Cat 4 Race Series | Cat 4 Race Series FAQ | Cat 3 Race Series

Washington State Bicycle Association | Women's Cycling

The WSBA is committed to developing and supporting new bike racers and improving the quality of women's bike racing in the Pacific Northwest. Several activities throughout the year focus on helping women to build their racing skills and find a team for training and racing.

Marker Cat 4 Women's Race Series

A season-long race series for category 4 (beginning) women featuring a variety of races and generous sponsorship. See the links at the top of this page for more information.

Völkl Cup (for Cat 3 Women)

In 2010 the cat 3 series will stretch throughout the season, and events will usually feature category 3 women's races not combined with any other category. Here's a chance for cat 3s to race only with their peers--and to support the promoters who make it possible. See the links at the top of this page for more information.

Developing Skills

• CycleU (Seattle) and Emde Sports (Spokane) (among other resources in Washington) offer classes that teach everything from the basics of bike handling to advanced racing skills and time trialing. The registration fee at these two facilities for the Women's Racing Fundamentals and Upgrade Class is partly subsidized by the WSBA, and clinic participants receive FOUR (4) cat 3 upgrade points. Classes will be offered several times in the late winter and spring at each facility. Please check their websites for more info on these classes and when they are scheduled.
  Limit: one subsidy and one set of upgrade points per rider; you may take the clinic as many times as you wish, but the WSBA will not subsidize more than one clinic per rider, and you may not earn more than 4 upgrade points no matter how many clinics you take.
  
• Coaching clinics are sponsored by the WSBA at early season races specifically to help cat 4 women build their racing skills and understanding. Local coaches and expert riders will carefully watch the race (from the lead car in road races) and then offer post-race feedback on the elements of the race, including team tactics, bike handling, and other components that make up the race. The 2010 schedule of clinic dates and leaders (who will enlist help from their teammates so racers hear multiple viewpoints) is:
  • March 7: Mason Lake Road Race #1: Izette Swan, a cat 2 racer with Team Group Health and also a USA Cycling-certified coach with Real Rehab Physical Therapy
  • April 10: Volunteer Park Criterium: Annette Williams, a cat 1 national and world champion with the First Rate Mortgage team
  • April 22: Vance Creek Road Race: Shannon Payne of bikesale.com, winner of the 2009 master women A BARR competition
  Come hear the advice and insights these experienced local racers and their teammates offer about the action in the cat 4 races on these three different courses. Cat 4 women should watch for information posted at these races and/or announced on the start line for the exact location and time for these free clinics, which will be held immediately after the races finish.
  
• Training races for women every other Tuesday evening at Pacific Raceways from April 13 through June 22. Riders are divided by skill level and experience, and elite racers from local teams ride with both groups to offer riding and racing tips as each race unfolds. Pacific Raceways will also host three cat 4 women's races in 2010, on July 6, July 27, and August 10. Pacific Raceways is an auto racetrack completely closed to motor vehicles when used for bike racing, and races there feature a variety of different circuits. More information will be posted on the BuDu Racing web site as the season approaches.
  
• The Marymoor Velodrome is another great place to develop racing skills. Please see velodrome.org for a list of classes and the calendar of events at the track. Bike rentals are available, but you must take the introductory track class prior to participating in any other sessions on the track.
  

Finding a Team

The WSBA organizes Meet the Team Rides each autumn to help new riders find teammates with compatible goals and interests. Rides are scheduled from September through November in Seattle and other locations. A schedule and other information will be posted on the WSBA website by late summer.

Intro to Women’s Cycling and Racing Teams: On three consecutive Sundays starting in mid-September, a combination of women from many of the local racing teams will host rides similar to the Meet the Teams rides, with the exception that this ride is for women only, and each ride is hosted by women representatives from multiple teams. If you are new to the racing community, looking to strengthen your riding skills, thinking about racing, or looking to speak with other women about local racing teams or riding opportunities, this ride's for you! More information will be posted here by late summer.

• Route: south end of Lake Washington
  
• Skills: pacelines, riding a straight line, and racing tactics/techniques. Depending on turnout, we'll break into groups no greater than 10 to keep it manageable and go over the basics, making sure to keep things fun and not stressful.