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okgo
20,718 posts
67 months
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Only 70kg? There will be plenty lighter than that !! I ride with a few guys down near 60kg. Light b  ds.
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BMWBen
3,536 posts
70 months
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okgo said: Only 70kg? There will be plenty lighter than that !! I ride with a few guys down near 60kg. Light b ds. Oh yeah I have no doubt about that - but I'd have thought I'm still towards the lighter end of the scale (I hope!). I can always just take my laptop into the toilet and spend all day getting lighter 
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yonex
2,854 posts
37 months
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Headed to the Masters last night at Hillingdon and ended up 8th. Great night for the club overall with 5 riders out of 7 all scoring points. Hog Hill is very tempting tonight but committed to a TT...next week might see you there Ben, good luck if you are going.
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okgo
20,718 posts
67 months
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How you doing on the TT's mate? I did a club ten last night on my road bike (no clip ons, no overshoes, no aero helmet) with Zipps and a skin suit, did a 22.17 on this course http://app.strava.com/rides/17340085#318051483 - poor power IMO, but the time was pleasing enough. Only two people quicker on the night (21.56 won it) but they were on a tt bike, and the other had clip ons.
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racerbob
231 posts
49 months
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okgo said: How you doing on the TT's mate? I did a club ten last night on my road bike (no clip ons, no overshoes, no aero helmet) with Zipps and a skin suit, did a 22.17 on this course http://app.strava.com/rides/17340085#318051483 - poor power IMO, but the time was pleasing enough. Only two people quicker on the night (21.56 won it) but they were on a tt bike, and the other had clip ons. hey that's not a bad time on std road bike, well done. I find that tt's are all about pace judgement, just got to get it all out just right, helps if you know the course obv. I used to be about 50 secs faster on a proper tt bike over a std road bike in a '10' Ever thought of doing the track ? I think you'd go well.
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yonex
2,854 posts
37 months
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okgo said: How you doing on the TT's mate? I did a club ten last night on my road bike (no clip ons, no overshoes, no aero helmet) with Zipps and a skin suit, did a 22.17 on this course http://app.strava.com/rides/17340085#318051483 - poor power IMO, but the time was pleasing enough. Only two people quicker on the night (21.56 won it) but they were on a tt bike, and the other had clip ons. I can't match your power chap but am 23:30 on the slow course and we'll see tonight on the supposed 'fast' one.
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okgo
20,718 posts
67 months
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racerbob said: hey that's not a bad time on std road bike, well done. I find that tt's are all about pace judgement, just got to get it all out just right, helps if you know the course obv. I used to be about 50 secs faster on a proper tt bike over a std road bike in a '10'
Ever thought of doing the track ? I think you'd go well. Its ok. Its not a fast course, but I've done better power in the past, but as you say, pacing is hard, especially when its so undulating. I might try some track this winter yeh, might suit me being a fat bugger 
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BMWBen
3,536 posts
70 months
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Ow. My second attempt at bike racing wasn't as successful as the first. Hog Hill Summer Series. Got there a little late and didn't have time to check out the circuit. Lots of fast corners which the bunch seemed to do at warp 9 when I could only do them at warp 5. Resulted in my doing at least 2 sprints per lap + the hill. Didn't feel like it was sustainable, and guess what, it wasn't! Got dropped four laps from the end and collapsed on the grass. Commissar thought I was dead and came to check Annoying, because I should have had the legs to at least stay in the bunch. The problem was that I was putting in digs to get to the front third, then half a lap later would drop back to where I was before at the back over 2 corners. Then the next one I'd be right on the back, and having to put the hammer down to get back up to speed. Must've really been pissing off anyone who ended up behind me too. People were on the gas mid corner at points where I would've normally coasted round for at least 3 more seconds, and realised powering out of the apex was something I have never done, and I have no idea what angle I can go to without risking a pedal strike so was pussying out. Going to go to hillingdon out of hours and nail corners harder and harder until I fall off... I used to be good at this, then I had a couple of nasty offs that I didn't see coming (but luckily walked away from without any personal damage) and I've just not go the confidence I had before. http://app.strava.com/rides/17523071 <- the record of shame
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yonex
2,854 posts
37 months
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So much for the fast course. Went well at the start then took a wrong exit at the first roundabout(first time at the course but still a moron) which added a mile by the time I had woken up turned back etc. Then hit the hole from Mars and stopped to check the wheel such was the impact. Got back on with it and posted 26:20. Was on for a decent time but beat a fair few people even with the extra mile and stop. I reackon it would have been low to mid 23's but that's racing  Next time will try some aero gear and a map
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BMWBen
3,536 posts
70 months
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yonex said: Headed to the Masters last night at Hillingdon and ended up 8th. Great night for the club overall with 5 riders out of 7 all scoring points. Hog Hill is very tempting tonight but committed to a TT...next week might see you there Ben, good luck if you are going. That was the last one of the series I think - so there isn't one next week - shame, as now I can't go and redeem myself 
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summit7
Original Poster
422 posts
98 months
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Hi,
Sorry it was not quite as you hoped.
You can peddle all the way round at Hog Hill. If you are unsure what lean angle/whether you can peddle or not just look at everyone else around you. If they are peddling then by god peddle as well - it might feel wrong but if they aren't hitting the deck nor will you.
The hill there is quite interesting. A few times up it and everyone is fine. After 30 to 45 minutes of racing you soon find out who is strong and who is not. If you climb well and are strong you should climb it on the outer ring all race, quite a few people start riding it on the outer ring and then by the end are running for the little ring - then they can't go with any attacks as they just don't have the gearing for speed.
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yonex
2,854 posts
37 months
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Competed tonight at Silverstone in a 9-UP team event. No TT bikes or aero stuff, maximum 50mm rims. Some awesome guys in our club, three of them are prolly top ten in the country and are proper animals so it was always going to be hard. We were second overall -12 seconds off of Corley's. Plenty of semi-pro riders there tonight I think our time was 22:54 averaged 28.82 mph over the 3 laps with a bit of wind and a little drag here and there. My first medal anyway so I'll take it
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racerbob
231 posts
49 months
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Got a 2nd place today at a place called Melrand, nr Baud south Brittany. D1234 cat. I've ridden here a few times but because of increased traffic calming in the town they changed the circuit, made it even harder than before including 200m of 20% !! ouch!!
Anyway ended up in a break of 4 including my team mate Jean who's a handy climber whilst I, being 84kg am not. So I was working hard to ensure that we stayed clear expecting some fireworks the last time up the hard bit of the last climb, the rest of the circuit was either up or down, only bit of flat was at the finish. So this guy in the break who hadn't been pulling too hard really goes for it on the final climb, so I went backwards slightly, the other two were also dropped before the top, so I drop like a stone on the descent and catch the other two before the final corner with about 500m to go, could see the guy in front was slowing a bit so chucked it into top and went for it, finished about 3 bike lengths down, Jean stayed on my wheel for 3rd, he said he had waited for me to get back on to allow us both a podium place, nice of him, but I expected him to be able to go with the final attack ! oh well... bloody hot as well, 35°c... lovely.
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summit7
Original Poster
422 posts
98 months
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Great result Bob - you must be pleased. It's really nice racing in good weather, we have had so little of it in the UK this year.
Road the Mid Suffolk RR today, a shortie at 48 miles over 7 laps.
A new course to me but loved it, two miles rising, two and a bit miles flat and two miles down. The down had some technical bends/switchbacks, all set in lovely Suffolk rolling countryside. Temperature about 23 degrees could not have been nicer place to race today.
Felt good and rode attackingly. First lap rode at the front in mini breaks just to look at the circuit, then sat in for a while. Bridged to a couple of breaks, got caught and with two laps to go had an almighty effort up the hill. Four of us away but we were given no leeway at all - I guess to close to the end for the bunch. Bunch sprint up the hill just don't have the legs to be competitive and finish just behind the placings, but first Welwyn rider home.
After being on the bike for 21 months I am now at that frustrating stage of being too comfortable in the bunch but not good enough to ride away. I really should have just ridden in the bunch all race and saved it for the final hill - but where's the fun in that when the sun is shining?
Must train more/harder!
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racerbob
231 posts
49 months
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Good one summit7, as you say, where is the satisfaction in just sitting in and waiting, especially for a standard sort of race. At least you get a good feeling knowing that you've commited yourself and had few goes; I reckon if you keep working during the winter you'll be really going well next year, perhaps try doing more power type work in the training mix.
25°c is perfect temp, for me I find much over that and my legs feel really heavy, in yesterdays race I think most folk were suffering with the heat, glad I had a full zip race jersey on !
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okgo
20,718 posts
67 months
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Eddie and I rode together again today. This time in a e123 85 mile job.
Neither of us placed I don't think, but it was good to be mixing it with some decent riders, quite a few full time pro's in the mix today. Finished in the bunch, so was happy with that for my first foray into a national b race. 85 miles was done at nearly 27 mph!
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racerbob
231 posts
49 months
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okgo said: Eddie and I rode together again today. This time in a e123 85 mile job.
Neither of us placed I don't think, but it was good to be mixing it with some decent riders, quite a few full time pro's in the mix today. Finished in the bunch, so was happy with that for my first foray into a national b race. 85 miles was done at nearly 27 mph! Different world to what you were doing early in the year eh ? but yeah, nice to be able to stay there, good for the confidence etc, big time next year ?
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okgo
20,718 posts
67 months
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racerbob said: Different world to what you were doing early in the year eh ? but yeah, nice to be able to stay there, good for the confidence etc, big time next year ? Looking back to the riding I was doing 12 months ago, it is indeed a massive jump. This time last year I was happy to average 17mph solo on the short training loop I do. I did it last week at 22.5mph on my own. But also you look back and ask yourself why you didn't do better, I still question how I managed to f k up 6 crits at Hillingdon given I won the first two I did. Still, onwards. I'll never be a full time rider, but I would love to get to 1st cat as a road goal, do a sub 20 minute 10 as a TT goal and then see what happens.
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racerbob
231 posts
49 months
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okgo said: Looking back to the riding I was doing 12 months ago, it is indeed a massive jump. This time last year I was happy to average 17mph solo on the short training loop I do. I did it last week at 22.5mph on my own. But also you look back and ask yourself why you didn't do better, I still question how I managed to f k up 6 crits at Hillingdon given I won the first two I did. Still, onwards. I'll never be a full time rider, but I would love to get to 1st cat as a road goal, do a sub 20 minute 10 as a TT goal and then see what happens. Always do a sort of self-analysis after every race, go through all the areas where you felt you messed up or felt showed up a weakness, learn, learn, then learn again, in fact you never stop learning in this game. You don't need to be a full time rider to get good results, just train smart and ensure you get enough recovery, it'll happen.
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summit7
Original Poster
422 posts
98 months
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Rode the Fenland Clarion 75 miler today - 30 degrees C - boy was it hot (but nothing like Bob has to put up with). Perfect day hot and no wind, very fast from the off. After much attacking a group of about 10 get away after 35ish miles. After about 45 miles another group starts forming off the front of the bunch. Me thinking that this a regional A race so points down to 15th jumps over to it, we are about a group of 12. Fantastic I'm now in a breakaway that won't win but will be fighting for points, I'm thinking all going cushty, feel fine to go through and off, quite happy to lead up the hills and have a team mate with me in the group. Then after 60 miles with two laps out 7.5 lap race left legs start cramping on a hill - I did wonder how I would cope with the heat and now I know - badly. One bottle not enough today me thinks. So pull out and ride back to the HQ by myself. Now here comes the stupid thing (which I have never done before) riding along gently my legs really cramp up, the bike twitches and I touch the high kerb to my left and then fall off all by myself - WTF. It was just one of those freak things that you do when you are completly b ksed - but still what a complete tw@t I am. There is my PH confession, please feel free to take the piss. The bad news I fell onto a very gravelly tarmac footpath. Castelli shorts written off, loads of road rash down my left side and a hole in my left elbow that is still bleeding five hours after crashing. I am racing with Eddie next week - I'm sure he will have a good laugh when he sees me.
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