I was one of the large contingent of Clifton out tonight and really enjoyed the race. It was my first race since crashing in March and my simple objective was to get round safely and finish with the bunch, thankfully there was a tick in the box! I guess I finished about 25th and as part of the main bunch which I was pleased with.
I started very nervously and must have had 3 metres clearance from anyone around me but I did settle into it after 10 miles or so. I didn't quite join the "wrong side of road round blind right hand corners" gang but I did feel very comfortable towards the end. The organisation was great, particularly the quality of marshalling through Wheldrake which could have caused problems.
I particularly enjoyed watching how Darren moved around the bunch effortlessly - I thought of it as "gliding". His ability to navigate around a bunch is quite amazing and a reflection of experience. Darren, if you have any tips, I'm all ears!
From my view at the back I saw some strong riding from Phil, Cam, Darren, Tim, Martin and Rich. There were more Clifton riders than that but you were probably too far in front for me to see!
The one thing I would like to know is how to win these races? I found the race quite "easy" in terms of fitness but I suspect that many other people thought the same. So how do you actually win them? Clearly experience of navigating through a bunch is a major advantage (as demonstrated so well by Darren) so is it just a few years experience or is there a way to win by using the strength of a strong Clifton team and some cunning tactics?!?
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As per my prediction, it was a swift race last night - just a whisker off 26mph average. Main entertainment was watching Darren get himself in every break of the evening - you can't say the fella didn't try and being in the right place at the right time to get sixth in the sprint was at least some reward.
As for "how to win" - it was either a case of having a go at getting away (and with such a fast-moving bunch you've really got to be going some) or getting in the right place at the right time prior to the sprint. On that circuit, that means pretty much straight after the Escrick turn, because the bunch was almost full road width from there on. Like many, I got stuck in the middle of the bunch on the final run-in, and just had to "soft pedal sprint" as the pace ramped up, with no gaps in front to aim for. As Reuben notes, despite the high speed it wasn't particularly hard work in the bunch - I averaged 225W which is less than most of our training rides.
Good riding by Darren and RichD for placings, and by Cam and Tim for having a go and sticking at the front of the race. And everyone else for getting round in one piece!
As for "how to win" - it was either a case of having a go at getting away (and with such a fast-moving bunch you've really got to be going some) or getting in the right place at the right time prior to the sprint. On that circuit, that means pretty much straight after the Escrick turn, because the bunch was almost full road width from there on. Like many, I got stuck in the middle of the bunch on the final run-in, and just had to "soft pedal sprint" as the pace ramped up, with no gaps in front to aim for. As Reuben notes, despite the high speed it wasn't particularly hard work in the bunch - I averaged 225W which is less than most of our training rides.
Good riding by Darren and RichD for placings, and by Cam and Tim for having a go and sticking at the front of the race. And everyone else for getting round in one piece!
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Cyan Skymoos
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:46 pm
Great job done by Fraz and friends last night. I don't think there is another shop which does so much to help racing.
The race itself was a fairly predictable bunch sprint in the end, I think I was top 6 and Richard might've had a top 10. I spent half the race up the road in one break or other, but in truth it would be better in these races to just potter around the back, let the bunch engines bring everything together and have fresh legs for the bunch sprint - I know that, I'm not completely tactically naive - but that's no fun is it, and racing is just about having fun for me now.
Reuben, don't know what I can say really. I started racing at 14, I'm tempted to say I did all my crashing in schoolboy racing but that would be tempting fate. You get a kind of sixth sense after a few years maybe. If you're going to go down the outside of the bunch before a right hander you need to be confident you've got the legs to get past everyone and back over before you get to said right hander.
To win these races you need to be born with the fast twitch muscle fibes.
The race itself was a fairly predictable bunch sprint in the end, I think I was top 6 and Richard might've had a top 10. I spent half the race up the road in one break or other, but in truth it would be better in these races to just potter around the back, let the bunch engines bring everything together and have fresh legs for the bunch sprint - I know that, I'm not completely tactically naive - but that's no fun is it, and racing is just about having fun for me now.
Reuben, don't know what I can say really. I started racing at 14, I'm tempted to say I did all my crashing in schoolboy racing but that would be tempting fate. You get a kind of sixth sense after a few years maybe. If you're going to go down the outside of the bunch before a right hander you need to be confident you've got the legs to get past everyone and back over before you get to said right hander.
To win these races you need to be born with the fast twitch muscle fibes.
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like my bike
- Posts: 697
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:19 pm
- Location: The East
How do you win a bike race, like Darren says he started a while ago so has had plenty of practise. Rephrase it! How can I improve as a bike rider ? Winning involves lots of attributes including luck so you can improve your chances but there is no guarantee. On a different night with different riders Darren's group could have stayed away. There are a few key things good bike riders have, physical ability, race craft/tacical awareness and good skills.
Physical - the bit riders spend the most time doing, if races come down to a sprint after two hours then train like that, or whatwever the scenairo's you come across train it. Fast twitch helps but you can improve your sprint.
Race Craft - ride with experienced rides, talk to riders, follow the good wheels, race and try stuff and race some more & practise.
Skills - cornering faster, moving through a bunch, being super smooth with the bike, practise. A great way to improve stability, and being fluid on the bike is to ride rollers, there are loads of drills which can improve your core, improve pedalling technique and build leg speed.
This is what makes biking racing so great. keep racing and training.
Physical - the bit riders spend the most time doing, if races come down to a sprint after two hours then train like that, or whatwever the scenairo's you come across train it. Fast twitch helps but you can improve your sprint.
Race Craft - ride with experienced rides, talk to riders, follow the good wheels, race and try stuff and race some more & practise.
Skills - cornering faster, moving through a bunch, being super smooth with the bike, practise. A great way to improve stability, and being fluid on the bike is to ride rollers, there are loads of drills which can improve your core, improve pedalling technique and build leg speed.
This is what makes biking racing so great. keep racing and training.
A J
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reubenbarrett
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:44 pm
- Location: Tadcaster Road
Thanks for advice and any more gratefully received either here or out on the road. I feel I am getting quite close on the fitness side but need more work on the rest of it. I will never be able to catch up with the experience levels of Darren or similar but will give it a good shot as would really like to get a place in one race this year.
Email from Fraz with official results:
Email from Fraz with official results:
Thanks to all that raced last night. Thanks very much for not falling off.
Top Ten as follows 1= Lewis Jackson,2= C Mandle,3=D Morris, 4=P Bennett,5=D Keena,6=Daz Bendelow,7=D Shoreman,8=S Bottomley,9=T Hebditch,10=A Rudd. Cheers Fraz York Cycleworks. See you at the next one
Photos now up at http://www2.clikpic.com/printmyride/gallery_506024.html
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Cyan Skymoos
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:46 pm
Some good points made by Andy. Of course if you are only riding races such as Tockwith/Bish/Escrick it helps if you've got a gallop in the legs. Not all races are flat though of course.
Nothing gets you strong like going up the road in a break and drilling it. If you've tapped around in the bunch and finished feeling fresh as a daisy but you can't get up there in a sprint I think you've got to have a go at getting away. I often hear people saying that race was easier than chaingang...well try hold a bunch off doing nearly 30mph for mile after mile and you wouldn't say that.
If I had a strong sprint I would never see the front until the end but I've never won a bunch gallop in my life, and it's not gonna start happening now at my age.
Nothing gets you strong like going up the road in a break and drilling it. If you've tapped around in the bunch and finished feeling fresh as a daisy but you can't get up there in a sprint I think you've got to have a go at getting away. I often hear people saying that race was easier than chaingang...well try hold a bunch off doing nearly 30mph for mile after mile and you wouldn't say that.
If I had a strong sprint I would never see the front until the end but I've never won a bunch gallop in my life, and it's not gonna start happening now at my age.
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like my bike
- Posts: 697
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:19 pm
- Location: The East
Yep second that Darren, be brave and have a go! If it feels comfy, repeated attacks from the clifton would mix it up a bit
On rollers, hope to run some group roller sessions in October, with some beginners workshop in September. Initial sessions will cover the basics - building progressive drills that should challenge most. In the meantime enjoy the racing.
On rollers, hope to run some group roller sessions in October, with some beginners workshop in September. Initial sessions will cover the basics - building progressive drills that should challenge most. In the meantime enjoy the racing.
A J
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reubenbarrett
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:44 pm
- Location: Tadcaster Road
I'm under no illusions that the reason I found it "easy" was because I hid near the back of the bunch for almost all of the race. That was more about getting racing confidence after crash than fitness but I'm absolutely certain I would have been hurting a lot if I had been trying to get off the front at those speeds!
I'm happy to starting having a go with the rest of you next time and we can start getting Clifton away from the rest!
I'm happy to starting having a go with the rest of you next time and we can start getting Clifton away from the rest!
After much egging on by the gents on the Saturday training rides over winter, Mrs Evington bought me a racing licence. It's a long time since I raced seriously but I was quite comfortable moving around the bunch. Until the sprint that is where I bottled it! shame as I can still turn out a half decent sprint even with these knees.
Having got off the front with Darren on several occasions, sure he was marking me
I can confirm that it's bloody hard work off the front. I must say when we spent a lap away with 6 of us working quite well I thought we had it in the bag. Someone must've worked hard to bring that back as we didn't dilly dally. What Clifton could've done there is disrupt any chasers but that's always a fine line in seriously upsetting someone!
I wouldn't attack en mass or in too organised a fashion as that seems to wind people up as "taking it too serious" and people will chase you out of spite. Saw it last night a few times from other teams.
Best is to try and fail then get round having not broken sweat. Prizes are for winning not smelling nice!
Having got off the front with Darren on several occasions, sure he was marking me
I can confirm that it's bloody hard work off the front. I must say when we spent a lap away with 6 of us working quite well I thought we had it in the bag. Someone must've worked hard to bring that back as we didn't dilly dally. What Clifton could've done there is disrupt any chasers but that's always a fine line in seriously upsetting someone!I wouldn't attack en mass or in too organised a fashion as that seems to wind people up as "taking it too serious" and people will chase you out of spite. Saw it last night a few times from other teams.
Best is to try and fail then get round having not broken sweat. Prizes are for winning not smelling nice!
Racing
I cansee what Damien is saying i think myself and Mart were trying to slow things up a bit when 3 of our club went away but riders soon caught on to what we were doing and came round us.A parcours with a couple of drags will surely bring a result for one of our lads again as everyone looked pretty strong last night.Did ok myself after settling in got in a decent position for the sprint but got railroaded into the ditch side on the last corner but stayed upright and finished in sprint.Welldone to placing Darren and RichD See u tomorrow to practice that gliding technique 
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Cyan Skymoos
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:46 pm
On a day a I wouldn't have gone training I went and put a number on and raced!
Eric Biddulph memorial up at Birds Edge, I haven't raced there since about 1992 and I think there was the same potholes then. Cold, wet windy..think Wetwang without the climb.
A group went away in the first 200 yards and although most came back, 2 strong lads did stay away, and I was in a chasing group of maybe a dozen sprinting it out for 3rd. Got a placing again and a nice bit of prize money which payed for the day, so can't complain. Another nice touch was a raffle for the drivers/helpers.
I do wish these races were a bit longer though, today was only 40 miles and most have been around that distance. Think they would split up more with a bit more distance.
What happened to you Richard? You were there then you were gone
Eric Biddulph memorial up at Birds Edge, I haven't raced there since about 1992 and I think there was the same potholes then. Cold, wet windy..think Wetwang without the climb.
A group went away in the first 200 yards and although most came back, 2 strong lads did stay away, and I was in a chasing group of maybe a dozen sprinting it out for 3rd. Got a placing again and a nice bit of prize money which payed for the day, so can't complain. Another nice touch was a raffle for the drivers/helpers.
I do wish these races were a bit longer though, today was only 40 miles and most have been around that distance. Think they would split up more with a bit more distance.
What happened to you Richard? You were there then you were gone
Begginner Workshops
AJ, after my 1st race ever last week I would be very interested in the September newcomer sessions, please let me know what is involved. Ive got another 5/6 races planned, sort of learning as i go on and increase my fitnesslike my bike wrote:Yep second that Darren, be brave and have a go! If it feels comfy, repeated attacks from the clifton would mix it up a bit
On rollers, hope to run some group roller sessions in October, with some beginners workshop in September. Initial sessions will cover the basics - building progressive drills that should challenge most. In the meantime enjoy the racing.
cheers Simon
Hi Darren,
Congratulations on the result. Yes I was feeling ok even though it was a slightly better (but only slightly) day than Wetwang a few weeks ago. Got a puncture on about the third lap, which was a shame as it looked like the field was whittling down quite quickly. I got back to the HQ to pick up my licence and the place was already filling up with riders hugging tea and coffee looking frozen. Should have been cautious and put on the thicker tyres but thought I could use as much speed as possible. The day has not get any better, as I am marking 200+ exam questions, which is driving me nuts!
Congratulations on the result. Yes I was feeling ok even though it was a slightly better (but only slightly) day than Wetwang a few weeks ago. Got a puncture on about the third lap, which was a shame as it looked like the field was whittling down quite quickly. I got back to the HQ to pick up my licence and the place was already filling up with riders hugging tea and coffee looking frozen. Should have been cautious and put on the thicker tyres but thought I could use as much speed as possible. The day has not get any better, as I am marking 200+ exam questions, which is driving me nuts!
