Lee Valley SQT Sessions

sniff... forever alone...

I have been there on club sessions for the last six months. I have seen numerous accidents and most of the time it was caused by people either not clarifying what we would be doing or where issues would arise.

I have used the rental bikes and find I run out of cadence. This culminated in me having an accident where I momentarily forgot to keep pushing even though I had dropped off my group. As such I'm not infallible.

However, I now want to push on with getting my own bike with higher gears, accreditation and SQT's. Despite crunching Tramadol pills like they are Haribo's I'm still glad I did the club sessions. You can teach people how to pass a test but you can't teach experience.

When staring the SQT's I will pester coaches and other riders. This will be to ensure I am as clear as I possibly can be on what we are doing and where to be careful, etc.

^ all good advice imho...

Anyone going tonight?

Looks like these sessions are now non transferable. Just seen the below posted up on FB:

Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately we can’t do that anymore as we had many customers booking many spaces or re-sale them to other riders.
We will be able to reschedule the session for you if you have another date in mind.

Dunno if it's the same in SQTs but in the last couple of skills sessions I've done, there has been a bit more emphasis on how to ride the bike safely - mainly telling/reminding people to keep their elbows bent and make space for themselves.
Wonder if there's a reason they don't tell people how to fall 'safely'...

How do you fall "safely"(genuine question)?

Don't let go of the bars, as far as I know.

do a skid?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-z0Kh0pvNM

I know this will sound really stupid but just try to relax...not tense up, try to brake by pushing back, put arms out etc. Try to lay the bike over if you can. The noise it makes (that hollow sound on boards) is always worse than the actual crash. Always wear gloves.

Less distance to the ground if you fall to the right.

I was always told to keep your arms in so you land on your shoulder. I broke my wrist badly when I fell once. I reckon I might have been ok if I'd kept my arms in, though you risk a collar bone break when you land on your shoulders.

Thanks - reckon it would take more presence of mind not to put your hand out when you fall than would be possible for me, but worth a go!

First intermediate SQT yesterday. Good session, people knew what they were doing, and it was hard enough that the "off sessions"didn't leave me feeling frustrated.

Forum spot - who is the gent with the sharkpits Planet X tarckbiek?

Are you on next Tuesday?

Nope - won't be able to get down for a couple of weeks I'm afraid.

I'm down in London in a couple of weeks time and have booked an SQT.
I'm not bringing my track bike with me so was planning to ride a hire bike.
Does anyone know what gear inch the hire bikes are set up with?
And/or whether there's any choice of gearing?

Bikes are a 50/16 gearing. Only other choices are youth gearing

Just passed level 4, so time to book some SQT sessions. Any tips?

Just passed level 4 myself so quite keen to get my bike off of the street and fit for the track.
Seems to be a lot more Sprint SQT Sessions at weekends vs the generic Intermediate SQT so could be a bit of a deep end dive straight into Sprint sessions on the cards and i expect this could be a little expensive with new wheels and gearing.
Have you been to any yet @danstuff ? Able to provide any tips of your own yet?

Nope, not yet. Too busy doing TTs and GFs so far to fit in any track time. Hoping to do some soon though.

I only do the endurance SQTs, but ride the sessions which are split with the sprint SQTs. From watching them it seems the coaches for the sprinters don't have set plans for the riders, they just assist them (with timing; standing starts etc.), so it's the riders that decide what efforts they want to do - some do efforts on their own (flying 200s, kilo etc...) and some have training partners that they work with (doing team sprints, match sprint tactical drills etc...). Basically, I'd say that if you want to do sprint SQTs, go knowing what you want to do and achieve. I'd also note that you only get 3 sprint efforts plus a warmup, so be sure that that is what you need and worthwhile for your plans!

Have you been to any yet @danstuff ? Able to provide any tips of your own yet?

Well, I did my first SQT session today. No particular tips, other than that the 'No Garmin' rule so rigidly enforced during the accreditation process appears not to apply during SQT sessions. Generally it seemed a lot more relaxed than the accreditation sessions, but the riding was a lot faster and more challenging. It was fun.

Hi,

Silly question No.1 – SQTs can only be booked when you've passed Level 4 accreditation?
Silly question No.2 – How can I get race experience, if I can't get into a race, as I don't have experience? (for clarity, been crit/road racing for a number of years)...

Silly question No.1 – SQTs can only be booked when you've passed Level 4 accreditation?

Yes

Silly question No.2 – How can I get race experience, if I can't get into a race, as I don't have experience? (for clarity, been crit/road racing for a number of years)...

Do the HH league to start off, get some points? Not sure about this one tbh.

Enter open races when you've passed your accreditation. If you're thinking of entering winter track league this year, you've probably left it a little late to start the accreditation/experience process.