Ride like a pro with Sky and Jag
Discussion
I did the lincoln one today. There was a nice group of around 35 of us and set off on a pleasant 40 mile loop around the top of the city on nice quiet lanes which I know reasonably well.
Chatted to a few chaps from other local clubs despite the fast for me average of 18mph.
No food at the start just coffee or water, sandwiches and juice at the finish which was at a local sport centre rather than back at the dealership. Goodie bag with a jaguar bottle (can never have too many bottles) and phone/stuff holder thingy.
Overall a very nice day out riding lanes I know, but with people I don't.
As above, highly recommended.
Chatted to a few chaps from other local clubs despite the fast for me average of 18mph.
No food at the start just coffee or water, sandwiches and juice at the finish which was at a local sport centre rather than back at the dealership. Goodie bag with a jaguar bottle (can never have too many bottles) and phone/stuff holder thingy.
Overall a very nice day out riding lanes I know, but with people I don't.
As above, highly recommended.
Amersham was a decent morning out, got me out of the house before 7.30 anyway which is always a bonus. As Gruffy said, it was a very casual affair but none the worse for that.
After a delayed start due to one very inconsiderate latecomer (!) I trotted off up the hill only to watch the obviously faster bunch speed off into the distance (including one PH shirt, guess who). I then settled with a group doing more or less the same speed as me, although with a few that were 'wind shy' if you know what I mean.
Being separated at a junction and having my chain come off at an inopportune moment meant I spent the last 20k on my own though which was a shame. Would do it again though.
Rounded off with a nice chat with SixPot and Gruffy at the end. Bacon was a bit stringy though!
After a delayed start due to one very inconsiderate latecomer (!) I trotted off up the hill only to watch the obviously faster bunch speed off into the distance (including one PH shirt, guess who). I then settled with a group doing more or less the same speed as me, although with a few that were 'wind shy' if you know what I mean.
Being separated at a junction and having my chain come off at an inopportune moment meant I spent the last 20k on my own though which was a shame. Would do it again though.
Rounded off with a nice chat with SixPot and Gruffy at the end. Bacon was a bit stringy though!
louiebaby said:
I had a call, and my proper invite.
Excellent! I was hoping if enough of us entered one of us would get a call.Just tell me it wasn't a Manchester number ending 4000. Had a missed call whilst I was out riding, and if it was them I bet they would have just tried the next person on the list...
SixPotBelly said:
Excellent! I was hoping if enough of us entered one of us would get a call.
Just tell me it wasn't a Manchester number ending 4000. Had a missed call whilst I was out riding, and if it was them I bet they would have just tried the next person on the list...
Bristol number, so don't be worried. (0117)Just tell me it wasn't a Manchester number ending 4000. Had a missed call whilst I was out riding, and if it was them I bet they would have just tried the next person on the list...
Thanks, Louie. Cockroaches it probably was, then!
Any luck finding a TT bike? There are one or two hire companies around like
http://www.hirejungle.co.uk/road-bicycles/time-tri...
but whether it'd be possible to get used to one in a day or two I wouldn't like to guess.
Any luck finding a TT bike? There are one or two hire companies around like
http://www.hirejungle.co.uk/road-bicycles/time-tri...
but whether it'd be possible to get used to one in a day or two I wouldn't like to guess.
I've requested info from them, but nothing back yet.
The thing is, for £20 I can get bars, £50 gets me a bike fit to TT spec, and then £50 back to normal afterwards again. (I have managed to borrow some wheels, if I go down this route.)
I'm on the lookout for a cheap skinsuit and helmet too.
With the size I am, changing mine to TT spec is probably cheaper and easier than renting one. If I can find one. Because I'm 6'8".
I'm open to any and all offers of help though!
The thing is, for £20 I can get bars, £50 gets me a bike fit to TT spec, and then £50 back to normal afterwards again. (I have managed to borrow some wheels, if I go down this route.)
I'm on the lookout for a cheap skinsuit and helmet too.
With the size I am, changing mine to TT spec is probably cheaper and easier than renting one. If I can find one. Because I'm 6'8".
I'm open to any and all offers of help though!
The grand final was held today, up at Jaguar Fen End in Kenilworth. louiebaby and I were lucky enough to be drawn into it from the regional rides, along with 39 other finalists. We were told in advance that the competition would be a mix of a 10 mile TT and some kind of driving activity, but we didn't know what.
After brekkie and a briefing we were divided into two groups for the driving activities. One group got to lap the circuit in F-Types (V8 R's and V6 S's) and another went off in XE's to the skid pan. The F-Type laps were purely for fun and it was the skid pan slalom times that would be used for the competition. You'd get points for your finishing position in each element: 1 for 1st, through to 41 for 41st. The points would be added up and the lowest points scorer would be the overall winner.
The skid pan slalom was also divided into a dry course (untimed) and a wet course (timed), and I was in the group that went straight to the wet course. The course is about 50m of basalt tiles with sprinklers all over it to keep it permanently saturated. The effect is to simulate black ice. Cones were set up to create a slalom of 5 chicanes with a timing beam at each end. One practice run and then straight into your timed run.
I'd been hopeful that the driving element would be a timed lap of the circuit so I was a bit bummed with the news that it was the skid pan, but people were falling off left, right and centre. The cautious ones weren't a whole lot slower than the bullish ones who survived. I wasn't sure how hard to push it, conscious that it would be easy to lose the whole competition here. Aggressive start to build speed on the grippier surface and then focus on efficient lines to keep steering to a minimum, with judicious and smooth throttle application when necessary. It was unspectacular but my shallow cornering right up to the cones felt much leaner than I'd seen from others, so I was hopeful it was a decent effort.
Back to the pits and time to switch to the F-Types for laps. I positioned myself close to a V8, got the chat and then set off with two cars ahead for a sighting lap. Overtaking was by permission only (indicator), but it wasn't granted by the car ahead so I was left to cruise around at half throttle for two laps. I'd back off to try and have some fun but would be on the car ahead before the next corner. I guess that's to be expected with participants who'd never driven on track before, but it was a frustrating experience. The car itself was superb and that lived up to expectation. Fantastic snarl that must've been engineered in, lots of power and great balance. I still hope to meet one at the bottom of the depreciation curve in a few years time.
We broke for lunch and a chance to wander around the Death Star, which was left open to explore all day. The riders seats were super comfy. Motorised footrests sounded exactly like a Di2 gear change when they raised and lowered. Next to each recliner was a bank of ports and sockets for all the riders' gizmos. A pleasant place to relax during stage transfers.
I have now beat Cavendish in a sprint and dropped anchor on the Team Sky bus. My cycling career has peaked. #ShitLikeAPro
[RECONSTRUCTION]
Next up was the 10 mile TT. I'd managed to borrow a bike and lid from a friend. It was covered in Ironman stickers, which I'm told are worth about 10 watts each, so I was hoping it'd be quick. The seat was a bit low but I couldn't do much about that without gluing on the carbon that'd been sawn off and I'm sure it was still faster than using my road bike. I saw louiebaby round the corner a lap ahead of me as I was waiting for the 30s interval to countdown. That was the last I saw of him. He put in a great ride.
I road a six-hour race on Sunday and only managed 3 hours sleep last night, but was feeling a bit cocky about my odds so wasn't concerned. I should've been though. The standard was higher than I expected and my own performance wasn't great. I misunderstood the format and confused the opening lap for the warm-up and then lost count of my laps so I wasn't sure when to ramp it up for a final blast. I was sure I'd finished but the guy on the line wasn't confident, so I did another lap just in case. That turned out to be necessary. My HR was a flat 173-175 the whole time and I felt like I could've held that pace for an hour, but I never upped it. Lots of pro-looking riders were starting to flag near the end - presumably all TT newbies on borrowed kit, just like me, who'd gone out too hot. Then I heard the roar of a disc wheel bearing down on me as I was overtaken. Until that point I was still feeling cocksure.
Back to the garages and a tasty lunch prepared by Team Sky chefs (or to their recipes, I'm not sure). Then a quick Q&A with Kurt Asle Arvesen, 5-time Norwegian Champion, former Team Sky rider and now Director Sportif. He's a likeable chap. I asked him about the realities of life as a pro and if he'd be happy for his son to become a pro cyclist. The answer was an instant and emphatic yes, so I'm guessing he's enjoyed his career.
Then onto the serious business of announcing the winners. There were prizes for the driving winner, the cycling winner and then the grand prize of a Dogma F8 and a cycling holiday in Tuscany for the overall winner. My name wasn't called for either, but maybe I'd been high enough in both events to win overall? Overall runner up… Gruffy. Bugger. Turns out I'd won the driving event (and can still hold my head up at PH meets) but they didn't want to give me that prize as well as the overall runner up prize of a Team Sky jersey signed by 14 of the riders. The overall winner had come 2nd in the driving competition and 3rd in the TT, giving him the best overall score. Can't argue with that. I will frown for a bit though.
Dreams of flogging a shiny new Dogma to fund my Transcontinental wishlist have been thwarted. That's what you get for being cocky.
After brekkie and a briefing we were divided into two groups for the driving activities. One group got to lap the circuit in F-Types (V8 R's and V6 S's) and another went off in XE's to the skid pan. The F-Type laps were purely for fun and it was the skid pan slalom times that would be used for the competition. You'd get points for your finishing position in each element: 1 for 1st, through to 41 for 41st. The points would be added up and the lowest points scorer would be the overall winner.
The skid pan slalom was also divided into a dry course (untimed) and a wet course (timed), and I was in the group that went straight to the wet course. The course is about 50m of basalt tiles with sprinklers all over it to keep it permanently saturated. The effect is to simulate black ice. Cones were set up to create a slalom of 5 chicanes with a timing beam at each end. One practice run and then straight into your timed run.
I'd been hopeful that the driving element would be a timed lap of the circuit so I was a bit bummed with the news that it was the skid pan, but people were falling off left, right and centre. The cautious ones weren't a whole lot slower than the bullish ones who survived. I wasn't sure how hard to push it, conscious that it would be easy to lose the whole competition here. Aggressive start to build speed on the grippier surface and then focus on efficient lines to keep steering to a minimum, with judicious and smooth throttle application when necessary. It was unspectacular but my shallow cornering right up to the cones felt much leaner than I'd seen from others, so I was hopeful it was a decent effort.
Back to the pits and time to switch to the F-Types for laps. I positioned myself close to a V8, got the chat and then set off with two cars ahead for a sighting lap. Overtaking was by permission only (indicator), but it wasn't granted by the car ahead so I was left to cruise around at half throttle for two laps. I'd back off to try and have some fun but would be on the car ahead before the next corner. I guess that's to be expected with participants who'd never driven on track before, but it was a frustrating experience. The car itself was superb and that lived up to expectation. Fantastic snarl that must've been engineered in, lots of power and great balance. I still hope to meet one at the bottom of the depreciation curve in a few years time.
We broke for lunch and a chance to wander around the Death Star, which was left open to explore all day. The riders seats were super comfy. Motorised footrests sounded exactly like a Di2 gear change when they raised and lowered. Next to each recliner was a bank of ports and sockets for all the riders' gizmos. A pleasant place to relax during stage transfers.
I have now beat Cavendish in a sprint and dropped anchor on the Team Sky bus. My cycling career has peaked. #ShitLikeAPro
[RECONSTRUCTION]
Next up was the 10 mile TT. I'd managed to borrow a bike and lid from a friend. It was covered in Ironman stickers, which I'm told are worth about 10 watts each, so I was hoping it'd be quick. The seat was a bit low but I couldn't do much about that without gluing on the carbon that'd been sawn off and I'm sure it was still faster than using my road bike. I saw louiebaby round the corner a lap ahead of me as I was waiting for the 30s interval to countdown. That was the last I saw of him. He put in a great ride.
I road a six-hour race on Sunday and only managed 3 hours sleep last night, but was feeling a bit cocky about my odds so wasn't concerned. I should've been though. The standard was higher than I expected and my own performance wasn't great. I misunderstood the format and confused the opening lap for the warm-up and then lost count of my laps so I wasn't sure when to ramp it up for a final blast. I was sure I'd finished but the guy on the line wasn't confident, so I did another lap just in case. That turned out to be necessary. My HR was a flat 173-175 the whole time and I felt like I could've held that pace for an hour, but I never upped it. Lots of pro-looking riders were starting to flag near the end - presumably all TT newbies on borrowed kit, just like me, who'd gone out too hot. Then I heard the roar of a disc wheel bearing down on me as I was overtaken. Until that point I was still feeling cocksure.
Back to the garages and a tasty lunch prepared by Team Sky chefs (or to their recipes, I'm not sure). Then a quick Q&A with Kurt Asle Arvesen, 5-time Norwegian Champion, former Team Sky rider and now Director Sportif. He's a likeable chap. I asked him about the realities of life as a pro and if he'd be happy for his son to become a pro cyclist. The answer was an instant and emphatic yes, so I'm guessing he's enjoyed his career.
Then onto the serious business of announcing the winners. There were prizes for the driving winner, the cycling winner and then the grand prize of a Dogma F8 and a cycling holiday in Tuscany for the overall winner. My name wasn't called for either, but maybe I'd been high enough in both events to win overall? Overall runner up… Gruffy. Bugger. Turns out I'd won the driving event (and can still hold my head up at PH meets) but they didn't want to give me that prize as well as the overall runner up prize of a Team Sky jersey signed by 14 of the riders. The overall winner had come 2nd in the driving competition and 3rd in the TT, giving him the best overall score. Can't argue with that. I will frown for a bit though.
Dreams of flogging a shiny new Dogma to fund my Transcontinental wishlist have been thwarted. That's what you get for being cocky.
and a great write up, enjoyed reading that Great write up and awesome effort after your honeymoon.
Well done, and great to see you have enjoyed it.
Looking forward to when we may ride again. Sorry to have let you down on the Resolve if I did, as it turned out, was for the best - I have spend the last 5 weeks knee deep in gloss, removals, builders and plasterers. 2016 will be a new year though
Well done, and great to see you have enjoyed it.
Looking forward to when we may ride again. Sorry to have let you down on the Resolve if I did, as it turned out, was for the best - I have spend the last 5 weeks knee deep in gloss, removals, builders and plasterers. 2016 will be a new year though
Nice to meet Gruffy, he seems like a decent chap. I was s
t at the driving event, coming 31st for that but 2nd on the time trial.
Knowing that I would have needed 3rd in the driving to win is a little consolation, I was just too cautious.
My old man took some pictures so I'll get some up when he seems me them.
Not bad for my first ever time trial. I think I've caught the bug. Anyone got some deep section rims going cheap?
t at the driving event, coming 31st for that but 2nd on the time trial.Knowing that I would have needed 3rd in the driving to win is a little consolation, I was just too cautious.
My old man took some pictures so I'll get some up when he seems me them.
Not bad for my first ever time trial. I think I've caught the bug. Anyone got some deep section rims going cheap?
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