The Racing Thread..
Discussion
Steve vRS said:
I’ll make the effort to get over to the wrong side of the Pennines more this year.
Plenty of chances Steve, and the sun might make an appearance for some of them yet...https://yorkshirecyclocross.com/summer-series-2018...
Anyway...
Today was the second round of the Midlands XC Series, down at Parkwood Springs in Sheffield. This might not be the greatest, or most well known, trail centre, but the shortish two and a half mile lap packs in more entertainment than a lot of the big name venues, and an overnight deluge provided some extra challenges down the clay and mud sections of the course.
Knowing the course well, and knowing that there are no long climbs, I dug out the trusty single speed rigid, and apart from maybe running the front tyre a little soft, it was the perfect bike on the day.
The end result was not maybe where I'd want to be, but the road to regaining fitness is not a short one, but I'm getting there, and I'm still having fun.
One thing that does spring to mind is the last two races have been at venues where I have had some great races with BadgerBenji, once of this parish...
Edited by gazza285 on Saturday 28th April 22:24
Edited by gazza285 on Saturday 28th April 22:28
lufbramatt said:
gazza285 said:
Local 3.2m off road hill climb tonight, our youth beat me again. This is becoming too regular for my liking.
Haha, I remember when I started beating my Dad at running and cycling. Reckon I've got about 14 years of glory left before my lad starts handing me my a$$ 
I'm having an interesting season so far. 7 races down, 1 win, 2 abandoned before the finish, 1 dropped hard and 1 cancelled.
Happy with the win which was a Thruxton, I initiated a break from the start for around half a lap, 8 guys caught up to me in the headwind, ran around with them for about a lap before 3 had managed to create a gap. Bridged forward to them and no one else followed. One dropped off pretty quick leaving the 3 of us to see it through to the end. We finished with a 3 minute gap (Y)
Odd down in Bath on tuesday was the first of the summer series and it was really dicey. Lot of new riders turned up as you might expect and that seemed to include some really strong guys. 2 guys got away on their own from the first lap and I tried to chase but from a bad start nearer the back. Thought i was making some progress after 10 minutes of chasing but eventually as energy dwindled the pack caught me. I abandoned the race a few laps later after 2 crashes, there was some seriously sketchy riding going on in the pack. The chap out front stuck it until the end and took the win. I had a quick chat and he mentioned he used to race (Outside of the UK), his strava stats put him at 5.3w/kg (64kg and 339w Avg!) for the race which is crazy for a Cat4, i'm not too ashamed I couldn't catch him (66kg and 270w Avg)
Castle Combe was cancelled on Thursday
Happy with the win which was a Thruxton, I initiated a break from the start for around half a lap, 8 guys caught up to me in the headwind, ran around with them for about a lap before 3 had managed to create a gap. Bridged forward to them and no one else followed. One dropped off pretty quick leaving the 3 of us to see it through to the end. We finished with a 3 minute gap (Y)
Odd down in Bath on tuesday was the first of the summer series and it was really dicey. Lot of new riders turned up as you might expect and that seemed to include some really strong guys. 2 guys got away on their own from the first lap and I tried to chase but from a bad start nearer the back. Thought i was making some progress after 10 minutes of chasing but eventually as energy dwindled the pack caught me. I abandoned the race a few laps later after 2 crashes, there was some seriously sketchy riding going on in the pack. The chap out front stuck it until the end and took the win. I had a quick chat and he mentioned he used to race (Outside of the UK), his strava stats put him at 5.3w/kg (64kg and 339w Avg!) for the race which is crazy for a Cat4, i'm not too ashamed I couldn't catch him (66kg and 270w Avg)
Castle Combe was cancelled on Thursday
Bit quiet in here!
Since my last post, 4 more races down.
1 win at Thruxton with a 2 man breakaway with 2 laps to go. Bit surprised this one worked out. I'd attacked 3 times already in the race trying to get a breakaway to work but no one was coming with me. the other chap didn't put up much of fight for the finish and we had a surprising gap so i snagged first and my upgrade to cat 3, carrying over 8 points. There was a 13 man crash which probably unnerved a lot of riders about half way through.
First race at castle combe in cat 3/4 was the usual case of attacking and getting nowhere. Another 13-15 man crash with 3 to go threw a few people off again. I ended with a reasonable position for the sprint and held on for 11/12 place which despite being outside the points i was pretty happy with.
Odd Down in bath in the 2/3 race yesterday was quite different to any of the 4th/3rd races i've done so far. Much faster but also such a better standard of riding. Although it feels a bit s
t having riders that have come down from Elite/1st cats into the 2nd racing with you as you know there is no chance of getting points. I just about held onto the back for the race.
Castle Combe again tomorrow, try and just sneak into that top 10 place
Since my last post, 4 more races down.
1 win at Thruxton with a 2 man breakaway with 2 laps to go. Bit surprised this one worked out. I'd attacked 3 times already in the race trying to get a breakaway to work but no one was coming with me. the other chap didn't put up much of fight for the finish and we had a surprising gap so i snagged first and my upgrade to cat 3, carrying over 8 points. There was a 13 man crash which probably unnerved a lot of riders about half way through.
First race at castle combe in cat 3/4 was the usual case of attacking and getting nowhere. Another 13-15 man crash with 3 to go threw a few people off again. I ended with a reasonable position for the sprint and held on for 11/12 place which despite being outside the points i was pretty happy with.
Odd Down in bath in the 2/3 race yesterday was quite different to any of the 4th/3rd races i've done so far. Much faster but also such a better standard of riding. Although it feels a bit s
t having riders that have come down from Elite/1st cats into the 2nd racing with you as you know there is no chance of getting points. I just about held onto the back for the race.Castle Combe again tomorrow, try and just sneak into that top 10 place
Raced at the second round of the Yorkshire Summer Cyclocross, at the YCCA’s new permanent cyclocross facility in Wyke. Great course laid out, with lots of potential, and hopefully a new tarmac circuit to replace the one being lost when the Richard Dunn Sports Centre is demolished.
Had a good start, and was much further up the field than normal, felt strong and was carving my way through the riders in front, including our club coach, which made him rather grumpy when I passed him, riding up a series of steps when he chose to run. Great fun until my back tyre rolled off the rim, and game over. Tubs are great 90% of the time, and a monumental pain in the arse the other 10...
Had a good start, and was much further up the field than normal, felt strong and was carving my way through the riders in front, including our club coach, which made him rather grumpy when I passed him, riding up a series of steps when he chose to run. Great fun until my back tyre rolled off the rim, and game over. Tubs are great 90% of the time, and a monumental pain in the arse the other 10...
Round three of the Midlands XC series today, at a bone dry Cannock Chase. The course was fast, with a good mix of technical, flowing and flat out sections, and not too many soul destroying climbs. The results haven’t been published yet, but I know I didn’t win. Had a lot of fun though, which is the main motivator, although the legs were tired after chasing parkrun glory yesterday...
Tried the TLI race at Oulton Park last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Race 2 is next week.
I finished with the pack which was my aim but should have done better on the last lap but had burnt a few matches due to 3 or 4 fruitless attacks off the front.
Funny at the start as well as me and another guy tried for an early break away. Only for him to make a wrong turn and leave me alone! He thought we were doing the national circuit, not the full course
I finished with the pack which was my aim but should have done better on the last lap but had burnt a few matches due to 3 or 4 fruitless attacks off the front.
Funny at the start as well as me and another guy tried for an early break away. Only for him to make a wrong turn and leave me alone! He thought we were doing the national circuit, not the full course
Round four of the Midlands XC yesterday, at Rother Valley. Lots of climbing on basically some grass fields that someone has mown the course in, so bumpy and draggy. Throw in a few fast trail centre style downhills and that was it, no real technical features at all. My race seemed to consist of being passed near the top of every climb by someone who can’t descend, quite frustrating.
The Yorkshire Summer Cyclocross season continues on, we were in Harrogate last Wednesday, on a fast and wide course, more like a criterium on grass that a ‘cross course.
The Yorkshire Summer Cyclocross season continues on, we were in Harrogate last Wednesday, on a fast and wide course, more like a criterium on grass that a ‘cross course.
ste season results wise for me so far. Spent the first few races just working too hard, no thought about conserving any matches and then being well down on power for the sprint. In the main, I have enjoyed myself although there's a number of road events not running this year due organisers fallouts with BC ... seems to becoming a bit of a regular occurrence.
Got a handful of road races left and a few crits but I know that next season needs a new approach. I am fortunate I can manage 10 - 12 hours a week but as a 43 year old 2nd cat, there's probably not a huge amount else I can do without a coach. I managed to get my ftp to 340w by March (77kg) but that figure alone means sod all ... I'm still suffering from cramp in the latter stages of a 60 - 70 mile race which is definitely hampering my results.
te season results wise for me so far. Spent the first few races just working too hard, no thought about conserving any matches and then being well down on power for the sprint. In the main, I have enjoyed myself although there's a number of road events not running this year due organisers fallouts with BC ... seems to becoming a bit of a regular occurrence. Got a handful of road races left and a few crits but I know that next season needs a new approach. I am fortunate I can manage 10 - 12 hours a week but as a 43 year old 2nd cat, there's probably not a huge amount else I can do without a coach. I managed to get my ftp to 340w by March (77kg) but that figure alone means sod all ... I'm still suffering from cramp in the latter stages of a 60 - 70 mile race which is definitely hampering my results.
z4RRSchris said:
started may 2017, 27 races total. 8 now as a 2 cat and i’m just not fit enough for the demands.
sunday town centre crit was the below and after 15 mins i was spent.
1000w - 5s
500w - 50s
200w - 30s
repeat
Thats crits for you! Town centre races are tough ... uneven surfaces but generally the start stop nature just wears you down. Thing is theres a large spread of ability and exp in cat2 ... many of which could be cat1 and a few who've been elite level down to those who've just won a few track league races. sunday town centre crit was the below and after 15 mins i was spent.
1000w - 5s
500w - 50s
200w - 30s
repeat
I have an E/1/2/3 at Leeds at the Brownlee circuit ....1 hour and I know it will hurt. Just entered a hilly 70 mile Nat B too ... no team mates to help so I'm going to be as lazy as possible and just try and nick something in the sprint ... thats if I don't get dropped
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