Road Racing 2016

After a year of two of talking about it I have gone and done it and taken out a road race license and I'm looking at doing a few races prior to the start of the NPS.

I Wont be taking things to serious but ill give it a good push at the same time whilst the main aim is to stay out of trouble of course.

I'm looking at a few events on the calendar to get me started:

1.Dublin Wheelers Open Races (Summerhill Direction)

Saturday, February 27, 2016 | 9:00am

2 Newbridge Grand Prix

Sunday, March 6, 2016 | 10:00am

3.Boyne GP

Sunday, March 13, 2016 | 10:00am

4.St. Patricks Day Race (Summerhill)

Thursday, March 17, 2016 | 9:30am

5.Lucan GP (Battertown as far as I know)

Saturday, March 19, 2016 | 8:00am

By no means am I going to do all of these rather just ones I'm considering.

If anyone else has done some of these event your advice would be greatly appreciated? or some road racing advice in general would be great too.

Also if anyone else would like to join me on the dark side that would be great too.

Thanks Chris

Also if there are there any specific rules that I need to be aware of?

The rule is... Don't get dropped off the main group!

Loads from EPIC have done road racing, Alfie, Quinlan, Lynchy, Mickky, Max, CmcG and the legend of Doris!

Do the Thursday Grinder every week, will get you prepared for the speed and group riding...

Fair play to you Chris, great to see you getting involved in road racing, it will suit you, you'll be deadly and will love it!
The key thing is to get used to riding in a bunch of road cyclists, elbow to elbow, and to always be aware what is happening around you and whats coming up down the road.
theres loads of other advice online about road racing and tactics etc.
I'd advise getting out on as many group road spins as possible to get used to it.
I hope to do a good few of these races as well so will be great to have another epic jersey there.
Give me a shout if you wish to have a chat about it

Might do one or two but I have A2 license (don't ask why!) so we won't be in the same race anyway.
Nothing will prepare you for the speed of a road race, you just have to try them.
A4 races are short and I think you will find it easy (in the bunch) so probably just attack and see what happens! :)

If you are going to race A4 be very careful. I did a few a couple of years back and found them very dangerous. Lots of crashes and the standard of riding wasn't great ( even for an ignorant mountain biker like me).
You will most likely be the strongest rider in an A4 bunch though so I'd stay at the front to avoid the pile ups.
DOK has raced a fair bit in A4 on the road and could be the man to ask for good advice.
Good luck Chris and stay upright!

Road racing is a very different buzz Chris - you'll love it! If you're doing it to make yourself stronger for XC then (as the lads say) get up the front and give it some! Much less chance of getting caught in a pile up that way! To be honest I think you might not finish as well up as some of the guys reckon, particularly for the 1st few races! There are lots of clever experienced riders who will sit off the front for the whole race and pop up in the last 500mts!
As everybody says learning to ride in a tight group is the most important thing - smooth acceleration and braking and watching ahead! Little things like being able to remove and return a water bottle without looking down are also important .... sound simple I know!!