Race Reports 2013

2

Comments

  • johnboy183
    johnboy183 Posts: 832
    Thought I'd add my tuppenorthworth of race reports. It's a new blog so still an ongoing piece in design so please be gentle with any comments.


    And oh, it maybe a report with a slight difference........
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    First TT of the year, also first race on my new road bike :-)

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... -2013.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Raced with UK Youth, Rapha Condor JLT, Node 4 Giodarna, Maxifuel etc etc. Massive learning curve hardest race of my life. Seriously big gulf between being competitive at 2/3/4, it was very tough...

    http://www.duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk ... 2-day.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    On my return to 3/4 field, overestimated my strength and underestimated the power of my fellow riders! Forgot to use my head! and raced like a bit of a muppet to be honest!
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... ad-rr.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    DHTT wrote:
    On my return to 3/4 field, overestimated my strength and underestimated the power of my fellow riders! Forgot to use my head! and raced like a bit of a muppet to be honest!
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... ad-rr.html

    Great Blog. Have been following it the last couple of months and see a similar pattern. I'm a lot older and only in my 2nd season of RR.
    Find I'm generally bunch fodder when the elite and Domestic Pros turn up at E/1/2/3s and split the races in pieces and have made a lot of tactical errors, burning matches too early, and generally wasting energy in 2/3/4 races costing me points and placings. Just have to try and learn from the mistakes and not keep making them week after week.
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    Agreed, I've done a few of them and the gap between some of the top guys and a decent 1st cat are large. I've been blogging quite a bit of late, in my sig below if anyone is bored. Managed to win this weekend for the first time in bloody ages!
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    I've learnt from most of my mistakes, just need everything to click on one day and It might materialise into a win. Luckily the big races are still to come.

    Good work on your win Okgo I read about it on BC then hunted down your blog to hear your report which Im just about to catch up on!
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    okgo wrote:
    Agreed, I've done a few of them and the gap between some of the top guys and a decent 1st cat are large. I've been blogging quite a bit of late, in my sig below if anyone is bored. Managed to win this weekend for the first time in bloody ages!
    Good work Rob. I work with one of the guys who was in the group up front that got reeled in toward the end.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjFqi63clp4
    He ended up 6th, and I think 3rd in the time trial the day before.
    Rose Xeon CW Disc
    CAAD12 Disc
    Condor Tempo
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    Jack?

    Good little vid :)
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    okgo wrote:
    Jack?

    Good little vid :)

    That's the chap.
    http://app.strava.com/activities/53641223
    Rose Xeon CW Disc
    CAAD12 Disc
    Condor Tempo
  • alwaysapleasure
    alwaysapleasure Posts: 8
    now that all 3 of us are racing plenty of reports going up at www.hamiltonwheelers.cc amongst other stuff, I have been slacking (even more) since I moved to the North West though....
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... unior.html
    Raced the Divisional Championship on Sunday 10/11th didn't take the risks for the reward and got mullered in the sprint, should have believed and gone do or die. More lessons
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • GiantMike
    GiantMike Posts: 3,139
    19 May - NW Regional Champs

    Did the 55 mile race, was always looking good for a top 10 placing, 55.4 miles in and 50m to go at about 32-34 mph with a cheeky tailwind. Got hit hard from my right rear, taking me down in front of most of the chasing pack. At this point I passed out, but my wife, who watched the whole thing, tells me I was conscious throughout, so must just be concussion.

    Once down I collected about 10 more riders, some hitting me, some hitting my bike. I don't know whether it was the fall or subsequent impacts that broke my right collarbone, but I'm glad I can't remember it.

    Damage:

    Right collarbone broken
    Deep cut to right knee and elbow
    Deep cut above right eye, below eyebrow and sexy black eye
    Road rash on right thigh and calf, right arm, both shoulders and right hand, nose, cheek, top lip

    Front and back wheels damaged beyond repair, shifters trashed, chain missing. Frame cracked, but the seat's OK. About £800 worth of damage.

    Jersey trashed, shorts torn, gloves shredded and helmet broken. The helmet saved my life. Even with the helmet I have a graze on my head where the force transferred through it. About £130 worth of damage.

    I'll probably be off work for 3 weeks and off cycling for 3 months.
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    Shit Mike, that’s nasty. Hope you make a speedy recovery.

    I did the Central div champs and was 20th for 1 point. There was a crash in our race too, three guys from the leading group had to carry their bikes over the line to get placed
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    That sucks Mike, hope you have a good recovery and back on bike soon.

    Another addition this time some midweek road racing:

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... -race.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    3rd Place last night.

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/p/s ... nsors.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    The closest road race to me: http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... -e123.html

    Last race before Nationals :-)
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Did my first road race of the season today in the Climb on Bikes Road Race in Hereford. I wasn't holding out much hope as I got dropped at the second corner when I rode this two years ago and I have been riding so badly lately I cancelled all my applications for other races. As it was I made it easily passed where I got dropped last time and was moving up ready for the slight drag that constituted the prime hill when a rider in front of me he one of the numerous potholes and went down taking another rider with him. I thought I was going to just get around but a stray bike came into my path and I ended up attempting a full somersault with the bike but managed to land on my head instead of my feet. The first rider down had some nasty cuts on his knees and I picked up a deep chainring cut under my knee, road rash on my shoulder and took chunks of skin off my finger tips. Helmet took most of the initial impact and cracked in several places but the bike is in surprisingly good condition at first glance, just knocked an STI lever out of position, shredded the gear cable and a few scratches but will get it properly checked.

    This crash after 5 miles (after several earlier near misses) was the first of several caused by potholes. The race itself was pretty uneventful with no breaks getting a significant gap but with a couple of miles to go there was a huge pile up which a few riders said was the biggest they'd seen. It happened about 6 riders from the front so affected nearly everyone. About 25 riders managed to negotiate the carnage to form some kind of bunch sprint up the finish climb and the race was won by Luke Churchus of Gannet CC.

    5 riders were taken to hospital from the final crash and it even made it onto the Radio 5 traffic news as I was driving home as the road had to be closed. I have to say that although only a few miles from my normal routes the roads were in abysmal condition by comparison. Add that to the cars coming in the opposite direction to the race barely slowing down and pretty poor riding (people moving up on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic, failure to warn those behind of potholes) and it makes me appreciate how lucky we are across the border. It's a shame as I really like the course and the organisation is good but the promoter is let down by a Council not maintaining the roads to a safe standard and the lack of powers given to the NEG and marshalls in that police force area.
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Last weekend was the National Championships, extremely well organised by Matt Winston and CDNW. Mixed feelings from the race, big lessons learnt, some very positive experience drawn. Now to use my head!!

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... zonby.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Nice blog Duncan. Enjoy the Junior Tour of Wales, it's a great race with an impressive list of ex-participants on some proper racing roads (if you didn't ride last year).
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Will be my first time this year. Should be good looking forward to it. Managed to gain my upgrade to 2nd Cat this week:

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... d-cat.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • thedomestique
    thedomestique Posts: 12
    Here is the race report in video form. What say you?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6quL5xneAjs

    When you have a teammate up the road, people have different opinions.

    - Never be on the front, let others do ALL the work, OR...
    - BE on the front as much as possible, setting a false tempo, OR...
    - Something else?!
  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    Season goal 2nd cat done this week.

    Been a good mix of Reg B 3/4 races and Reg A 2/3/4 races where I've picked up my points. Have been consistent with top 5 and top 10's regularly but nothing spectacular like a win anywhere. 3rd place being my best this season. Still bunch fodder in the E/1/2/3 races but happy to move up to 2nd just over half way through my 2nd season road racing. Will need to make the most of it as a recent Vet 40 with 2 kids starting to get their own hobbies it may be forced retirement for this guy in the next couple of years.
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    Nearly got 1st cat now, hopefully open up a few weekends to go some more TT's.

    Lots of write ups in there since last time, did a stage race this weekend gone, was good fun.
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Have been in Belgium for just over a week now, in this time I have raced 3 Kermesses, the organisation is brilliant, the races cost 10 euros but you get 5 back when you hand your number back in. Plus prize money down to 30th alongside Primes most laps going through Town Centres with proper crowds and barriers and even some crowds out in the Cornfields etc it makes a really good atmosphere. If anyone is thinking about coming out here I wouldn't hesitate.

    My first race was a DNF after 2 1/2 laps riding 1 legged, thanks to riding over a farm track which started to swallow my bike and everything was covered in mud I managed to clean my bike but forgot about cleats!

    The 2nd race I got 43rd , with riders from the USA, Belgium and Malaysian national team the level was high, the course was pretty flat but exposed, a split went of about 9 riders, then another of 10, I missed these and spent a lot of time trying to jump off the front of the whittled down bunch to get across but to no avail. We got our bell lap and I decided to try and get off the front, this worked for about a mile stringing it out but I was caught. I managed to deck it with about 2 miles to go as my front wheel slid out from underneath me, I rode to the finish to place.

    Yesterday, I headed to Bambrugge for a kermesse, the course was quite lumpy, at least in Belgium terms, with 2 sections of climbing, followed by some fast descents dead turns and double S bend sections, the race stayed mostly together with a couple of guys chipping off the front in 1 or 2s, unfortunately enough of these went away to form a larger group which ended up with 15 riders up the road, I was in the 2nd group and biding my time as I could see guys around me fading but I was coming good. On the bell lap I followed a move on the long straight, before drilling it up the climb and 3 of us got away opening up a gap with 2 just ahead. I pulled some pretty big turns bringing the 2 up ahead to within catching distance in the sprint, I messed up my line through the last corner so ruined my chance in the sprint, I put in a good sprint but it was too little to late. But I placed 20th, enough to make take some prize money.
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Got stuck in again today, lots of time in the gutter, some bad luck and positioning and a lot of pain:

    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.be/2013/0 ... messe.html
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • krisjj100
    krisjj100 Posts: 9
    Hope racing in Belgium is still going well! Im interested in going sometime! How difficult/easy is it to race over there. e,g to enter the races on the british licence and cost for the overall trip? etc
  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Hi Kris,

    Got a 32nd yesterday in a field of 80ish, a good hilly circuit, with a cobbled climb into the bottom. Its quite easy to enter, the races you get your letter of permission from BC, then if you're a Junior/Youth will need to buy a Kalender Card at 12 euro, at your first race you need to buy a Belgian licence again 10-12 euro. Each race is 5 euro, but you pay 10 and get 5 back when you hand your number in, the prizes run pretty deep though 30-40th depending on race, so 2 races I've made my entry back. So far the trips cost me around 100 euros for the 2 weeks, but I got dropped over here by my family and they used it to get a holiday in france for a week and the same on back. But you can flights into Brussels return for about 160. I've been pretty careful with my money, if you can get out there go for it, the fields harder, races more aggressive but you can into the swing of it after a few.
    http://duncanheywood.blogspot.com/
  • krisjj100
    krisjj100 Posts: 9
    Sounds good! thinking about going at the start of next season or if im lucky end of august this year, would be great experience. A few of guys i heard that went over stayed in a hostel for weekend. what about where youre staying, not too expensive? seeing as you're spending around 100 EU a week. The accomodation is the bit im worried about, as i wouldnt know where to stay, because the races sound good and do not cost as much as over here!
  • bartek78
    bartek78 Posts: 1
    Hello everyone! I would like to invite you to the first edition of the cycling race "Cyclo Gdynia". This is the first event of this kind in Poland cycling, fully professionally prepared. During one event on the same day there will be three separate races. 40km for beginners, 110km for advanced and intermediate amateurs and 160 km for advanced amateurs. The longest distance also take off all Polish professional groups. Everyone can find something interesting and suitable for everyone. Route 120 and 160 passes through the beautiful hilly terrain. Start and finish are at the center of town - Gdynia, where he also held a great feast for the fans. Details can be found on our website: http://www.cyklogdynia.pl
    You have a very good connection flights to Gdansk from London. If you would be interested in, we can help provide you transportation and accommodation. I think it's worth can come to us for a little longer, for a few days.
    If you have any questions - feel free, I will answer everything you want to know.

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