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Congratulations CH!!
Officially 18th: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/159575/West-Drayton-Specialized-Crit-Series---Event-1
You can now tick off the finishing in the top 50%!! 😉
I got 45th out of 78, 58 finishers. 😳 At least I wasn't dropped/last/no cat 4 finished above me 😆
Baptism of fire then Nath. Anything you can do differently to get higher next time?
Yes, LOADS. I know what they are:
1) Sort my job out - couldn't get into it on Saturday, really affected my mindset.
2) Get more comfortable in the bunch - in the 4's I could sit in the wind all day not getting close to anyone, or at worst we were cornering 2/3 abreast which was a breeze. In the 3's we were cornering 4/5/6 abreast. I did NOT feel comfortable in this so I safely removed myself from such occurrences by sitting at the back.
3) Improve my fitness - this is mainly from diet as my diet sucks at the moment.
4) Put more time in clockwise at Hillingdon.
So I don't think I'm going to try another 2/3 race yet - will do 3s and 3/4s to get more confidence and engage more in the bunch.
In other news my position on the bike is now officially very comfortable, did 2hr 15 min yesterday at least 75% of it on the drops and felt fine.
On a side note the amount of cat 2/3 lobbing empty gels into the bushes was disgusting.
Seriously? Report them! Not something I've noticed before.
And cornering five abreast is just confidence. You really do have to trust the other riders not to be stupid. It's why bad riding is not tolerated. And it is always nice to gain a reputation as a "safe wheel". Slow in my case, but safe 😉
So, acouple of race reports
[b]
University of Birmingham 1-day Stage race - 11th March[/b]
In short, I sucked. Rode a terrible TT, and then got got blown out the back of the crit in the 1st 10 minutes, partly through starting at the back, not being able to clip-in at the start, and having a load of massive engines in the pack (winning time for the 4th cat TT was 22.30, which I think was faster than the course record). My only chance of getting back on ended when I inadvertantly went back to my cx racing roots. ended up in a group of 4 which wasn't making much progress, so I decided to make some friends by attacking a couple of times. got lapped with about 3/4 aps to go
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/895595009 ]TT strava[/url]
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/896129838 ]Crit strava[/url]
[b]Mid Shropshire Wheelers Sunday Series - Sundorne, 19th March[/b]
This went better. I was on the front row, and clipped in on the 1st attempt for a start. For the 1st 10 minutes I felt pretty ordinary (which I'm used to from cx), but felt pretty good from then on, to the point that I was able to follow an attack (even all I achieved was to drag the bunch up to the attacker), and not get blown out the back straight after. The riding was a bit sketchier than the 2 races I've done at Stourport (including a couple of bits of bad riding from myself), and with about 3 to there was a compression coming out of the bottom hairpin, and the guy in front of braked suddenly. I went straight into the back of him. He went over the bars but I managed to stay upright and sprint back on, but couldn't hold on to contest the sprint.
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/906721671 ]strava[/url]
weird sidenote - got strava kudos from Jacob Tipper for my [url= https://www.strava.com/activities/906487948 ]pre race warm up[/url].
havent been able to find any pics, so for your amusement here's one of me pulling my 'hurdles face' from the midlands cx champs 🙂
[url] http://www.mikeadamsphotography.biz/Cycling/Cyclo-Cross/JunSeniorWomen-Midlands-Region/i-TFwRkhC/A [/url]
Well done for getting stuck in JD. Are you addicted?
I thought I would post an update to keep the thread ticking over whilst Nath concentrates on more important things 🙂
I'm actually pleased with my progress. What I've realised is that, I ain't going to be getting to the top of any significant trees any time soon- so I'd better find enjoyment in the journey.
And actually, I love having the focus of something totally unrelated to my day job.
My cadence has improved. I've added 10rpm to my race speed.
My position has improved. My core strength is much better and despite the lack of good photo evidence, I can go a lot more aero when needed.
My bunch riding has improved beyond recognition. It took a few weeks to regain my confidence after that sketchy race at Hillingdon but I feel much happier riding in shelter and can tell when I'm properly 'in' which wasn't always obvious in my first couple of races.
My fitness has improved. I'm about 7 points higher on Strava F+F than when I started and it feels like it too.
My weight has dropped slowly but surely. I'm running a very conservative 300calorie deficit and don't count calories on race days or one other day per fortnight yet have dropped from 90 to 87kg.
My race results are gradually getting there! From getting lapped four times to 18/45 is solid progress I'm sure.
I'm slowly ticking of TiRed's list 😆
1. Buy a race license and enter a race (this IS the biggie) [b]Yes, and upgraded to Silver + race[/b]
2. Not get dropped (took me a few races) [b]Yes, sometimes [/b] 😉
3. Finish mid pack (needs skill not fitness) [b]Yes, at long last![/b]
4. Finish top third (Yes!!! I'm a "racer")
5. Work on the front (actual training required)
6. Contest the sprint (try not to lose position)
7. Bridge to a break (more training)
8. Attack (You have to be able to do something in the race)
9. Contest the points (Cat 3 here I come!)
10. Win! (Hmmm, still working on this one)
Many weeks of exciting adventures and training focus left in this yet 🙂
Jesper tried his luck for the first time too and finished with the bunch 🙂
Of course he made a #cringe vid about it!
He had already posted a vid saying he was hoping to run his GoPro but somebody dobbed him in 😆
Luckily the commissaire was very light hearted about it 😉
Hahahahaha!!!!!
I drove to Hillingdon and did 30miles Clockwise on Tuesday afternoon.
So of course- this weeks race is anti-clockwise 😆
The com said they were all clockwise to us!?
I know!!!!
Soooooo close to racing on my new bike tomorrow. I'm in the starting blocks waiting to try and buy the correct BB and get it fitted in time.
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Oh, didn't realise you were due to use it this weekend. !
If you need one collecting, i'm heading into either Didcot or Newbury not long after 9am, i don't mind which i head to as they'll bboth have what i'm heading into town for.
I'll give you till 9.30 to ring them.
Ok cool. Banjo don't have one in stock... I'll ring MM @ 9am.
At a push, after that, try Rotec Cycles in Reading.... I could shoot over there but DAMN you'll owe me 😉
I can drive wherever myself if needed.... I've given myself the day off 😆
I just need to find one first and get it to Weeksy's cycle shack before it closes..... 😉
Looks familiar @CH 🙂
🙂
I'm most thankful for all your help with this Nath! But it is about £800 over budget 😆
What's that on the floor behind your back wheel?
Hair dryer 🙂 Lol!!!
I wondered that, but thought "surely not". No harm in looking your best on your day off though I guess!
Whats up with the taped chainstay?
Never experienced chain slap on a road bike before, but can't imagine you just added it for decorative purposes.
You don't bunny hop enough. 🙂
I don't even have tape on my cross bike, and i bunnyhop that a lot........
OK then you do it too smoothly! 🙂
I taped my first road bike, with electrical insulation tape because that's all I had handy and wanted to ride it. When that didn't get chewed up by the chain, I realised that it was unnecessary.
It's a Lizard Skin.
I've got a wonky leg so I can't help but rub my chainstay 🙁
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Have you considered trimming your foot?
(Looks nice, by the way. Happy New Bike Day!)
The Northwaves are barely marked actually 😀
I've got plates and screws in my hip so perhaps I could get them bent round a bit 😆
So, if your right heel points inwards, you must constantly turn right a bit. You like going clockwise. I understand now.
Swap your legs over if they're running anticlockwise, you'll be fine.
Arrrggghhh. So close yet so far. The first option failed so they're exploring shims at the mo.
Meanwhile, I have a Rotor 4624 on standby 30mins in the opposite direction (although they haven't rung to confirm..).
The clock is ticking and I'm sat here helpless 😆
And hence why no-one uses a LBS.
They are expensive, and never have the bit you want in stock anyway
fifeandy - MemberAnd hence why no-one uses a LBS.
They are expensive, and never have the bit you want in stock anyway
Load of rubbish. One is helping him, the other have got one of there staff to drive 40 miles with the part for him. How could they have been more helpful ?
He could have ordered one yesterday at 4pm when he realised the part he had wasn't right, but he still wouldn't have it sorted yet. So he's no worse off.
I probably could have got it sorted a few hours quicker had I ordered from a major online retailer yesterday before the cut off time but the LBS's have been very helpful.
To be fair, MM didn't drive especially to get the bit- they had a van going there anyway and they haven't called me back.
But Rotec have a gold star so far!
I like the guys at Rotec, they're the sort of lads where nothing is too much trouble and their prices are crazy for the work they do 🙂
I've got mine taped too. Not really sure why....
Maybe I'll downgrade it to a black lizard skins too...
@Crosshair - what's the bar tape and is it really as bright red as it looks in the photo? I'm after a near neon red bar tape but it seems you can either get neon pink, or just normal red...
CH setting trends 😆
Looking forward to seeing the end product tomorrow!
It isn't as bright in real life, no. It's Deda 🙂
You damn roadies can take my baggy shorts but you'll never take my SPD's 😈
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Well done crosshair! Good luck to all who are racing today.
It's been a bit more complicated than mine to get it to this stage, bloody Jerry. Look forward to seeing it in action today + we'll get it weighed accurately for you haha.
Good luck all who are racing (i'm sitting the next couple of weeks of races out).
Hey it's the way it goes mate. Makes life exciting 🙂
Anyway! She's ready to roll so let's see what happens 😆
Are we allowed a sweepstake ?Anyway! She's ready to roll so let's see what happens
I'll go for LHS crank off, lap 5 😀
(best of luck CH !)
😀 Torqued to 12nm so better not 😆
"Went for the sprint, as i stood up, my bars went all over the place, i went straight over the bars and next thing i saw was the sky"
🙂
Looks great. Just be sure everything's tight! Once went around Brian's bends with a locked back wheel after a magnet jammed the rear transmission and the RD went into the Ksyrium spokes. Stayed upright but wore down the tyre and inner tube to the rim! I have never been so glad of even my small modicum of mtb skills!
It's very windy today, headwind up the straight perhaps. Good luck. Stay safe. Head up in the sprint that you'll be contesting