Cheers Cam. Completely forgot you were picking that up for me. My helmet suggests that someone ran over my head - so maybe losing memory.
I also now realise that I could have been arrested for committing on obscenity judging by the state of my bibshorts.
Breaks just seemed to be reeled back in by the teams with 7/8 riders. I think the break you and Darren made a couple of weeks back is one of the only ones that I've seen succeed.
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Dishforth airfield circuit race for me yesterday. Simon (Melly) was also representing the club.
I did this race last week and found it all a bit chaotic to be honest; however, the organisers have sorted out the teething problems and this week it was a much smoother affair.
I know circuit races aren't everyone's cup of tea and are pretty soulless but, as Simon says elsewhere, it feels like a safe place to learn or improve your racing.
Anyway, the race itself was pretty slow with no breaks getting away and everyone sitting in waiting for the sprint. With about half a mile to go one of the more experienced guys came to the front and the pace shot from around 20mph to 30mph. A (very small) bit of through and off kept the pace up and distanced the first 8 or so riders. I managed to get 6th but, as always, think I could have done better as I started my sprint too late. Well happy though as this'll move me up to 3rd Cat (if the points are attributed correctly this week!)
Well done also to Simon who came in ninth. Great result that, especially after getting stuck at the front in the headwind on the final lap.
Martin
I did this race last week and found it all a bit chaotic to be honest; however, the organisers have sorted out the teething problems and this week it was a much smoother affair.
I know circuit races aren't everyone's cup of tea and are pretty soulless but, as Simon says elsewhere, it feels like a safe place to learn or improve your racing.
Anyway, the race itself was pretty slow with no breaks getting away and everyone sitting in waiting for the sprint. With about half a mile to go one of the more experienced guys came to the front and the pace shot from around 20mph to 30mph. A (very small) bit of through and off kept the pace up and distanced the first 8 or so riders. I managed to get 6th but, as always, think I could have done better as I started my sprint too late. Well happy though as this'll move me up to 3rd Cat (if the points are attributed correctly this week!)
Well done also to Simon who came in ninth. Great result that, especially after getting stuck at the front in the headwind on the final lap.
Martin
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Cyan Skymoos
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Well done Martin on the 3rd cat, you've made real progress this season. Another winter in the legs and you should be right up there challenging in road races.
I'm not a big fan of circuit races, but that's partly because I don't think £15 or so for a few laps of an airfield is good value for money, but yes they are a good place to learn without worrying about traffic, and points can be had in them.
I'm not a big fan of circuit races, but that's partly because I don't think £15 or so for a few laps of an airfield is good value for money, but yes they are a good place to learn without worrying about traffic, and points can be had in them.
Quick report back from sunny Braithwell (yes, really! Sunny!) where RichD and I flew the Clifton flag at the Richard Hoyland Memorial 3rds/4ths race. At 55 miles it was a reasonable distance so I settled in within the front dozen and waited to see how it all unfolded. The pace yo-yoed all over the place, and various small breaks got away (including a couple with Rich in 'em) but there were always enough strong riders who'd missed them and were prepared to pull them back. No combine harvester dramas this year, but I think there must have been some sort of local classic car rally - we squeezed past an awful lot of very flared MG wheel arches...
...anyway it eventually came down to a very fast, very wide romp towards the line, with the usual barging and bad language; about 400m from the line I had to briefly pause pedalling to avoid shunting the bloke in front and someone's bars hit my hip. My hips don't have a lot of "give" and a shout and crashing noises indicated two riders who'd been trying to squeeze through, hadn't (thankfully both appeared in one piece afterwards though). I rolled over the line in my usual 17th-ish; Rich was in front of me when I last saw him - how'd you do, Rich? I forgot to ask!
...anyway it eventually came down to a very fast, very wide romp towards the line, with the usual barging and bad language; about 400m from the line I had to briefly pause pedalling to avoid shunting the bloke in front and someone's bars hit my hip. My hips don't have a lot of "give" and a shout and crashing noises indicated two riders who'd been trying to squeeze through, hadn't (thankfully both appeared in one piece afterwards though). I rolled over the line in my usual 17th-ish; Rich was in front of me when I last saw him - how'd you do, Rich? I forgot to ask!
Hi Phil, Just out of the points counted 10 or 12 in front. That sprint was a bit mad. Essentially down hill with a tail wind apart from the last 150 m drag up, which everyone tried to hit as hard as possible. I had a 'squeaky bum' moment myself as two guys looked to be about to sandwich me and had a little wobble about 200 m from the line as I was being 'guided' into the verge. Probably need to start the sprint a little earlier to at least be out of trouble, rather than try to navigate through a mass of temporarily semi-deranged testostorone. Perversely good fun though when you come out the other end unscathed.
I heard the crash behind and it sounded like something hit the ground pretty hard at what was probably the fastest point. The ambulance was with him as we drove back to HQ and he was sat up and concious but holding his arm. Hopefully not too much damage done.
Back to the genteel world of the LVRC for me next weekend and the final race of the year.
I heard the crash behind and it sounded like something hit the ground pretty hard at what was probably the fastest point. The ambulance was with him as we drove back to HQ and he was sat up and concious but holding his arm. Hopefully not too much damage done.
Back to the genteel world of the LVRC for me next weekend and the final race of the year.
..."Probably need to start the sprint a little earlier to at least be out of trouble"...
My plan was that if there was any hint of hesitation on the final little lumps on the earlier part of the run-in I'd go for it there and then. But there wasn't - it was flat-out throughout and starting a sprint at 800 to go would have resulted in running out of puff before the line - which indeed about half the field did!
My plan was that if there was any hint of hesitation on the final little lumps on the earlier part of the run-in I'd go for it there and then. But there wasn't - it was flat-out throughout and starting a sprint at 800 to go would have resulted in running out of puff before the line - which indeed about half the field did!
Dishforth again yesterday for me, and it is starting to grow on me after the 3rd week in a series of 5 events, with a 53 mile road race to end with as the 6th event on the Clifton road race circuit i believe. A field of 40+ riders this week and a strong wind on the far side of the airfield, i promised myself that i would stop in the bunch and see what happened, but curiosity got the better of me and i chased down a break heading towards the final lap bell, then settled back in to the bunch and got my breath back 
). Left it too late at the end through lack of experience, no points this week but happy with 15th in a larger, faster and more experienced field than last week. Next weeks event is Sunday not Saturday, its not everyones cup of tea, but for a tenner a go its good experience for me, just starting out, well done to Rich who did a lot more work than me and finished well ahead of me.
). Left it too late at the end through lack of experience, no points this week but happy with 15th in a larger, faster and more experienced field than last week. Next weeks event is Sunday not Saturday, its not everyones cup of tea, but for a tenner a go its good experience for me, just starting out, well done to Rich who did a lot more work than me and finished well ahead of me."That sprint was a bit mad."
Pic of you and me finishing it at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/racepix/ ... id=3034105
Pic of you and me finishing it at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/racepix/ ... id=3034105
East Yorks LVRC race today for Richard D, Phil, Andy C (nice to see you out and looking pretty fit Andy) and me. Fantastic weather and a good course with a long drag over the finish line to sort the men from the boys (on the basis of which I'm about 11 years old!).
I'll let the others comment on their races, mine was v. Short- punctured about 2/3 of the way around the second lap so that was it for me- a fast 15 miles followed by some sunbathing!
Last race of the year for me apart from some time trials at the end of the month, looking forward to some club runs before the training for next year starts...
I'll let the others comment on their races, mine was v. Short- punctured about 2/3 of the way around the second lap so that was it for me- a fast 15 miles followed by some sunbathing!
Last race of the year for me apart from some time trials at the end of the month, looking forward to some club runs before the training for next year starts...
Very similar experience to Nigel out at the East Coast RR - a fast end to the first lap and the long drag up through the finish just a bit too fast:- a couple of minutes well above my threshold, yup; three, four - maybe; that last bit of false flat? Apparently not. Oh well - chased down the next bloke in front of me who turned out to be even more knackered than me, so did four solo laps and watched the proper racers finish. This event's part of the national vets series these days so it's always a hard one.
Donny Wheelers next week for me and then it's a month or so of Kevin!
Donny Wheelers next week for me and then it's a month or so of Kevin!
East Coast RR for me with Nigel and Phil. I enjoyed the course and a beautiful day, but the race did not go as planned. After a few small attacks a small group got off the front on the second lap and I foolishly tried to bridge the gap into a headwind on the straight into Burton, but fell back into the bunch. Turned up the long drag where some of the stronger riders decided to go for it and split the race into bits. Ended up huffing and puffing with a couple of small groups before it settled down, with a group of about 10 away and another 10 or so of us chasing. We tried to get organised and worked pretty well together, but by then it was all over. Another lesson learned I hope. Looking forward to the clubruns this winter.