The pros make it look so easy, don't they?

RBA's assistant editor, Michael White, grew up racing motocross and mountain bikes. But until the 2011 Sea Otter bike festival, he had never competed in a USA Cycling-sanctioned road race. Here are his tips for first-time road racers.

1. Do your research. The best place to start is USA Cycling to find sanctioned races, which will count for eventual category upgrades. Also, check out your local bike shop for information on nearby events, even those that aren’t sanctioned by USA Cycling. For me, it was a simpler process: Some six weeks prior to Sea Otter, Neil asked if I was going to race in one of the events. I hadn’t given it any thought, but he led me to realize that I’d be racing my preferred two-wheeler on the same circuit which legendary motorcycle racers Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Valentino Rossi competed. Game on.

2. Dial in your bike. Luckily for me, we were testing Cannondale’s SuperSix Hi-MOD (June 2011) at the time, and there was a pair of Reynolds RZR wheels collecting dust amid RBA’s stockpile of hoops. I also settled on a helmet, shoes, gloves, sunglasses and our svelte 2011 RBA kit to round out my gear selection. In the two weeks leading up to Sea Otter, most of my rides consisted of “dress rehearsals” involving all of the equipment I would use during the race, which allowed me to become familiar and comfortable with my chosen setup. For me, Neil’s mantra of “control anything that’s controllable” started here.

3. Practice riding with a group. Unless your first race will be an individual time trial, then you’re going to be in very close proximity to a large number of other riders, all of whom will be looking to outsprint, outclimb and outmaneuver you. While I generally prefer an even split of solo and group training rides, I began skewing my rides to encompass more of the latter, particularly with faster riders. Riding with people for the first time, let alone racing against them, can be taxing, because you’re not familiar with their habits on the bike, so make sure you’re training with as many different cyclists as possible to get yourself ready for anything—and anyone.

4. It’s all mental. Now that your bike and gear is raring to go, that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about. Now think about your expectations for your first race and keep them realistic. I was feeling some trepidation about my racing prospects, so I constantly reminded myself that the very worst I could do was to finish last. While that may sound silly at first, the reality in racing is that only one individual can win, and you can’t let any fear of failure deter you from trying.

5. Prep your body. Whether your race is a few days out or several months away, get on your bike and start putting in some miles. And much to my chagrin, Neil regards nutrition as a foundation for proper race training. So, gone was my daily intake of an extra scone at breakfast, greasy french fries at lunch and that second helping of pasta at dinner. More fresh fruit and vegetables found their way onto my plate than ever before. To our editor Zap’s dismay, I began to shy away from our daily lunch-burrito regimen and began copying Neil’s habit of eating out of a bag during lunch—Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice is tasty, takes 90 seconds to heat in a microwave and is a convenient way of monitoring caloric intake. More than anything else, during my race preparation, I learned that eating healthy will boost your energy level, let you train harder and longer, and simply have you feeling better throughout your day.

6. Stay smart. After a half-hour warm up of easy spinning along the roads around Laguna Seca, I went to the start line with my stomach in knots, my heart pounding in my skull and my limbs twitching like live wires. But at the word “go,” all the nerves went away. Neil told me to ride a smart race, which involved sitting in toward the front of the main group and protecting myself from the wind. I let the race develop around me, and although no attacks came, I was ready for them.

7. Avoid the kerosene. Although my adrenaline was flowing throughout the early minutes of the race, I was very close proximity to a large number of other riders, all of whom will be looking to outsprint, outclimb and outmaneuver you. While I generally prefer an even split of solo and group training rides, I began skewing my rides to encompass more of the latter, particularly with faster riders. Riding with people for the first time, let alone racing against them, can be taxing, because you’re not familiar with their habits on the bike, so make sure you’re training with as many different cyclists as possible to get yourself ready for anything—and anyone.

8. Most important of all. This is my most important tip, and something that is too easily forgotten: have fun. You paid your entry fee for this experience, put in some training time and gave up the bear claws, so reward yourself with a good time by savoring the moment. There will undoubtedly be other racers on course with a sour “do or die” attitude, but remember: this isn’t the Tour de France, and you’re not racing to put food on the table, so don’t take yourself too seriously. While my focus was typically on the wheel in front of me, my own thoughts came back each lap along Laguna Seca’s front straightaway: “I’m so tired and my legs are aching; why am I doing this?!” Then my grimace of pain would give way to a half-second smile. “This is awesome!” And it was.

9. Stay close. While a bit of fun is your primary reward for racing, the feeling of a job well done is undeniably gratifying, so leave everything on the course. Regretfully, this is the one tip I didn’t follow completely. On the last lap’s climb to the top of Laguna Seca’s corkscrew” descent, I arrogantly let a two-second gap emerge between the lead group of a dozen riders and myself, which only grew as the train of bikes rocketed down one of the most famous corners in motorsport. I finished 30 seconds back from the leaders, but I did manage a top 15 finish by outsprinting three riders to the line.

10. Race and repeat. After your first race, your competitive juices should be flowing, and you’ll be chomping at the bit for another go. Do it. And if you’ve never raced before, do it; there’s nothing else like it. Purchasing an annual race license from USA Cycling is a terrific value if you’re planning to race frequently, and local events are always on the lookout for volunteers. Get involved, get racing and I’ll see you at the start line.

RBA's Michael White, at the Sea Otter start line.