Road racing

Anyone interested in Road Racing (or track, come to that) should read this. It concerns the constitutuion of British Cycling, which looks as though it may change in a way which is against the interests of grass roots cyclists (that is - us)

Freedomcycle-bingers.blogspot.co.uk

Keith Bingham was Chief Reporter for many years on Cycling Weekly. He has a deep knowledge of the bike game.

Sorry, I can't make the link work properly - you'll have to type it into google.

I shall be going to a meeting on Wednesday when this matter will be discussed. I'd be pleased to hear if you have any feedback, and I will try to pass your views on.

http://freedomcycle-bingers.blogspot.co.uk/

How is that likely to actually impact on the experience of an amateur road racer? I know organisers already struggle to put on events.

I cannot claim to be an authority on this - but I thought it was important to bring Keith's blog and the fact of the EGM to the notice of as many people as possible.

However, it does seem clear to me that there is a danger that BC may, in the future, be even more focused on medals in international competition and less interested in grass roots racing in Britain. It appears that the reason for this EGM is to avoid the loss of government funding. This funding is all about winning medals and nothing to do with the road or track event that you or I, as ordinary members, may want to ride.

You will probably have noticed the date of the EGM is the 22nd of July. Anything strike you about that date? Yes it's the Saturday before the finish of the Tour de France, and the first day of the school holidays - a day when most peoples' thoughts will be far away from boring and abstruse matters like the BC constitution. So this in itself looks like a government trying to hide bad news by publishing it on a busy news day.

There is a Latin proverb: 'no one hides a jug under a cloak for an honest reason.'

So, to return to your question, I can't give you a satisfactory answer but I can't help feeling there is a bad smell around this whole affair.

Is anyone on'ere racing Surrey League on Sunday? I'm planning to head down to do a photo documentary of the race and happy to do any shots for anyone racing (no fee)

@clubman I'd be keen to do a photoshoot of on the TTs your involved with

National 100 TT next Sunday in Bentley - @clubman will be there

Yes i'm racing in the 2/3, you know the course has been moved though?

I have the added bonus of my unruly mop being tamed into a Pat Sharp-lite mullet crop. The barber said I could go back next week to lop off my party at the back if I didn't like it. This way I can at least immortalise it in print before I make that decision.

Hey @Currid last I heard it was in Handcross? Do you know where it is now if not there?

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/159158/Surrey-League-Road-Race--8-(Oxted-CC)

I'll drop you a note separately for the mullet shots.....this could work well!

I'm away at the tour that weekend......are there any other national TTs vaguely close to London coming up you know of?

Here's my report on an event that at least some of you should have entered:

https://www.velouk.net/2017/07/27/report-newton-longville-road-races/

The men's race ( a 'National B' event) only had 43 entries, so even I could have got a ride!
It's also worth mentioning that the organiser, Wayne Thomas, sets himself very high standards and achieves them, so if you notice his name as race promoter it's worth trying an entry.

The women's event really showed how far their racing has come on in the past few years. On this fairly tough circuit on a few riders were dropped, the break looked convincing, and Ms. Lowther, although only 21, judged her sprint to a masterly standard (or should that be 'mistressly').

Disc brakes to be allowed in U.K. races from 1st of January.

No way! Source?

British Cycling.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20171114-about-bc-news-British-Cycling-to-allow-use-of-disc-brakes-in-domestic-road-and-circuit-competition-from-2018-0?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Awesome! I can use my cross bike for the road crits.

So we will be racing in a "peloton à deux vitesses" (at least when it comes to stopping). Not sure I want to be in the slower group, especially in the wet. Has anyone had any experience of riding in a mixed bunch of disc/caliper brakes?

There's already enough idiots grabbing their brakes while in the middle of a group, now I've also got to worry about slicing my shin if they go down in front of me.

Big disparity in braking already exists; carbon in the wet, poorly setup pads, etc. You have to be smooth in a group & that won't change.

Very true but I'd imagine that lower level road races with inexperienced riders in the wet will become even more dangerous than they already are.

If the carnage was coming you would expect to see some evidence coming out from the USA, even anecdotal, where discs have been legal for years in low level - non-UCI sanctioned - racing.

Any 'Muricans want to chime in?

I see this as yet more motivation to get promoted..

Does anyone know if Hillingdon have a lost and found? And know of their contact details?

If you were racing it's usually worth giving the organisers a shout as that's where stuff gets handed in.

Can I draw your attention to my post 'The Golden Age....etc' in the General forum.

Does anyone know of any cat 4 road races in the north west/Manchester area? Does such a thing exist? Or am I best looking at crits?