When Does a Bicycle Ride Become a Sport?

When bicycle riding becomes a competition, then it could already be considered a sport. And road bicycle racing is one of the most popular sports that make use of a bicycle. This type of bicycle sport is held on roads according to a particular area’s geography with the use of racing bicycles. This sport involves competing riders which will start their ride all the same time where the winner will be the first one to reach the finish line. This sport is quite demanding physically. Other variations of a road race are the individual and the team time trials.

Although the popularity of road racing is global, it is more especially so in Europe. Some of the most active European countries which hold yearly road bicycle racing are France, Belgium, Italy, UK, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The sport is also popular in USA, Australia and Russia. The types of riders that join the road bicycle racing are what are referred to as the climber, the All-rounder, the Time Trialist, the Sprinter and the Domestique.

There are also several types of road bicycle racing in terms of the number of days the race will be held. The first type is the “single-day race”. With this race, the first person who will cross the finish line upon completion of all courses prescribed will be the winner. The race distance differs starting from only a few kilometers to as long as 200 kilometers. The courses may comprise 1 or more laps of a circuit, may run from place to place or both. Another type is the “single-day nocturnal races” which are done to bring in a much larger crowd. The next type of race is the “stage race” which consists of several stages (races) that will be ridden consecutively. With this type of race, the rider with the lowest cumulative time in completing all stages of the race will be the winner. There may also be other awards and classification as may be decided by the race coordinators such as individual stage winners, King of the Mountains winner, points classification winner, etc. Lastly, there is the type referred to as the “ultra marathon”. These are very long races but are only a single stage event. It usually takes several days to finish. The “Race Across America” or RAAM is the most famous ultra marathon there is. It is a 3000 miles coast to coast, single stage non-stop race usually taking a week to finish.

Joining these races is no easy task. Tactics should be employed to ensure high winning potential and the body should be well-prepared to be able to endure the race. It would be best to equip yourself with the ins and out of the race you intend to join in as well as prepare all the gears you may need. Most importantly, have the best performing bicycle to assist you in your race.