Intro to the world of racing...

PhilBixby · Post by **PhilBixby** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:54 am

Am now back from me travels (albeit with a purple foot, which I'll bore people about if they give me too much breathing space) so should be okay to do a session on Tuesday round the airfield - 6:30 at the Millennium bridge?

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:28 pm

couple of threads on this now, but interest we have so far for next week seems to be:

Nick / Alice tue or wed
Phil tue
me mon or tue
Steve wed

anyone else? Will? we could do this this week and then the TLI the following week?

suggestion.... as its penultimate week for the Clifton time trials we could do something like this thursday evenings starting next week whilst we still have light? Then we could chaingang or whatever depending on how many people turn up?

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:57 pm

I can do tuesday or wednesday.

Did you say about doing the TLi in that post? I wont be doing that too, too fast and too far away.

Also on the last lap can we try propor chaingang speeds plz?

Alice.S · Post by **Alice.S** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:21 am

I'm free any day apart from friday and at the moment Dad (Nick) can do wednesday but it depends on his work.

BroomWagon · Post by **BroomWagon** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:45 pm

Contrary to a previous posting Tuesday would be the best for me. Only day I can't do is Friday.

Someone pick a day.

Here's a thought though, us newbies (oldies) could jump in at the deep end and do the proper chaingang. If we all did, we'd have the confidence that if we got dropped we wouldn't be the only ones and could get together and try to limit our losses.

Still I'll go with the flow and the millennium bridge is much more convenient for me.

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:04 pm

"Here's a thought though, us newbies (oldies) could jump in at the deep end and do the proper chaingang"

I'm up for that.

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:17 pm

Do tuesday? And could we please have a last lap doing near propor chaingang speeds please?

Or maybe do an extra lap for people who want to at propor chaingang speeds? At the moment I'm trying to keep up near propor chaingang speeds on my own, around 25mph, trying different ways like quickly accelerating to 25mph then taking power off and just spin and I seem to be able to do it better than sort of putting power in then taking it of then on off etc so hopefully I'll be able to do abit faster in a group, although on my own its only over like 2miles at the moment.

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:29 pm

"And could we please have a last lap doing near propor chaingang speeds please?"

You've done a couple of practices, why not do the real one? What's the worse that will happen? You'll get dropped... it's worth a go I reckon

Helen and Steve know what they're doing, have experience of the real one and they both suggested we give it a go.

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:14 pm

MichaelCarter wrote:"And could we please have a last lap doing near propor chaingang speeds please?"

You've done a couple of practices, why not do the real one? What's the worse that will happen? You'll get dropped... it's worth a go I reckon

Helen and Steve know what they're doing, have experience of the real one and they both suggested we give it a go.

I dont feel happy in a close group yet, still abit worried I'll hit someone wheel, we where not close enough on the last one and it still felt pretty hard to make sure I was close enough and make sure I am not hitting other peoples wheels.

PhilBixby · Post by **PhilBixby** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:54 am

If there are at least four or five up for it, I'll be there for a session round the airfield, starting Millenium bridge at 6:30 tomorrow, Tuesday. My foot's still purple, so I'd be happy to keep the intensity a wee bit below full blast.

Will - (as I've suggested before) - I really wouldn't worry about trying to do race pace on your own. In the chaingang, or up near the front in a group in a race, it's all about keeping it steady and being aware of those in front and behind you. Your TT times are near enough to mine - just use your eyes and your head when you're in a fast group. Coming out of tomorrow smooth and confident is more important than coming out at full speed.

MichaelCarter · Post by **MichaelCarter** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:30 am

No worries Will, as everyone is saying, it's about confidence and if you don't feel confident to do the actual one then let's practice more.

I'll be at the bridge at 630 tomorrow.

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:20 am

Yea I dont feel confident for the propor thing yet, when we where doing it last week and Alice was moving in front of me or anyone really I did not feel happy close to the wheel and If I never brakesd I'd end up hitting the wheel in front.

See helen shown where I should be in relation to the bike in front, sort of wheel near the middle of there back wheel, but is that just on the outside? I cant do that on the inside yet.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:38 am

Will - neither am I when I think about it but it becomes easier especially
when you don't want to get dropped. My cornering was awful on the
proper chain gang and I had to sprint to get back on determined to do
better this week as I can't afford to be putting in extra digs.

I will go over for the proper chain gang and would welcome the company of other newbies.
Alice will be out round the airfield.

Helen

Alice.S · Post by **Alice.S** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:10 am

Unfortunatley I won't be out tomorrow, not feeling 100% at the moment.

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:48 am

I hope to be there tommorow, but this weather just wont let me stay in the house so I'm going for a ride up to york and back today, good 20+ miles should be enough in this heat, depends what my legs feel like.