How long are your club/open road races?

[Offtheback]

I get the impression that the average road warrior does these days rides shorter races than we did in the 60's, in England. I would be interested to hear your opinions and what turns you on: is it a hard fast race for 90 -120 minutes; or do you like say a four hour race with some decent hills?

As a junior in the 60's, a road race (massed start we called 'em), was a maximum of 40 riders consisting of teams of 3 riders from the same club and the maximum distance was 50 miles for juniors. There was usually always a full field and usually went close to the full distance of 50 miles.

The Cat 1 & 2 riders road far longer road races, generally 70 -120 miles.

There was a choice of races each week, for junior and senior Cat riders in the road season, run/sponsored generally by local cycling clubs. As a 16 & 17 yo
I'd often have to ride 25 miles each way to get to the race so you got used to the big miles as a junior.

Here in OZ I only raced Masters club and the odd state champs; but most races are quite short, between 40 -90 minutes. May be different in other countries.

Is it just traffic control problems or do you like to "watch" long pro road races but ride short ones yourself?

 

[ergmonkey]

Racing Cat 2 on the East Coast of the US, most of my races end up being 60-100mi (100-160km). Not very many of them are in the 90-100mi range; most are really 70-85, so 3.5-4hrs is pretty common.

I enjoy the longer races, but they're a little bit harder to come by. Most of our "road races" are really circuit races: laps on a course of anywhere from 6-20mi. There are a few exceptions--like the RR at the Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont, which is a true point-to-point with some serious climbs. Otherwise, the best road races are often the longer circuits with at least one good hill (8-10 minute range) per lap--such as those at Bear Mt. in New York and Tokeneke in Connecticut.

 

[Martin318is]

In Australia it depends upon the location/community hosting the racing.

Down on the Victorian coast you can see small town club races that are handicaps over 30km. The handicap style makes these a very fast race but it caters to the entire range of riders in the area. 30 to 50 riders generally.

In the summer the Melbourne clubs tend to focus on Crits. D grade about 45mins through to A at around 1hr 15.

IN the winter there is regional road racing. Everything from 60km to 280km depending upon the event. General mass start club races tend to come in around 70km to 110km.

 

[Boeing]

in socal it is mostly crits which is like mass start down hill but round and round but half of them mistake fitness for skill. more broken steerer tubes and color bones than fun. one reason I quit racing. unfortunately it is the only way to build your cat status these days

Way too much risk taking going on out there.

I heard a great line the other morning. fellow masters rider said "why does it seem like the guys with mortgages have the best bike handling skills"?

 

[Michele]

In Italy you can choose between:

-criteriums, between 60-100kms
-granfondos, between 60-200kms

 

[needasmoke]

In Sydney its much the same as it is Melbourne. Most of the scratch and handicap racing is done in the winter months. My club runs 52km races.

In the summer the club onyl hold crits - 45mins +1 2km lap

 

[rgmerk]

To clarify...

Just to expand on the Melbourne case, the length of winter club road events depends on the grade you ride. The lowest grade is often 50-60 km, A grade closer to 100.

State opens are generally longer - most are at least 100km, and the 100km ones are often the ones over hilly courses. Trust me, you wouldn't want the Baw Baw Classic classic to go any longer...

If you really want a long race not so far from you, have you considered doing Grafton-Inverell?

 

[oldborn]

In Italy you can choose between:

-criteriums, between 60-100kms
-granfondos, between 60-200kms

Same as Croatia, but for veterans A,B,C or begginers, 40km nationals are prety common, but you can choose also longer ones on some other races. Elite has to compete on some longer distance, this is most case.

 

[TexPat]

Just did my first vets road race in New Zealand which was organized by the Wellington Vets Cycling Club; it was 58kms I think (and bloody windy!).