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CH, all the +brownie points you've accumulated in this thread have been burnt in 1 go by making us watch that dude for 19mins....
CH you got me thinking about the race in a couple of weeks...
I've got 17 points this season, 23 until cat 2 - which given that if the IWS isnt running only gives me a handful of races. Therefore I've decided that racing for points isn't for this year.
So the plan, try and ride off the front. Quick strategic sprint just after the start of a corner and then hold 340w/185bpm in the most aero position I can muster (I've tested this at 350w for 40 mins). I'm thinking if I go stupidly early people will think I'm crazy and just let me be? Haha
I've just signed an employment contract and finish work at 1:30 on Fridays - so providing I'm clear of this cold I'm going to head down to Hillingdon and see what that means in terms of speed - I think I need this to translate to 27mph?
Nath, that guy today did 370w for 10mins to solo the win at 27mph. (Irrelevant side note, I did 26.7mph @ 307w over the same ten minutes- knew I should have tried to go with him 😆 )
Anyway, yeah- 27 should keep you away, just time it right. There's always an early bout of attack/counter attack so wait until all the players are knackered from that and then Va Va Vroom 🙂
Tell me when and I'll block the bunch for ya 🙂
Fifeandy- I didn't even check of it was a good one, just linked the first one. I just FFD to the racing 😆
Cheeky!
Haha
Also notice our mutual friends position here:
http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-2017/Circuit-Races/BCWT-17/BCWT-17-Men-Cat34/i-TsVGn4m/A
Miles away 😈
Yes lol! Still +20 places on me 😆
nathb - Member
CH you got me thinking about the race in a couple of weeks...[b]I've got 17 points this season, 23 until cat 2[/b] - which given that if the IWS isnt running only gives me a handful of races. Therefore I've decided that racing for points isn't for this year.
You need to get 40 points '[i]whilst holding a 3rd category licence[/i]', so the 12 points as a 4th cat don't count. However, points over 12 as a 4th cat do count, so you actually have 5 points as a 3rd cat, so need 35.
Good job he's not an accountant 😆
I forgot that bit 😆
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The winners race ^
He said he went solo for 6 laps so I don't think he was the skin suited guy who I saw go with 3 laps left. He must have been caught.
Intensity was 95% at 318w np so his ftp is still lower than yours Nath 😆
My last solo blast at Hillingdon which had a headwind down the main straight: https://www.strava.com/activities/989437111/segments/24257161811
I never maxed out though, 204bpm is my max, highest on that is 184bpm.
I think I may drive to Hillingdon for those 3 weekends...
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My race just as a comparison.
Start of lap 2 and the merest whiff of a bent elbow 😆
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Everyone takes this racing lark way too seriously 😆
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You're literally the only person with a smile on your face 😆
Closest thing to a win tonight. Limited numbers, so we ran as one race not two. Weather was awful with a gale blowing up the straight. Attacked on second lap, was chased down. Lots of counters, but nothing stuck. Riders were shelled, and eventually three got away, to be joined by a fourth. That left seven in the chasing bunch. Somebody is going home without points.
Nine to go and Gray slips off the front. Nobody chases and he's gone. Seven to go and I attack up the slope and am also away. Down into TT position and heart rate up. It's Wednesday TT night! Stayed away for sixth, but first V50 over the line. Very pleased.
Those aero gains in full:
Lowered bars by 1cm last night.
Skinsuit
Shoe covers (more for warmth)
Aero helmet
Aero gloves
Aero bike
Jet 6/9 TT wheels
Arms resting on top of bars for half laps (only when alone!)
Awesome!!! Top bombing 🙂 Well done!
I would have dq'd you 😆
Only joking, nice ride well done!
Ah that's why you are always chatting to the comms Nath- you're the snitch 😆
CH, bent elbows, nice!
Shame you pinned number on like a parachute to compensate though 😛
I know!!! Didn't realise until the race and then it was too late. It looked flat when I did it lol
Trying to clear the way for you CH 😆
Did a virtual TT race earlier, really struggled to get my legs spinning and HR up - I'm still recovering from a cold...in fact I couldn't breathe through my nose due to the flood of snot haha.
345w average for 25 mins
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At least I was consistent on the laps:
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CH! 😆
http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-2017/Circuit-Races/BCWT-17/BCWT-17-Men-Cat34/i-dzWNBhH/A
http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-2017/Circuit-Races/BCWT-17/BCWT-17-Men-Cat34/i-DjpfpDj/A
http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-2017/Circuit-Races/BCWT-17/BCWT-17-Men-Cat34/i-7sJvhHc/A
Not sure about the first two 😆
The last one's ok- just before I bridged across at the start of the penultimate lap I guess?
Edit- Actually not sure.
This IS when I did those two guys through Brian's on the penultimate lap, hopefully proving I don't make all this shit up 😆
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Your card must be marked crosshair as in that second photo there are a few riders behind you copying the locked arms, as always you are a leader not a follower.
think it's going to be quicker to get my ftp to 400w than it is to get myself riding aerodynamically 😆
I'm off to Hillingdon tomorrow to do some testing 🙂
Must commute as slow as possible to not skew the results too much!!!!!
Oooo. Exciting stuff. What's your target Watts, speed and or time??
TT effort around Hillingdon done. It was rather windy!!
I tried to replicate the "kick" at the beginning of an attack to break from the bunch @820W fading slowly - that should have hopefully got me a little bit of a gap to work with.
Stats wise:
..............Avg.........Max
Speed.........25.0mi/h....28.9mi/h
Heart Rate....174bpm......181bpm
Cadence.......94..........109
Power.........319W........820W
Calories......535
Elapsed Time..25:06
Distance......10.4 miles
https://www.strava.com/activities/1117006069/segments/27515579545
Now the excuses;
- I had commuted to and from work and stupidly can't help myself sprinting (partly because I was running late in the morning 😆 ) But maybe that's a good simulation?
- I was carrying around 3kg of extra weight (tools and water etc)
- I'd also commuted to the track
- No sugar was consumed
Basically I think that if I turned up a little fresher, sugared up and without carrying the excess weight I may be able to squeeze an extra 1mph/20w more over the 25 mins??
I think that's a great effort.
Has it helped clarify your tactics? You won't ride off the front solo at that speed after all...
I think something similar to your old tactics will do the job anyway. 30mins asleep at the back, move up in the next lull then attack with a few laps to go.
Not sure yet, I'll see what the conditions and pack are like... Still want to have another go at a solo break away this year 😆
Perhaps with 7/8 laps to go I'll try it....
Happy to commit / ruin my points chances that's for sure.
Driving myself potty thinking about Tuesday!! Jesper is coming, as are a couple of TFC guys so there's pressure there to beat them 😀
Then there's the whole point thing. My plan for October calls for way more TSS than sitting in for the last 700m is going to give me- but that's unlikely to help me finish strong and try and snatch my first point.
I'm feeling pretty good lately- last Tuesday was epic and I did a 5min power PB yesterday (tearing up the local charity fun ride 😆 ) so I just want to try SOMETHING.
One guy did attack the hill last time but didn't get very far. I'm wondering whether just dieseling it off the front up the hill for a few laps in a row- keeping the pace a bit higher, might help thin the finish out a little as way too many people were super fresh last time!!
It's a tough choice. If it comes down to the usual, then I want to have all my legs for it. But think of the glory of bucking the trend 😀
Using a race for training only works for some aspects of training.
Do you want training stress or points more?
Another Sunday, another poor write up from me...!
Emergency services RR today, course around cheddington, 12*4.1 mile laps.
Somewhere around the 3rd lap I found myself in a small group going off the back of the main group. It was a bit annoying as the same people who I kept coming last kept pushing back up then causing the split..but that comes back to my lack of racecraft I guess, as I should be shutting them down.
Our group grew and got smaller every so often but averaged around 7, with people doing various amounts of work...
The start/finish line was at the top of a punchy climb, think I read 8% somewhere. I kept pulling away from the group on the climb and sitting up at the top to rejoin, then pulling off sometimes on a flat straight. After a few laps of this and after the main bunch lapping us I went, a little too late to get in touch with them and unlap myself. I dropped the rest of my second group, felt like a bit of a dick doing it, didn't have anything to lose though...! Eventually caught a guy who dropped out of the main and worked together to the finish. No points, no prizes, but had fun...!
And there was a buffet at the end....I ate cake and cheese sandwiches and a fat coke, and am paying the price currently...!!!
Sounds fun! Loving the buffet too 😆
Playing on Tuesday?
@mtbtomo- Head says points. Heart says both 😆
I'm trying the track place in reading Thursday so will give Tues back to "the boss" to keep the peace....hopefully make next 2 though!!
Need to find some more Sunday races too....
Yeah, I know the dream....solo off the front, crush the opposition with pure wattage and get 10 points in the bag.... 😆
I think solo is pushing it. Happy to take 10th with 9 others though 😆
Everyone seems so obsessed with points that they are petrified of trying anything. It's like we're all just waiting for enough people to upgrade that it's 'our turn next'.
I think in Cat4 there should be transponders and 1/4 points given for 'winning' each lap or something equally creative. Or perhaps a 5 BC point Prime at a random race distance. Anything to get people actually racing.
Paying £16, driving an 80 mile round trip to have a one minute race after a 22mile warm up seems barmy sometimes.
I think I'll decide on the night. I'm hoping to head to Hillingdon to watch Nath ride off the front on Saturday so might let that one be the training race.
You make that sound like you're just watching!
Firstly you're racing right? Secondly I thought you're coming with?!
😀 Yes- I'm racing.
As much as I'd like to come with, you're not fat enough to tow me anywhere 😆
Nath, if you go early and ride at your threshold it's very unlikely there'll be enough riders left in the pack willing, or able, to do the work to drag you back.
To me, it appears fascinatingly in the balance! If there's a headwind on the straight, twenty five 26mph solo laps are going to be a tough ask!
A few 27mph ones seems much more realistic.
Are you gonna front-row and Zwift race it off the line Nath?
Yep, agree, crit racing is most often so negative, everyone willing to chase everything and if you've not got a massive sprint then you have to try something different.