New to racing
Your first race
If you can ride a steady pace in a group, you can race with us.
This page takes you from no licence to the finish line.
What club racing is like
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Graded scratch racing
Riders start together in groups of similar speed, called grades. A is fastest and G is steadiest. You start in the grade that suits your ability. A grade races without a cap cover and the other grades each wear their own colour, so you can tell who is in yours.
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Laps of a Hills course
Each grade rides a set number of laps. Faster grades ride further: at Forreston, G rides 22.6 km and A rides 72.4 km.
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Roads we can control
We race on roads where traffic and racing can be safely controlled. Racing safely says how the club looks after you.
Four steps to the start line
- 1
Get a trial licence
You need an AusCycling licence to race. Start with AusCycling's free trial, open to anyone who hasn't held an AusCycling membership. At AHCC a trial licence covers one race, and that race is free.
- 2
Pick a grade
Look at the courses and recent average speeds below, and pick the grade whose pace you could hold for the race. The handicapper will contact you to confirm your grade. Moving up or down after a race or two is normal.
- 3
Enter on EntryBoss
Entries close at 9:00 am the day before, and there's no sign-up on the day. Entry is $25 until the end of 2026 and $30 from January 2027, free on a trial licence. Hire a transponder for $15, or buy one for $20 when you enter.
- 4
Turn up early
Rego opens at 8:00 am. Sign on, and collect your cap cover and transponder.
Pick a grade
Start with the course. We race at Forreston, Oakwood Rd, Springhead Rd, Stamps Rd, Terlinga Rd and Bradbury. See all our courses.
Then compare the recent average speeds below with what you can hold in a group, and pick the grade that suits your ability. The speeds come from one course, named under the chart, and they change from course to course. The handicapper will contact new riders to confirm their grade.
Recent average speeds
Fastest to slowest finisher's average speed, averaged over the last 5 races at Stamps Rd, 13 Oct 2024 to 4 Oct 2026, from RaceMix. Distances are race lengths.
Show the numbers
| Grade | Slowest finisher (km/h) | Winner (km/h) | Distance | Races |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 36.2 | 37.2 | 67.8 km | 4 |
| B | 36.2 | 37.2 | 67.8 km | 5 |
| C | 32.8 | 34.9 | 54.9 km | 4 |
| D | 30.8 | 32.8 | 54.9 km | 4 |
| E | 27.2 | 30.9 | 54.9 km | 3 |
| F | 25.6 | 28.1 | 42 km | 4 |
| G | 20.1 | 23.7 | 16.2 km | 4 |
The top grade reads the next grade's speed where that is faster.
On the day
- 1
8:00 am, rego opens
Sign on, and collect your cap cover and transponder.
- 2
Rider briefing
Listen for course notes and hazards.
- 3
9:00 am, first grade starts
Grades go off a few minutes apart.
- 4
After
Results go up, then presentations at rego.
Bring: licence on your phone, helmet, red flashing rear light, bottles, food, a jacket for after.
Next race
Questions new riders ask
What if I get dropped?
It happens to everyone at some point. Keep going if you can: you've come this far, so what's a few more kilometres? Ride the course at your own pace and finish your laps. Or call it a day: pull off safely and tell a marshal or the finish, so we know you're safe.
How do I know who's in my grade?
A grade races without a cap cover. Every other grade wears its own colour of cap cover over the helmet. Collect yours at rego, and you can tell at a glance who is in your grade and who isn't.
Do I need a special bike?
A road bike in good working order. No time-trial bikes or aero bars in road races; they're fine in hill climbs.
What's a transponder?
A small timing chip that clips to your bike and records your finish. Hire one for $15, or buy your own for $20, when you enter.
Can I enter on the day?
No. Enter on EntryBoss by 9:00 am the day before, because there's no sign-up on the day.
Do I have to join the club first?
No: your first race can be on a trial licence. To keep racing after that, join AusCycling on a Club or Race membership. See Join the club.
Can I race women-only?
Grades are by speed, not gender, and women race in every grade.
How old do I need to be?
Juniors race in the grade that suits their ability.
Can my family come and watch?
Yes. The finish line is the best spot, and Live follows the race for anyone not there.
Still not sure? Ask us
Ask us anything, from which grade to start in to what to eat before a race.
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