what is closed circuit

jonod777

what is closed circuit raceing

jibberjim

Racing on a closed circuit (ie not the open road) Often custom built race circuits, but also airfields or other similar tracks.

walsht1105

jonod777 wrote:

what is closed circuit raceing

Answer: Rubbish

Pseudonym

walsht1105 wrote:

jonod777 wrote:

what is closed circuit raceing

Answer: Rubbish

do you mean you're 'rubbish' at it..? I actually quite enjoy closed circuits...there's usually more room...

racingcondor

I also really enjoy it (although living in London there are plenty of opportunities).

As others have said, racing on a (often) specifically built non-road circuit (usually around a mile per lap). Examples are (I've used these circuits as examples because they have track lay outs on the web sites) -

http://www.redbridgecyclingcentre.co.uk/
http://www.cyclopark.com/about/interactive-map.aspx

markos1963

Pseudonym wrote:

walsht1105 wrote:

jonod777 wrote:

what is closed circuit raceing

Answer: Rubbish

do you mean you're 'rubbish' at it..? I actually quite enjoy closed circuits...there's usually more room...

Same here, we are lucky up here as we have the Lotus Race series on wednesday evenings at the Lotus test track so lovely, smooth fast and flat race track with no cars to worry about and any line you like through the bends

CYCLESPORT1

If you are in the the North West Oulton Park is a good one

Herbsman

Pseudonym wrote:

walsht1105 wrote:

jonod777 wrote:

what is closed circuit raceing

Answer: Rubbish

do you mean you're 'rubbish' at it..? I actually quite enjoy closed circuits...there's usually more room...

I love it for that reason, and the almost negligible risk of potentially fatal motor vehicle collisions means it's almost stress-free.

On the other hand, it's a bit boring going around the same 1.5 mile motorbike circuit 30 times. I'd choose a nice 20 mile countryside loop over a closed circuit any day of the week. Even the hard races are pleasant just because of the nice surroundings, whereas there's not much to distract you from the hurt during a closed circuit race.

jonod777

Ii live in nottingham

CYCLESPORT1

Darly Moor (nr Ashborne) for you them

jonod777 wrote:

Ii live in nottingham

Pross

Herbsman wrote:

Pseudonym wrote:

walsht1105 wrote:

jonod777 wrote:

what is closed circuit raceing

Answer: Rubbish

do you mean you're 'rubbish' at it..? I actually quite enjoy closed circuits...there's usually more room...

I love it for that reason, and the almost negligible risk of potentially fatal motor vehicle collisions means it's almost stress-free.

On the other hand, it's a bit boring going around the same 1.5 mile motorbike circuit 30 times. I'd choose a nice 20 mile countryside loop over a closed circuit any day of the week. Even the hard races are pleasant just because of the nice surroundings, whereas there's not much to distract you from the hurt during a closed circuit race.

Out of interest how many fatal (or even serious) accidents involving motor vehicles have there been in UK amateur road races in the past 20 years?

My biggest worry is that the relative ease of organising closed circuit and increase in purpose built cycling circuits could see the end to racing on the road. They certainly have their place but my own preference is for road racing especially as the closed circuits in South Wales are rubbish with the main 3 being two motor racing circuits and an outdoor velodrome which account for about half of all races. Of course, you can have closed circuit races on a traditional town centre crit course but these are few and far between now due to the costs and red tape involved setting them up. It would be quite good to set up a closed road race somwhere like Epynt ranges where you could have a decent length circuit on traffic free proper roads which they do for a few rallies each year.

DavidJB

You would hope that BC are using the increased interest in cycling (and presumably membership fees) to work with councils to get more closed road races on the cards and to reduce the red tape or setting one up!

Herbsman

DavidJB wrote:

You would hope that BC are using the increased interest in cycling (and presumably membership fees) to work with councils to get more closed road races on the cards and to reduce the red tape or setting one up!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Raci ... 8005595054

Tom Dean

Herbsman wrote:

On the other hand, it's a bit boring going around the same 1.5 mile motorbike circuit 30 times. I'd choose a nice 20 mile countryside loop over a closed circuit any day of the week. Even the hard races are pleasant just because of the nice surroundings, whereas there's not much to distract you from the hurt during a closed circuit race.

If you're admiring the countryside you can't be hurting that much!

Herbsman

Honestly, for me even the hardest road races are more bearable than the easiest circuit races for that reason.

KnightOfTheLongTights

re. road races: how many are closed to traffic? - is it just the more high-profile or elite events?

jibberjim

Almost none. In Essex and Wales though marshalls are allowed to stop traffic, so they are generally pretty closed.

However as long as you are in the break, or in the bunch, then cars are a complete irrelevance as the convoy shields you from everything pretty much, especially if the NEG are out. The problem only comes if you're off the back, or between the bunch and the break if the bunch has a big lead, when you can sometimes get bugged by cars. If you're off the back and it's not a stage race though, it really doesn't matter much, cars to help you get back on are probably your only hope.

KnightOfTheLongTights

jibberjim wrote:

However as long as you are in the break, or in the bunch, then cars are a complete irrelevance as the convoy shields you from everything pretty much, especially if the NEG are out.

Ok I understand, bit like the club chaingang, I rarely notice the traffic except at junctions.
NEG?

CakeLovinBeast

National Escort Group (or something like that): Marshals on Motorbikes

KnightOfTheLongTights

gotcha, cheers.

walsht1105

Herbsman wrote:

Honestly, for me even the hardest road races are more bearable than the easiest circuit races for that reason.

This is why I find closed circuit rubbish, the repetition of going around the same points over and over just adds to the pain of the already painful racing.. its a pyschology thing, I find knowing I'm only doing 6 laps easy to swallow than thinking I'm doing 30!

My corner isn't the best either so this adds to my dislike of closed circuit, but with races like Salt Ayre, Pimbo and other technically easy closed circuit/industrial est. races cornering isn't the main reason why I dislike them..

Each to there own though :-)

markos1963

walsht1105 wrote:

Herbsman wrote:

Honestly, for me even the hardest road races are more bearable than the easiest circuit races for that reason.

This is why I find closed circuit rubbish, the repetition of going around the same points over and over just adds to the pain of the already painful racing.. its a pyschology thing, I find knowing I'm only doing 6 laps easy to swallow than thinking I'm doing 30!

My corner isn't the best either so this adds to my dislike of closed circuit, but with races like Salt Ayre, Pimbo and other technically easy closed circuit/industrial est. races cornering isn't the main reason why I dislike them..

Each to there own though :-)

This is why I like closed circuit racing, the tighter the course the better as my cornering skills are pretty good and it's my only opportunity to put any pressure on the pack.