6 top cycling race tips for your first bike race

If you’re thinking about doing your very first bike race, you *probably* have a few questions about it.

So what are the cycling race tips you need to know? 

What don’t you know but need to?

You’re in the right spot. Because here, we’ll jump into six cycling race tips that will help you get ready for your first bike race.

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6 TOP RACE TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST BIKE RACE

Get your USA Cycling License

And the answer is: yes if it is a USA Cycling-sanctioned event. 

USA Cycling is the national governing body for cycling in the US. The organization sets the rules of competitive cycling and manages all disciplines of the sport (road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX).

So yes, any USA Cycling sanctioned race means you need to have a license.

You can grab a one-day license for $10 on the USA Cycling website or at your bike race. 

This one-day license gives you USA Cycling accident medical coverage on race day. 

But note: this insurance is only for the day and the cycling activity of the race.

Choose your road race

Time trial. A time trial race is a race against the clock. You’ll start the race on your own, with the next racer starting every 30 to 60 seconds, so it’s perfect if you’re hesitant about riding close to other cyclists. 

Road race. A road race is a bike race that’s anywhere between 30 to 60 miles in length. Here’s where you’ll have a staggered mass start, where everyone in a specific category* starts together. 

You don’t have to be part of a cycling team to do a road race, but you will see cycling team riders working together and drafting as they complete the race. 

Criterium. Personally, I wouldn’t do a criterium as a first bike race. I’d recommend that you observe one to see what it’s like (it’s lightning-fast with a high probability of a crash) before you sign up for it. 

Crits are set up as a mass start, on a closed course with no traffic, and may include sharp corners. 

Racers will lap the course for anywhere from 30 to 90-minutes. 

Stage Race. A stage race may include road races, criteriums, a time trial, or a circuit race**. 

Stage races, held over several consecutive days, will have one race type a day.  

And each day, your finish time gets recorded, and the rider with the lowest total time wins. 

*USA Cycling has five categories for racing: Novice, Category 4, Category 3, Category 2, and Category 1. You’ll begin as a Novice and as you gain points, you’ll move up the categories.

**A circuit race is a combo of a road race and criterium. 

Practice cycling with your race day cycling gear

As you prepare for your race, be sure to go on your training rides with the gear you’ll use for your bike race.

You’ll want to know ahead of time if, for example, your bike shorts dig into your waist. 

The main goal here is to reduce anything unfamiliar on the day of your race. 

So wear your cycling gear on your training rides to see if you’ll need to adjust anything before your race.

The road cycling essentials you’ll need:

• Helmet
• Cycling shorts. The seat padding in bike shorts (called the “chamois” and pronounced as “sha-mee”) makes it more comfortable to ride your bike.
• Cycling jersey, made of a sweat-wicking material to keep you cool as you sweat
• Cycling shoes and pedals that work together as a system to click and lock into place.
• Cycling shoes with a stiff sole to secure your feet to the pedal to prevent your feet from flying off your pedal.
• Repair kit
• Fuel and hydration

Build your race-specific fitness

Have a look at your bike race route.

Is it hilly? If it is, you’ll need to prepare yourself to climb hills. 

Is it longer than anything you’ve done before? If you haven’t been building your cycling fitness, now’s your time to train your muscles and mind to ride the distance. 

Though you’ll find details on how to build a cycling plan here, the best thing you can do right now is to get into the habit of cycling regularly.

Spend time on your bike to work your cycling muscles.

Get used to being in the saddle and wearing your cycling gear (Does it chafe anywhere? If it does, think about stocking up on anti-chafe cream.)

Learn how to eat and drink on the bike

You need to fuel and hydrate during your training rides to avoid running out of energy. 

But learning what to eat and drink on a bike ride takes some time because you need to find what foods and drinks work for you.

Some cyclists like to bring energy bars, gels, bananas, or a peanut butter sandwich for a bike ride. 

Try some portable snacks like Stinger Waffes or energy gels and see if you like it. 

Need more information on how what to eat before, during, and after your bike ride? You’ll also find more ideas on what to eat for cycling over in this post.

Find out how and where to pin your race bib

You must know which side to pin your bib on because this bib number gives you credit for your bike race. 

The placement of your race bib differs from race to race. Sometimes the officials and camera are to your left. And other times, they are to your right. 

Remember to check with registration to find out where you should pin your bib. 

Now about pinning on your bib: you want to avoid a bib that turns into a sail.

Pin all four corners. Then, use a pin between each corner pin to secure the bib.

CONCLUSION

Though we’ve talked about a handful of cycling race tips, the advice for your first bike race doesn’t stop here. 

In this free download, I’ve created a pre-ride checklist so that you don’t forget a thing on race day.

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