Learn-to-Race sessions make racing safer

This is the time of year when bike racers across the country are stretching their legs and shaking the cobwebs off to get back into top form. But it’s also the time when many new racers are just making their debuts in the sport, and that can lead to some dangerous racing.

At the road racing season opener in Ontario earlier this month, the first race of the day was for the least experienced riders. The field was massive – nearly 200 riders. Many of the racers weren’t overly comfortable in group riding, and there was a wide variance in experience levels in the large field.

That, sadly, resulted in a number of crashes throughout the race, including numerous that sent riders to hospital, one in very serious condition. Crashes in bike racing will always happen, but there are ways to make the racing safer. Possibly the best learning experience for any new racer is group riding with a club. This will give them the confidence of riding in a large group and the knowledge of how to think as a peloton, rather than as an individual.

Once you’re comfortable in a group setting, the next step is starting to race in a weekly learn-to-race or training series. Most cycling clubs across the country offer these, and they’re a fantastic way to learn how to safely handle the speeds and nerves of bike racing.

“(Riders who go through Learn to Race programs) tend to be the smarter riders and wiser riders and the ones that people have no problem riding beside. They have the fundamentals,” said Craig Fagan, of the Midweek Cycling Club in Mississauga, Ont., which puts on youth and adult Learn-to-Race events every Monday and Thursday night and through the season. The Midweek club also hosts a weekly training series for more experienced riders every Tuesday night.

“We get people coming back to learn-to-race three years running and they keep telling us every session they learn something new. Bike racing has a whole lot of nuances and you really can’t transfer it all in one four-hour session,” Fagan said. “The other aspect is you get more enjoyment out of riding in a pack. Your sense of confidence is a lot higher. You get to experience the cyclists’ high at a whole different level when you’re actually confident and comfortable in the pack. It’s more than just getting on the bike and riding. It’s focus, it’s knows what to do when, learning to look up the road. It’s learning how to move up a pack without going outside the lane.

For more information on finding a cycling club in your area, visit the website of your provincial cycling association. For information on the Midweek club and their racing schedule, visit www.midweekclub.ca