrade. Cat 2 riders are national amateur level racers and Cat 1 are essentially pro level guys.
Wait, you just mentioned a “crit”. What in the world is a crit?
A crit or criterium is one of four racing formats unique to road racing. The most commonly known format (or event) is the road race- think Tour de France. The road race is a mass start event or varying distances over a course usually longer than 2-3 miles.
The criterium frequently is commonly found in urban (AKA downtown) settings. These races are also mass start, but take place on a technical loop often one kilometer in length. Often, these courses test bike handling skills by using courses with up to six turns each loop. Riders who ride near the front and choose efficient lines usually prevail at these events.
The time trial is the ultimate race against the clock in which riders race as individuals spaced apart by specific time gaps. This format is also found in the Tour de France. This is the ideal entry to the sport for those who may not be comfortable jumping right into mass start events.
What do you mean by “choosing efficient lines” in a crit?
Ever watch motorcycle racing where the riders dive into the turn with the inside knee pointed to the apex of the turn? Well, they are choosing the most efficient line through the turn that will allow them to carry as much speed through the turn as possible. While cyclist aren’t taking turns at 50mph, the need to choose efficient lines is very critical for conserving speed and energy on the bike. Bike handling and effective turns are one of the many topics covered in North Branch’s Road Racing Clinic held in the Spring for team members (individuals registered on the North Branch website can access the “Calendar” and “Latest News” for additional info on the Road Racing Clinics). Registration on the North Brand website is open to everyone- just click here.
Cycling seems to be an individual sport, so why would I need to join a team?
At its best, cycling is anything but an individual sport. Teamwork often allows a sprinter to conserve energy prior to the sprint. Riders contending for victory often rely on teammates to chase down breaks or provide protection from the wind. More importantly, more experienced team members have a wealth of knowledge to help beginners progress up the learning curve quickly. North Branch has various members that have 5+ years of road racing experience in their legs and have learned from successes and mistakes over the years. There’s no reason that you need to make the same mistakes as the more seasoned riders before learning how to be a better racer.
Where would I find upcoming races in the Chicago area?
Each of the governing bodies (USAC & ABR) update a calendar listing of their sanctioned races; however, there are various organizations and websites that can list races. North Branch has spent considerable time accessing these numerous websites to compile most of the area’s races on the website’s "Calendar" available to registered website users.
What equipment would I need to start out as a cyclist?
Cycling is one sport where there are many ways to spend significant sums of money on the latest gadgets; however, a core set of equipment will go a long way to ensuring enjoyment in the sport. Bike shops will help set you up with the basic items and serve as a great resource for the beginning cyclist. North Branch is fortunate to be sponsored by Main Street Bicycles in Carpentersville. The owner and operator Jeff P. happens to be a fellow team member and an excellent guru for new and experienced riders.
The following list represents items advisable for cyclists to purchase before starting out in the sport: properly working bike, helmet, bike pump, inner tubes, tube patch kit, multi-tool, saddle bag, water bottles, gloves, and padded bike shorts. There are many more items that would help elevate the level of your cycling game, and a shop like Main Street Bicycles could help advise you on the cost effective spends for your cycling budget.
Where would I find local training rides?
Clubs are an invaluable source of training rides for a wide range of ability levels. For example, North Branch riders meet every Sunday during the season for a 36 mile ride departing from Harper College in Palatine. In addition, teammates through Lake and Cook counties post rides on the “Calendar” section of the website regularly. Cyclists in Chicago are also fortunate to have access to several rides open to the general public such as Saturday morning’s Harper Ride- a very popular local ride. Another option is Thursday evening rides that leave Shamrock Cyclery in Long Grove at 6pm the week after Daylight Savings ends.
Road racers all seem to have hairless legs. Is there a "no leg hair" policy for road racing?
Cyclists, like swimmers, tend to shave their legs as part of a ritual of the sport; however, the rationale for shaving is completely different for cyclists than for swimmers. In the case of cycling, leg shaving is primarily done to minimize road rash resulting from the inevitable crash. In addition, bandages tend to come off much easier and painless from clean shaven legs, than from hairy ones. A third benefit of shaved legs is that you are much better prepared for massages with baldy legs (massages definitely come into play during multi-day races). The final rationale for shaved legs is purely psychological- there's nothing finer than riding with a set of tree-trunk, shaven, tanned legs!
Updated February 3, 2007
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