Am popping my road race cherry tomorrow.
Club championships at Hillingdon. 35 minutes + 5 laps, so will be over in a flash.

Any tips gratefully received.

Is it a go race/4th cat? If it is, ride as near to the front as you can, I’ve not raced at Hillingdon, but round my way those races are a crash fest, don’t use any expensive equipment. Sorry to sound negative 🙂 have a good un!

Basically just try and stay out of trouble
I’d suggest using it as a fact finding mission before going for a finish in your next race

Be careful you don’t get mixed up in somebody else’s crash

pedal fast! 😆 😛

Ride flat out from the start, for 35 min you should be ok. Don’t bother with taking water with you, gel with caffeine before the start.

epo, hgh and testosterone work quite well. 😀

35 minutes? that’s going to be a full on blat for the line. A bit too short to do anything clever.
Be very warmed up.

Try and stay in the first 10-15 riders.
If you get dropped, sit up and wait for the bunch to come round.
Stay off the brakes. Pedal deep into the corners.
Hold your line.
Attack when you’re hurting.
Save a bit for the end.

Hillingdon hurts!

SB

It’s the end of the year; everyone will have raced a bit before this so you might get slaughtered. Look at the speeds they do, work out how to do the same in training, train, come back stronger after the winter…

As others: stay near the front, try and stay ‘loose’ on the bike, as in don’t tense up as you’ll be less able to take evasive action if anything happens. Look out for any dodgy riders (people bouncing up and down on the seat/generally riding oddly), stay away from them.

It’s only short, but it will be fast. Try and drink when you can. And by all means attack!

You’ll have a blast, enjoy.

Just win. Anything less is failure.

Wow! Some great advice. Thanks all.
Will report back.

Bobby julich is suddenly looking for a coaching job.

Do or do not.

Ride a road bike!

My former club’s annual road race championship has previously resulted in numerous people going to hospital and large new bike costs. Hillingdon deservedly has a reputation as a widow maker – especially amongst inexperienced but know-it-all riders.

Stay near the front and hold your line!

Good luck 😀

The end of season points grabber is the messy one.

How you get on?

Start by sprinting, pick up the pace halfway through and finish flat out.

Yes, how did it go?

Start by sprinting, pick up the pace halfway through and finish flat out.

That looks familiar… 😉

You’re not going to believe it, but I won!

I literally followed advice above, kept in the top few, stayed out of the wind and went all out in the last lap.
Totally amazed! It was brilliant.

Thanks so much for the tips: They really made sense, especially the bit about staying near the front… I dopped back after 25 minutes for a few laps and it was way sketchy riding in a bunched group so I bust a gut to get back into the top 8, which was much more controlled.

Hooked now, so will try another one soon. Am now on a mission to get my 3rd Cat.

Nice one!

Collective STW wisdom comes good!!
Though I’m sure your own ability played a small part 🙂

well done! 8) 8)

Well done there’s a points grabber there next week. I only race LVRC, but am I right if you win again that’s another 10 BC points and you’ll be a 3rd cat?
What club, what was the race? A few of my club are popping their cherry next week.

Wow, bloody good work fella. Congrats.

You don’t get points for a club only 4’s race. Or was it open to other 3’s/4’s ?

barn – Member
You’re not going to believe it, but I won!

Drugs, got to be drugs.

😀 chapeau…

It is isn’t it 😀

He did say he dopped at 25 minutes does he mean dropped back or doped back to life 🙂

Edit: but yeah congratulations

Brilliant, I’m inspired!