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Getting Started in Cycling
By Julia Cantone // usolympicteam.com // April 15, 2004
Getting Started in Cycling
To get started in cycling, new riders should try BMX or mountain bicycles in order to gain road experience before moving on to road or track bicycles. In places where Velodromes are located, beginners can gain valuable road experience in the comfort of an enclose track. If a club or Velodrome is not available, children and adults can find bike paths and parks to begin biking recreationally or training competitively. In addition, USA Cycling can provide the names of many high schools attempting to establish teams in their communities.
More advanced children can participate in open training camps and compete in the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Road Race Series, where top finishers are invited to regional training camps for road and track cycling. Mountain bikers can compete in the Junior Olympic Mountain Bike Series to be selected for regional camps. From there, young cyclists are selected for the National camps and teams and can have the opportunity to participate in international events.
Joining USA Cycling
On the USA Cycling Web site, look under “Membership” to find a coach, camp or local club, or browse events and official rules. The Web site also has forms for membership to USA Cycling and entering events.
Major Events
National and World Championships are held for road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross. Men compete in Pro/Senior, Under-23/Espoir and Junior divisions; women compete in Pro/Senior and Junior divisions. Masters championships are also held.
- Cyclocross National Championships. Dec. 10-12, 2004 (Portland)
Becoming a U.S. Olympian
There are many ways to qualify for the USA Olympic cycling team. You can begin a professional cycling career and win the Tour de France to qualify that way. Also, the USA holds Olympic trials in which the winners of the trials will be selected for the Olympic team.
Road cycling is the only discipline that has a team trial.
Contact Information
web: USA Cycling
email: usac@usacycling.org
phone: 719.866.4581
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