About Cycling
Red Rose Olympic provides training events and attends races throughout the year, see the message board for up to date details.
A little more about the racing scene:
About Cyclo Cross
Winter Fun: Cyclo-Cross (often abbreviated to 'Cross) is generally an autumn and winter sport. Massed starts make for exciting races, usually no more than an hour in length –
Lapping it up! Cyclo-Cross races are usually multi lap events, held on short (typically less than a mile and often less than half a mile), grassy courses, generally in public parks or on school playing fields. Cyclo-Cross often requires riders to dismount to clear obstacles – often wooden boards, steps and or fallen trees. The ability to swap smoothly and quickly from riding to running and back to riding in one fluid motion is a key skill for advanced riders.
Private Battles: The short lap lengths mean that better riders often lap some of the slower competitors, but that's not the end of the race – you can still submerge yourself in the action, enjoy your own private battles and forget whether you are first or a hundred and first – that's the beauty of the sport: it's what you make of it that counts.
Bike Facts: Cyclo-Cross machines look very similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and thin tyres - however the latter have a knobbled-tread for grip, powerful brakes, low gears and better frame clearances to prevent clogging with mud, all of which adds up to make them easy to handle on the rough.
Click here for the report on the Red Rose Cyclocross event held on 13 January 2008
About Track Racing
Tracks: Track racing takes place on short specially built tracks with two tight, banked corners joined by two short straights. Tracks range hugely in length - outdoor tracks usually being longer and with shallower bankings - but Olympic and World Championship Track racing is generally held on indoor 250m wooden tracks. Many outdoor tracks are concrete or tarmac surfaced.
Bikes: Track bikes are relatively simple, with no gears and brakes. Bikes have a fixed wheel (forcing you to pedal continuously) the rider controls speed through pressure applied to the pedals.
About Road Racing
Circuit Racing
Road Racing beginners start with Circuit Race meetings. These events often have several races for all abilities and age groups and are a good place to start and learn the bike handling and tactical skills. Lap distance is usually between one and four kilometres, so if you get dropped, catch your breath and wait for the main group to come round, and join again.
A British Cycling membership and Licence are usually needed for most events.
