{"id":69146,"date":"2021-05-05T13:23:44","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T20:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/?p=69146"},"modified":"2022-03-03T12:29:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T20:29:23","slug":"erica-carneys-6-favorite-tips-for-bike-racing-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/erica-carneys-6-favorite-tips-for-bike-racing-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Erica Carney&#8217;s 6 Favorite Tips For Bike Racing Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"lead\">Erica Carney was one of the most successful and respected racers in the American pro peloton, with her win at the 2017 US pro criterium championship highlighting a truly remarkable career. But like every champion, Erica started as a beginner, progressing gradually with a commitment to learning and growth. We asked Erica what knowledge made the difference and what advice she wishes someone had given her along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more of Erica&#8217;s insights, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/p9RC7TeC-Ag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ask A Cycling Coach Ep. 306<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What it Takes to Be a National Champion with Erica Carney \u2013 Ask a Cycling Coach 306\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p9RC7TeC-Ag?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Clean and Maintain Your Equipment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It might seem obvious that racing is a test of fitness, but the function of your bike is equally important. By regularly cleaning and maintaining your equipment, you keep it ready for your hard work and gain knowledge of what to do when things go wrong.<br><br>\u201cWhether you\u2019re just training or going to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/gran-fondo-training-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gran fondo<\/a> or race, you want your bike working and in good condition,\u201d Erica explains. \u201cEvery racer can benefit from a basic knowledge of how their bike works. Knowing how to put your pedals on and off, swap a derailleur hanger, stuff like that. You want to know your machine!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular cleaning and maintenance will help you identify problems and needed repairs, and if something needs to be fixed that you can\u2019t do on your own, reach out to your local bike shop.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs pro racers, we had team mechanics, but most of us still had affiliations with our local bike shop. It\u2019s a great way to support the industry, and it\u2019s incredibly useful to have a good relationship with a local mechanic you can trust.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Ignore Most Mid-Race Advice&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, other riders will tell you to chase or attack mid-race. As a beginner, you might feel obligated to follow every command given by more experienced racers. But if they aren\u2019t your teammates, there\u2019s a good chance these riders are only looking out for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re doing something dangerous and people get mad, that\u2019s one thing, and you should listen and take it to heart. But if someone is telling you to chase, or attack, or do something tactical, it\u2019s probably not to your benefit. They\u2019re probably trying to bully you into something that helps them more than it helps you,\u201d says Erica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been on both sides of this- I\u2019ve done foolish things that other riders told me to do, and I\u2019ve also yelled at other riders to get them to chase so I didn\u2019t have to. It\u2019s intimidating, but you\u2019re not actually obligated to do any work. Take these commands with a grain of salt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Practice Technical Skills and Get Comfortable with Contact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bike races are much more than just fitness contests. Cornering, descending, and safely rubbing shoulders with other riders at high speeds are crucial skills that can make or break your results. Luckily, it\u2019s easy to improve your technique with practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how fast you can go through a corner, you can always do it better,\u201d Erica explains. \u201cA lot of people are bad descenders, or freak out when they contact another rider in the pack. It\u2019s super important to work on these things constantly.\u201d<br><br>For practice, Erica recommends some simple drills. To get comfortable with contact, she likes to ride alongside friends in a grass field to practice leaning into each other in a safe setting. For cornering, set up some cones in a parking lot and work on your technique, gradually building speed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLuckily, skills are easier to develop than fitness. Go out and train your weaknesses!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"at-cta\" class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"adaptive-training-cta-image\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"cta__copy\">\n        <p class=\"cta-title\">Adaptive Training<\/p>\n        <p><strong>Get the right workout, every time<\/strong>\n        with training that adapts to&nbsp;you.<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/adaptive-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Check Out TrainerRoad<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Follow Your Own Path<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We all have role models, and you might assume their path is the right one for you, too. But Erica attributes a lot of her success to taking the path less traveled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI left several teams in my pro career because the atmosphere was not right for me. In the end, you need to look out for yourself and prioritize the things that you need to be successful. If a situation is not working for you, it\u2019s ok to step away and do your own thing,\u201d Erica says. From the events you enter to the team you race and train with, you\u2019ll benefit from an atmosphere that lets you comfortably grow and improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFind an environment that\u2019s positive for you, and conducive to your success as a bike racer and a person in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Never Stop Learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Erica has years of experience, but she still views every race as an opportunity to learn and improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNever get to the point where you\u2019re unwilling to learn,\u201d she says. \u201cOne thing that helped me in my career was that I never let myself feel like I knew it all. There\u2019s always a lesson to learn and something to do differently or better next time. Maybe it\u2019s nutrition, position on the bike, or strategy. Study the weather, the road conditions, and the course. Be a student of the sport!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When things don\u2019t go your way, identify what you did do right and focus on your success. Conversely, even in your victories, admit the things you could have improved.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhether you win or lose, reflect and unpack every race. It\u2019s all towards the long-term goal of doing better next time, and the time after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Don\u2019t Limit Yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Too many cyclists assume their body type or riding style limits what they can achieve, or restricts them to one type of racing. In reality, we\u2019re all versatile and capable of learning, and trying new things is one of the funnest parts of bike racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo one would ever have looked at me and considered me a climber, yet one year I won a QOM at a major stage race, and it was incredibly fun,\u201d Erica recalls. \u201cDon\u2019t limit yourself or put yourself into a box. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/8-principles-of-healthy-nutrition-with-amber-pierce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eat the food you want<\/a> and take care of yourself both physically and mentally, and you\u2019ll be able to do so many things with your body. I surprised myself and gradually went from being a field sprinter to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/how-to-breakaway-basics-and-pro-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">breakaway rider<\/a>, and that\u2019s how I eventually won a national championship. Give yourself the ability to try new things!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group key-takeaway\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further Resources for New Racers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/10-tips-for-success-and-fun-in-your-first-season-racing-bikes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10 Tips for Success and Fun in Your First Season Racing Bikes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/criterium-racing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Criterium Racing Basics<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/road-racing-guide-how-to-be-a-faster-road-racer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Road Racing Guide: How to be a Faster Road Racer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/cycling-group-rides-a-guide-to-etiquette-pacelines-drafting-and-safety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cycling Group Rides: a Guide to Etiquette, Pacelines, Drafting, and Safety<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLrKJ0zeMQrI5Bj3IUaHX0VPjNthpfFNhD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TrainerRoad&#8217;s Race Analysis Videos on YouTube<\/a><br><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Erica Carney won the 2017 US national criterium championship, but like every racer she started as a beginner. We asked Erica what advice she wishes she&#8217;d received when she was just getting started racing bikes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":69150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3958,3053,3095,3829,142,3952,2935,3959,3960,3539,3962,3006,1116,3961,651,3388],"class_list":["post-69146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing","tag-beginner-racer","tag-beginners-guide","tag-bike-maintenance","tag-bike-race","tag-criterium","tag-erica-carney","tag-first-race","tag-getting-started-bike-racing","tag-healthy-perspective","tag-pack-riding","tag-racecraft","tag-racing-basics","tag-racing-strategy","tag-staying-humble","tag-tactics","tag-technical-skills"],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"","source_text":"","source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69146\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trainerroad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}