The Racing Thread..
Discussion
Well, it finally happened.
3 years of racing under my belt and I had my first accident this week. Seemed to be a rider who had just come from 4th. Swang out wide to the right approaching a left, I assumed to let me pushed through the last effort to the break and then he swang hard left wiping out my front wheel at over 30mph.
It hurt, still hurts, and will hurt for awhile.
Anyone have any novel ideas why to do with ruined helmet, kit and shoes? Pretty annoyed as it was my favourite and discontinued kit.
3 years of racing under my belt and I had my first accident this week. Seemed to be a rider who had just come from 4th. Swang out wide to the right approaching a left, I assumed to let me pushed through the last effort to the break and then he swang hard left wiping out my front wheel at over 30mph.
It hurt, still hurts, and will hurt for awhile.
Anyone have any novel ideas why to do with ruined helmet, kit and shoes? Pretty annoyed as it was my favourite and discontinued kit.
Just back from a weekend away catching up with a friend and racing the TORQ Lite MTB race at Porridgepot Hill (Deepcut).
6 hour pairs (veteran) category, and we came a pretty dire 18th out of 20 entries. Not bad for a team whose average age puts them comfortably into Grand Vet territory though. Sadly there was either no Grand Vet pairs category, or we didn't qualify because I'm (slightly) too young at the moment.
Probably the toughest cycling race/event I've ever done. 4 laps, or 26 miles ridden between 12 noon and 6 pm, on a boiling cauldron of a day, temps between 28ºc and a high of 31ºc at 5 pm, with little wind and almost no cloud at all.
After a recce lap we decided on swapping over after every lap, as there was no way either of us wanted to stay out for two. I took the (shortened) first lap, and when my team mate announced he was cooked after lap 4, I ended up doing laps 5 & 6 back-to-back. Sean had a stinker of a lap, and he knew it. The problem was, between his stinker, and my general lack of pace, we finished in a total time of 05:22:12 and this meant we (I) didn't have the time for another lap, even if I'd wanted to or had the legs for it. His "bonk" was probably down to the high temperature combined with a lack of food, and energy, so a lesson learned there. I managed to ride the extra lap off the back of a dirty cheeseburger in the arena and some energy drinks in addition to water. But whatever it was, carrying enough fluid on the bike was difficult, and I was starting to wish for a CamelBak bladder instead of a bottle in a cage.
Bikes were OK though - no mechanicals during the race, although Sean said he'd had a "biological" breakdown after his second lap. It was a great event in the end, despite the Gorrick organisers having to shift venue at the last minute due to filming going on at their preferred regular venue (Minley Manor) which had led to the shortening of the event from 12 hours to 6 hours too. I was initially disappointed the race was shorter, but given the weather, and how tough the course was, I was glad my first taste of the 'Gorrick 12-12 TORQ in your Sleep' was a shorter duration.
Usual great course preparation and slick organisation by Gorrick, and great to see lots of familiar faces out supporting the event. The organisers had feared they might have to cancel if too many people dropped their entry and took refunds instead of racing the 6 hour version, but there were plenty of riders in the end, and it was a great atmosphere both on track and in/around the arena, with lots of riders supported by family and friends. The only (slightly) sour note was the lack of toilets (four portaloos) and a warning regarding there not being much drinking water available at the venue so "bring your own fluids".
Some great new sections of single track, joining up with some old favourites, they really did utilise the available space to the maximum. Sad though, to hear that the MOD (whose land it is) are planning to completely fence that whole area off from public access soon, so no more being able to ride some (or all) of that lap in your own time. And having moved this year from Farnborough (and having that venue on my doorstep) to Bournemouth, I've realised that apart from friends and neighbours, the only thing I miss about living in Farnborough is the fabulous natural MTB trails scattered over the extensive MOD training areas that pretty much surround the town. Not so much in the way of "epic single track" riding down this way, as it's mostly bridleways, byways, and gravel fire roads.
I'm broken now, but it was a fabulously enjoyable weekend, even if we weren't very competitive in the end...
...oh, and I was wearing full PH rig - jersey and shorts - and someone overtook me on lap 5 (or maybe 6) and yelled my Strava username back at me. Not sure if it was someone who knew me from PH, or from Strava, but that was an odd feeling, being (in)famous enough to be recognised mid race!
6 hour pairs (veteran) category, and we came a pretty dire 18th out of 20 entries. Not bad for a team whose average age puts them comfortably into Grand Vet territory though. Sadly there was either no Grand Vet pairs category, or we didn't qualify because I'm (slightly) too young at the moment.
Probably the toughest cycling race/event I've ever done. 4 laps, or 26 miles ridden between 12 noon and 6 pm, on a boiling cauldron of a day, temps between 28ºc and a high of 31ºc at 5 pm, with little wind and almost no cloud at all.
After a recce lap we decided on swapping over after every lap, as there was no way either of us wanted to stay out for two. I took the (shortened) first lap, and when my team mate announced he was cooked after lap 4, I ended up doing laps 5 & 6 back-to-back. Sean had a stinker of a lap, and he knew it. The problem was, between his stinker, and my general lack of pace, we finished in a total time of 05:22:12 and this meant we (I) didn't have the time for another lap, even if I'd wanted to or had the legs for it. His "bonk" was probably down to the high temperature combined with a lack of food, and energy, so a lesson learned there. I managed to ride the extra lap off the back of a dirty cheeseburger in the arena and some energy drinks in addition to water. But whatever it was, carrying enough fluid on the bike was difficult, and I was starting to wish for a CamelBak bladder instead of a bottle in a cage.
Bikes were OK though - no mechanicals during the race, although Sean said he'd had a "biological" breakdown after his second lap. It was a great event in the end, despite the Gorrick organisers having to shift venue at the last minute due to filming going on at their preferred regular venue (Minley Manor) which had led to the shortening of the event from 12 hours to 6 hours too. I was initially disappointed the race was shorter, but given the weather, and how tough the course was, I was glad my first taste of the 'Gorrick 12-12 TORQ in your Sleep' was a shorter duration.
Usual great course preparation and slick organisation by Gorrick, and great to see lots of familiar faces out supporting the event. The organisers had feared they might have to cancel if too many people dropped their entry and took refunds instead of racing the 6 hour version, but there were plenty of riders in the end, and it was a great atmosphere both on track and in/around the arena, with lots of riders supported by family and friends. The only (slightly) sour note was the lack of toilets (four portaloos) and a warning regarding there not being much drinking water available at the venue so "bring your own fluids".
Some great new sections of single track, joining up with some old favourites, they really did utilise the available space to the maximum. Sad though, to hear that the MOD (whose land it is) are planning to completely fence that whole area off from public access soon, so no more being able to ride some (or all) of that lap in your own time. And having moved this year from Farnborough (and having that venue on my doorstep) to Bournemouth, I've realised that apart from friends and neighbours, the only thing I miss about living in Farnborough is the fabulous natural MTB trails scattered over the extensive MOD training areas that pretty much surround the town. Not so much in the way of "epic single track" riding down this way, as it's mostly bridleways, byways, and gravel fire roads.
I'm broken now, but it was a fabulously enjoyable weekend, even if we weren't very competitive in the end...
...oh, and I was wearing full PH rig - jersey and shorts - and someone overtook me on lap 5 (or maybe 6) and yelled my Strava username back at me. Not sure if it was someone who knew me from PH, or from Strava, but that was an odd feeling, being (in)famous enough to be recognised mid race!
gazza285 said:
gazza285 said:
The long wait is over, the winter cyclocross is upon us tomorrow. I’ve done no training, hardly ridden a bike at all in the last six weeks, so it should be fun. I’ve got the Three Peaks in a fortnight as well...
Suitably tough, and beaten (only just!) by Steve vRS...
First round of the YCCA Winter Series today, at a scorching hot Bishop Burton. There’s been a re-jig of the races, which has moved the V45 class, i.e. me, from a cushy 40 minute race with a bunch of old men and the ladies, into the Seniors race, an hour long sufferfest with the fit lads.
It is the first time at this fantastic venue, the course was fabulous, with something for everyone, I had some good race long battles with the usual old men I race against, with the added impetus of trying to beat my youth. I didn’t beat my youth...
One of the highlights of the year next Sunday, the 3 Peaks Cyclocross, four and a half hours of pain and cramp. Can’t wait...
It is the first time at this fantastic venue, the course was fabulous, with something for everyone, I had some good race long battles with the usual old men I race against, with the added impetus of trying to beat my youth. I didn’t beat my youth...
One of the highlights of the year next Sunday, the 3 Peaks Cyclocross, four and a half hours of pain and cramp. Can’t wait...
Three Peaks Cyclocross today. If anything I do defines the very essence of type two fun then this is it.
It is a hateful event, filled with suffering and terror, interspersed with a few tedious road sections where any other rider is either too fast to hang a wheel onto, or too slow to follow. Climbs that have you on your hands and knees, rock laden descents, bogs, sheep s
t and cramp.
I punctured on the last descent, whilst chasing 370th place.
This was my seventh ride, I am obviously a slow learner.
It is a hateful event, filled with suffering and terror, interspersed with a few tedious road sections where any other rider is either too fast to hang a wheel onto, or too slow to follow. Climbs that have you on your hands and knees, rock laden descents, bogs, sheep s
t and cramp.I punctured on the last descent, whilst chasing 370th place.
This was my seventh ride, I am obviously a slow learner.
First race since the Three Peaks a month ago, after pulling my back at work, and I haven’t been on a bike since.
Couldn’t be arsed swapping my carbon wheels, with hard condition tyres on, and so struggled on a very muddy Temple Newsam course, and the close ratio block didn’t help much either. No grip, no brakes, and no hope of pedalling up the greasy climbs all saw me running towards the back of the pack, my lap times were four minutes slower than my usual pace of eight minutes a lap.
Just to add to my piss poor performance I punctured on the last lap two hundred yards past the pits, so I had to carry the bike the last half a mile.
Grim.
Couldn’t be arsed swapping my carbon wheels, with hard condition tyres on, and so struggled on a very muddy Temple Newsam course, and the close ratio block didn’t help much either. No grip, no brakes, and no hope of pedalling up the greasy climbs all saw me running towards the back of the pack, my lap times were four minutes slower than my usual pace of eight minutes a lap.
Just to add to my piss poor performance I punctured on the last lap two hundred yards past the pits, so I had to carry the bike the last half a mile.
Grim.
Round three of the Yorkshire Cyclocross Winter Series in Skipton. Another usually fast and technical course reduced to mainly mud sloging. Skipton is an all grass course, on an old golf course, and is usually fairly firm underfoot. The practice laps were grippy, with all the course being rideable, however ours is the last race of the day, and the grass had all but gone by the time we raced. There had also been a bit of rain earlier in the day, then the sun and wind took over, and the mud became very claggy, filling the trye treads and rendering the uphills unrideable.
Another dreadful start, then the usual passing to finish in the usual mediocre mid table. I've got one more season racing with the kids, then I can race in the V50 class, getting lapped by lads in the prime of their life every week is getting a bit tedious.
Another dreadful start, then the usual passing to finish in the usual mediocre mid table. I've got one more season racing with the kids, then I can race in the V50 class, getting lapped by lads in the prime of their life every week is getting a bit tedious.
British Hill Climb Championships (yesterday)
Winner was Ed Laverack
7.2w/kg average over 11 minutes according to his coach...
https://twitter.com/edlaverack/status/118877634493...
Winner was Ed Laverack
7.2w/kg average over 11 minutes according to his coach...
https://twitter.com/edlaverack/status/118877634493...
First race outside of the year, March Hare Classic E1/2 nat B at lea Valley. 66km of crit at 45kph.
load of the pro conti boys from canyon, vitus, + trek etc were racing, pretty cool but zero chance of being in the mix. nice bunch finish.
think my PM was broken or not calibrated.
Distance:66km
Time: 1.28
Average / max Speed: 44.9kph / 59.8kph
average / max / NP power: 224w / 914w / 241w
average / max HR: 171bpm / 187bpm
https://www.strava.com/activities/3182986863
load of the pro conti boys from canyon, vitus, + trek etc were racing, pretty cool but zero chance of being in the mix. nice bunch finish.
think my PM was broken or not calibrated.
Distance:66km
Time: 1.28
Average / max Speed: 44.9kph / 59.8kph
average / max / NP power: 224w / 914w / 241w
average / max HR: 171bpm / 187bpm
https://www.strava.com/activities/3182986863
Edited by z4RRSchris on Monday 16th March 14:14
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