The Racing Thread..
Discussion
z4RRSchris said:
ok go?
question i can't find the answer to.
i've entered two 4ths races over next few weeks. can i still race in them? i've got enough points from 4th to 3rd but i doubt they will show till wednesday / thursday.
Well done, great result on getting your 3rd cat. You might be able to race but if you get a top 10 you won't be awarded any points. question i can't find the answer to.
i've entered two 4ths races over next few weeks. can i still race in them? i've got enough points from 4th to 3rd but i doubt they will show till wednesday / thursday.
it was hurting at this point:
IMG_5945 by Hamish Forbes, on Flickr
IMG_5946 by Hamish Forbes, on Flickr
IMG_5945 by Hamish Forbes, on FlickrIMG_5946 by Hamish Forbes, on Flickr3/4's last night at Lee Valley.
pretty fast pace, was in the wind far too much for my liking chasing down moves. came out of last corner in 4th wheel but quickly overtaken by a few trains. didn't bother putting the gas down as outside points. came home top 20. good learning.
35.3km
42.5kph
180bpm average (199max)
272W average (299NP, 1082max)
got hog hill on saturday, bumped from 4's into E1/2/3. predicted i get dropped like a stone very quickly
pretty fast pace, was in the wind far too much for my liking chasing down moves. came out of last corner in 4th wheel but quickly overtaken by a few trains. didn't bother putting the gas down as outside points. came home top 20. good learning.
35.3km
42.5kph
180bpm average (199max)
272W average (299NP, 1082max)
got hog hill on saturday, bumped from 4's into E1/2/3. predicted i get dropped like a stone very quickly
Tough day yesterday in a local 2/3/4 Reg A race over 52.5 miles on a lumpy circuit. I say lumpy, it was verging on hilly with a single killer climb which is around 1.5 miles of the route. Kept myself out of trouble then moved up after the first of the 6 (8 mile) laps ... 2nd time up the climb was brutal ... thinking I'd be climbing off if I had to endure another 4 x of this! Anyhow, it shelled out a load of riders ... there was a break with riders away and the chase group was around 15 ish.
2nd to last time up the climb it went ballistic ... field split on half and the strongest riders charged off but three of us worked together and got back on ... as did another group of 5 who were dropped on the climb. So the chase group was probably 22 or so strong as we approached the climb for the last time. Started off rapid and we dropped half the field again ... I managed to stay with the group and we slowed slightly before everyone launched for the line. At this point I was spent ... no cramp, just nothing left ... gave it all but weak as a kitten so couldnt contend ... but a large gap behind me so cruised over the line to take 13th place. All in all, not a race I expected to get any points in, particularly knowing the strength of the field so 3 points was a bonus. On 21 now, 19 to go and feeling in peak form.
Stats
52.5m
2 hours 12 mins
2,946ft elevation
23.9 mph
314w NP
2nd to last time up the climb it went ballistic ... field split on half and the strongest riders charged off but three of us worked together and got back on ... as did another group of 5 who were dropped on the climb. So the chase group was probably 22 or so strong as we approached the climb for the last time. Started off rapid and we dropped half the field again ... I managed to stay with the group and we slowed slightly before everyone launched for the line. At this point I was spent ... no cramp, just nothing left ... gave it all but weak as a kitten so couldnt contend ... but a large gap behind me so cruised over the line to take 13th place. All in all, not a race I expected to get any points in, particularly knowing the strength of the field so 3 points was a bonus. On 21 now, 19 to go and feeling in peak form.
Stats
52.5m
2 hours 12 mins
2,946ft elevation
23.9 mph
314w NP
z4RRSchris said:
i did an E/1/2/3 at hog hill.
i got spat out after 22 mins, too quick for me.
You've not lived until you have been spat out.;) On to the next one .... you just have to keep at it. i got spat out after 22 mins, too quick for me.
I have another 3/4 35 mile lumpy road race tomorrow night .... nice uphill finish. I managed a 5th there last year, so I'd like a podium. Then onto an LVRC on Sunday ... 55 miles lumpy. As its LVRC, open to anyone over 40 ... including a mate who was an elite and a few other 1st and 2nd cats. No BC points so racing for kudos.
z4RRSchris said:
pretty sure you got 10th and a point
Seems you were right. More than happy with that. I crashed out of the Tour of Cambs at the weekend (some super shoddy riding!) and bust my leg a bit, but I'm trying my second crit tomorrow night at Cyclopark. I'm planning to stay near the front for the duration to avoid the worst of the concertina.
YCCA Summer Series Cyclocross last night, with 157 riders in my race. Chaos at the start, ended up on my arse as people jostled for position, which set the tone for the evening as I was knocked off a further two times, the last damaging my chain catcher, leading to a 100 yard run to the line with the bike on my shoulder. Came in a disappointing 83rd.
Two weeks to recover before my next cycle race, chance to fit a bit of Fell running in...
Two weeks to recover before my next cycle race, chance to fit a bit of Fell running in...
Gruffy said:
Seems you were right. More than happy with that.
I crashed out of the Tour of Cambs at the weekend (some super shoddy riding!) and bust my leg a bit, but I'm trying my second crit tomorrow night at Cyclopark. I'm planning to stay near the front for the duration to avoid the worst of the concertina.
Played out as planned and it was much more enjoyable for it. I crashed out of the Tour of Cambs at the weekend (some super shoddy riding!) and bust my leg a bit, but I'm trying my second crit tomorrow night at Cyclopark. I'm planning to stay near the front for the duration to avoid the worst of the concertina.
I started at the front and never dropped lower than 8th. Spent a good chunk of time on the front but felt comfortable doing it. Was pulling out an accidental gap at one point. 35 minutes in I started working with another rider (Alex) to push the pace and thin the bunch. A couple of laps later we had a split and bridged across to the 2-man break. I was a bit slow to spot this and had to do a lap or two solo to bridge across, but recovered for a lap and then worked well with the other 3 to build a healthy margin. We had 25-30s with 5 laps to go and were still gaining. The original two riders faded with 2 to go and Alex and I kept the pace up and worked well together. He had a few bike lengths on me into the last lap and I cautiously paced myself back for the last corner. He's strong up the hill but I'd left enough there for the sprint and came past with 150m to go for a comfortable win. Alex had either emptied the tank or was being generous. Either way, that's 10 points and only 1 more to go before I'm into the relative safety of 3rds.
37.8km
38.3kph
278W
305NP (IF 94%)
Strava
Gruffy said:
Played out as planned and it was much more enjoyable for it.
I started at the front and never dropped lower than 8th. Spent a good chunk of time on the front but felt comfortable doing it. Was pulling out an accidental gap at one point. 35 minutes in I started working with another rider (Alex) to push the pace and thin the bunch. A couple of laps later we had a split and bridged across to the 2-man break. I was a bit slow to spot this and had to do a lap or two solo to bridge across, but recovered for a lap and then worked well with the other 3 to build a healthy margin. We had 25-30s with 5 laps to go and were still gaining. The original two riders faded with 2 to go and Alex and I kept the pace up and worked well together. He had a few bike lengths on me into the last lap and I cautiously paced myself back for the last corner. He's strong up the hill but I'd left enough there for the sprint and came past with 150m to go for a comfortable win. Alex had either emptied the tank or was being generous. Either way, that's 10 points and only 1 more to go before I'm into the relative safety of 3rds.
37.8km
38.3kph
278W
305NP (IF 94%)
Strava
Well done, great when it all comes together. I started at the front and never dropped lower than 8th. Spent a good chunk of time on the front but felt comfortable doing it. Was pulling out an accidental gap at one point. 35 minutes in I started working with another rider (Alex) to push the pace and thin the bunch. A couple of laps later we had a split and bridged across to the 2-man break. I was a bit slow to spot this and had to do a lap or two solo to bridge across, but recovered for a lap and then worked well with the other 3 to build a healthy margin. We had 25-30s with 5 laps to go and were still gaining. The original two riders faded with 2 to go and Alex and I kept the pace up and worked well together. He had a few bike lengths on me into the last lap and I cautiously paced myself back for the last corner. He's strong up the hill but I'd left enough there for the sprint and came past with 150m to go for a comfortable win. Alex had either emptied the tank or was being generous. Either way, that's 10 points and only 1 more to go before I'm into the relative safety of 3rds.
37.8km
38.3kph
278W
305NP (IF 94%)
Strava
Disappointing night for me, managed 10th in a 3/4 RR where I've had better results. Just wasn't feeling it ... weather was shocking, lots of deep puddles as the rain was torrential ... fortunately didn't see anyone go down. But I didn't get into a good enough position in the sprint. Never mind, onto the next one.
Dist 34 miles
Ave sp 25.1 mph
342w np
1272w max p
I went back to Cyclopark for my third race and bagged enough points to move up to 3rd cat.
Another tiny warm-up meant I was a little heavy-legged on the opening laps and wondering if I was going to struggle. The pace settled and two went off the front and held a 10s gap. I came through and led the bunch for 50-60% of the next few laps, until the 20-25 minute mark. That thinned it to 10 riders but nobody was coming through so I moved to the edge of the track, offering no shelter from the strong wind and eased off. A lazy bunch meant it took a lap before anybody came through and then the pace was a bit soft.
While that happened the break built a 50s lead. Once I realised that I went back to the front, encouraging others to up the pace a little and share the work. Only one other rider was prepared to but he was suffering and the turns weren't fast. The gap grew to 60s and I decided to try a couple of harder laps to test if I'd be able to bridge across on my own over the last 15 minutes. I only gained 5s/lap at a pace I could sustain so I knew I needed help if it was going to happen.
The dig had thinned the bunch down to four and again I encouraged them to work together. Again only the one rider would do any work. The break was gone but I could at least try and do something about the freeloaders. After a couple of laps like that I told him to prepare for a dig. He held my wheel for the lap but so did one of the freeloaders, which means he could've been contributing all along. The bell came as a surprise and I eased a little. The cheeky bugger finally had incentive to do something to preserve 4th, while I was confident I could manage the sprint regardless of the size of our bunch, so I let him take the wind for the final lap and took him on the final corner for a clear gap to the line.
I'd love to have taken another win - because it may be a long time before the next one - but I'm happy to escape 4ths with all my skin. I learnt a lesson about keeping a closer eye on the break too. Warm-ups need to get better and much longer. My Pw:Hr has been -7 to -10% for these races and the fact that I'm puffing hard at the start and then cruising 15 minutes in tells me I'm failing there. It's been fun to have a surplus but the real test begins now and I'll be happy to simply survive for my first 3rd cat race. That'll be Weds at LVVP.
35.3km
37.7kph
268W
294W NP
https://www.strava.com/activities/1029850586
Another tiny warm-up meant I was a little heavy-legged on the opening laps and wondering if I was going to struggle. The pace settled and two went off the front and held a 10s gap. I came through and led the bunch for 50-60% of the next few laps, until the 20-25 minute mark. That thinned it to 10 riders but nobody was coming through so I moved to the edge of the track, offering no shelter from the strong wind and eased off. A lazy bunch meant it took a lap before anybody came through and then the pace was a bit soft.
While that happened the break built a 50s lead. Once I realised that I went back to the front, encouraging others to up the pace a little and share the work. Only one other rider was prepared to but he was suffering and the turns weren't fast. The gap grew to 60s and I decided to try a couple of harder laps to test if I'd be able to bridge across on my own over the last 15 minutes. I only gained 5s/lap at a pace I could sustain so I knew I needed help if it was going to happen.
The dig had thinned the bunch down to four and again I encouraged them to work together. Again only the one rider would do any work. The break was gone but I could at least try and do something about the freeloaders. After a couple of laps like that I told him to prepare for a dig. He held my wheel for the lap but so did one of the freeloaders, which means he could've been contributing all along. The bell came as a surprise and I eased a little. The cheeky bugger finally had incentive to do something to preserve 4th, while I was confident I could manage the sprint regardless of the size of our bunch, so I let him take the wind for the final lap and took him on the final corner for a clear gap to the line.
I'd love to have taken another win - because it may be a long time before the next one - but I'm happy to escape 4ths with all my skin. I learnt a lesson about keeping a closer eye on the break too. Warm-ups need to get better and much longer. My Pw:Hr has been -7 to -10% for these races and the fact that I'm puffing hard at the start and then cruising 15 minutes in tells me I'm failing there. It's been fun to have a surplus but the real test begins now and I'll be happy to simply survive for my first 3rd cat race. That'll be Weds at LVVP.
35.3km
37.7kph
268W
294W NP
https://www.strava.com/activities/1029850586
i did the 3rds before Gruffy, bad racing from me.
there was a split caused by three older chaps in the middle of a strung out field with a crosswind. i was wrong side of it. live and learn.
Untill that point was 328W. happy enough with that.
wednesday 3/4 at lee valley on the points hunt next
there was a split caused by three older chaps in the middle of a strung out field with a crosswind. i was wrong side of it. live and learn.
Untill that point was 328W. happy enough with that.
wednesday 3/4 at lee valley on the points hunt next
Gruffy said:
I went back to Cyclopark for my third race and bagged enough points to move up to 3rd cat.
Another tiny warm-up meant I was a little heavy-legged on the opening laps and wondering if I was going to struggle. The pace settled and two went off the front and held a 10s gap. I came through and led the bunch for 50-60% of the next few laps, until the 20-25 minute mark. That thinned it to 10 riders but nobody was coming through so I moved to the edge of the track, offering no shelter from the strong wind and eased off. A lazy bunch meant it took a lap before anybody came through and then the pace was a bit soft.
While that happened the break built a 50s lead. Once I realised that I went back to the front, encouraging others to up the pace a little and share the work. Only one other rider was prepared to but he was suffering and the turns weren't fast. The gap grew to 60s and I decided to try a couple of harder laps to test if I'd be able to bridge across on my own over the last 15 minutes. I only gained 5s/lap at a pace I could sustain so I knew I needed help if it was going to happen.
The dig had thinned the bunch down to four and again I encouraged them to work together. Again only the one rider would do any work. The break was gone but I could at least try and do something about the freeloaders. After a couple of laps like that I told him to prepare for a dig. He held my wheel for the lap but so did one of the freeloaders, which means he could've been contributing all along. The bell came as a surprise and I eased a little. The cheeky bugger finally had incentive to do something to preserve 4th, while I was confident I could manage the sprint regardless of the size of our bunch, so I let him take the wind for the final lap and took him on the final corner for a clear gap to the line.
I'd love to have taken another win - because it may be a long time before the next one - but I'm happy to escape 4ths with all my skin. I learnt a lesson about keeping a closer eye on the break too. Warm-ups need to get better and much longer. My Pw:Hr has been -7 to -10% for these races and the fact that I'm puffing hard at the start and then cruising 15 minutes in tells me I'm failing there. It's been fun to have a surplus but the real test begins now and I'll be happy to simply survive for my first 3rd cat race. That'll be Weds at LVVP.
35.3km
37.7kph
268W
294W NP
https://www.strava.com/activities/1029850586
Yes, thats why generally people are desperate to be at the front, so they can not only see but react when a break goes. But you never know if its going to be a wasted effort and they'll get reeled back in .... again, depends if they have team mates on the front and slow down the pace. But yes its frustrating when you do miss a break and they stay away, but thats racing ... you make decisions in a split second, sometimes they're right and sometimes they're wrong!Another tiny warm-up meant I was a little heavy-legged on the opening laps and wondering if I was going to struggle. The pace settled and two went off the front and held a 10s gap. I came through and led the bunch for 50-60% of the next few laps, until the 20-25 minute mark. That thinned it to 10 riders but nobody was coming through so I moved to the edge of the track, offering no shelter from the strong wind and eased off. A lazy bunch meant it took a lap before anybody came through and then the pace was a bit soft.
While that happened the break built a 50s lead. Once I realised that I went back to the front, encouraging others to up the pace a little and share the work. Only one other rider was prepared to but he was suffering and the turns weren't fast. The gap grew to 60s and I decided to try a couple of harder laps to test if I'd be able to bridge across on my own over the last 15 minutes. I only gained 5s/lap at a pace I could sustain so I knew I needed help if it was going to happen.
The dig had thinned the bunch down to four and again I encouraged them to work together. Again only the one rider would do any work. The break was gone but I could at least try and do something about the freeloaders. After a couple of laps like that I told him to prepare for a dig. He held my wheel for the lap but so did one of the freeloaders, which means he could've been contributing all along. The bell came as a surprise and I eased a little. The cheeky bugger finally had incentive to do something to preserve 4th, while I was confident I could manage the sprint regardless of the size of our bunch, so I let him take the wind for the final lap and took him on the final corner for a clear gap to the line.
I'd love to have taken another win - because it may be a long time before the next one - but I'm happy to escape 4ths with all my skin. I learnt a lesson about keeping a closer eye on the break too. Warm-ups need to get better and much longer. My Pw:Hr has been -7 to -10% for these races and the fact that I'm puffing hard at the start and then cruising 15 minutes in tells me I'm failing there. It's been fun to have a surplus but the real test begins now and I'll be happy to simply survive for my first 3rd cat race. That'll be Weds at LVVP.
35.3km
37.7kph
268W
294W NP
https://www.strava.com/activities/1029850586
I managed to get a 2nd place yesterday in the LVRC Clifton RR ... was never going to get the win against a mate of mine so my focus was to stay with him to get as best place as I could. His usual race tactic is to attack on the first lap and ride a solo TT to victory
. So in true style 1.5 laps down and he went for us and took about 5 others with him .... I jump across and they we pulled away and got a decent gap. But the group wasn't working well ... they were expecting two of us to do the majority of work ... leaving me exposed for longer than I wanted .... plus we wanted a bigger gap as the group behind would be chasing hard. The strong winds really didn't help but I knew it could work in my favour. So after about half a lap, we increased the pace and 3 dropped away leaving 3 of us getting another gap ... we worked for half a lap but the 3rd man was not really putting the work in ... didn't seem to want to press on, so we hatched a plan to get rid of him. It didn't go down well after the race but hey, every man for himself.
So the two of us rode off for the remaining 40 miles and took 1st & 2nd .... in the end, we had about a 2 min gap.57.8m
1879ft el
25.4 mph
286w av
318w np
10 days before the next race, then next month 5 races which I'm keen to get decent results in.
Tough week just gone, Yorkshire Summer Series Cyclocross on a hot and hilly course on Wednesday evening, usual mediocrity from me, but our youth was going well.
A day off for me on Thursday, but our youth was representing his school in the local interschool Cyclocross event, his PE teachers had no idea he, or the two girls that made up most of the team even cycled, so they were most surprised when, after being in last place after the first lap of the team relay, the youth went out and passed the entire field in 400 yards...
The two girls in the team are strong riders as well, and the team led by a long way by the finish.
Back to Round Five of the Midlands XC Series on Saturday, for a trip to the fast and furious course at Parkwood Springs, Sheffield. Got a flyer off the start, and kept the pace up for an hour and a half, results not out yet, but probably my best finish of the season. Youth also went well, beating many of his closest rivals easily. After a shaky couple of years his confidence has returned, and a more focused training plan is paying dividends.
A struggle to get out of bed this morning though, Round Six was today, at Rother Valley, a much more raw trail centre, with some punishing climbs and rutted descents to cope with. Started well, but tired after fifty minutes, about the half way mark, but finished well.
The youth misjudged one of the tricky jumps and landed awkwardly on a rutted section and binned it big style. Cuts and bruises all over, from his chin, down his rib cage, both arms and his right leg. Ripped his month old club jersey, and made a mess of his helmet shell as well. The bike is fine. Crashed in front of his mum though, so he had someone to pester him while the first aid crew patched him up. Last descent into the finish field as well, but it's still a DNF.
Week and a half off, then another mid week Cyclocross race, followed by more XC racing at the weekend...
A day off for me on Thursday, but our youth was representing his school in the local interschool Cyclocross event, his PE teachers had no idea he, or the two girls that made up most of the team even cycled, so they were most surprised when, after being in last place after the first lap of the team relay, the youth went out and passed the entire field in 400 yards...
The two girls in the team are strong riders as well, and the team led by a long way by the finish.
Back to Round Five of the Midlands XC Series on Saturday, for a trip to the fast and furious course at Parkwood Springs, Sheffield. Got a flyer off the start, and kept the pace up for an hour and a half, results not out yet, but probably my best finish of the season. Youth also went well, beating many of his closest rivals easily. After a shaky couple of years his confidence has returned, and a more focused training plan is paying dividends.
A struggle to get out of bed this morning though, Round Six was today, at Rother Valley, a much more raw trail centre, with some punishing climbs and rutted descents to cope with. Started well, but tired after fifty minutes, about the half way mark, but finished well.
The youth misjudged one of the tricky jumps and landed awkwardly on a rutted section and binned it big style. Cuts and bruises all over, from his chin, down his rib cage, both arms and his right leg. Ripped his month old club jersey, and made a mess of his helmet shell as well. The bike is fine. Crashed in front of his mum though, so he had someone to pester him while the first aid crew patched him up. Last descent into the finish field as well, but it's still a DNF.
Week and a half off, then another mid week Cyclocross race, followed by more XC racing at the weekend...
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