Boxing day race - Am I mad?

terongi

I have never raced before. Done lots of cyclosportifs including Etape 07. Been out twice on club runs.

I would like to have a go at bunch racing. There is a boxing day race at Hillingdon. I sort of fancy just turning up and having a go.

Is this crazy? Is winter racing much different from spring/summer?

Should I go to training sessions at Hillingdon first and wait for the spring racing season to start?

dbg

Barking

andyp

If you want to try it do so - the worst that can happen is that you get dropped. That's happened at some point to every cyclist in the history of the sport so there is no shame to be had.

In my experience it's only the super keen who race through the winter so the competition might be fierce.

Bronzie

terongi wrote:

Should I go to training sessions at Hillingdon first and wait for the spring racing season to start?

The training sessions may help you get a feel for racing in a bunch - can be a bit of a shock to the system to start with :shock:

But why not have a go - just hope all the others that turn up have had too much Xmas pud and go easy on you :P

terongi

Bronzie wrote:

can be a bit of a shock to the system to start with :shock:

What is likely to be a shock to my system?

Anonymous

terongi wrote:

Bronzie wrote:

can be a bit of a shock to the system to start with :shock:

What is likely to be a shock to my system?

Riding shoulder to shoulder eyesballs out with a bunch of hungover kamikazi nutters.

spen666

dbg wrote:

Barking

No, I'm sure he said it was at Hillingdon. I don't think there is a circuit at Barking

Nelson Longflap

I have a feeling that the Boxing Day and New Year's Day races at Hillingdon will be well attended, because everybody will be thinking the same - that nobody will bother turning up and there might be easy points up for grabs!

phil s

If you have no experience of racing in a bunch at speed and have only been on two club runs then I suggest you gain some more experience first. The 4th cats at Hillingdon tends to be a jittery affair at the best of times, add in cold and possibly wet weather and it's not an ideal introduction to racing.
Have a look on londoncyclesport and find the link to the Dunton training sessions and the new training sessions at the Royals. Surrey League also do beginner training stuff. far wiser to do this than put yourself and others at risk. Racing is far tougher than it looks, nothing at all like a club ride or cyclosportif.

phil s

Hi terongi, didn't want to sound negative in my previous post and I could have taken the time to post some links so here goes -

The Royals - from this Saturday for training:
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/1/UTN/1201/last/1/V/6/SP/

Surrey League training events:
http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/powerpack/nov11-25-07.htm

Ciclos Uno training at Dunton:
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news/article.asp?UAN=3496&SP=&v=1

And you could always PM me to see if I am training - usually in Regents Park, or on the hills nearby - and if you're around when I'm around then I can try and show you a thing or two... I am doing most of the E12 racing this winter at Hillingdon.

vermooten

Yes, utterly mad - do it!

Shavedlegs

The Hillingdon Winter Series was my first introduction to racing. It got me hooked. I've raced at quite a few circuits and accidents have happened in places you wouldn't think possible. On the whole I've be surprised at how safe bunch riding is.

I'd say go for it. I also got my first points at the Boxing day race, a few years ago now.

Thinking about it, some friends and I may be there, let us know and we can take you round the circuit.

Monty Dog

Yup, there's plenty of first cats who get all their points riding the winter series at Hillingdon....put them in a real race though?

phil s

Not sure that's truly fair any more. Sure it's not a full summer field but when you have the likes of Dowsett, Pickup and Streather it's not a bad field

Shavedlegs

I don't believe there are any easy points. Unless the field is tiny you still have to beat a number of your peers, so you've proven to be one of the best on the day.

I got in a break with Jason Streather and Henry Furniss for my points, both very good riders in my book. So it wasn't necessarily a weak field, I was in the right place at the right time.

I got comprehensively out sprinted by the way!

Back on the subject, most 4th Cat races are going to be a little jittery by there nature. Don't be put off, racing is fantastic fun and I'm sure you'll come out of stronger and with a story to tell.

I train all year and only get to race about 5 or 6 times, still seems worth it.

nolf

I'd say that would be a good introduction to racing.

It won't be as serious as later season races, as just after christmas people will be feeling happy (also quite possibly hung over), so might give you a chance to score points, or at least finish within the group.

It's a good opportunity to get rid of the calories accumulated over christmas, and that evening you have an excuse to pig yourself with leftovers as you've been racing

Enjoy!

oldwelshman

Hi Terongi how's things?
Glad your looking to get into racing, I remember you rode with us for while in the Cotswolds.
The only thing I wold say is do not do it if it is raining, some of the riders there are bad enough in the dry !!
nless of corse you have an old bike you can se and don't worry if you crash
If the weather is dry I will probably do a cople of the winter ones.