Bike Racing 101

By Kendra Wenzel

Infinitely practical and packed with powerful insights, Bike Racing 101 is the single best resource for cycling enthusiasts who are ready to move from the sidelines to cycling competition. From preparation to performance, Bike Racing 101 gives you the essential information you need to hone your skills, chart your course, and get into the race. Penned by renowned experts Kendra and Ren Wenzel, Bike Racing 101 gives you the inside edge from world-class competitors who've raced at top levels of international competition. Equipment, apparel, training, skills, nutrition, and even the unwritten rules of racing etiquette are covered in this comprehensive guide. Written for the experienced cyclist who already has a firm grasp on biking basics, Bike Racing 101 offers key technical advice in a format that's easy to follow. You'll learn skills that are essential for competitive performance, from cornering and climbing to sprinting. You'll get the inside edge on bikes and equipment, from the gear you need to the options you should consider to power your performance even further. Bike Racing 101 will help you develop an effective training program and deploy practical tactics that can make a difference when the heat is on. From time trials to road and multiple-day stage races, you'll be fully prepared on race day with tips and checklists to take you all the way to the finish line. Between them, the book's authors have almost 50 years of combined racing and coaching experience. Kendra is a Pan American gold medalist, top national performer, and former member of the U.S. national team. Ren is an international champion who has coached U.S. Postal Service team member George Hincapie and powered the U.S. National junior team to two world championships. Together, they offer the insights, instruction, and simple advice you need to enjoy the competitive side of one of the world's most challenging sports.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0736044744
• ISBN13: 9780736044745
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 0.6" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Good primer for those considering bike racing

If you are coming from some other background than cycling, this is a good book. If you are riding your bike and thinking of doing a crit, it is a good book. In other words, probably should be read by anyone that has not been racing since they were young.

Good read.

I'd recommend this book. As an junior racer many, many years ago, I was able to reflect on some of the advice that was gained 'the hard way', ie- by making mistakes. Defininitely a good read for someone starting out in racing.

All of the fundamentals...

If you want to get into bike racing but have no idea where to start this is THE book for you. It's a complete over view of all the basics you need to know to get into the sport including a check list to see if you are even ready to race. Gets into basic training concepts and racing tactics. However, if you are a seasoned cyclist, you probably won't find much new here. Being new to the competitive side of the sport this last year, I found this book to be an extremely important guide.

Comprehensive, accessible and effective.

There's no better place to start if you want to learn to race bikes. A lot of what's out there is very interesting but targeted towards a more advanced racer. It's all too easy to lose sight of the fundamentals. This book will help you pick the equipment you need without going overboard, improve your understanding of training and recovery, and work a training plan into your life without burning out. It's full of detailed discussion of essentials like how to execute an attack and make it stick. The chapters on improving fundamental skills like climbing, cornering and descending are complete, detailed, and effective, as are the chapters on strategy and tactics. Road racing, time trials, criteriums and stage races are each given a full chapter that will to help you develop a tactical sense that you can apply when the situation arises. I'm midway through my first serious season and the more I get out and race the more mileage I get out of this book.

A "must-have" for any cyclist with the desire to race!

Bike Racing 101 is an excellent resource for those cyclists with a basic knowledge of the sport, and a strong desire to take it to the next level. This book guides you through the process, from getting licensed, to understanding road racing events, to the necessary equipment. From there, this easy-to-read book (that's filled with up-to-date photos), helps you, the future racer determine your goals, choose your first race, and even guides you through basic training. Bike Racing 101 gives you the background knowledge to increase speed, power, and endurance as well as the basics of nutrition and hydration. All the aspects of racing are covered in this book and it prepares you for everything to expect in a race, it even has a section on learning how to crash! With an insider's perspective, it makes racing seem much less intimidating. The back of the book is full of helpful resources as well, complete with a glossary of related terms and suggested websites. This is a must-have for any cyclist with the desire to race!