Track racing takes place on short specially
built tracks consisting of two tight, banked corners
joined by two short straights.
Tracks range hugely in length - outdoor tracks (concrete
or tarmac based) usually being longer and with shallower
bankings - but Olympic and World Championship Track
racing is generally held on indoor 250m wooden tracks.
Bikes: Track bikes are relatively
simple, lacking the gears and brakes of their road cousins.
With bikes having a fixed wheel (forcing you to pedal
continuously) the rider controls speed through pressure
applied to the pedals.
Road Racing
Road Racing is massed-start cycle racing on roads or
circuits. In the UK, events range from short Youth and
Juvenile (under16) races of 20km or less, through club
level events for adults of between 40km and 100km, to
Elite-level one day races of 200km or more. In the shorter
races, the first rider over the line is the winner,
but in multi-stage "Tours" there are prizes
for each stage winner, for the best sprinter in the
race, the best climber (aka King of the Mountains),
the leading team, and of course the overall winner.
The majority of adult racing takes place on public
roads, though there are an increasing number of circuit
events, either on roads closed to other traffic or on
specially constructed circuits, some which are shared
with other sports like motor racing and kart racing,
others are purpose built for cycling.
As with all sports, Road Racing beginners can find
their feet in easier events.
Under sixteen's ride on what are called closed circuits,
i.e. Goodwood Motor Circuit, Eelmore, Hillingdon Cycle
Circuit, Redbridge Cycle Circuit and Fowlemead Country
Park to name but a few in our local area.
These are courses off the public roads, and traffic
free, where beginners can race and learn how to ride
in a bunch safely.
Video Footage - Goodwood evening race during 2010,
taken by Richard Pearman.
For Senior riders (18 years+), beginners
start off as 4th Category riders. In most cases the
4th's have their own separate race, but sometimes they
will ride with the 3rd's, Women, and Juniors. In Road
Racing there is a Category structure which is based
on your ability as a rider.
The better you become, the further up the category
system you go.
British Cycling Racing Licence
To race BC events you will require a racing licence
as well as a Silver or Gold membership. Most competitive
cycling events at regional, national and international
level require the rider to hold a full British Cycling
racing licence.
A full racing licence may be purchased by Silver
or Gold members. You will need a full racing licence
to score points on the British Cycling rankings.
Riders who do not purchase a full racing licence
are automatically awarded a free provisional racing
licence. This enables participation in some entry
level cycling events.
British
Cycling Full Racing Licence Cost for 2011
Senior (UCI trade team)
£74.00
Senior (18+)
£32.00
Junior (16-18)
£13.00
Youth (12-15)
Free
Under 12
Free
The racing licence is attached to your
membership card and requires you to add a passport
sized photograph to the licence before putting it
in the self-seal wallet provided.
More information regarding BC membership and a Full
Racing Licence can be found on our BC Membership page
or on the BC website.
Women and Veteran categories follow the same cats
and Youth are split by age (U8/10/12/14 & 16).
The road and MTB categories roughly match with each
other and to rise from a humble 4th Cat to an Elite
you accumulate points from races you enter.
Further information about Road
Racing or Track
Racing can be viewed on the British Cycling website.
South East Cycling (British Cycling)
Contact: Glyn Durrant (Competition Administrator). Email: glyn@surreyleague.co.uk
South East Cycling is the South East Region of British Cycling the
internationally recognised
Governing Body in Britain for all cycle racing.
