I wish this forum was more active

Do you guys post anywhere else? I love reading up on different track racing related info/experiences but not much goes on here, how popular is the sport in the Uk? Do you get spectators or friends of the riders come to Herne Hill to watch the racing? In Dublin Ireland we just watch each other race, even at national level theres nobody there watching the racing, sometimes wives,girlfriends,dog walkers outside and local kids(velodrome is in a park). It seems strange seeing some guy win a national title or break a record but theres nobody there looking, and track never gets a mention in the media here except for the large calf splinter at the worlds.

stop, and breathe.

From my experience what you're saying is about right.

Is the Dublin track still a bit gravelly? Not too dissimilar to the track we have in Cardiff but yours could do with a resurface when I was over a few years ago.

From the title of your post, I first thought you meant this whole forum isn't active - I suppose for track racing you're right.

I fart in your general direction. That active enough for ya?

No track, no talk.

I actually rode HH more than once this year, so I'm gonna talk.

I'm drunk. Apols colm.

I rode around the 'D' last week. Does that count?

Colm, to be serious, with our friendly, neighbourhood track being closed for resurfacing, the conversations have dried up. It'll be open again on 7th September (late), so things will pick up then.... for about 2 weeks, then the outdoor racing seasons over.

I fart in your general direction.

You silly english kerniggut!

I just tried to do a push up. Is that active enough for you?

I've...GOT TO, MISTER.

From my experience what you're saying is about right.

Is the Dublin track still a bit gravelly? Not too dissimilar to the track we have in Cardiff but yours could do with a resurface when I was over a few years ago.

It had a proper surface laid a few years back (2009 if memory serves) which then had to be fixed when some nice people set cones on fire on it, which cost a substantial amount. This has also meant a much higher fence around the track so that those of us who may have shown up when we could just to do a few laps can't get in any more. It looks like there may also be an indoor track ready in a disused factory by the end of the year. It'll be short and steep, but should be good.

Still, Colm's right about attendance. A lot of people talk about taking it up and the numbers accredited seem to increase, but still very few seem to go to watch or race. It's odd considering the large numbers involved in road racing.

Hopefully, I'm not overstepping the mark here but http://www.fixedgearfever.com/ is worth looking at too.

That's good to hear. I think I was over in 2007/8 or something like that. The best riders at the time seemed to be sponsored road riders who happened to have a track bike. I can't remember the last time I saw a track bike being used on the tack in Cardiff. It's being used by road riders to do 2>3hrs of chain gang every tuesday and there's a few kids sessions.

I was drunk when I made the thread, anyway as mentioned the track surface is fine now(broken glass usually has to be sweeped away before each session), theres a few bad kids in the area who like to cause a bit of trouble for us, I wont go into details, Im glad racing finishes this week as the fireworks season apparently has started. I cant wait for the indoor track,but really looking forward to hitting the weights again after maybe 18months off.

probably doing sprint in the national champs this weekend,
not sure how Ill do. Tried 50:14 today and liked it, moved thru 48:16,15,14 the past 6weeks.

I think Ive seen fixedgearfever, Ill check it out again thanks.

I cant wait for the indoor track,but really looking forward to hitting the weights again after maybe 18months off.

Wood has been delivered, I've been told by those in the know.

probably doing sprint in the national champs this weekend,
not sure how Ill do. Tried 50:14 today and liked it, moved thru 48:16,15,14 the past 6weeks.

Good luck.

probably doing sprint in the national champs this weekend,
not sure how Ill do. Tried 50:14 today and liked it, moved thru 48:16,15,14 the past 6weeks.

Giving the game away in your posts there Colm! See you in the sprint this weekend!

Thats great about the wood! Im not gonna enter now, I dont trust my form at the moment, last week I did too much hill climbing a couple of days before racing, wasnt recovered.

Last night I made the wrong gearing choice and it messed up everything, it's my 1st year so Im learning ,50:14 doesnt work well for points races! Especially when you have some guy decide to slow right down in a bunch, happened in the keirin too in the last race at the first bend, had to go off the track and it messed up the first lap(and the race) obviously! Was confident of a win in that but got 4th.

Yesterday I was all set to switch back to my heavy Benotto but the gxp crankset hits against the chainstays so stayed with the Aende, a 1kg lighter frameset which you notice in a sprint, too floppy. Dont feel confident sprinting max effort with it so Ill wait till I get my Benotto sorted and more training done. Ill watch the sprints on saturday anyway so I can learn a few things.

Well I did 60km 2 nites before racing last week, I havent done that long a journey in a while and because of the climbing my hamstrings and glutes werent recovered by race day. I missed the train that evening so missed training, used my bike to get back to the city instead of the train.
I won the keirin and sprint 2 weeks ago anyway, won my league but that didnt make me feel happy as I was pissed off with myself. 50:14 isnt great for the Devil/'last man out' either.

1 more excuse, my chain was too short to put a 15t on the back, had a few mm clearance at my downtube and the chain tension was tighter than Id have liked. RPM doesnt coach me

Depends on your tactics in the devil. I tend to try to stick in the first 5/6 riders in a 20 person bunch. Much easier than my old tactics which was to hand around the back end pipping people out by finding gaps to slot myself into

stick in the first 5/6 riders in a 20 person bunch.

Winning style, given big enough elbows.

hand around the back end pipping people out by finding gaps to slot myself into

Good interval training ;-)