Road racing

First race entered, Clayton "spring" classic 22nd Feb. Shit gets real.

First of Imperial series crit yesterday .. SO MUCH FUCKING FUN!!

Things learned:
Work on technique; dont be afraid to push through the bunch
You done really need to obsess over power/FTP as much as how to conserve it and use it right
Attack
Dont drink half a bottle of scotch the night before

10/10 Would race again

You should race a road race @amey Makes Hillingdon look the pile of shit it is.

Great stuff! Did you stay in for the full 50mins?

Racing a road race made me look like a pile of shit :-)

Yeah and only one handlebar nudge! Promptly apologized to the rider after the race as it was my mistake .. such a close bunch .. 55 riders have strava'd it.

@skinny @miro_o suggest me something around London? Not an absolute logistical nightmare .. No car etc.

Embrace the dark side, amey!

Fixed. :)

There's the SERRL in Kent. Some of them will be doable by bike/train but yeah the logistics without a vehicle are tricky.

That was a good clean race, only saw a few people tussling (pointlessly) but no crashes and lots of good communication.

Positioning is key going into the final few laps, as is not drinking scotch!

The wheeler who attacked early and won was handy too ;)

There is a bunch of photos also, the sprint ones are ace!
http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/2014/Imperial-Winter-Series-1701201/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/huwspics/sets/72157649925332877/

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ah ha! Nice pics (thats @golgol in the middle btw) .. you were in the bunch too? What bike/kit?

They can all sprint like Cavendish...

3/4 length shorts, blue oakleys, kingston wheeler kit, a bit like the guy on the right ;)

Bikes a CAAD8, white/green, pink rapha bottle.. you?

No. HTFU.

Dont drink half a bottle of scotch the night before

Yeah, it should be bourbon.

The wheeler who attacked early and won was handy too ;)

Sandbagger.

I'm quickly learning the points come down to positioning and ability to spot/exploit gaps in the last couple laps rather than all out fitness.

Finally managed to get my positioning a bit better in the last two laps and came home with some points (that's me in the fluoro gloves in the middle).

Gabba and this bike with red bar tape

Agree, Cat 4 at Hillingdon isn't a test of fitness per se. My team mate, the guy mouth wide open, manages to stay near the front all race when I seem to get rotated around.

I'm going to get myself on the reserve list for the weekend, only need 2 points after that shock win.

ahhh ha, I remember admiring your bike during the race!

Congrats on the win.

I managed to get on for the next two weeks from the reserve list so probably worth it.

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You done really need to obsess over power/FTP as much as how to
conserve it and use it right

*

Race something with big hills, and you'll change Your mind about FTP importance.

I just paid for my race license today. I am based in Tottenham, I ride with Cycling Club Hackney.

Any suggestions for as gentle as possible an intro to racing?

Sign up to East London Velo crits (they are on BC) at Redbridge circuit .. I am tempted if I can sort some transport from SW London ..

Thanks @Amey. I just read back through the thread too there is some good advice.

How much do you weigh? Redbridge is tough if you're a porker. I struggled there.

Dulwich Paragon are running midweek races at Velopark in Stratford but think the first few are sold out.