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Nature Valley Bicycle Festival Names Children’s Lighthouse as New Beneficiary







Amateur Racing

Wanna Race? Amateur Racing is also a part of the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival. There will be amateur crits in Menomonie & Stillwater.
 
Click here for race flyer.

IMPORTANT: There will be no entry-level divisions at the Stillwater Criterium, although a race for mid-level amateurs will be held.  Novices can try their hand at racing in Menomonie, which will host criteriums covering all divisions and a citizens criterium for new racers.

Online registration will be available at: http://events.sportsbaseonline.com/BICYCLEFESTIVAL2011/register
 
Haven't raced before? Local bike clubs offer easy ways to get started

When the training wheels came off, we flew like the wind, pedaling as fast as we could, reveling in the speed and pushing for more.  We got bigger bikes and kept riding, spinning around the neighborhood with our friends, then to the next town, a local bike tour, maybe even a big, cross-state event.  If your weekend rides today see more frequent “mini races” and your competitive fire is heating up, it’s time to roll to the starting line and give racing a try. 

We are fortunate here in the Twin Cities to have a very active bicycle racing community, with a variety of teams and clubs, a full calendar of events, coaching, clinics, and scheduled training rides throughout the area. If you have a bike, you can race.  Here are a few tips for first-timers:
  • Getting started:  Check out www.StartBikeRacing.com.  It's the best source of advice you'll find on how to get into this sport.
  • Join a club.  They’re all over the place, and a good place to look for one that fits is www.startbikeracing.com.  While some clubs focus on all speed, all the time, many others encourage friendly competition and provide excellent opportunities to sample the racing scene.  Meet like-minded pals, get out on the road, and have a ball.  If you're interested in racing, you'll find a list of clubs for you on the Minnesota Cycling Federation web site.  A superb club for brand new riders to seasoned vets is Twin Cities Bicycling Club, a huge, impeccably-organized group with rides scheduled nearly every day, year round
  • Practice before your first race.  Group rides already expose you to riding six inches from another bike, and the more you  do it, the more comfortable you’ll be in a race. Get used to group riding at higher speeds, holding a steady line in corners, and not freaking out when you bump shoulders.
  • Train enough so you enjoy the race.  Don’t worry about logging 500-mile weeks to get ready for your first Main Street Classic, but be sure to get in enough miles so you don’t blow up before it’s over.  Lots of detailed training info at www.usacycling.org, www.bicycling.com, and your local bike shop superstars.
  • Keep your bike in good shape. You don’t need a fancy, superlight rig to race, but be sure to keep up on routine maintenance, and give your bike a good once-over a few days before the race. If you need a part or repair, you won’t go bonkers the night before.
  • Get to the race early enough to check in, get your one-day license if you need one, get your gear ready, and take some time to warm up so your legs are primed when the gun goes off.  For all the latest on Minnesota racing, check out the Minnesota Cycling Federation, the go-to source for all racing-related goings-on.
 
These are the basics. An easy web search or inquiry at your favorite bike shop will lead to much more information.

Go race. Hit the afterburners. Beat that other rider to the line. Have fun.