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Are the Hillingdon Winter series crew fairly amiable to people using cameras? I won't stop dead on the finish line to press stop or drop it down the road in the middle of the bunch (definitely not if I'm solo TT'ing again 😉 ) or put it on a selfie stick and pose or anything crazy 😀
I've seen a few videos on youtube of hillingdon races. The pros do it!
Which races are you aiming for @crosshair?
Imperial Winter Series
07/01/2017
14/01/2017
21/01/2017
28/01/2017
04/02/2017
11/02/2017
Trouble is crosshair, that you'll probably also have expended a lot of energy riding around alone (more than being part of the faster moving bunch) once you got dropped. So each time they come past, you'll be that little bit more fatigued, than if you were just trying to latch on from fresh.
Yes I think you're right. You start off in denial, thinking you can catch back on, then you team up and chase for a bit and then when they come around again, you're already maxxed out 😀
Assuming I get dropped again, I suppose saving my energy for a concerted effort to join the group again might be better practice than TT'ing for another 40mins.
I was hanging to the VC10 rider (the last guy to get a finishing spot) then bridged from him to the bunch as they passed... then couldn't hang with either after that 😀
The more I think about it, the more brutal type 2 fun I realise it was. Can't wait for next time!!
Hopefully the last 4 of those dates Nath
Cool - I've just all 6 passed the missus, she seems fairly okay with me doing them all. 😆
May even convince her to come and watch one week 😛
Have to say hello!
I'm in the mindset of I'm doing it for fun this time around. Next season I'll properly train etc. That way I feel better for not getting any points lol.
I'm in the mindset of I'm doing it for fun this time around. Next season I'll properly train etc. That way I feel better for not getting any points lol.
This is exactly the right mindset. If you can stick to it all season (or indeed past your second race) then you're a better man than most 😉
Are the Hillingdon Winter series crew fairly amiable to people using cameras?
Bike mounted cameras and videos are[url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/rulebook/2016/C7_-_Technical_Regulations_For_General_Road_Track_and_Roller_Racing_v2.pdf ] banned from BC races[/url]. Dems da rules. All about liability. Sad I know, and there is a nice video from last year's #9 of me lying unconscious after a very poor overtake and chopping by a rider. a bike mounted camera would have given me grounds to sue for negligence!
10.4 The use in competition of cameras attached to
riders, cycles or helmets is prohibited, unless
previously authorised in writing by the BC Board.
Unless prohibited by the regulations of individual
disciplines, onboard cameras are permitted
during practice or designated training sessions,
but the use of such cameras is authorised solely
when the camera is attached to the bicycle. The
rider is solely responsible for securing the fixation
of the camera in order to avoid any danger or
distraction.
In my 10 milestones of racing, finishing in the bunch is number 2. Entering is number 1! Just keep in the bunch and in front of me!
Are the Hillingdon Winter series crew fairly amiable to people using cameras? I won't stop dead on the finish line to press stop or drop it down the road in the middle of the bunch (definitely not if I'm solo TT'ing again ) or put it on a selfie stick and pose or anything crazy
BC Regulation: The use in competition of cameras attacehd to riders cycles or helmets is prohibited.
The Commissaires should be DQing anyone seen with a camera. Filming from the sidelines is allowed but obviously don't go waving a selfie stick near anyone's spokes!
Outdoor Traders (Abingdon) Winter Crit series now up on BC...
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/156700/OTRT-Winter-Crit-Series---Round-1
Damn this thread, I really wasn't intending to race crits this year 😕
Not that I'm a racer, but in case it's of interest but not known: Zappi's (Oxford) has pretty much ceased, so I don't imagine that there'll be any Zappi's Crits this season (was at Enstone last year).
🙁 for Zappi's.
TiRed
Sad I know, and there is a nice video from last year's #9 of me lying unconscious after a very poor overtake and chopping by a rider. a bike mounted camera would have given me grounds to sue for negligence!
Jeez! In the 4th cat? What happened!?
Jeez! In the 4th cat? What happened!?
That's just how it is in 4th cat 😉
Ah ok thanks. I thought it was at the commissaires discretion but glad I asked now.
So all the ones on YouTube should have resulted in a DQ or what?
I know Chris Pritchard who vlogs about training and did the commonwealth games in 2010 was slagging BC off for not allowing people to film at a velodrome but didn't know it applied to other disciplines.
They really are an innovative bunch of modernisers aren't they 😉 😀
I'm surprised they allow Garmins by the same reasoning really (similar size and weight and just as likely to fall off. I.e. Not likely at all 😉 )
I wonder if I can pass a VIRB off as a head unit 😉
And the reason BC gave Chris Pritchard was that they 'don't want people making commercial gains out of the footage' ...... so not safety related at all.
Chris did a good job of keeping a lid on what he was really thinking I reckon- would love to see the proper version 😀
What's the turnout like in the pouring rain? 🙁
Actually it was the E123. I moved up to sixth wheel, someone attacked and a rider chased him. That rider cut across and took out my front wheel. As travelling at 33mph with a speed wobble and I knew I wouldn't make the corner. All I remember was saying to myself "don't hit the bench".
No crashes in the 4th cat last week. One in the E123.
And of course there is the greatest finish of all time in THAT photo 😉 . I wa forced off on the last lap in that race.
In my experience rain makes little difference to turn out.
Ah 🙁
I've just noticed on last weeks pictures, this was [url= http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-20162017/IWS-2016-2017/Imperial-Winter-Series-1/IWS-2016-7-1-MenCat4/i-kjD6CqB/A ]ME[/url] sat on the bench 🙂
Firstly nice to meet you @TiRed! Thanks for the tips! Sorry I was going to watch you race but then I realised I had no lights with me, so after a cuppa and flapjack I darted off.
I learnt a LOT today, where to start! 😆
Firstly the new bike is epic, really happy with how it performed today.
I had two mishaps which I can rectify for next time:
1) On the right hand technical turn I overshot it a little on a lap which saw me spewed to the back of the bunch. I should have put more time in on my new bike, the handling is different from both my other bikes.
2) I came off my line as the guy in fronts rear wheel cut across from me, this caused the guy behind to shout at me a little. Next time I'll tap my brakes.
I attacked 3 or 4 times, I mean proper attacked from pretty much the back. One was after chatting to TiRed for a little while. This caught everyone off guard I think. Each time a couple of guys came with me but we weren't strong enough to hold off the bunch. One of the guys at the end even said thanks for carrying him up the field (I think he came in the top 3 in the end). [b]Lesson [/b]- save the energy for the last 5/6 laps and either follow an attacker or try my best to TT it.
To summarise (I hope TiRed agrees) - physically I'm fine I could have sat in the bunch all day. Mentally however I'm far from there yet.
Jolly good fun though!
Rough stats:
Speed - Max: 33.1. Avg: 25.6
Est Power - Max: 1,058w. Avg: 317w
Heart Rate - Max:195. Avg: 174
Cadence - Max:114. Avg:90
Distance - 25 miles
Time - 58:32
Top job buddy!
I spent an hour and half driving to Luton contemplating next weeks race with you guys but in fairness I just don't have enough speed yet. I need a good year more before I'd see anyone after even 1 lap
Thanks Weeksy.
Ah should do, it's good fun. Really isn't about speed or power, just keep with the bunch and out of the wind. I'll be there all Jan/Feb hopefully.
Some guy has just commented on my ride: "4 efforts off the front. Brave/suicidal! No questions who deserved the combativity award." 😀
Excellent! Good one.
Going to sign up then weeksy? 🙂
Unsure buddy. I'm a good 10% slower than crosshair at a guess as well as being both physically bigger than him and 1st+ heavier.
All of this in my mind tells me, if he couldn't hold the bunch then what chance do I have. I'm also not particularly skilled on a road bike and don't do bunch riding.
I'm stacking up to be a complete disaster based on that!
Good work nathb. Sounds much like my first go too! Sounds like more people willing to have a go round Hillingdon, much less negative and more fun than my experience of Thruxton.
When you racing next?
Well done Nath! That's awesome and how I'd dreamt my first race would go until I got a sharp reality check!
I know how hard it was to try and keep with the bunch so to attack at all proves you are definitely in the right fitness ballpark.
A little tweak to your tactics and you'll be contesting the podium I reckon.
Really chuffed for you 🙂
Well done mate, sounds like you're on the right track. Few more races experience and hopefully you'll start adding some points to the hard work...
@weeksy - won't know until you try it 😉
Thanks for the nice comments guys.
I may have snuck in 10th, I highly doubt it though.
My next one is the 7th January @mrblobby.
I'm aiming to get out on my new bike any opportunity I get until then plus Zwift'ing. Should help being off from the 16th Dec until 4th Jan 😆
My next one is the 7th January @mrblobby.
If I get the race bike built back up over xmas I may well come and play 🙂
Very well done if only my first race was like that! And the second and third etc. Much smoother ride this week with only a couple of incidents.
My tips: don't brake and don't overlap wheels. You'll make no friends. On the long right hand bend (called Brian's Bends) you should look around the bend at the leaders, not straight ahead. You should also try and avoid being right over on the outside.
When it comes to attacking, you need to go from about 10 places back, not the back of the bunch. If you are out in the wind overtaking the whole bunch, you won't have much left. You also need to go with six or seven laps to go. Two laps to go is too late. This is where elapsed time is all that matters on the garmin. That and knowing the length of the race (easy to miss at the briefing).
Glad you enjoyed it. Racing is very addictive.
Avg Max
Speed 40.4km/h 52.6km/h
Heart Rate 160bpm 191bpm
Cadence 103 130
Power 224W 1,197W
Calories 879
Temperature 11?
Elapsed Time 59:10
And for the real race... (I worked a bit harder in this one, but didn't thrash myself ragged!). Not such a huge difference, about 5-7%
Avg Max
Speed 42.0km/h 54.7km/h
Heart Rate 165bpm 194bpm
Cadence 104 134
Power 236W 959W
Calories 1,066
Temperature 11?
Elapsed Time 1:07:32
And yes, I normally average. Over 100 for my racing cadence.
mrblobby
If I get the race bike built back up over xmas I may well come and play
What bike are you building?
TiRed
Very well done if only my first race was like that! And the second and third etc. Much smoother ride this week with only a couple of incidents.My tips: don't brake and don't overlap wheels. You'll make no friends. On the long right hand bend (called Brian's Bends) you should look around the bend at the leaders, not straight ahead. You should also try and avoid being right over on the outside.
When it comes to attacking, you need to go from about 10 places back, not the back of the bunch. If you are out in the wind overtaking the whole bunch, you won't have much left. You also need to go with six or seven laps to go. Two laps to go is too late. This is where elapsed time is all that matters on the garmin. That and knowing the length of the race (easy to miss at the briefing).
Glad you enjoyed it. Racing is very addictive.
Thanks for the tips - taking them all on board for next time. Today was all about building my confidence which I think it has done.
One time I really didn't even realise I was at the back until I saw you on my right. 😆
In the 1/2/3s do they also bunch up/slow down along the straight - I was expecting it to be very quick but bar the laps I stupidly attacked on I hardly felt like I was pedalling.
How did you get on in your race in terms of rough position?
That's a high cadence! I remember you telling folk to drop gears on the hill.
What bike are you building?
Just my TCR. I pinched the di2 off it for the training bike for this winter.
With your power, you should be at the pointy end! And it is very easy to drop back. Loss of concentration. Racing is non stop concentration and you should be thinkng of nothing else.
In my race I started near the back, worked my way up to top hird, blocked for a team mate. Attacked on the straight after a long chase b cause a counter attack is always fun. And yes, we do slow up a bit, it's not all full gas. That's the Tuesday evening races.
@mrblobby - Ah I see. Some realllly nice bikes there today!
@TiRed - I'll try next time, I'll be more settled knowing what's happening + roughly when and where to attack. If I broke up the bunch a little today then my job was done haha. By the way, just watching the strava fly by thing, attacking on the 3rd lap and TT'ing did not work. 😆
Also I saw 3 or 4 photographers, do you know who they are? I want to guilt my missus into coming to watch next time. 😆
By the way, I saw 3 or 4 photographers, do you know who they are? I want to guilt my missus into coming to watch next time
They're busy taking pics of the riders, so may not have time to take pics of her.
Photo links will be posted on the Imperial website. Digi Dave Hayward wad there today, and Dave rakes absolutely stunnng photos. He's on facebook.
The engine looks in fine form. Now you learn to race. Because the fittest do not always win. I bet you're hooked. It's like crack!
Yep, I'm going to be booking the next ones soon. 😀
I'm not putting pressure on myself this season though - what will be will be 😆
haha found a couple of me, got a right game face on 😳
As the results are pending I've been reflecting on the weekends race, the next race's objectives are simple;
1) Stick in the bunch without hiccups and holding my line (CONCENTRATING)!
2) Try and get a top 10 spot
I'm not going to be doing any silly attacks from the back. I'm going to take each race them as they come and most of all ENJOY them.
I think you should be well chuffed with that position mate! Well done you 🙂
Excited, nervous and ever so slightly ill still but I can't wait until tomorrow! Let's hope I can learn how to be lazy 😀 (It's no trouble in other aspects of my life 😉 )
Wow! That was fun! Some progress made- only got lapped twice and finished the race 😀
Thanks so much to TiRed- your instruction was really helpful. Can't wait until the 14th!