Red Hook Criterium London

From what I understand, getting a venue sorted at all was a huge headache for the organisers. I wouldn't expect it to be there again, if it does return given the higher than average number of crashes.

On the topic of organisation I was overall very impressed. They were running behind from the beginning but understandably so, I think a lot more people crashed than anticipated, but still managed to finish the day on time. Having the times instantly go up on the website with not only your fastest lap but how many laps, finishing speed, top speed etc was great. And the full list of placings was printed and put up on a board right after each qualification group was finished.
I also really like the set up of the venue, it was easy to get around the track and easy to get a good place to see the action, even on the home straight.
The only real downside I could see was some tourists getting annoyed at waiting 20 minutes to use the skyline but I guess the people that run it should have foreseen that.

Yep - I hit the wall on lap 6 on that video behind the camera

Many valid points there. I was working on Set-Up, and then Rider Area Management, so had first-hand experience of the problems thrown up by the cable car. In all fairness to the organisers, they had scheduled the races/qualis to cause the least possible disruption to members of the public who had no interest in the racing, but the unusually high number of stoppages unfortunately meant that the crossing points were closed at the most inconvenient of times (one of the stoppages was to let a lady out who had gone into labour!).

It was a big shame that the Last Chance Race was scrapped, but by getting the races back on schedule meant that they didn't finish the racing at midnight, and avoided a repeat of 02 customers getting jammed-up again in the evening, because the crossings were open at the right time.

Ideally (and it was suggested many times), they would have had a footbridge, but that's quite an expense for what is a free-t0-view event, although obviously it would have solved that problem instantly.

Other than that, it felt like a great day. Heal up fast to all the crashed riders.

p.s. I think you asked me about scheduling at the start/finish line; was in a red jersey with 2 other guys, said person mentioned getting back to their 2 year old!

Yep that was me alright!

Qualifying was exactly as it said on the tin. It was all about the racing, understand with a 2 year old you can't stay that late but not sure what can be done to the format.

I guess I did not read the small print of the tin. I understand people have to make their best qualifying time for entry to the final, but I think the addition also of a smaller prize for the winner of each qualification would spice it up a bit. Even my kid enjoyed the womens race immensely but was bored by the qualifications.

I think partly what you're missing is that there is no race without qualifying and with 250 riders entered its going to take a long time and be strung out. There is a prize for the fastest qualifying overall already. Adding prizes for each group won't make it anymore interesting to watch as it is still time a time trail, team or individual. Those people 'just pootling along' were actually the fastest guys. I wish I had done really slow laps so that my fast ones would have been better.

Also with as many crashes as there was in qualifying adding a competitive element sounds terrifying

I had to pootle for half of mine as people kept crashing on the corners in front.

One format possible would be 'race to qualify' in which riders would be sorted into random qualifying groups, maybe with the seeded riders spread between them, and have to race thier way into the main event. This would mean that the new riders get some race experience even if they don't qualify, and spectators get to see loads of racing. It would also remove the disadvantage of being in a slower qualifying group.

Why not set the riders off at one minute intervals and time each individual effort? Could do it on a dual carriageway. That sounds much better.

I'd thought along these lines: 5 heats of 50 riders in a mini race format, top 15 or so progress to the main race with the grid positions still being determined by the riders fastest lap but I think @B0N0R nailed it; qualifiers were sketchy enough without being in a close bunch with inexperienced riders.

I really feel that the crashes were down to rider error, certainly the ones I saw, not due to course design/road surface etc

That's what I previously / incorrectly thought the qualifiers were.

My back of the envelope plan was easier said than done! I would put 25mm tyres on and do breathing exercises for all future crits.

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I ran about 94, and tbh it felt a touch big. In the main race it looked like everyone was on pretty similar gears apart from Thibaud Lhenry who must have been pushing well over 100, even on the last lap when they were flying it looked like his legs were barely turning!

I was on 89" and reckoned I could have gone lower.

I used 86" and beat most of you. ;)

The acceleration gain out of corners 2 and 5 was most important IMO.

Not me though mate :)

You didn't spin out down the finish straight though :(

Ha nah I heaved that gear and almost chundered at turn 1 after my lap

I was on 87 and felt it a little high. Only got a chance to spin down the home straight but my legs were fucked from speeding and up down for the many laps before that.

i was on 87 and felt like i could have gone a bit higher, but i still have no idea what i am doing tbh

88 could of gone higher

.

Keep the gear inch/ratio's coming.....

Meanwhile some more vids, and a bit of Scoot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFv30EsGAxM

And an Aventon team bias vid.

This clears up the squeek/screeching debate into turn 5 as i can clearly see the white line to divide cyclepath/footpath has got a black overlay for turn 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbv5_ls4VYo