The Racing Thread..
Discussion
Last round of the Yorkshire Summer Series Cyclocross tonight. I had very heavy legs after running a fell race last night, took me two laps before the stiffness went, then slowly worked my way through the field. The Summer Series is very hectic, as everybody over 14 is in the same race, so generally massive fields, with a big range of abilities. No idea where I finished yet, but it wasn't first or last. No races now until the 23rd August, round five of this year's Nutcracker XC Series. Back fell running tomorrow though, and more next week...
More of the same so far this week, consistently average. Was at the pointy end in a 2/3/4 road race on Sunday (EMRRL) but came home with nothing, then another 9th in a wet 3/4 road race this evening (EMDL). I got a bit carried away and went early in the sprint, feeling great...but then the parachute deployed.
The race on Sunday was a good one, reasonably lumpy course with a long breakaway which was hauled in about 500m before the line. I always prefer 2/3/4 races, higher pace and much more variety in the racing.
The race on Sunday was a good one, reasonably lumpy course with a long breakaway which was hauled in about 500m before the line. I always prefer 2/3/4 races, higher pace and much more variety in the racing.
Probably the final race of the season last night in the last round of the NYRRL run by York Cycleworks. Great weather for riding and a pretty lumpy 8 mile ish course a... started off fairly steadily with a break of 4 riders taking off like a stabbed rat. Would of/could of/should of gone with them as I know one of the riders (2nd Cat and just there for fun) would just time trial off into the distance, which he did taking the others with him.
Some of the route I know from our chaingang rides ... road surface is very poor in places and there is a climb up into Crayke which started taking its toll on a few riders each lap ... some managed to get back on after the subsequent drop down the hill. On the last attempt at the climb the group seemed to shrink as a few were too tired to hold on. I'd done a few turns on the front but I didn't want to waste any energy as none of the attacks were successful so I sat in on the last lap, conserving as much as possible for the brutal hill climb finish. I had ridden part of the finish (which we only rode on the last lap) during my warm up so I knew it was steep ... what I didn't know was quite how far it went.
As we hit the final climb I was probably 20 - 25 riders back ... quite a few soon started going backwards to the point of me almost coming to a complete stop. I dug in and passed maybe 10 riders before the hill had about a 500m - 600m flat where I caught a wheel and rode on that ... he started weakening so I jumped on the next wheel ... then the next climb up the finish ... more riders were going backwards so I just hammered past them and across the line into a respectable 8th place. My legs were (are) in pieces but it was a really exciting finish ... I'm still 'not a climber' but my sprint certainly helped me get a result.
Overall I'm pleased with my first season racing ... I've managed to get to 3rd cat and learnt a lot and more importantly I've enjoyed myself. All being well I think I can get some decent results next season so will probably enter a league and see how I do.
Some of the route I know from our chaingang rides ... road surface is very poor in places and there is a climb up into Crayke which started taking its toll on a few riders each lap ... some managed to get back on after the subsequent drop down the hill. On the last attempt at the climb the group seemed to shrink as a few were too tired to hold on. I'd done a few turns on the front but I didn't want to waste any energy as none of the attacks were successful so I sat in on the last lap, conserving as much as possible for the brutal hill climb finish. I had ridden part of the finish (which we only rode on the last lap) during my warm up so I knew it was steep ... what I didn't know was quite how far it went.
As we hit the final climb I was probably 20 - 25 riders back ... quite a few soon started going backwards to the point of me almost coming to a complete stop. I dug in and passed maybe 10 riders before the hill had about a 500m - 600m flat where I caught a wheel and rode on that ... he started weakening so I jumped on the next wheel ... then the next climb up the finish ... more riders were going backwards so I just hammered past them and across the line into a respectable 8th place. My legs were (are) in pieces but it was a really exciting finish ... I'm still 'not a climber' but my sprint certainly helped me get a result.
Overall I'm pleased with my first season racing ... I've managed to get to 3rd cat and learnt a lot and more importantly I've enjoyed myself. All being well I think I can get some decent results next season so will probably enter a league and see how I do.
4ths race at cyclopark this arvo! Got second place! Over the moon is not the word - even got some prize money! I'm currently on cloud nine! Means I'll be up into 3rds too... Looks like it'll be back to hiding get in the bunch next time out and trying not to get dropped for at least 20 mins!
W
I'll be doing the round on 29th August.
Rolls said:
4ths race at cyclopark this arvo! Got second place! Over the moon is not the word - even got some prize money! I'm currently on cloud nine! Means I'll be up into 3rds too... Looks like it'll be back to hiding get in the bunch next time out and trying not to get dropped for at least 20 mins!
Well done chap!I'll be doing the round on 29th August.
Well I finished the race and wasn't last.
The only reason I wasn't last is that as the 'proper' racers were dropped from the pack, they retired whereas I carried on - I think I ended up 17th out of 28 for that reason! I was lapped a few times but was determined to finish so I completed almost 40 laps on my own, hanging on to the pack as they lapped me for a bit until my feeble legs let me down again!
So my first race is run. Will I do another? Yes, but I realise that just because you get some good Strava segment placings, a racer, you are not!
Naturally, I will do what every cyclist on here does. See if spending money on shiny bits makes a difference
Steve
The only reason I wasn't last is that as the 'proper' racers were dropped from the pack, they retired whereas I carried on - I think I ended up 17th out of 28 for that reason! I was lapped a few times but was determined to finish so I completed almost 40 laps on my own, hanging on to the pack as they lapped me for a bit until my feeble legs let me down again!
So my first race is run. Will I do another? Yes, but I realise that just because you get some good Strava segment placings, a racer, you are not!
Naturally, I will do what every cyclist on here does. See if spending money on shiny bits makes a difference
Steve
This was kind of what I was getting at with the RL100 lot, if you really want to see how fit you are, stop racing people doing something for charity, start doing against others who are racing to win! As you say, the difference between someone who can do a half decent average speed on a ride and one that can mix it at the end of even a 3/4 cat race can be so different!
Good work, don't spend too much - I won that elite/1/2 crit last week on Fulcrum 7's and 4 seasons tyres...that said I'll probably stick the Enve's on for todays criterium, I'll update later with how I got on, but given I rode 60 miles and walked about 8 yesterday, I don't know how they legs will feel!!
Good work, don't spend too much - I won that elite/1/2 crit last week on Fulcrum 7's and 4 seasons tyres...that said I'll probably stick the Enve's on for todays criterium, I'll update later with how I got on, but given I rode 60 miles and walked about 8 yesterday, I don't know how they legs will feel!!
JEA1K said:
Probably the final race of the season last night in the last round of the NYRRL run by York Cycleworks. Great weather for riding and a pretty lumpy 8 mile ish course a... started off fairly steadily with a break of 4 riders taking off like a stabbed rat. Would of/could of/should of gone with them as I know one of the riders (2nd Cat and just there for fun) would just time trial off into the distance, which he did taking the others with him.
Some of the route I know from our chaingang rides ... road surface is very poor in places and there is a climb up into Crayke which started taking its toll on a few riders each lap ... some managed to get back on after the subsequent drop down the hill. On the last attempt at the climb the group seemed to shrink as a few were too tired to hold on. I'd done a few turns on the front but I didn't want to waste any energy as none of the attacks were successful so I sat in on the last lap, conserving as much as possible for the brutal hill climb finish. I had ridden part of the finish (which we only rode on the last lap) during my warm up so I knew it was steep ... what I didn't know was quite how far it went.
As we hit the final climb I was probably 20 - 25 riders back ... quite a few soon started going backwards to the point of me almost coming to a complete stop. I dug in and passed maybe 10 riders before the hill had about a 500m - 600m flat where I caught a wheel and rode on that ... he started weakening so I jumped on the next wheel ... then the next climb up the finish ... more riders were going backwards so I just hammered past them and across the line into a respectable 8th place. My legs were (are) in pieces but it was a really exciting finish ... I'm still 'not a climber' but my sprint certainly helped me get a result.
Overall I'm pleased with my first season racing ... I've managed to get to 3rd cat and learnt a lot and more importantly I've enjoyed myself. All being well I think I can get some decent results next season so will probably enter a league and see how I do.
that finishing climb is definitely a leg / lung testerSome of the route I know from our chaingang rides ... road surface is very poor in places and there is a climb up into Crayke which started taking its toll on a few riders each lap ... some managed to get back on after the subsequent drop down the hill. On the last attempt at the climb the group seemed to shrink as a few were too tired to hold on. I'd done a few turns on the front but I didn't want to waste any energy as none of the attacks were successful so I sat in on the last lap, conserving as much as possible for the brutal hill climb finish. I had ridden part of the finish (which we only rode on the last lap) during my warm up so I knew it was steep ... what I didn't know was quite how far it went.
As we hit the final climb I was probably 20 - 25 riders back ... quite a few soon started going backwards to the point of me almost coming to a complete stop. I dug in and passed maybe 10 riders before the hill had about a 500m - 600m flat where I caught a wheel and rode on that ... he started weakening so I jumped on the next wheel ... then the next climb up the finish ... more riders were going backwards so I just hammered past them and across the line into a respectable 8th place. My legs were (are) in pieces but it was a really exciting finish ... I'm still 'not a climber' but my sprint certainly helped me get a result.
Overall I'm pleased with my first season racing ... I've managed to get to 3rd cat and learnt a lot and more importantly I've enjoyed myself. All being well I think I can get some decent results next season so will probably enter a league and see how I do.
Turns out I was a bit tired, didn't help that I kept messing up the main corner and having to sprint back on!! Though two people crashed on that corner, so could have been worse.
Managed to bridge over to a small move near the end but the main front 4 had got a large lead by then, 6th for me, good workout, but was really struggling at times despite the NP being nearly 30W lower than when I won at Crystal Palace last week!
Managed to bridge over to a small move near the end but the main front 4 had got a large lead by then, 6th for me, good workout, but was really struggling at times despite the NP being nearly 30W lower than when I won at Crystal Palace last week!
Anyone race yesterday? I did a 3/4 road race in 27 degree heat. Wow, that was hot!
Only my third road race but I was happy to get round. Legs pinged at the bottom of the final climb so I rolled in at the back of the bunch. Last time I tried to ride through cramp I had concrete legs for a week! Back to the crits this week and the usual points chasing.
https://www.strava.com/activities/364961074
Only my third road race but I was happy to get round. Legs pinged at the bottom of the final climb so I rolled in at the back of the bunch. Last time I tried to ride through cramp I had concrete legs for a week! Back to the crits this week and the usual points chasing.
https://www.strava.com/activities/364961074
BadgerBenji said:
gazza285 said:
No races now until the 23rd August, round five of this year's Nutcracker XC Series.
See you there, it's time for singlespeed vs fatbike, i'm bringing the tank to the tank testing grounds, only seems appropriate 
I've beaten him three out of four, he did me at Aske, while I was busy throwing up.
Had my first crit last night in Bangor, the Northern Ireland one, finished 4th beaten to 3rd on the sprint. Got £25 for my troubles. Pretty much on the limit the whole time.
The main A1/2/3 race was cancelled after one lap, some guy took a corner way too wide and ran into the back of a parked car (in a layby) and went into the rear window. A few riders also went down because of it. The guy was cut to pieces from what I heard and taken to hospital.
It has given back the bug for racing after not bothering for few months.
The main A1/2/3 race was cancelled after one lap, some guy took a corner way too wide and ran into the back of a parked car (in a layby) and went into the rear window. A few riders also went down because of it. The guy was cut to pieces from what I heard and taken to hospital.
It has given back the bug for racing after not bothering for few months.
gazza285 said:
Wait till you see Dan Joyce, he's been on a single speed fat bike all season...
I've beaten him three out of four, he did me at Aske, while I was busy throwing up.
Stop it, that's a niche I haven't yet explored, but am tempted to.I've beaten him three out of four, he did me at Aske, while I was busy throwing up.
It's off to Brighton for me this weekend, and the Big Dog, a nice 6hr rip round the local woods.
BadgerBenji said:
gazza285 said:
No races now until the 23rd August, round five of this year's Nutcracker XC Series.
See you there, it's time for singlespeed vs fatbike, I'm bringing the tank to the tank testing grounds, only seems appropriate Both on the wrong bike for the course, both having a laugh and beating people on serious XC machines, gutted not to finish, first retirement in an age.
Well done Benji, I'll have you next time...
gazza285 said:
Both on the wrong bike for the course, both having a laugh and beating people on serious XC machines, gutted not to finish, first retirement in an age.
Well done Benji, I'll have you next time...
That about sums it up, great fun, and you can't beat riding something different.Well done Benji, I'll have you next time...
Same time next year Gaz
First thirds race at cyclopark for me today - was bricking it as I thought the pace would be much quicker than the 4ths..
Went well, legs felt ok, and kept in the bunch the whole time... There were a few attacks which got chased down pretty quick, compared with 4ths everyone just seemed a little more clued up.. Although there were still a few people not holding lines etc, which comes as no surprise!
4 to go, and my foot moved slightly, then after the hairpin... Crack... Pedal axel snapped... Tits..,
Still.. Encouraged with how I went... Pace was a little higher than the 4ths, but nothing I couldn't cope with.
Then I got to play photographer for the 4ths.. Got a few good shots of the guys in the club, so a good day all round
Roll on the next one!
Went well, legs felt ok, and kept in the bunch the whole time... There were a few attacks which got chased down pretty quick, compared with 4ths everyone just seemed a little more clued up.. Although there were still a few people not holding lines etc, which comes as no surprise!
4 to go, and my foot moved slightly, then after the hairpin... Crack... Pedal axel snapped... Tits..,
Still.. Encouraged with how I went... Pace was a little higher than the 4ths, but nothing I couldn't cope with.
Then I got to play photographer for the 4ths.. Got a few good shots of the guys in the club, so a good day all round
Roll on the next one!
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