The Race Reports Thread

Toks

Were you there

3/4 th cats SERRL Event 8 Benenden/Cranbrook

http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB ... f=4&t=9184

jibberjim

Bronzie wrote:

I'm doing this one - looks like a few fast 2nd cats on the start sheet so I shall be hoping to make the finish. The circuit is not super hard, couple of draggy climbs is all, but if (when) it all kicks off, I shall no doubt be hanging off the back breathing out of my Assos. Say "Hi" if you see me there

I was there - well not hanging off the back, when I got dropped, I got well and trully dropped, there was no hanging, I was just broken. However I lasted 98minutes, and all but the last 7km in the main group, and had even found myself trying to bridge to a break that ended up away until the last few yards.

The full report is on the Kingston Wheelers forum.

Sorry I didn't get to say Hi Bronzie - how did you go?

Bronzie

jibberjim wrote:

Sorry I didn't get to say Hi Bronzie - how did you go?

Rubbish - ended up chasing the bunch for most of the race in a group of 20 or so fellow dropees - just wasn't ready for the early pace from a cold start (should've warmed up better). Think we finished about 5-6 mins down on the leaders, but it was a damn good workout so not a total waste of time.

On the up-side, my mate got 4th 8)

Reading your report, it doesn't sound like you'll be a 4th cat too long - if you are strong enough to hang with the 2nd cats that were riding today, a good placing in a 3/4 race shouldn't be beyond you.

jibberjim

Bronzie wrote:

Reading your report, it doesn't sound like you'll be a 4th cat too long - if you are strong enough to hang with the 2nd cats that were riding today, a good placing in a 3/4 race shouldn't be beyond you.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm pretty gutted losing it just 6km from the end, but yep pretty happy overall.

I certainly enjoyed my first foray with the higher cats, and it definately gave me confidence, it also showed me how different the races were. In the 4 circuit races, there's just not been the pace to cause any real damage, but today the first 15 minutes after neutralised start we averaged over 25mph despite the hills/headwind.

Toks

A brilliant effort Jim, I agree with Bronzie. You definitley won't be a 4th cat for long if you race smartly!

Here's a race report from National Paracycling championships. He's easily the best poster on the "Training Forum" . Its all round Power Guru, Alex Simmons

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/

Dess1e

Cheers for the warning Bronzie, unfortunately I didn't revisit this thread until today. Surely it is not beyond BC's remit to update the fecking on-line calendar when advised of changes :twisted: I thought TLI were supposed to be the amateurs?

don key

Bronzie wrote:

If either of you do decide to ride, be aware that it's not at the Millbrook test track as advertised but on the Astwood-North Crawley circuit (4 laps/45 miles). HQ at Cranfield Uni MK43 0BL - 11.30 start.

It was even harder than Hillingdon tonight, obsolete nightmare. You missed nothing.

Alex_Simmons/RST

Here's a write up on the world masters hour record set by a client of mine the other week:
http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2009/05/ ... power.html

DaveyL

That's a great write-up Alex, and many congratulations to both rider and coach I look forward to picking through some of the other articles you link to in that write-up.

Very sorry to hear about Jayson's incident - here's hoping for a speedy recovery. Coupled with the news of a rider being killed in a TT here in the UK on Sunday, it's currently making me very depressed about riding out there on the open roads.

hammerite

jibberjim wrote:

Bronzie wrote:

Reading your report, it doesn't sound like you'll be a 4th cat too long - if you are strong enough to hang with the 2nd cats that were riding today, a good placing in a 3/4 race shouldn't be beyond you.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm pretty gutted losing it just 6km from the end, but yep pretty happy overall.

I certainly enjoyed my first foray with the higher cats, and it definately gave me confidence, it also showed me how different the races were. In the 4 circuit races, there's just not been the pace to cause any real damage, but today the first 15 minutes after neutralised start we averaged over 25mph despite the hills/headwind.

Are the results anywhere online? I've tried searching but to no avail.

Bronzie

hammerite wrote:

Are the results anywhere online? I've tried searching but to no avail.

Not yet - will appear on the BC website eventually I guess. I can't understand why some results take so long to appear whilst others are up within 24 hours, but the men's race very much played second fiddle to the women's racing (which makes a nice change I guess).

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon

First ever road race today and it was a very good learning curve. I got boxed in after the final climb, but to be honest I didn't have the legs for a sprint finish anyway! I still finished in the lead group though, so quite happy with that. The speed of it was a shock, including the neutralised start we averaged 24mph, which was quicker than I expected of a cat 3/4 race.

hammerite

Anyone do the Ashwell race today?

Bronzie

hammerite wrote:

Anyone do the Ashwell race today?

Did the 4th cat race - were you riding as well?

hammerite

Bronzie wrote:

hammerite wrote:

Anyone do the Ashwell race today?

Did the 4th cat race - were you riding as well?

No, nowhere near "bike" fit enough to race. I hardly rode the bike all winter/spring due to marathon training (no time!). I got my timings all wrong and just about got to the finish to watch the end of the 4th cat race - how did you do?

I was planning to do a few circuits in the opposite direction to watch the other race, but the rain came down so I hid in the club house for 90mins or so popping out as the race went past.

Now the marathon training is done I may do some specific training to race towards the end of the summer, but most probably work over Autumn/Winter ready to kick off next spring.

Bronzie

hammerite wrote:

I got my timings all wrong and just about got to the finish to watch the end of the 4th cat race - how did you do?

Finished at the back of the bunch - my climbing is pants so a hilltop finish doesn't really suit me..................in fact, thinking about it, not sure what type of finish does suit me.

nolf

Did a local TLI race on Tuesday that was rather fun.

Started in the first group as a friend of mine is new and I thought he would apprecaite some company (it usually comes together anyway). Half way through the first lap a farily strong guy comes to the front and puts some power down, I'm sitting on his wheel and before we know it we're in a breakaway.

We start working well together and the 2 of us build a good few minutes lead. I grab the first intermediate sprint at the end of lap 2 from him, and we keep going until we see a large group chasing us down and decide to sit up and wait about half way through lap 4.

Sit in with the bunch and then we roll onwards keeping a good pace. had a go at the second intermediate sprint at the end of lap 4 but was quite tired so didn't place.

Group worked well with a good chaingang going. Half way through lap 5 I was giving it some over one of the small hills and unfortunately as it strung out 2 guys near the back collided. Fairly nasty as one of them broke a collarbone, and they were still there when we came around for lap 6.

Final lap and I had a go at the bunch sprint, led it out too early though and got passed near the line, held on for 4th place though. Well chuffed.

timmjackson

Tim here
if this is who i think it is u did tt on thursday beat me by 2 secs.You got any replies to your transport problems?
R u riding tt next week ?
/ cheers

nolf

Hey Tim, yes it is me, I was wearing University of York team kit and I saw you at the TT as well.

Heh, thats pretty damn close! Was good to see you out again. Probably not next week as I usually do a Thursday night chaingang that starts just outside cycleworks York. I'll probably do the next flat 10 though.

Thanks for asking, luckily we have pretty much managed to sort it out. A friend of mine has managed to get his car fixed so he should be able to give us lifts to most events.

Hopefully I'll bump into you at some point soon.
My next event is actually some of the local sportives, are you doing any of them?

Toks

More reports

How to set your Junior team up for a stage race win
http://addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/vi ... f=4&t=9358
How to ensure your club sprinter wins a Handicap race
http://addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/vi ... f=4&t=9322
How to survive a good kicking when the Big Boys come to play at Hillingdon
http://addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/vi ... f=4&t=9302
How to get dropped at Palace. See The Merckx Files blog link below

jibberjim

Ah that reminds me, I raced Hillingdon on Tuesday. Quick report

Got soaked riding up there, pleased to find two team mates in the 4ths race, small field, very strong gusty wind, but from an unusual direction, basically blowing ride across the big sweeping bend immediately after the start/finish line.

Scheduled for 1:15, and with good light, I figured it would, a few attempts at getting a break early on, and I spent a fair bit of time sitting on the front soft pedalling letting people get some gaps. But then after about 20 minutes, one of the strong juniors in the race went down in the windy section, it was behind me so I don't know the details, but an ambulance appeared on the circuit shortly afterwards.

At one point the strong sigma sport girl had the length of the hill on the group, with me still soft pedalling on the front letting her get away when I noticed a big speedy attack coming past and I jumped on - new peak power record - only to hear the shouts from behind pointing out that I was jumping on some Rapha Condor guy from the E123 race... so I sat up rats...

'cos the of the ambulance being only just off the circuit I'm sure, and it not being a good idea if the E123 bunch passed us there, the race was cut short and after about 40minutes we got a 2lap warning. I was in thte middle of the pack, moved up, no-one was willing to do anything and it was still really slow, decided I didn't really want to be in a sprint and just led out most of the last lap gently ramping it up until a sprightly young kid came from 2 back just into the hill for the win.

I couldn't get motivated at all for a sprint and I rolled in in 12th, I should've done more in the sprint - at the very least I could've held a place in the points, or done a proper lead out for the team-mate who came 6th, but the shortening of the race just through me all off.

A hard ride home and a 7km run straight after, had me feeling a bit better about the days work, but I just saved myself way too much in the actual race.

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

Didn't know this thread was here... In fact I only noticed this whole forum section existed until a few days ago.

My own wee race report now up on my website:

http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk/2009/Edin ... e2009.html



Cheers, Andy

le_patron

Beat Stephen Roche in a bike race today . That's it, my career is complete, I need to retire.

jibberjim

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Didn't know this thread was here... In fact I only noticed this whole forum section existed until a few days ago.

Great write up, and very generous of you to lead out your team-mate like that, sacrificing your own shot at glory just for him. Normally it's every man for himself in the 4th cats ;-)

Toks

andrewgturnbull wrote:

I was still buzzing when I got home at midnight!

I'm still buzzing from your great write up. Where have you been mate? This thread's been around for ages. Chapeau on your ride

Toks

le patron wrote:

Beat Stephen Roche in a bike race today . That's it, my career is complete, I need to retire.

Is that it? Where's the report?

le_patron

Toks wrote:

le patron wrote:

Beat Stephen Roche in a bike race today . That's it, my career is complete, I need to retire.

Is that it? Where's the report?

Sorry, http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/d ... s-it-21825

From my more lowly perspective....I started in the first group (Cat 4's), stayed away for about an hour, even won a couple of primes before a pro triathlete and the two Sigma Sport guys (who came 1st and 2nd) came by. Lasted a lap with Sigma Sport before they burned me off. Soft pedalled until the remnants of the first chasing group came by and jumped on. Stephen Roche eventually got picked off by the devil near the end, but it was thrilling to be fighting for his wheel coming out of the corners (and visa versa) . Couldn't believe I was in the same race as him. I survived the devil, but with one lap to go my group was lapped (except for a couple who had got away).

Didn't see any of the vaunted Hot Chilee women's team, I was expecting them to mercilessly chase us down, but never saw them.

Maybe came 8th I think after an uphill finish, so pleased as there were Cat 2's etc in my group. But I mainly rode it for novelty value and it was great fun. Good long circuit and fantastic weather.

Edited to add a pic link, shows me between the two Sigma Sports (briefly )

Toks

le patron wrote:

[Couldn't believe I was in the same race as him. I survived the devil, but with one lap to go my group was lapped (except for a couple who had got away).
.

Cool, well done

jimycooper

well i waas in a track race with sean yates 2 weeks ago was ahead of him for about 30 seconds aswell

maryka

Raced yesterday in Derbyshire as part of the Surrey League team in the women's Team Series. Nice and hilly, suited me quite well, though my lack of tactical experience and bad positioning again caught me out and I missed the break. Not sure I could have stayed with them had I got on (full of 1st cats and strong riders) but I would have tried my damnedest anyway!

Instead I drilled some legs in the bunch during the last lap on the hills and tried to tire out the remaining sprinters to give me a chance at some points at the finish. Came 15th out of 50 in the end, good for a single point -- my first in a road race. Better than nothing I guess.

Need to work on confidence, timing, and positioning for the next one... my ability to power away from the bunch on my own is pretty limited but I know I can work hard once I'm in a break to keep us from being chased down. Wish we had some longer races in the women's series, as my legs only seem to get going after an hour and the more laps we have, the better I get relative to my competitors. Maybe I need to take up 100mile time trials... oh wait, that's what I'll be doing in the Ironman. Speaking of which, after next week's SE women's RR champs, I'll be full-on TT bike for a few months getting ready for Ironman Lake Placid, so road racing will get a break til later in the summer.

BC report here, my full report here.