Hillingdon Winter Series
incog24
Posts: 549
I'm thinking of heading down to a few of these to try and get my 3rd Cat before the end of the season. Does anyone know what the standard is like? I could see it going two ways, people being unfit out of season, or a load of really up for it guys wanting to do exactly the same as me!
Any information appreciated
Any information appreciated
Racing for Fluid Fin Race Team in 2012 - www.fluidfin.co.uk
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You might want to check with BC whether points gained in December count towards the current year or the following one - I seem to remember being told that they'd count towards the following year, in which case you may already be too late to get the last points you need to get 3rd cat.0
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Hmm interesting. I suppose that might be the case actually. Not a massive issue, I'll just have to focus on getting all of them in that series. Anyone got any idea about the standard?Racing for Fluid Fin Race Team in 2012 - www.fluidfin.co.uk0
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It is only 10 points anyway so win and either way your a third
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Anyone know if they'll be having any kids races beforehand? I think they did last winter, nothing showing on BC website yet.0
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First race is 5th December, 4ths start at 13.00pm. No idea whether points count to licenece this or next year, or if at all.
http://www.imperialracingteam.com/imper ... /index.htm0 -
I did this series last year and its great fun and very well organised, Only downers are weather (natch) and circuits a bit tight so need to keep wits about you.
Dont know about closing off this season but do know its a good way to get into racing as you can get enough points early on to move from 4th to 3rd,
And bit puzzled by note about lack of kids races cos they did happen last year, friend of mine sons took part (though might just have been jan onwards like earlier poster says)Martin S. Newbury RC0 -
When I entered the series which started in Dec 2007, my points in those races counted towards the 2008 season, so the points I picked up in two races in Dec 07, and two races in Jan 08 meant that I was 3rd Cat for 2008.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
I'm heading down for the 4th Cat race on the 5th. Feeling a bit nervous as my "training" regime over the last 6 months has basically involved sitting on my ass and drinking beer inbetween commutes to work
Should be a good way to kickstart winter ________________________________
Roadie: Focus Cayo - FCN 4
Commuter hack: Fixed Langster - FCN 5
Winter hack: Battered Sirrus - FCN 90 -
so- how did everybody get on?
cat 3 and 4 was chaotic. The 3's catching 4's and never really riding through/4's backing off.
Also last 2-3 laps for the 4's they'd caught the 3's back up so by the time it came the sprint- everyone was sprinting into the back of the 3's! It was a mess!
A couple of crashes in the first 5 laps, apart from that a few wobbles everybody stayed upright. Bike handling overall shocking- no news there. Hope whoever fell is ok.
how did the E12s get on?0 -
Yep, was a bit of a farce in 3/4 - I guess the commissaire needs to have a stern word with those in the 4ths race who didn't back off from the 3rds and/or DQ them if they do it again. Having said that a lot of people would have been in their first race and may not have appreciated that whilst the 3's and 4's were on the track at the same time they are two completely different races. It was pretty confusing for both groups.Ironman595 wrote:so- how did everybody get on?
cat 3 and 4 was chaotic.?
I did okay though, and it was good to see a chocker turn out - cycling is getting pretty popular these days!
p.s. Saw a few of the G.S. Henley guys out there yesterday.0 -
felgen wrote:
Yep, was a bit of a farce in 3/4 - I guess the commissaire needs to have a stern word with those in the 4ths race who didn't back off from the 3rds and/or DQ them if they do it again. Having said that a lot of people would have been in their first race and may not have appreciated that whilst the 3's and 4's were on the track at the same time they are two completely different races. It was pretty confusing for both groups.Ironman595 wrote:so- how did everybody get on?
cat 3 and 4 was chaotic.?
I did okay though, and it was good to see a chocker turn out - cycling is getting pretty popular these days!
p.s. Saw a few of the G.S. Henley guys out there yesterday.
I think the main problem with not easing up was that there was a 4/5 man break up the road when the 3rds caught up (don't think they'd been caught by that point, not sure)..
Then when they were caught and the 4ths sat up properly, a couple tried to sneak in with the 3rds.0 -
I'm a GS Henley rider... that was our first ever race with the club/kit ever...
We haven't had our official launch yet, I think Jan 9th is when we expect to have a good presence down for the series.
It'll be interesting because there are a few cat1/2 and elite standard guys that will be starting off in the cat4s...
I think if it hadn't taken so long for the 3s to pass there would have been plenty of space for our sprint- but your right, I don't think the 3s coming through had realised we didn't want to ease up because there was a break being pulled back in.
Still enjoyed it- results are through, Im sure I was top5 and I'm not even in top 10!! Definitely a confusing finish- braking the last 10m to the line from stopping myself from going into the back of the 3s must have caught me out!
See you next week!
Tom0 -
Yeah I had done some homework on GS Henley, shame you werent up and running as a club when I was living there! At least you have plenty of hills and great roads to train on round there, so I am sure you will make a good showing in January if not before.Ironman595 wrote:I'm a GS Henley rider... that was our first ever race with the club/kit ever...
Still enjoyed it- results are through, Im sure I was top5 and I'm not even in top 10!! Definitely a confusing finish- braking the last 10m to the line from stopping myself from going into the back of the 3s must have caught me out!
See you next week!
Tom
Tom, given your Box Hill time I am sure you will be contesting in the E123 soon, but its not all about going fast on your own as you just found out - luck plays a big part but if you are good enough then you will be at or around the front picking up points regularly.0 -
Very true felgen- I was feeling fresh in the last 5 laps and had spent most of the time in my small chainring just ticking over but lack of experience on the circuit let my position slip and never really knew when to sprint.
Next time I think I might go on a few breaks just for the hell of it and start "racing" rather than sitting in the group getting a half hearted workout
Who do you ride for now felgen?
We are very lucky with roads around here, plenty of climbing here- GS will be running a 10mile TT up stonor valley/Pishill next year too- I don't think theres a more challenging course around! You'll have to pop over sometime.
Cheers
Tom0 -
Ironman595 wrote:
Next time I think I might go on a few breaks just for the hell of it and start "racing" rather than sitting in the group getting a half hearted workout
ha that was my plan.. i've only done 1 race before so I thought I'd mess about a bit instead of just sitting in......
left me fairly tired by the last 3 laps though! I think that was mainly from trying to solo bridge across to that 4 man break about halfway through when they were quite far away! Fun though.0 -
tomb855- were you riding a red/black cervelo or wearing yellow?0
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Ironman595 wrote:tomb855- were you riding a red/black cervelo or wearing yellow?
No, I was wearing a red/yellow hammer nutrition jersey on a white cannondale. How about you?0 -
GS Henley (black/orange/white) on a white look 595. look forward to breaking with you next time 0
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Ironman595 wrote:
It'll be interesting because there are a few cat1/2 and elite standard guys that will be starting off in the cat4s...
confused - why would E/1/2s want to ride as 4th cats...?? Unless their entitlement has lapsed, then I think the lowest they could drop to is 3rd anyway....0 -
Softlad- They are e/1/2 "standard" but have never raced before... so starting as 4ths...
We've got the a couple of guys that finished top 2 in the cent cols this year and a few decent Ironman's, with a few doing sub 21/22min 10tt's... MIke (probably our quickest rider, did 45min up alp d'huez the end of the marmotte- but he's never raced, so he'll start in the 4ths.0 -
Ironman595 wrote:Softlad- They are e/1/2 "standard" but have never raced before... so starting as 4ths...
We've got the a couple of guys that finished top 2 in the cent cols this year and a few decent Ironman's, with a few doing sub 21/22min 10tt's... MIke (probably our quickest rider, did 45min up alp d'huez the end of the marmotte- but he's never raced, so he'll start in the 4ths.
45 mins at the end of the marmotte? Forget Hillingdon he should be in this years TDF.0 -
oldwelshman wrote:Ironman595 wrote:Softlad- They are e/1/2 "standard" but have never raced before... so starting as 4ths...
We've got the a couple of guys that finished top 2 in the cent cols this year and a few decent Ironman's, with a few doing sub 21/22min 10tt's... MIke (probably our quickest rider, did 45min up alp d'huez the end of the marmotte- but he's never raced, so he'll start in the 4ths.
45 mins at the end of the marmotte? Forget Hillingdon he should be in this years TDF.
Faster than LeMond and Hinault's best times too :roll:0 -
Yep, a fast ascent indeed, it would get him in the top 30 recorded pro times and half of them were doped up to get those times
4th to Elite or 1st cat in one season should be no problem for your man, nice one0 -
I't may have been 47min then- but it was def sub 50...
Our same man came top in the cent cols...
A qoute from Tim in 2nd, another 4th cat ... "Did nearly 2000km with over 40,000m of climbing in 74 hours of riding over 10 days."
Like felgen mentoins though and probably everone here knows better than me is that overall strength is only part of it when racing- the other half- experience/ position etc..
I'm niether experienced on at hillingdon or as strong as these guys- I'm hoping they will pull me through :oops:
slow72, are you racing this winter?0 -
You might recognise some of the riders...
http://centcolschallenge.com/challenge_updates/Challenge_updates_for_2010/0 -
sod racing in the winter - simply getting out on the bike is hard enough at this time of year...0
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Ironman595 wrote:slow72, are you racing this winter?
Nope, I live near Manchester, no one's daft enough to put RRs on this time of year up here. Cross races or the Christmas 10 TT is about it. I miss the gentler climate of the South when I'm getting p**s wet through yet again up here!
Not criticising btw, I'm no more than a chipper and never will be at 37.. but you get guys who are new to RRing who are obviously fast/fit as f**k and once they've got a bit of tactical experience and stop being a generous bunch engine they are off up the ranks pdq. As with you guys, one win at Cat 4, you're into the Cat 3 races, a few more results and you're quickly into the 2's, its good to see, means the system works and you find your level, mine is distinctly below average, hence my moniker 0 -
Ironman595 wrote:I't may have been 47min then- but it was def sub 50...
Our same man came top in the cent cols...
A qoute from Tim in 2nd, another 4th cat ... "Did nearly 2000km with over 40,000m of climbing in 74 hours of riding over 10 days."
Like felgen mentoins though and probably everone here knows better than me is that overall strength is only part of it when racing- the other half- experience/ position etc..
I'm niether experienced on at hillingdon or as strong as these guys- I'm hoping they will pull me through :oops:
slow72, are you racing this winter?
Forget experience, if this guy can do sub 50 minutes at the end of the Marmotte he should be a pro on the continent
hat as his time on the marmotte? 6hrs? Did he win it?0
