I completed my first Road Race on Saturday and achieved what I set out to do, i.e stay upright and finish with the bunch. There were several small breakaways that were all reeled back in so I was there at the end and not right at the back. It was 14 laps of Thruxtons 2.35 mile circuit and average speed was 23mph , 22.6 as per computer, but it's nice to round it up :-) The race was staged by "Omega Circuit Races" and I think there's another on June 14th. I entered as a private entry, not having a club at the moment, paid 12pds for a day licence and 13pds for the race. The youngsters went out at 1000 , 3rd and 4th cats at 1030 ( 3rds a minute or two before the 4ths ). e/1/2's at 1230. Training - for those interested... Since January I've had about 5 Sunday outings with the guys from a popular cycle shop in Sutton, Surrey and two Saturdays chain-ganging in Richmond Park, plus the commuting. The race wasn't easy, but then again I had no idea what to expect. We warmed up in the paddock area for about 15mins then onto the track and seemed to set off for the first two laps at a speed I thought I wouldn't be able to maintain but then things settled down and the nerves disappeared. On lap 9 I was wondering if I'd be able to finish but the changing pace of the race gave opportunities to get your breath back. Thruxton is relatively flat and the only rise/slope ( it's not a hill ) is towards the finish. Bike - I used my one and only Bob Jackson 531 , minus mudguards. My commuting tyres have had a couple of thousand London miles in them so
I borrowed my sons Vuelta? front wheel and his rear tyre and inner tube (didn't want to risk chain skipping with his newish rear sprocket). i wore a plain short sleeved top ( ithink plain is preferred if you don't have a club top ) plus long base layer underneath. I ate my 4oz of Jordans oat thingie cereal about 0730 then a banana at 0930. I had about a cup full of my half orange/water/ drink about the same time and finished the rest during the race. Cake and coffee afterwards. 70-ish minutes from SW London ( down a3/m25/a303 ) meant all the Saturday wasn't taken up with my new pastime :-)
I completed my first Road Race on Saturday and achieved what I set out to do, i.e stay upright and finish with the bunch. There were several small breakaways that were all reeled back in so I was there at the end and not right at the back. It was 14 laps of Thruxtons 2.35 mile circuit and average speed was 23mph , 22.6 as per computer, but it's nice to round it up :-)
Interesting.
At the height of my training last year for the Raid Pyrenees, I could average 16.72 MPH on my 13.66 mile daily training run along the bendy Thames Path and up the hill in Greenwich Park on a mountain bike with road tires. On the flat, around the Millennium Dome, I could get up to 35 MPH in either direction - although that section is less than 1000 yards.
Now, if I can average over 16 MPH on a mountain bike on a less than ideal track in London, what might I be able to achieve on a good road bike on a proper track with other cyclists for slip stream support? -- remove remove to reply
davep <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I completed my first Road Race on Saturday and achieved what I set out to do, i.e stay upright and finish with the bunch. There were several small breakaways that were all reeled back in so I was there at the end and not right at the back. It was 14 laps of Thruxtons 2.35 mile circuit and average speed was 23mph , 22.6 as per computer, but it's nice to round it up :-) The race was staged by "Omega Circuit Races" and I think there's another on June 14th. I entered as a private entry, not having a club at the moment, paid 12pds for a day licence and 13pds for the race. The youngsters went out at 1000 , 3rd and 4th cats at 1030 ( 3rds a minute or two before the 4ths ). e/1/2's at 1230. Training - for those interested... Since January I've had about 5 Sunday outings with the guys from a popular cycle shop in Sutton, Surrey and two Saturdays chain-ganging in Richmond Park, plus the commuting. The race wasn't easy, but then again I had no idea what to expect. We warmed up in the paddock area for about 15mins then onto the track and seemed to set off for the first two laps at a speed I thought I wouldn't be able to maintain but then things settled down and the nerves disappeared. On lap 9 I was wondering if I'd be able to finish but the changing pace of the race gave opportunities to get your breath back. Thruxton is relatively flat and the only rise/slope ( it's not a hill ) is towards the finish. Bike - I used my one and only Bob Jackson 531 , minus mudguards. My commuting tyres have had a couple of thousand London miles in them so
I borrowed my sons Vuelta? front wheel and his rear tyre and inner tube (didn't want to risk chain skipping with his newish rear sprocket). i wore a plain short sleeved top ( ithink plain is preferred if you don't have a club top ) plus long base layer underneath. I ate my 4oz of Jordans oat thingie cereal about 0730 then a banana at 0930. I had about a cup full of my half orange/water/ drink about the same time and finished the rest during the race. Cake and coffee afterwards. 70-ish minutes from SW London ( down a3/m25/a303 ) meant all the Saturday wasn't taken up with my new pastime :-)
davep
Well done Dave. I did my 1st a few weeks ago as well with the same objectives & result as you. I've done TTs for a couple of years so when the group I was in got dropped (I didn't even realise for a couple of minutes) I was quite chuffed to be able to TT my way back to the pack. As you say the pace changes were quite an education. I soon got to realise when I was dying, so was everyone else & it would all calm down shortly. Next one is on the 29th April with a couple of TTs in between. Only thing is its so damned expensive! Club TT = £1 Road race = £10 plus BCF membership & racing licence + local league membership!
I completed my first Road Race on Saturday and achieved what I set out to do, i.e stay upright and finish with the bunch. There were several small breakaways that were all reeled back in so I was there at the end and not right at the back. It was 14 laps of Thruxtons 2.35 mile circuit and average speed was 23mph , 22.6 as per computer, but it's nice to round it up :-)
snip
Quoted message said:
Bike - I used my one and only Bob Jackson 531 , minus mudguards. My commuting tyres have had a couple of thousand London miles in them so
I borrowed my sons Vuelta? front wheel and his rear tyre and inner tube (didn't want to risk chain skipping with his newish rear sprocket). i wore a plain short sleeved top
snip
Quoted message said:
taken up with my new pastime :-)
Not wanting to be personal or anything but how old are you? I note that you've borrowed kit off your son so you can't be a mere stripling.
I ask because I'd love to try racing but had always assumed that at 33 I'd missed the boat by about 15 years.
I've done TTs for a couple of years so when the group I was in got dropped (I didn't even realise for a couple of minutes) I was quite chuffed to be able to TT my way back to the pack. As you say the pace changes were quite an education. I soon got to realise when I was dying, so was everyone else
I saw this too
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& it would all calm down shortly. Next one is on the 29th April with a couple of TTs in between. Only thing is its so damned expensive! Club TT = £1 Road race = £10 plus BCF membership & racing licence + local league membership!
Russell
I did some ( 3 i think ) TT's 22 years ago , I'd like to give them another shot but feel I need some stricter training, have you seen www.timetrialtraining.co.uk ?
I completed my first Road Race on Saturday and achieved what I set out to do, i.e stay upright and finish with the bunch. There were several small breakaways that were all reeled back in so I was there at the end and not right at the back. It was 14 laps of Thruxtons 2.35 mile circuit and average speed was 23mph , 22.6 as per computer, but it's nice to round it up :-)
snip
Quoted message said:
Bike - I used my one and only Bob Jackson 531 , minus mudguards. My commuting tyres have had a couple of thousand London miles in them so
I borrowed my sons Vuelta? front wheel and his rear tyre and inner tube (didn't want to risk chain skipping with his newish rear sprocket). i wore a plain short sleeved top
snip
Quoted message said:
taken up with my new pastime :-)
Not wanting to be personal or anything but how old are you? I note that you've borrowed kit off your son so you can't be a mere stripling.
I ask because I'd love to try racing but had always assumed that at 33 I'd missed the boat by about 15 years.
43.I can't see me progressing through the categories but I'd like to do a few more ( closed circuit and open road ) just to compare the two and see if some more
At the height of my training last year for the Raid Pyrenees, I could average 16.72 MPH on my 13.66 mile daily training run along the bendy Thames Path and up the hill in Greenwich Park on a mountain bike with road tires. On the flat, around the Millennium Dome, I could get up to 35 MPH in either direction - although that section is less than 1000 yards.
Well done on the speed.
Less well done on the um, consideration for other track users.
Those speeds are nothing short of a menace because the sightlines on the Thames Path are lousy: I really hope I never meet you there, and for their sake, I hope you never meet anyone coming the other way.
Less well done on the um, consideration for other track users.
Those speeds are nothing short of a menace because the sightlines on the Thames Path are lousy: I really hope I never meet you there, and for their sake, I hope you never meet anyone coming the other way.
How often do you use the Thames Path between 5.30 and 6.30 am?
And around the Millennium Dome, right up to Greenwich Yacht Club, the cycle path is distinct from the footpath and wide enough for two bikes to pass at speed with ease. -- remove remove to reply
Not wanting to be personal or anything but how old are you? I note that you've borrowed kit off your son so you can't be a mere stripling.
I ask because I'd love to try racing but had always assumed that at 33 I'd missed the boat by about 15 years.
43.I can't see me progressing through the categories but I'd like to do a few more ( closed circuit and open road ) just to compare the two and see if some more
training/races makes it a little easier.
More races does make it easier. I raced 2 years ago at Mallory Park,Leics., where there are closed circuit races every Tuesday night over the Summer. In the first race I was dropped after 6 laps, and again after about 25.On this circuit it isnt a problem, as you just take it easy and let them lap you, then get onto the back again. I slowly got better, and was getting dropped later in the race every week, until the last week of the series when I stayed with the group until the last but one lap, but I was so knackered I had to pull out. It was great doing it, and I hope to do some more this year. I'm 38 now, and only started competitive cycling 4 years ago.I'm probably 2 stone overweight, so tend to 'stand out' a little when stood next to the typical 5'8" 8 stone racer! I know I'm never going to win anything, but I just love doing it! Alan.
-- Change the 'minus' to 'plus' to reply by e-mail. dvatc.co.ukdvatc.co.ukOpen ↗ - Off-road Cycling in the North Midlands.
How often do you use the Thames Path between 5.30 and 6.30 am?
So it's quiet. So no-one expects to meet anyone else.
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And around the Millennium Dome, right up to Greenwich Yacht Club, the cycle path is distinct from the footpath and wide enough for two bikes to pass at speed with ease.
At a closing speed of 70mph?
The sightlines are still poor anywhere there's a corner.
The pathway and cycle lanes are straight between the Dome and Greenwich Yacht Club, along Bugsby's Reach. The combined width is at least 15 feet. Yes, it is perfectly safe for a cyclist to test his (or her) top speed on the flat.
During three years of regularly riding the Thames Path I have never been in collision with a fellow path user, although I have had tumble one very wet evening. In the link below you can just make out a light grey patch in the centre of the red circle. This is a metal disk about 120cm across, and very slippy when wet!
Son & Heir did his first ever time trial last week - the maternal bosums heaved with pride. Just got in from him completing his second - took 2 mins off his time - maternal bosums heaved once more as I took pic of father & son in their new club jerseys 🙂
Cheers, helen s
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