The Racing Thread..
Discussion
gazza285 said:
I ripped a crank arm off two rounds ago as well. It's not a cheap sport.
Tell me about it, I'm in my 3rd season and don't want to think about how much it has cost already! The thing is it's addictive, I'm normally somewhere around mid field yet I start getting excited around the Thursday before each race, god knows what I'd be like if I was near the front!Gone a bit quiet in here. Anyone racing cross, winter track league, mtb? Winter crits? How are you getting on?
It's been really mild over here in the east so I had a great November. Felt inspired so I wrote an article on winter miles for my blog. There's also a few posts about what I've dubbed the October desperation crits if anyone wants to relive the frustrations of 4th cat crits.
http://off-the-back.com/2015/12/04/winter-miles/
It's been really mild over here in the east so I had a great November. Felt inspired so I wrote an article on winter miles for my blog. There's also a few posts about what I've dubbed the October desperation crits if anyone wants to relive the frustrations of 4th cat crits.
http://off-the-back.com/2015/12/04/winter-miles/
neenaw said:
How did it go?
Pretty s
t. Didn't feel at my A-game from the get go, but my recent lack of mileage was immediately apparent. By the start of lap 3 (12 mile point) I had seriously hit a wall and the next hour was some of the most miserable riding ive done in years, barely at a walking pace and being overtaken by the (few) people I had overtaken previously. Final result was 38th of 52, though looking at the results table, the majority of the people that were behind me actually retired before the 2 hours. Ive ridden Frith Hill once before, but don't remember so many hills... Piss poor. Need to spend the next 3 weeks training better to try and redeem myself and get back to my usual mid-table position!They haven't updated the series points table yet, and if I can get a mid-table final result after the next race, i'll be happy - im no young whippersnapper.
Course wasn't too bad, in terms of conditions. No thick deep mud, but generally quite slippery, and im a nervous rider anyway (and still got my summer tyres on).
daddy cool said:
Pretty st. Didn't feel at my A-game from the get go, but my recent lack of mileage was immediately apparent. By the start of lap 3 (12 mile point) I had seriously hit a wall and the next hour was some of the most miserable riding ive done in years, barely at a walking pace and being overtaken by the (few) people I had overtaken previously. Final result was 38th of 52, though looking at the results table, the majority of the people that were behind me actually retired before the 2 hours. Ive ridden Frith Hill once before, but don't remember so many hills... Piss poor. Need to spend the next 3 weeks training better to try and redeem myself and get back to my usual mid-table position!
They haven't updated the series points table yet, and if I can get a mid-table final result after the next race, i'll be happy - im no young whippersnapper.
Course wasn't too bad, in terms of conditions. No thick deep mud, but generally quite slippery, and im a nervous rider anyway (and still got my summer tyres on).
Good on you for getting out, don't be so hard on yourself chap.t. Didn't feel at my A-game from the get go, but my recent lack of mileage was immediately apparent. By the start of lap 3 (12 mile point) I had seriously hit a wall and the next hour was some of the most miserable riding ive done in years, barely at a walking pace and being overtaken by the (few) people I had overtaken previously. Final result was 38th of 52, though looking at the results table, the majority of the people that were behind me actually retired before the 2 hours. Ive ridden Frith Hill once before, but don't remember so many hills... Piss poor. Need to spend the next 3 weeks training better to try and redeem myself and get back to my usual mid-table position!They haven't updated the series points table yet, and if I can get a mid-table final result after the next race, i'll be happy - im no young whippersnapper.
Course wasn't too bad, in terms of conditions. No thick deep mud, but generally quite slippery, and im a nervous rider anyway (and still got my summer tyres on).
My 2nd race today - very enjoyable afternoon at Hog Hill. Found it a great place, good course, everyone friendly - definitely recommend this to anyone else looking for somewhere to start.
Had to drop out after about half an hour because my calf completely cramped up but pleased with how I did nonetheless. Thought as a heavier rider (90kg) I'd get dropped up the hill within a few laps but managed to hold on. I had previously dismissed the idea of going there for fear of the Hoggenberg!
360 watts normalized while it lasted - I never released Cat 4 would require quite so much strength!
I know lots of people rate Cyclopark but my 1st race was there and it nearly put me off for life, totally different experience. When I turned up to sign on, I found the person behind the desk quite rude and abrupt after initially ignoring me for 3-4 minutes whilst having a natter - last thing you want when you're slightly nervous and haven't a clue what you're doing. As a first timer I found the course quite technical and kept having to put out big efforts to close the gaps that opened up in the twisty sections. Then got run into the grass and onto my back after about 4 laps.
Now feeling very much reinvigorated!
Had to drop out after about half an hour because my calf completely cramped up but pleased with how I did nonetheless. Thought as a heavier rider (90kg) I'd get dropped up the hill within a few laps but managed to hold on. I had previously dismissed the idea of going there for fear of the Hoggenberg!
360 watts normalized while it lasted - I never released Cat 4 would require quite so much strength!
I know lots of people rate Cyclopark but my 1st race was there and it nearly put me off for life, totally different experience. When I turned up to sign on, I found the person behind the desk quite rude and abrupt after initially ignoring me for 3-4 minutes whilst having a natter - last thing you want when you're slightly nervous and haven't a clue what you're doing. As a first timer I found the course quite technical and kept having to put out big efforts to close the gaps that opened up in the twisty sections. Then got run into the grass and onto my back after about 4 laps.
Now feeling very much reinvigorated!
nammynake said:
360W for 30 minutes? That sounds VERY high for a Cat 4. Were you on the front for the whole time?
Nope, but I definitely have room for improvement in terms of group riding skills and saving energy. I often found myself on the outside of the bunch with no wheel to hold. Remember though, that's the normalized figure. Strava's "weighted average" figure is 323w. I tend to go by normalized as it always better reflects how I feel after a ride!!
NatAsp said:
My 2nd race today - very enjoyable afternoon at Hog Hill. Found it a great place, good course, everyone friendly - definitely recommend this to anyone else looking for somewhere to start.
Had to drop out after about half an hour because my calf completely cramped up but pleased with how I did nonetheless. Thought as a heavier rider (90kg) I'd get dropped up the hill within a few laps but managed to hold on. I had previously dismissed the idea of going there for fear of the Hoggenberg!
360 watts normalized while it lasted - I never released Cat 4 would require quite so much strength!
I know lots of people rate Cyclopark but my 1st race was there and it nearly put me off for life, totally different experience. When I turned up to sign on, I found the person behind the desk quite rude and abrupt after initially ignoring me for 3-4 minutes whilst having a natter - last thing you want when you're slightly nervous and haven't a clue what you're doing. As a first timer I found the course quite technical and kept having to put out big efforts to close the gaps that opened up in the twisty sections. Then got run into the grass and onto my back after about 4 laps.
Now feeling very much reinvigorated!
You're not using Strava's calc are you? Or youi using a power meter?Had to drop out after about half an hour because my calf completely cramped up but pleased with how I did nonetheless. Thought as a heavier rider (90kg) I'd get dropped up the hill within a few laps but managed to hold on. I had previously dismissed the idea of going there for fear of the Hoggenberg!
360 watts normalized while it lasted - I never released Cat 4 would require quite so much strength!
I know lots of people rate Cyclopark but my 1st race was there and it nearly put me off for life, totally different experience. When I turned up to sign on, I found the person behind the desk quite rude and abrupt after initially ignoring me for 3-4 minutes whilst having a natter - last thing you want when you're slightly nervous and haven't a clue what you're doing. As a first timer I found the course quite technical and kept having to put out big efforts to close the gaps that opened up in the twisty sections. Then got run into the grass and onto my back after about 4 laps.
Now feeling very much reinvigorated!
lukefreeman said:
You're not using Strava's calc are you? Or youi using a power meter?
Lol, I shouldn't have mentioned the power data. No, I have a power meter on both of my bikes and have trained to power for some time - 358w normalized is actual figure, 323w average, 1299w max. Us big guys have to work hard to follow those 70kgers up hills!
My point was supposed to be that I thought it was a great course/event despite the hill which had previously put me off the idea. Absolutely perfect for a beginner with reasonable strength and generally a pleasant place to go ride your bike. Cyclopark was much flatter which on paper should suit me but in reality I think you have to be a good all-rounder rather than simply strong to do well there.
NatAsp said:
nammynake said:
360W for 30 minutes? That sounds VERY high for a Cat 4. Were you on the front for the whole time?
Nope, but I definitely have room for improvement in terms of group riding skills and saving energy. I often found myself on the outside of the bunch with no wheel to hold. Remember though, that's the normalized figure. Strava's "weighted average" figure is 323w. I tend to go by normalized as it always better reflects how I feel after a ride!!
Don't forget HH screws with NP because of the hill. Average is a better measure. I averaged 300 watts for the 15 mins or so I lasted. Compare that to 240 watts for my best result there last year (9th) that's a hell of a jump. I'm finding it much tougher this year despite being fitter, got round all the winter races I did there last year. Ho hum.
Ponk said:
I was in that race too, albeit briefly. Sounds like you had a better day than me. Keep at it, you're almost there!
Don't forget HH screws with NP because of the hill. Average is a better measure. I averaged 300 watts for the 15 mins or so I lasted. Compare that to 240 watts for my best result there last year (9th) that's a hell of a jump. I'm finding it much tougher this year despite being fitter, got round all the winter races I did there last year. Ho hum.
Yep, shame it ended the way it did but loads of positives. Good point re NP, very true. Don't forget HH screws with NP because of the hill. Average is a better measure. I averaged 300 watts for the 15 mins or so I lasted. Compare that to 240 watts for my best result there last year (9th) that's a hell of a jump. I'm finding it much tougher this year despite being fitter, got round all the winter races I did there last year. Ho hum.
Sounds like you've made great progress regardless of results. You going to try to get to all/most of them this year then? Be interested to hear how you get on if so. Bit of a trek for me but might go again in a few weeks' time - hopefully get some points!!
Yeah I wouldn't bother with NP at Hog Hill as my NP there is always way over my FTP even in a easier race there.
Regarding average power there I generally used to average between 210w-230w in the 3/4's a few years back to averaging around 230-260w at the sharp end of the of the 2/3's (& barely hanging on in the E12) I'm generally around 67-68kg.
Regarding average power there I generally used to average between 210w-230w in the 3/4's a few years back to averaging around 230-260w at the sharp end of the of the 2/3's (& barely hanging on in the E12) I'm generally around 67-68kg.
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