One thing racers should do from Race No. 1 is keep a race diary.

I started one mostly because the narrator in Tim Krabbe’s “The Rider” has one (not to mention a prodigious number of entries to keep track of) and I’m glad I did. I’ve recorded information for everything from alleycats to practice time trials, from Matteson practice criteriums to state championships.

After each race I take three minutes to record the following data, if available, into a spreadsheet:

• » Date
• » Name of event
• » Format of event
• » Number of riders
• » Placing
• » Distance
• » Time
• » Average speed
• » Notes on conditions, key moments and why I didn’t do better

It’s that last entry that can be the most valuable. Even if I don’t go back to read it later on, reflecting after each race about what you could have done differently is an important step of the post-race routine.

Such a racing log is also important when it comes to upgrade. Compiling your race resumé for the officials will be a piece of cake if you’ve kept careful records along the way.