Clifton CC

Hi guys,

Next race is a week on tuesday on the Bishopwood circuit near Selby, it was a good turnout this last tuesday with five of us in attendance. Its a great introduction into road racing and I would recommend them to anyone so if you fancy giving it a go then why not turn up and give it a try?

There are four races left, we are currently 1 point adrift of 1st place in the team standings and still havent discovered who Fury face is? So come on guys lets se some more of you supproting these local events

I'm thinking about doing this but I'm worried I'll end up loosing power half way through, if I was unable to stay in the group that would mean I'd proberbly end up loosing speed down to like 18-20mph and taking ages.

If mr dyslexic really means furry face then i think its pretty clear who that is. Anyway i dont think any chevin guys start in the scratch group, do they? Cant be that furious. Must be too furry.

Anyway i should be there on the next one again. Even if you get dropped Will,which you probably wont, you wont be the only one and noone cares! Its your first attempt, just set off in the first group and enjoy it.

I hope to be there work permitting

nickb wrote:If mr dyslexic really means furry face then i think its pretty clear who that is. Anyway i dont think any chevin guys start in the scratch group, do they? Cant be that furious. Must be too furry.

Anyway i should be there on the next one again. Even if you get dropped Will,which you probably wont, you wont be the only one and noone cares! Its your first attempt, just set off in the first group and enjoy it.

No one cares? I know, but I care!!, I think if the wind is not too bad I will be able to keep up if its around 25mph, today after the come and try it event some of us went on a ride and on a nice stretch I was behind one of em on the wheel keeping 25mph nicely and overtook them and got up to 36mph so I've improved since the last time I watched the TLi.

Will.

Give it a try, you seem to have the ability to ride fast and it is much easier in a group, just concentrate and look after yourself, dont' be tempted to go to the front until you have done a couple of races and have gained confidence.

last year it was my first year of racing and I had a good year and suprised myself, this year I have had to drop out of a couple of races after not been able to keep up with the pace, I just learn from it and move on and last week at the TLI I felt OK again and was up with the pace all the way to the line.

Good luck.

Ian

The first group that sets off probably averages around 18-20mph and this ups a little to 24-25mph when the scratch group catches up but his is usually on the last lap or so.

leadshoes wrote:The first group that sets off probably averages around 18-20mph and this ups a little to 24-25mph when the scratch group catches up but his is usually on the last lap or so.

18-20mph? Thats miles slower than I thought I could do that pretty easilly I think, 22mph I would be able to do fine I think and should be able to keep up 25mph and if I feel fine then put in a short burst at the last streight on the last lap of about 35mph if I have the energy for it, if its not windy which the weather suggests I should be able to keep 25mph I think.

Will - you are thinking about this far too much. The only way to know is to do it!

I'd agree with Arthur - speeds are pretty much meaningless; in bunch racing it's basically about whether you're happy riding fast in a tight group. If you're not confident in that then I'd recommend doing the chain gang until you are. If you reckon you're okay with it, then turn up and have a go! Stay in the bunch, find out how it all works, don't make any sudden changes of direction and don't brake suddenly (except in emergency). And enjoy!

Is the chain gang not harder though? I guess if I get dropped on a chain gang I can just turn around and head home?

Will,

If your confident riding at speed in a tight group then race the Tli's.
If your not confident then dont race and do the chaingang instead, develop your skills riding amongst a fast moving group and then race once you have the neccesary skills.

Road racing is not about average speed, its all about been able to match the changes in pace which occur. Its about conserving energy and knowing which breaks to either go with or pull back. There is as Ive found, no substitue for experience. Get out there and have a go.

I'll just go round the oposite way again and might do a chaingang, I think doing 5 laps of the TLi bishopwood on tuesday the oposite way will be good, I know average speed is not important but its something I want to develop, and when I do that circuit on that day I'll aim to keep 20mph which I did on one lap today and managed 24mph for a streight, I wont do the TLi as I'll end up crashing as when I am on club runs and we up near the wheels I'm always falling back or getting too close of wobbling.

I'm keen to join in for this one as it's very close to home and I want to try some racing this 'summer'.

A couple of questions though - when would everyone meet up (race time is given as 7:30 I think but I guess that's the actual start time...)? And as a new member, I've no Clifton CC kit - does this matter?

cheers,
tom

tomf wrote:I'm keen to join in for this one as it's very close to home and I want to try some racing this 'summer'.

A couple of questions though - when would everyone meet up (race time is given as 7:30 I think but I guess that's the actual start time...)? And as a new member, I've no Clifton CC kit - does this matter?

cheers,
tom

You can wear what you want, clifton members never have to wear clifton cc stuff if they want as far as I am aware, its just nice to advertise the club and show you are in it thats all.