AUBURN – Ray Marchessault has won speed races in Maine and has ridden bicycles up Mount Washington three times. But around the time he turned 50, he dropped out of the racing circuit and became a more casual cycler.

As an Auburn resident and vice president of the Maine Cycling Club, he saw Saturday’s Lake Auburn Road Race as a chance to get back into the circuit. Now 57, he signed up for the men’s plus-55 category.

“I said, ‘well, I’ll try to get in shape again,’ and I’ve learned some respect for some of these guys that are 55-plus. There’s some real hammerheads out here,” he said.

Preparation took a lot more than his usual cycling. Marchessault began training in March, which he calls “really late.” Soon, he was cycling almost 200 miles per week, sometimes riding the Lake Auburn route that would be the racing site.

Against a field of 14 others hailing from all over New England, Marchessault finished right in the middle at eighth place. “It was a good experience,” Marchessault decided afterward. “Who knows? I might get back into it.”

Marchessault wasn’t alone in his grueling preparation. For many of the 300 racers in Saturday’s Lake Auburn Road Race, preparation went right up to the beginning of the race.

Some had the race’s length and rolling hills at the front of their minds, while others worried about the heavy rain that intermittently pounded the city.

According to race organizer Matthew Richard, the rain had only a small effect on the turnout. He said in addition to pre-registered racers, dozens drove to Auburn in the rain to sign up Saturday morning.

Steve Connor of the Belfast Racing Team warmed up with the back wheel of his bike suspended, pedaling away. “I can get my heart rate up, bring it down,” he said. Two computers on his bike told him his cadence, heart rate, speed and other data.

He and the rest of the Belfast Racing Team drove down Friday night to ride the course. “This is our first year doing this race,” said Connor’s teammate, Seth Haskell.

Most of the team were Category 5 racers, the New England Bicycle Racing Association’s basic category for new racers. Only Connor was a Category 4, a rank achieved by accruing points with top-five finishes in NEBRA-sanctioned races.

The Belfast Racing Team came prepared with packets of nutritional gel that they admitted tastes awful, but which adds valuable calories and carbohydrates.

It paid off. In a field of 60 starters, Connor finished fifth while Haskell finished ninth.

Collin Huston, 16, of Kennebunk, was concerned about keeping his legs warm and the lost traction when the road was wet.

Others said the rain was a non-issue. John Grenier of Lewiston, a promoter of the race, compared it to rain at a football game. “If it rains, everybody else has to deal with it.”

For Marchessault, the rain was an advantage. “It keeps your legs cool,” he said. “That’s your biggest muscle.”

Harvey Forbes of Pottsville, Penn., had his first race Saturday. He started riding in January, and came up with his brother who lives in Portland and races regularly.

Forbes said that since he bought his bike in January, he’d lost about 35 pounds. But the race was a lot different than long bike rides back in Pennsylvania.

“It’s definitely different riding a lot of flat and keeping the pace up, then pacing as you’re going up those hills,” Forbes said. He finished 53rd among the 54 who finished the Category 4 and 5 race.

“I wasn’t last,” he said laughing and shrugging. “I think I’ll be doing this again.”