Road racing is exhilarating – riding in a close group means higher speeds and even higher heart rates as competitive nature powers your legs.

The social scene around road racing is very active, too – and getting stuck in doesn’t need to be scary.

Recommended read: Etiquette for Riding in a Pack

It’s understandable however that the idea of pinning on a race number and joining the start line can be intimidating –  even getting there can be a bit bewildering as you try to navigate the British Cycling license landscape.

We’ve put together a guide to some of the logistical elements of beginning your road racing career, as well as some of the skills that are well worth brushing up on…