as they sprinted for some fairly insignificant placing like 23rd place or whatever it was as I got swallowed up for the bunch sprint. I mean whats that all about, no points after 10th so just give it up eh?
If the top 20 had a big crash they'd be 3rd. Why not just stop if your dropped of the bunch? Why bother in the first place?
In my view, its worth working out how far you can get up the field, and try to get further next time. Why give up?
If the top 20 had a big crash they'd be [s]3rd.[/s] sprinting right into the back of a pile up
🙂
Why bother in the first place
This is what I asked myself on Sunday when after a year's hard training, a years teetotal plus a carbon 29er I managed to come 22nd in the Gorrick 100 compared to last year's 24th. Just as well I enjoyed it 🙄
This is what I asked myself on Sunday when after a year's hard training, a years teetotal plus a carbon 29er I managed to come 22nd in the Gorrick 100 compared to last year's 24th.
Pretty sure 1-21st place didn't stand still for a year waiting for you to catch up! 🙂
This is what I asked myself on Sunday when after a year's hard training, a years teetotal plus a carbon 29er I managed to come 22nd in the Gorrick 100 compared to last year's 24th. Just as well I enjoyed it
Look at it differently. You were more than 30 minutes faster over the same distance, on a comparable course, in worse conditions. There were more people this year - both in total, and those who completed 7 laps. You finished 69 minutes down on the winner (22% slower), whilst last year you were 96 minutes down (30% slower).
You can't predict who will turn up for an event like that, so the actual position isn't all that relevant, unless you're gunning for the win.
If you want to look at specific people - last year Chris Clark was 35 mins ahead of you. On Sunday you beat him by 3 minutes. Paul Howard was 42 mins faster last year, 8 slower this year. People's form changes, stuff happens, two positions higher isn't really the point.
Sorry, njee20 has the right answer. Apologies if mine was a bit cheeky.
Training hard does feel good. You feel yourself get fitter. You clean climbs you previously couldn't, you sprint up hills you used to spin up, your body feels like it's doing more than what you ever thought it was capable of. You go to new places and feel confident your fitness and skills can handle the unknown.
Now that definitely is worth it.
Best thing about being fitter is being able to go faster on undulating singletrack. A 55 min lap of Cwmcarn is a blast, a 1h30 lap is a far less interesting trundle.
I bloody love this tread. It's so good to hear how everyone's getting on and I'm amazed by how honest people are, sure there are the odd lucky sods who win their first race and continue like that but for most of us it's bl**dy hard work!!
It's got to the point where I check on here every couple of weeks to get an 'update' - me weird, no not at all!
I've found you tales quite inspiring, that has lead to me ordering the bits and pcs to build a rugged little circuit racer - it's been years since I pinned a number on for the road or closed circuit - Thanks guys
Njee makes a got point as I feel like adsh sometimes. But last XC race I rode smiling behind someone I knew who sounded like he was about to go pop any second, I did actually grin when I found a place to pass as last year he was way beyond me. Also, although on my club road rides I feel I'm still working hard only to be dropped by the same people as last year, my averages have gone up and every ride holds an new strata PB / 2015 KOM mostly up hills so I know I've got stronger.
Mind you I rode socially at Hadliegh yesterday and the climbs felt tough, God know how I'll do,in next weeks race, but I console myself that there will be plenty behind me finding it tough also.
Oh, and I posted a time only 1 second slower on a Strava segment than Njee at Hadleigh, now THATS progress (he was probably bimbling) 😉
I'm flattered to have been stalked and thanks for the motivational peptalk! I shall now go and do my Z1 recovery with head held high 😀 (ish)
Should be Z2, no wonder you are flagging 😉
6 3x3min "top end" intervals for me tonight, like you say it's lucky I enjoy it. Looking for a crit before the 20th as well, whoop!
That was windy. Need to get my Crit head back on, treated it like a road race and got done over i.e. did a stint on the front uphill into the headwind and the favour wasn't returned.
Oh, and I posted a time only 1 second slower on a Strava segment than Njee at Hadleigh, now THATS progress (he was probably bimbling)
The only time I've been to Hadleigh was the NPS. Shitting myself yes, bimbling... No. 😉
I'm flattered to have been stalked and thanks for the motivational peptalk!
5 mins on Timelaps! Slow day.
I'm not surprised. There's miles of non technical, then tiny bits of super mega ****ing technical. I did the B line of the massive slope although really it just looks like a big roll out and couldn't bring myself to go down the a line on triple trouble.
I'm slightly nervous of what is and isn't being used next week at MS&G.
How we didling?
Few weeks back had a road race 10th.
Last week first circuit race of the year and was dropped minutes in. Had the wrong head on.
Raced again Tuesday and was on it again.
So after taking 2014 off to audax and larding up a stone, I've come back a different rider. Slower on the Ups but way quicker on the flat and undulating. Already feeling confident about racing in Belgium soon.
Nice!
Well I was one place / two bike lengths away from my first BC XC point last weekend. I've not ridden any crits in April due to work/life but have been training hard. I've just been profiled as a Time Triallist rider profile (see TrainerRoad thread) which surprised me, but explained my weakness on elongated climbs and ability to bash out a pace on the flat.
I'm in for a two crits end of may begininning June - both "flat", but I shall be XC racing until July 8th now. So I'll see how I go on those crits, a bit more reading on my rider profile is going to help me gauge how to approach things I feel.
I've also been daignosed with EIB after my two chest infections in December / Feb so am now riding on salbutomal which has made a noticable difference to my breathing.
Happy days!
The steel frame hasn't been a problem at all.
eh?
Sold my TCR SL at the end of 2013. Then built a steel framed racer for 2015.
My first ever Racing Licence arrived today. 48yo, 6'2" and 14+st, I will be making my debut in a 4th Cat circuit race at York Sports Village this Saturday.
There's 5 of us (so far) from the same team (HD Revolutions) and I'm probably the weakest rider. My sole aim is to stay with the bunch as long as possible. I'll report back on how it went, assuming I'm still in one piece!
Rode my first 3/4 circuit on Tuesday having only done 4ths previously.
Couple of mph on the average and it certainly felt it for the first few laps at least until it settled down, held my own in the bunch so fairly happy considering the step up.
One more point needed to get to 3rd so hopefully I'll sneak a top ten finish before too long...
Detraining and going to miss the nationals 🙁 . Still, about ready to return to turbo work at least!
Well, won the singlespeed cat at the Midlands Regional last week and had my first ever 3/4 road race at Mallory last night. Finished safely in the bunch but was so cold I only manage a half hearted sprint. Looking forward to next weeks race now!
oldgit - Member
Sold my TCR SL at the end of 2013. Then built a steel framed racer for 2015.
Ah
There's been a rash of crashes locally, so I have change my view: Best bike = Club/general/sportive bike. Should I crash & break my Sempre which I'm currently using for racing, likewise then a cheap racer it shall be.
Well done schmiken!
I did my first race today 🙂 ladies cat 2/3/4 race at York. I was expecting to be dropped so am pretty pleased to have stuck with the bunch to the end. I have no sprint though!
Tiny field compared to the men's race but still surprisingly good fun.
Considering upgrading from a provisional licence to full now...
Well done lass! It gets rather addictive, something incredibly awesome about flying along in the bunch, can't be replicated! Get it done, it'd be great to see more women racing! (Road/XC/DH/ENDURO/BMX/Whatever!!)
2 months until my first (by the looks of things/maybe only) road race of the year 🙄
Considering upgrading from a provisional licence to full now...
Do it... do it now! Racing is great fun and very addictive. I have had my longest break in two seasons, (six weeks now), and am in definite withdrawal.
Ladies racing attracts small fields, but it is a very narrow pyramid. That means you can progress rapidly to second cat, and before you know it, will be racing National Series races against the pros. Alright, they'll be up the road, but most of us would give a right collarbone to get to taste that!
You can also enter men's races a category down, and a lot of ladies are racing some pretty fast E123 men's circuit races and finishing top third (in a field of 60-80). They don't work on the front though 😉
Go on...
I phoned BC this morning so the deed is done 🙂
Congratulations. You've made it to my milestone 3/10 already :-). I posted them earlier in the thread...
got my first Cat 3/4 race on Sunday,
wheel slipped on some metal bar between the path and kerb drop today, broken Tibia, double break on the Fibula, possible ligament damage, minimum 6 weeks in a cast
bollocks
Shit, bad luck dr...all the best with the recovery.
That sucks, healing vibes to you
🙁 shit man, that really sucks! Hope your recovery goes well.
Dirtyrider, ouch, healing vibes.
Returning to racing this weekend having not raced since end of March (head not in it). Have lost some top end due to 2 weeks of antibiotics....doing 3 races over the next 3 weekends, 2 of which are stage races is a nice way to ease back into racing 🙄 Should have been peaking in a few weeks for my target event but that's not going to happen after the time off / antibiotics & Laura Trott & Jo Rowsell on the start sheet for it too so maybe just as well my goals have changed.
That's terrible :-(. From one who is also healing. I do hope you make a swift recovery. There is no doubt that a racing timetable gives some very good recovery goals.
Our little 3 man break stayed out tonight, finally got the elusive point 🙂
Nice work 🙂 Where were you racing?
Stourport circuit, Tuesday night series 3/4.
Nearly didn't bother with all the rain kicking about!
Seems as good a place as any to ask...I've done a few circuits and have been accepted for my first road race in July.
What do you normally carry...spare tube, levers and pump as a get me back?
i wouldn't bother carrying anything, if you flat its race over surely, you'd never catch back on
Nothing, that's what neutral service are there for. Plus crashing in a race is bad enough without having pump etc in pocket!
Haha, someone's been riding to many national events 😉 never seen neutral service up 'ere!!
Don't carry anything, the courses are generally only 10 mile loops so the furthest you'll be away is 5 miles, walk or ride the rim.
Yeah kinda realise I wouldn't be able to whip the tube out, check the tyre, install new tube then chase back on to a 25mph bunch!
@monksyfudger really?! Even in my local races (Scotland) we will have 2 neutral service cars! Only time I've not seen service car was at the early CDNW women's series.
Yeah kinda realise I wouldn't be able to whip the tube out, check the tyre, install new tube then chase back on to a 25mph bunch!
whats the point then?
