Is there a chain gang Tuesday 12th June
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reubenbarrett
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Olympic Torch bike escort for me tonight which I thought would be a very gentle affair. It was great fun, lots of people on Tadcaster Rd cheering on about 200 riders all doing about 5 mph!
Then it all got a bit harder when I popped my head into the Clifton tent at the racecourse where I was cajoled into joining the Wattbike sprint challenge! The first one of 100m was fine but then I went for a second time for the 500m challenge with Colin (fatsprinter) on one of the other bikes. 0.1 seconds separated us at the end and I worked out my average speed at 36mph which is quite porky while wearing jeans on a static bike!
Anyway, was thoroughly out of breath after that, so went and got a large ice cream...
Then it all got a bit harder when I popped my head into the Clifton tent at the racecourse where I was cajoled into joining the Wattbike sprint challenge! The first one of 100m was fine but then I went for a second time for the 500m challenge with Colin (fatsprinter) on one of the other bikes. 0.1 seconds separated us at the end and I worked out my average speed at 36mph which is quite porky while wearing jeans on a static bike!
Anyway, was thoroughly out of breath after that, so went and got a large ice cream...
chain gang
Just a little question concering the chain gang.Is there a differance between not fit enough and not fast enough.I ask this question as during these chaingang sessions although i throughly enjoy it i can come through and off for some sections others the pace seems so high that i struggle to come through so miss a couple of turns.Apart from 3 or 4 is it the same for others.I totally accept it is a full on effort which has def helped me and some may say just push harder but @25_30mph thats easier said than done.good fun anyway!cheers Timj
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fatsprinter
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Olympic torch thing was good and very busy. A bit rowdy according to my 2 1/2 year old (loudy i think). Clifton stand excellent with the bike challenge thing. Enjoyed myself. Shame I didn't get out on chain gang. Family commitments getting in the way. Must make one at least though! Worried about not being fit enough too, but if I can keep up with Reuben I should be ok I think
De tijd gaat snel, gebruik hem wel!
Schaarf!!
Schaarf!!
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fatsprinter
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As for not fit enough or fast enough, chain gang is all about developing that. One word of caution. It should be hard but you should not totally punish yourself on the chain gang and end up in pieces or it can be detrimental, especially if you are racing. You don't want to leave you best efforts on the chain gang, save it for racing.
Sit in when you don't feel you can go through. Get out of it what you will. Quite often the line gets faster as people pull through and don't ease off, so the next one gets faster and then the next one even faster and then even faster and then suddenly you are doing a sprint to try and get through and then the obvious happens and someone doesn't go through and you have to regroup.
The smoother a chain gang rides and the closer, keeping on wheels nice and tight, with the rider going through easing off slightly, makes for a faster overall speed and a nicer rhythem. You have to trust the riders though and everyone must ride smoothly or it is easy to touch a wheel.
Look at how smooth some experienced riders ride like Damian. Whilst he looks young, he's been riding and racing for 20/25 years with great success. He's won dozens of races over his time and been a very good first cat in the olden days (before there was elite licences), yes he nearly is that old.
When you see Damian ride he goes through smoothly, keeps a tight close wheel and then eases off when he goes through. He doesn't leave his best on the chain gang either but will also suffer as well without leaving his best on the chain gang.
So, don't worry about missing turns, just do what you feel you can to get to the end and enjoy it. It will bring on more speed with time and you have good days and bad days and suddenly you'll find youself pullying all the way round.
Sit in when you don't feel you can go through. Get out of it what you will. Quite often the line gets faster as people pull through and don't ease off, so the next one gets faster and then the next one even faster and then even faster and then suddenly you are doing a sprint to try and get through and then the obvious happens and someone doesn't go through and you have to regroup.
The smoother a chain gang rides and the closer, keeping on wheels nice and tight, with the rider going through easing off slightly, makes for a faster overall speed and a nicer rhythem. You have to trust the riders though and everyone must ride smoothly or it is easy to touch a wheel.
Look at how smooth some experienced riders ride like Damian. Whilst he looks young, he's been riding and racing for 20/25 years with great success. He's won dozens of races over his time and been a very good first cat in the olden days (before there was elite licences), yes he nearly is that old.
When you see Damian ride he goes through smoothly, keeps a tight close wheel and then eases off when he goes through. He doesn't leave his best on the chain gang either but will also suffer as well without leaving his best on the chain gang.
So, don't worry about missing turns, just do what you feel you can to get to the end and enjoy it. It will bring on more speed with time and you have good days and bad days and suddenly you'll find youself pullying all the way round.
De tijd gaat snel, gebruik hem wel!
Schaarf!!
Schaarf!!
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reubenbarrett
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:44 pm
- Location: Tadcaster Road
I must say I am loving the collective spirit in Clifton at the moment, both on this forum and out on the rides. There are some enthusiastic, relatively new riders who are quite fit (like me) and plenty of old hands with lots of experience ready to help out and support/develop. And between us all and this level of support, we are out there racing and getting points.
I hope to join the points club soon and I expect I will need a few more racing and training miles under my belt before that happens. But I know I am definitely in the right club to be moving up the placings.
So good work Clifton, loving it!
I hope to join the points club soon and I expect I will need a few more racing and training miles under my belt before that happens. But I know I am definitely in the right club to be moving up the placings.
So good work Clifton, loving it!
Ha, thanks for the ego trip Col - beer in the fridge when you want to pop round for it! Yes but that was before jobs and mortgages and er.... Smashing both my kneecaps to smithereens! 
That said I do like to think I know my way around a group of riders, although not as brave as I was, and very much enjoy passing on whatever advice I can if asked.
To come to Reuben's point, getting points is about a combination of things - fitness, technique, luck and the one most people don't consider. Finding your competitive advantage and exploiting it. If you read Darrens posts he knows what his is, and I'm not giving anything away here, attacking and winning from small groups. He therefore concentrates on that and makes sure he has the fitness for those efforts. He doesn't sit and wait for a sprint when he knows that's not where he's best. Although he ain't bad there eh?
If we use Tim and Reuben as examples. Tim looks most likely to want to have a pop on long, steep hills given his build because power to weight kicks in - not generating enough power is highlighted on the chain gangs when it's fast and he has to miss turns because riding at the front needs xxx watts but if we were going uphill that amount of power would help you go faster than Reuben (I presume, I'm not a scientist). Likewise Reuben probably wants it flatter with maybe a gallop at the end because he can probably generate more power than Tim?
By riding with everyone you will over time come to realise what you seem to do better than others. Once you've worked that out you can tailor your training and technique to boost your chances. By the same token you'll probably work out what your weaknesses are so you could train for those too.
But mainly enjoy it.
That said I do like to think I know my way around a group of riders, although not as brave as I was, and very much enjoy passing on whatever advice I can if asked.
To come to Reuben's point, getting points is about a combination of things - fitness, technique, luck and the one most people don't consider. Finding your competitive advantage and exploiting it. If you read Darrens posts he knows what his is, and I'm not giving anything away here, attacking and winning from small groups. He therefore concentrates on that and makes sure he has the fitness for those efforts. He doesn't sit and wait for a sprint when he knows that's not where he's best. Although he ain't bad there eh?
If we use Tim and Reuben as examples. Tim looks most likely to want to have a pop on long, steep hills given his build because power to weight kicks in - not generating enough power is highlighted on the chain gangs when it's fast and he has to miss turns because riding at the front needs xxx watts but if we were going uphill that amount of power would help you go faster than Reuben (I presume, I'm not a scientist). Likewise Reuben probably wants it flatter with maybe a gallop at the end because he can probably generate more power than Tim?
By riding with everyone you will over time come to realise what you seem to do better than others. Once you've worked that out you can tailor your training and technique to boost your chances. By the same token you'll probably work out what your weaknesses are so you could train for those too.
But mainly enjoy it.
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Cyan Skymoos
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Yes Tim, I wouldn't worry about missing turns on a chaingang - I do it all the time, always have, even when I could ride a bit. The big lads will always be stronger on a flat line-out, particularly into the wind. As long as you feel you're getting something out of the ride, it's all good. If you really are struggling though it might be best to give 'em a miss for a few weeks and get some condition by steady miles, or sit on all the way round. Sounds daft but sometimes you've got to ride slow for a bit to get fast...honest, it works for me anyway.
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fatsprinter
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I'm big on sitting in if you are struggling and concentrate on hiding and getting some speed. If you are tired it could be detrimental but it could also make you concentrate on sitting in. You can save a tremendous amount of effort by sitting in and hiding and it really is a technique - one to practice - it then leaves you more for a break or sprint. To quote what I have learnt from someone before - its like gun powder, you only have so much in the barrell and you have got to choose carefully how much and when you use it or you'll not have any left when you need it.
If you still want to try and go through on the flat, choose your wheel carefully. Find someone big who punch a big hole through the air and give plently of shelter - but also smoooth so no sudden changes of pace. I'd say sit on Damians wheel cos he is smooth and doesn't go through too fast but he's a skinny runt so you don't get much shelter. Find a fat sprinter's wheel to go through on - real smooth. Beer round at Damians, excellent - they used to drink that in the tour in years gone by.
If you still want to try and go through on the flat, choose your wheel carefully. Find someone big who punch a big hole through the air and give plently of shelter - but also smoooth so no sudden changes of pace. I'd say sit on Damians wheel cos he is smooth and doesn't go through too fast but he's a skinny runt so you don't get much shelter. Find a fat sprinter's wheel to go through on - real smooth. Beer round at Damians, excellent - they used to drink that in the tour in years gone by.
De tijd gaat snel, gebruik hem wel!
Schaarf!!
Schaarf!!
chain gang
Cheers for the advice I feel i get alot out of these rides and to be honest it is when we get to the flat bits on way back that i start to miss turns so the advice seems good.There are def wheels to follow in the chain gang as it does feel alot easier when u dont have to accelerate to the front as the rider in front just stays the same pace and then knocks it off slightly.thanks again.timj