First Race tomorrow :D
Discussion
Thanks everyone,
No chance of getting points at this point - The guys I know who've done that can leave me for dead. I'm getting closer and closer to them but there's still a definite and obvious difference when they put the hammer down.
I've been putting it off on the grounds of thinking I'm not fast enough but I will find out tonight. Hopefully a bit of rain will slow things down a little.
Wanted to try and get a taster session or two in before the end of the season. Then it's CX racing, cross training and Audaxes over the winter before hitting next year hopefully with a bit more pace and some idea of what I'm getting in for.
I'd say I wont mind getting spat off the back - but I will mind and I'll try like hell not to.
A bad nights sleep, KFC for dinner and a busy day at work isn't ideal prep however! (I'm getting my excuses lined up in advance)
No chance of getting points at this point - The guys I know who've done that can leave me for dead. I'm getting closer and closer to them but there's still a definite and obvious difference when they put the hammer down.
I've been putting it off on the grounds of thinking I'm not fast enough but I will find out tonight. Hopefully a bit of rain will slow things down a little.
Wanted to try and get a taster session or two in before the end of the season. Then it's CX racing, cross training and Audaxes over the winter before hitting next year hopefully with a bit more pace and some idea of what I'm getting in for.
I'd say I wont mind getting spat off the back - but I will mind and I'll try like hell not to.
A bad nights sleep, KFC for dinner and a busy day at work isn't ideal prep however! (I'm getting my excuses lined up in advance)
So not quite as planned.
Lap 1 Everyone tears off and the average reads 26mph
Lap 2 Pace doesn't slack off
Lap 3 Drifted out wide to the right on the back straight, which ends with a right hander into an uphill section. This meant I had to drop speed and take the corner as a left then a right.
At this point I'm rapidly heading out the back of the pack - the last couple of stragglers head past me trying to hang on. I go into a sprint to catch the pack up the hill, almost make it and then my lungs explode.
Couldn't speak for about 5 minutes lol if my headrate monitor were working it would have been showing the kind of figures you'd expect from amphetamine dosed hamsters.
I suspect I'd have made another couple of laps if I hadn't misjudged the corner and lost speed but the dropping would have likely happened anyway as I was high threshold throughout.
Frustratingly the pace slowed after about lap 6 until the last couple.
My legs are fine, my lungs aren't. Honestly as much as I've said to everyone I'd be happy not to drop, I expected to be able to circulate in the pack and try for a bit of a sprint at the end.
Next year I'll be back in after another winter of training....
Lap 1 Everyone tears off and the average reads 26mph
Lap 2 Pace doesn't slack off
Lap 3 Drifted out wide to the right on the back straight, which ends with a right hander into an uphill section. This meant I had to drop speed and take the corner as a left then a right.
At this point I'm rapidly heading out the back of the pack - the last couple of stragglers head past me trying to hang on. I go into a sprint to catch the pack up the hill, almost make it and then my lungs explode.
Couldn't speak for about 5 minutes lol if my headrate monitor were working it would have been showing the kind of figures you'd expect from amphetamine dosed hamsters.
I suspect I'd have made another couple of laps if I hadn't misjudged the corner and lost speed but the dropping would have likely happened anyway as I was high threshold throughout.
Frustratingly the pace slowed after about lap 6 until the last couple.
My legs are fine, my lungs aren't. Honestly as much as I've said to everyone I'd be happy not to drop, I expected to be able to circulate in the pack and try for a bit of a sprint at the end.
Next year I'll be back in after another winter of training....
Rolls said:
all good fun though isn't it...
when it comes to handling - i personally found the race training that i (try to) get to on a Wednesday helps massively with confidence cornering, and riding in a bunch - as long as you can do those and stay in the front half of the bunch as a result it all becomes much easier!
It was fun when it comes to handling - i personally found the race training that i (try to) get to on a Wednesday helps massively with confidence cornering, and riding in a bunch - as long as you can do those and stay in the front half of the bunch as a result it all becomes much easier!
With hindsight though I'm not quite there yet. Frustratingly close but honestly not quite there.
Next season
Rocksteadyeddie said:
okgo said:
To be fair 25-26mph sounds about right for the avg of a 4th cat crit on a flat circuit like the Bowl..
Be surprised if it was that quick to the end. Most times the E12 race was 28-30mph average up there. We'd lap the 3/4s maybe 3 times in an hour. bakerstreet said:
Genuine lol at the above!
fair play for even having a go at racing
I might have a go at cyclocross racing one day but I think at 33 and generally 90kg, I'm too fat and old for proper road racing.
I'm 35 lol and doing a CX season this year. I know people in their 50's who frankly if they wanted, I wouldn't see which way they went.fair play for even having a go at racing
I might have a go at cyclocross racing one day but I think at 33 and generally 90kg, I'm too fat and old for proper road racing.
When I started riding I couldn't keep up with a guy in his 70's!
You're nowhere near too old and if 90kg is big for you - then it will drop off fast lol
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