ABR Road and Crit Racing
Join our ABR Road and Crit racing Team and take part in events with your ABR team mates.
Road races generally take place on public roads and can be point-to-point races or multiple circuits of a loop anywhere from 5 to 25 miles in length.
Get the encouragement and support from ABR cycle team and experience all that cycling offers.
ABR Road and Crit Racing Team
ABR cycle club is developing a strong ABR cycle racing team that competes at the same race day events and trains together to help and enecourage each others to progress and improve their own abilities and become a stronger cycle rider.
If you are new to cycle racing or want to experience road or crit racing, or you're an experienced rider or you want to get involved and have a try with ABR cycle team, then get in touch with our club. We want to develop as a team, working together to reach a common goal. Our club training rides focus on developing good cycling skills which will help you improve your ability, we work together as a cycle team helping to push each other with the best support we can provide.
What is a Crit race?
A criterium, or crit, is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, the length of each lap or circuit ranging in distance.
Race length can be determined by a number of laps or total time, in which case the number of remaining laps is calculated as the race progresses. Generally the event's duration (commonly one hour) is shorter than that of a traditional road race. However, the average speed and intensity are appreciably higher.
Success in road criteriums requires a mix of good technical skills — in particular, the ability to corner smoothly while holding the line on the road, as well as rapidly and sharply — and riding safely with a large group on a short circuit and exceptional "sprint" ability to attack other riders and repeatedly accelerate hard from corners.
What bike do you need for Crit Racing?
Racing bicycles used for Criteriums often have subtle, but significantly different geometry from those used in other events. A Criterium-centric geometry strives to achieve stability and balance it with agility. Consequently Criterium racers will often choose bicycles with:
- a wheelbase shortened as much as possible, for increased turning ability, with the shortest chainstays possible, and a slightly shortened top tube (often causing some toe overlap with the front wheel on smaller frame sizes).
- forks with increased rake to reduce trail. Bikes with reduced trail handle more responsively, albeit at the cost of stability.
- slightly shorter cranks (145–170 mm), often slightly higher bottom bracket (+10 mm) to facilitate pedaling through turns without hitting or scraping the pedals on the ground.
ABR Racing Jersey a kit wear
You need to wear cycling-specific jerseys that will help to draw moisture away from your clothing. Adjust your base layer according to the conditions, but be careful not to overdress as you will be working hard.
As with all forms of cycle sport in the UK, a helmet is compulsory for road and crit racing and your regular road helmet is ideal.
Get the support you need yo help progress your cycling journey.
Improve your race strategery
Develop the data you need to be able to discover your potential ideal Time Trial time.
Management support
Our support team is here to ensure everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on the race.
Realize your goals
We provide a pathway of events that will help you on your progress to your final goal.
I've just started my Crit racing journey and ABR have provided the support and encouragement to help me every step of the way, a great team to be part of
Jason
Beginner Crit Rider
2025 Road Race and Crit Racing calendar, click link for series information, you may need to select other events in the series for other dates.
| Road Race | Date | Enter before | Distance | Cat | Cost � |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evesham Vale Support Race | 16th March | 9th March | 48 miles | 3 4 | 31 |
| NCRA Handicap Series | 15th March | 30 miles | 21 | ||
| 29th March | |||||
| 12th April | |||||
| 19th April | |||||
| 3rd May | |||||
| Wyre Forest Road Race | 18th May | 11th May | 49 miles | 3 4 | 33 |
| Crit Racing | Date | Enter before | Distance | Cat | Cost � |
| Velo Bavarian Crit League | 15th March | 45 min or 1 hr | 4 & 3-4 | 21 | |
| Darley Moor | 22nd March | ||||
| 5th April | |||||
| 31st May | |||||
| 28th June | |||||
| 26th July | |||||
| 23rd Aug | |||||
| Melton (Leicester) | 6th July | 45m or 1hr | 4 & 3-4 | 18 | |
| 3rd Aug | |||||
| 31st Aug | |||||
| Mallory Park | 10th July | 3 4 | |||
| 31st July | |||||
| Haus GP - Darley Moor | 27th Sept | 20th Sept | 3 stages | ? | 51 |
