The Racing Thread..
Discussion
Another Crit on the weekend, was miserable cold and started hailing. I wasn't wearing gloves and my hands were so cold i couldn't get a gel out of my pocket. I thought there were 10 lads up the road so didn't really bother in the last 30 mins or get myself in a good position to sprint. Turns out was only 3 up the road so in hindsight should have done something. The first 40 mins were over 45kph.
NatB - The Archer 1/2
85.37km
1:58:22
43.3km/h average
247w average - 271W NP
177HR average - 194HR Max
NatB - The Archer 1/2
85.37km
1:58:22
43.3km/h average
247w average - 271W NP
177HR average - 194HR Max
Two XC races this weekend, the first on Saturday at Parkwood Springs, opted for my single speed. Haven’t had anywhere near enough time on the bike this year, but had a few enjoyable battles in the back half of the field.
Took the geared bike to Whinlatter today, for an enduro style XC race, up the fire roads and down the jumps and single track. Heavy thighs on the uphills made it tough going, but the downhills were working for me, and I was keeping up with the pack. Entering the second big downhill section and I was losing the back on the berms, just about as far away from the van I was going to get, and the back tyre had a cut in the tread too big for sealant. Ran back to the van and jumped on the youth’s bike. He’s only just shorter than me, but three stone lighter, and after another lap on bumping rims and bottoming out his forks, I called it a day.
Disappointing after a two hour drive, but the youth will be getting some upgrades to his bike, better brakes, new bars and forks, having ridden his bike in anger, I can see its shortcomings.
The youth was fifth in his race, and loved the course, so not a wasted day...
Took the geared bike to Whinlatter today, for an enduro style XC race, up the fire roads and down the jumps and single track. Heavy thighs on the uphills made it tough going, but the downhills were working for me, and I was keeping up with the pack. Entering the second big downhill section and I was losing the back on the berms, just about as far away from the van I was going to get, and the back tyre had a cut in the tread too big for sealant. Ran back to the van and jumped on the youth’s bike. He’s only just shorter than me, but three stone lighter, and after another lap on bumping rims and bottoming out his forks, I called it a day.
Disappointing after a two hour drive, but the youth will be getting some upgrades to his bike, better brakes, new bars and forks, having ridden his bike in anger, I can see its shortcomings.
The youth was fifth in his race, and loved the course, so not a wasted day...
Edited by gazza285 on Monday 29th April 00:12
Planning on doing my first race since uni days next month- just a local 1 hour XC race at Bedgebury. Completely bored of road sportives so should be a good change of pace that suits my riding and fitness a lot better. Couple of old school mates have been doing them so good bit of friendly competition with them.
Any tips about kit to take? not sure about what to wear- tbh was thinking of just going lycra bibs and a loose road jersey for comfort and minimum weight and to hell with "mtb fashion".
Are people taking pumps, tools etc. on such a short race? I think i'll go with a half full camelback, small multitool, tubeless repair kit and either a pump or Co2, but not sure it's worth trying to get going again if anything breaks. No food, maybe 1 gel, but not convinced ill be able to ingest it on the fly. Trying to keep the weight down.
Any tips about kit to take? not sure about what to wear- tbh was thinking of just going lycra bibs and a loose road jersey for comfort and minimum weight and to hell with "mtb fashion".
Are people taking pumps, tools etc. on such a short race? I think i'll go with a half full camelback, small multitool, tubeless repair kit and either a pump or Co2, but not sure it's worth trying to get going again if anything breaks. No food, maybe 1 gel, but not convinced ill be able to ingest it on the fly. Trying to keep the weight down.
lufbramatt said:
Planning on doing my first race since uni days next month- just a local 1 hour XC race at Bedgebury. Completely bored of road sportives so should be a good change of pace that suits my riding and fitness a lot better. Couple of old school mates have been doing them so good bit of friendly competition with them.
Any tips about kit to take? not sure about what to wear- tbh was thinking of just going lycra bibs and a loose road jersey for comfort and minimum weight and to hell with "mtb fashion".
Are people taking pumps, tools etc. on such a short race? I think i'll go with a half full camelback, small multitool, tubeless repair kit and either a pump or Co2, but not sure it's worth trying to get going again if anything breaks. No food, maybe 1 gel, but not convinced ill be able to ingest it on the fly. Trying to keep the weight down.
There’s no MTB fashion in XC racing, the serious ones are in skinsuits, and the rest in bibs and normal road tops, no loose clothing to snag on the scenery. Any tips about kit to take? not sure about what to wear- tbh was thinking of just going lycra bibs and a loose road jersey for comfort and minimum weight and to hell with "mtb fashion".
Are people taking pumps, tools etc. on such a short race? I think i'll go with a half full camelback, small multitool, tubeless repair kit and either a pump or Co2, but not sure it's worth trying to get going again if anything breaks. No food, maybe 1 gel, but not convinced ill be able to ingest it on the fly. Trying to keep the weight down.
Bottle on the bike, no spares, and no Camelback, you’ll just get a sweaty back and sore shoulders.
Gels are up to you, but if it’s only an hour I wouldn’t bother. Slice of flapjack and a banana an hour before will see me through a two hour race.
Haha cheers good to know about the "fashion", didn't want to be the weirdo lost roadie in lycra 
Will have a think about the bottle vs camelback, I always ride the MTB with a camelback so don't notice getting sweaty and although the bike does have a bottle cage on it it's a pain to use on the go due to it being a full susser.
Really looking forward to it, race in the morning, stuff myself full of cake in the café then have a easy lap of the red trail after lunch.
Will have a think about the bottle vs camelback, I always ride the MTB with a camelback so don't notice getting sweaty and although the bike does have a bottle cage on it it's a pain to use on the go due to it being a full susser.
Really looking forward to it, race in the morning, stuff myself full of cake in the café then have a easy lap of the red trail after lunch.
So managed to get down to Bedgebury yesterday, was touch and go after my wife ended up in A&E on Friday afternoon that I'd have to stay at home and look after the kids but was all fine in the end, phew.
Race was going really well, the course is a 1.6 mile loop through the woods, mainly really twisty singletrack with odd bits of fire road climb before it drives back in to the trees. So the climbs get pretty brutal as they're the only places to overtake. Race format is most laps in a hour.
Got stuck behind a slower rider who had ended up near the front of the pack on the first lap so a bit of a gap opened up the front group, but once we got past them I was pleased I could stick with the pace on the twisty bits and felt strong on the climbs. Annoyingly I clipped a tree with my bars and managed to kick the chain off with my heel so had to stop and fix that, lost a couple of places but made my way back through although had lost ground on my mate Chris that I had previously been keeping up with.
Frustratingly the race was red flagged at 53 minutes as a guy had a nasty crash and they thought he had hurt his spine so didn't want to move him off the course until the paramedics got there. Had settle down into a rhythm and was planning to nab a place or two back on the last climb. So no idea where I came but loved a bit of competition.
Was a good experience though, need to not forget my watch next time, and do some upper body weights as my shoulders were starting to give out from all the corners.
Did a lap of the red trail afterwards, a 9.5 mile lap, felt tired but still managed a strava PR on all but 2 segments so really pleased that my riding and fitness has come on a lot since the end of last year when I was last there.
Race was going really well, the course is a 1.6 mile loop through the woods, mainly really twisty singletrack with odd bits of fire road climb before it drives back in to the trees. So the climbs get pretty brutal as they're the only places to overtake. Race format is most laps in a hour.
Got stuck behind a slower rider who had ended up near the front of the pack on the first lap so a bit of a gap opened up the front group, but once we got past them I was pleased I could stick with the pace on the twisty bits and felt strong on the climbs. Annoyingly I clipped a tree with my bars and managed to kick the chain off with my heel so had to stop and fix that, lost a couple of places but made my way back through although had lost ground on my mate Chris that I had previously been keeping up with.
Frustratingly the race was red flagged at 53 minutes as a guy had a nasty crash and they thought he had hurt his spine so didn't want to move him off the course until the paramedics got there. Had settle down into a rhythm and was planning to nab a place or two back on the last climb. So no idea where I came but loved a bit of competition.
Was a good experience though, need to not forget my watch next time, and do some upper body weights as my shoulders were starting to give out from all the corners.
Did a lap of the red trail afterwards, a 9.5 mile lap, felt tired but still managed a strava PR on all but 2 segments so really pleased that my riding and fitness has come on a lot since the end of last year when I was last there.
z4RRSchris said:
Another Crit on the weekend, was miserable cold and started hailing. I wasn't wearing gloves and my hands were so cold i couldn't get a gel out of my pocket. I thought there were 10 lads up the road so didn't really bother in the last 30 mins or get myself in a good position to sprint. Turns out was only 3 up the road so in hindsight should have done something. The first 40 mins were over 45kph.
NatB - The Archer 1/2
85.37km
1:58:22
43.3km/h average
247w average - 271W NP
177HR average - 194HR Max
This is one of those questions that's only appropriate to ask cyclists. How much do you weigh?NatB - The Archer 1/2
85.37km
1:58:22
43.3km/h average
247w average - 271W NP
177HR average - 194HR Max
I ask because i'm being dropped from 2/3 races with a NP over 300. Usually 315/320 for the first 15/20 minutes. I just weighed myself at 66.6kg after dinner and a few beers so i'm probably not far off my normal race weight of 65kg.
Granted, i'm referring to Odd Down which is a notoriously tough circuit crit with a lot of sprinting which plays a factor, but i'm finding it hard to even sit on the cat 2 wheels. The guy winning has come down from Elites and is hitting 380NP, I'm hitting ~305.
JPJPJP said:
Are there any hillier races you can enter? That power gap is a big one to get on terms with on the flat / in sprints
Very few.The local league is Cotswold but i'm not eligible as I race as an independent.
Speaking of race teams. How do others go about finding them? those that I've reached out to before the season started either didn't reply or have gone out of business. Most are just cycle clubs with people that race, which really isn't what i'm looking for as there is no training benefit to it.
citizenmtb said:
This is one of those questions that's only appropriate to ask cyclists. How much do you weigh?
I ask because i'm being dropped from 2/3 races with a NP over 300. Usually 315/320 for the first 15/20 minutes. I just weighed myself at 66.6kg after dinner and a few beers so i'm probably not far off my normal race weight of 65kg.
Granted, i'm referring to Odd Down which is a notoriously tough circuit crit with a lot of sprinting which plays a factor, but i'm finding it hard to even sit on the cat 2 wheels. The guy winning has come down from Elites and is hitting 380NP, I'm hitting ~305.
im 76kg!, you would be easily bunch in london races, maybe not Palace but the others are fine. I ask because i'm being dropped from 2/3 races with a NP over 300. Usually 315/320 for the first 15/20 minutes. I just weighed myself at 66.6kg after dinner and a few beers so i'm probably not far off my normal race weight of 65kg.
Granted, i'm referring to Odd Down which is a notoriously tough circuit crit with a lot of sprinting which plays a factor, but i'm finding it hard to even sit on the cat 2 wheels. The guy winning has come down from Elites and is hitting 380NP, I'm hitting ~305.
C
citizenmtb said:
JPJPJP said:
Are there any hillier races you can enter? That power gap is a big one to get on terms with on the flat / in sprints
Very few.The local league is Cotswold but i'm not eligible as I race as an independent.
Speaking of race teams. How do others go about finding them? those that I've reached out to before the season started either didn't reply or have gone out of business. Most are just cycle clubs with people that race, which really isn't what i'm looking for as there is no training benefit to it.
Usget said:
If you're anywhere near Cirencester, both Ride 247 and Performance Cycles have decent race teams.
Sadly not. I’ve been chatting to more of the Bristol based guys but they seem to agree they aren’t real race teams and don’t ride/train together. The only other reason to join one is to get entry to the road leagues.
I was too late to the entry for the 3/4 at odd Down last night so had to do the E123. Got spat after about 6 minutes @ 340 then solo’d the rest. Passed a few others that got dropped so not bad, finishing up with 303NP over 45mins.
More mountain bike last Sunday, the third round of the Crank It series at Grizedale Forest. The course comprised an unbelievably tough grass bank climb which had everyone straining in first gear, followed by a fast and loose descent through the forest. Came in sixth vet. The youth suffered the same fate as I did in the last round, and was out in the first lap with a gashed tyre.
Cyclocross in Holmfirth tonight, we both have developed colds in the last few days, so not expecting any great performance from either of us.
Cyclocross in Holmfirth tonight, we both have developed colds in the last few days, so not expecting any great performance from either of us.
citizenmtb said:
Sadly not. I’ve been chatting to more of the Bristol based guys but they seem to agree they aren’t real race teams and don’t ride/train together.
The only other reason to join one is to get entry to the road leagues.
I was too late to the entry for the 3/4 at odd Down last night so had to do the E123. Got spat after about 6 minutes @ 340 then solo’d the rest. Passed a few others that got dropped so not bad, finishing up with 303NP over 45mins.
Is the Bristol chaingang still a thing? Tuesday nights from Nova Scotia pub back in the day - but I am going back in time quite a wayThe only other reason to join one is to get entry to the road leagues.
I was too late to the entry for the 3/4 at odd Down last night so had to do the E123. Got spat after about 6 minutes @ 340 then solo’d the rest. Passed a few others that got dropped so not bad, finishing up with 303NP over 45mins.
The cyclocross was good fun, on a fast and dry course, although the experience was marred by the youth throwing his chain on the third lap. I stopped to see if I could fix it, but the chain was firmly wedged under his chain keeper, and although it had failed to keep the chain on, it was very effective indeed at preventing it from being refitted, and broke rather than letting the chain back past it. Three minutes lost before I rejoined the race, so no chance of a good position, managed a few quick laps though.
Seem to be suffering a few too many mechanical maladies between us of late, no racing this weekend, so a little maintenance will be in order.
Seem to be suffering a few too many mechanical maladies between us of late, no racing this weekend, so a little maintenance will be in order.
First race of the season last night for me, local E/1/2 crit ... absolute disaster. Road closer turned a 35 min journey into a 70 min journey, just made sign on, v short warm up then full gas. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of debris around .. flint etc and I punctured 35 mins in ... very slow puncture but would have ended up in a heap had I have carried on.
In all fairness I wasn't in the lead group so pretty sure I wouldn't have got anything out of it. Last 2 races of previous season I had 1 x puncture and 1 x flat from a leaky tub (at the valve base) so all in all a really s
t streak of racing.
Oh well, road race on Sunday so lets see what that brings!
In all fairness I wasn't in the lead group so pretty sure I wouldn't have got anything out of it. Last 2 races of previous season I had 1 x puncture and 1 x flat from a leaky tub (at the valve base) so all in all a really s
t streak of racing. Oh well, road race on Sunday so lets see what that brings!
JEA1K said:
First race of the season last night for me, local E/1/2 crit ... absolute disaster. Road closer turned a 35 min journey into a 70 min journey, just made sign on, v short warm up then full gas. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of debris around .. flint etc and I punctured 35 mins in ... very slow puncture but would have ended up in a heap had I have carried on.
In all fairness I wasn't in the lead group so pretty sure I wouldn't have got anything out of it. Last 2 races of previous season I had 1 x puncture and 1 x flat from a leaky tub (at the valve base) so all in all a really st streak of racing.
Oh well, road race on Sunday so lets see what that brings!
Ennerdale, Hull? Saw some social media stuff from people down to ride who were giving up because of the road problems getting there.In all fairness I wasn't in the lead group so pretty sure I wouldn't have got anything out of it. Last 2 races of previous season I had 1 x puncture and 1 x flat from a leaky tub (at the valve base) so all in all a really s
t streak of racing. Oh well, road race on Sunday so lets see what that brings!
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