“The Pretend Pro Racer Experience.” “Bike summer camp.” There are a number of informal and perhaps slightly cynical nicknames for the Big Race Series (aka “BRS") that dot the US race calendar. But whether you are a novice cyclist or an experienced cat 1, we think every racer should do at least one Big Race Series during their time in the sport.

We have been fortunate to race some of the best of this genre of bike race over the years. Several of them have featured prominently on the Journal, including Intelligentsia, GMSR, and Gateway Cup. Looking back at these entries there are plenty of highs and lows, but collectively they include some of my favorite days on the bike (and a few of my favorite off the bike as well).

So here we are with: In Defense of the Big Race Series, aka why every bike racer should do a big race at least once.

A Premium Race Experience

We love the grassroots race experience the is so prevalent in NYC - no spectators, no barriers, and a finish line that is often a single piece of tape. Sure, we could do without the 5:30AM race starts, but it is hard to complain too much with a dense race calendar, all in the heart of the city.

But, races like Intelligentsia Cup ramp things up to a whole different level with the full bike racing package. Of course there is simple stuff like barriers and a full fledged finish line setup with race announcers, but there is also real engagement from the local community, including the famous slip ’n’ slide at the Elmhurst Cycling Classic:

There is also something unique about the experience of racing multiple days in a row, and settling into a daily routine around racing, recovering and then doing it all over again 24 hours later. That is not something we get to experience on a regular basis in our local races, so it adds a completely different vibe to the BRS experience.

Off the Bike

For us the best BRS experiences have been communal affairs: the year that we shoved six people in a sprinter van to drive to Gateway Cup, or the year at Intelligentsia Cup where we squeezed a dozen or more cyclists in one very large Chicago AirBNB. In hindsight that may be too many cyclists to live in a confined space for a week of hot weather criterium racing - the house probably did not smell great by the end of the week. But we also walked away from that trip with endless memories and inside jokes.

Bottom line: definitely do not sleep all everything off the bike that can be fit into a BRS weekend or week of racing. Explore the town via bike. Hit some restaurants, visit a brewery or two. It may be a bike race, but it can also be a bike vacation.

The Bad

Obviously, Big Race Series are not all rainbows and good times. There are real hurdles associated with these races, starting with both taking time off work and funding the cost to travel. Unless of course you’re fortunate enough to live in a city that a Big Race Series calls home, in which case, kudos to you. Otherwise: find a group of pals/teammates to carpool with (hashtag get in the van) and rent a big and ideally inexpensive lodging setup to keep costs down.

The other downside of Big Race Series? The competition is really serious. There is a not insignificant chance that you will show up to a BRS and get your teeth kicked in by folks that are better and faster than you. It is more fun with this does not happen, but this is bike racing and there can be only one winner. Our advice: come highs or lows in results, enjoy the whole on and off the bike experience because a post-race slip ’n’ slide is just as much fun after a DNF as it is after podium finish.

Other bad stuff? I’m sure there are others worth noting, but again, in our experience the good has easily outweighed the bad, so we’re going to move on…

In Conclusion

Go to a big race series, especially if you can go with friends and or family! Take it all in, race against new and different competition, have a blast on and off the bike.