Revolution

BeaconRuth

Anyone going to the first Revolution of the new series on Saturday? Looks like a corker of an evening, hopefully somebody will report back here?

Ruth

Eddy S

I'll be there In fact, I've bought a season ticket again this year. Looks like another action packed evening with a few "new" events.

You not going Ruth?

BeaconRuth

No, I can't this time, although I should really as I've no training to do at present. Any other time of year and a late night on a Saturday is not good news.

Do they give a generous reduction per event if you buy a season ticket?

Ruth

Eddy S

A shame you can’t make it - there’s a good women’s programme as well this Sat. The late night is a pain (I’m not normally home till about 1.30) but I just train later on the Sunday.

Generous reduction? I wish! This year, the season ticket has the face value of 4 separate tickets but you only pay a single booking fee. The real benefit is being able to use the VIP entrance and avoiding the scrum at front of house! That and the prize draw that all season ticket holders are entered in to later in the Revolution season.

So, only a tiny saving but cuts out some hassle factor for me as I would go to whole series any way. I used to buy tickets for every individual event so this works for me.

But most importantly I really don’t begrudge the £10 per event - I think it’s great value for money and a great evening’s entertainment. A cheap night out. Well, other then the round trip from Oxford...! 8)

Eddy S

Well, it looks like it's down to Ruth and I to try to keep the track section alive at the moment…

And so to Revolution 17. A great evening’s racing although that was the smallest crowd I’ve ever seen. I don’t think the velodrome was 2/3rd full.

So, would you have rather stayed at home and watched the rugby or gone to see some great track racing? This is a rhetorical question BTW..

The sprints and keirin were the usual mix of youth and experience The sprint final was won by Jason Kenny, the main keirin event was won by Jamie Staff. Steven Hill’s win in the sprint qualifiers consolation One Mile dash was particularly impressive - he took some good scalps. Equally impressive in the same race was Itmar Esteban’s “save” from a pulled foot – I know that feeling all too well! The 2-up team sprints were a fabulous display of power and speed with Jason Queally and Jamie Staff taking the honours.

The endurance races were all run at fast pace, witnessed by the long lines. The 15k scratch was an absolute cracker.

The highlight of the women’s endurance racing was the points race with a good tactical ride/win by Lizzie Armitstead.

The American team gave good account of themselves with wins and featuring strongly. And of course, the DHL Future stars produced the usual close and exciting racing.

And when Magnus Backstedt and Francesco Chicchi started throwing their riding kit in to the audience at the end of the evening, I managed to ‘catch’ Francesco’s Liquigas issue glasses! 8)

Roll on Revolution 18.

BeaconRuth

Eddy S wrote:

Well, it looks like it's down to Ruth and I to try to keep the track section alive at the moment…

What a shame! There really does seem to be zero interest in track racing here - for the life of me I don't understand why road should capture so many people's imagination in comparison.

Thanks for the write-up on Revolution 17 Eddy. A massive gathering of talent and not even a full velodrome............. it does surprise me. Maybe people were watching the rugby instead, though I confess I had to ask who had won midway through the club run this morning. :oops:

Ruth

Bronzie

BeaconRuth wrote:

What a shame! There really does seem to be zero interest in track racing here

I love the track, just not much to talk about on a personal level at the mo as the season is over! Hope to be down at Welwyn next Summer to get my kickings from OldWelshMan as usual. :roll:

Hope to get along to the next Revolution.

Mog Uk

Just ordered my tickets for 17th November...

Never experienced track riding 'in the flesh' so can't wait....

tim000

hi, had my first trip to the track on sat for the revolution meeting . fantastic! :shock:

Captain Nemo

I'd love to give track riding a go. Where can you do it? I'm bedfordshire based, but I don't have a car (Hate 'em! :x ). Any places in the south east?

Bronzie

Captain Nemo wrote:

I'd love to give track riding a go. Where can you do it? I'm bedfordshire based, but I don't have a car (Hate 'em! :x ). Any places in the south east?

Closest track for us Bedfordshire Clangers is Welwyn (A1M Junction 4) - 440m outdoor tarmac track.

The track season is finished for this year, although they do run winter training sessions there on geared bikes - contact Welwyn Wheelers cycling club for details.

Track season starts early April with Monday night training sessions (track has floodlights) and the evening track league races start last Friday in April and runs thro' to early September.

You can hire track bikes from the velodrome although it's on a first come first served basis, so get there early. You will need a BC race licence (£60) to ride the track league although you can buy a day licence, at £10 a go.

I plan to ride down there next season so I can offer you a lift perhaps - PM me nearer to April and we'll see if we can work something out.

Next nearest track is Reading (which is actually Central Division's allocated track somehow), but that is a bit of a trek. The other option is to jump on the Thameslink train and go to Herne Hill in South East London. They do training sessions there every Saturday (even thro' the winter??) - see VC Londres website for details.

Anonymous

tim000 wrote:

hi, had my first trip to the track on sat for the revolution meeting . fantastic! :shock:

First one I've missed since they started and twas nowt to do with the rugby.
Will be there for the next one though.
It really is a great atmosphere at the Revolution meets , even die- hard roadie fans would get excited.
Apart from iain maybe.

velodromeorguk

www.velodrome.org.uk/revolution17.html

www.velodrome.org.uk/revphotos.html


great night, and great to see its becoming more like a superb open meeting with quality racing than an equivalent of the football friendly


recommend you all go!

Eddy S

Bronzie wrote:

I love the track, just not much to talk about on a personal level at the mo as the season is over! Hope to be down at Welwyn next Summer to get my kickings from OldWelshMan as usual. :roll:

Hope to get along to the next Revolution.

For sure, our track leagues have finished (I ride the TL at Reading) but the International season has only just started so hopefully there will be lots to talk about…

- the World Masters took place in Sydney last week
- there are still 3 Revolution meetings still to go
- the 6 Day season started this week
- there are 4 World Cup Classics events, starting next month in Sydney

and

- the Track World Championships in Manchester in March (I have already bought my tickets ).

And hopefully the BBC will continue the trend of televising the World Cups this season.

Ste_S

Did the BBC only televise the Manc World Cup round last year ? There isn't a round at Manchester this year, so not too hopefull they'll show any. Will be a shame if they don't, they do a really good job with their track cycling coverage. Maybe Eurosport will show it ? (as long as doesn't clash with MotoGP, Snooker, Bowels, Cribbage etc )

Eddy S

The BBC showed the World Cup from Manchester plus a highlights programme of the World Cup from L.A.

All of the pm sessions of the World Champs were shown on BBCi plus a highlights progamme on BBC2 on the Sunday.

I'm hopeful... 8)

suze

Looks like I missed a great night of racing, We had already made other plans and were away for the weekend, I almost persuaded Mr Suze to drive us back home so we could go to revolution.

Channel M on Sky, sometimes have a bit of coverage on their sports round up program.

Can't wait for the 17th Nov.