Herne Hill Saturday Training

yep agreed, better than my previous silly ratio though: 44/46, i.e. 74.2.

So now i have 46/16, 77.6 ratio - only marginally different after all.

(i wish i had used a gear inch chart earlier)

If my next move was going to be a 14T at the back that takes me to a 88.7 ratio; maybe a bit too much on the 'race' side of ratios though..

You live and learn.

I'm on 49x15, about 88 IIRC, spot on for inters training.

ok, thanks 6pt.

Are you going to the intermediate training this saturday?

probably, but I'm not feeling too great on the bike atm so won't be enjoying it =/

ok, thanks 6pt.

Are you going to the intermediate training this saturday?

you checked with the coaches wether you're ready to move up to intermediates?

Not being saucy but it's as much about track craft as fitness when you're moving up to an experienced group of riders

i know what you mean. I was going to wait until i am a bit fitter to change session, but was quite annoyed about, actually, the lack of 'track craft' at last saturday's session, that i thought i might go the the inters sooner.

I was part of the few bothering to fill gaps and orally announcing my moves on the track - and not quite the fittest. So i understand where you are coming from. But if this is the practice to ask coaches first, which i understand, then i will...

David, I'm in a similar situation myself. I know I'm nowhere near as quick as 6pt and a lot of the intermediate guys, but have found the novice sessions increasingly frustrating for the reasons you mention.

I asked one of the coaches on Saturday whether it would be possible to sort out a "spotter" to see if I'd be ready to step up, and was told that the number of beginner sessions I've been on (5-6), should be enough to make the move. Annoying not to have it confirmed categorically and after observation, but I appreciate there are probably other priorities in the sessions.

BDW makes an excellent point though, as I guess it is more likely to be poor discipline, rather than poor fitness that causes a danger to oneself and others on the track. My intention is to try to make the move to inters next time out, but also resolve to take a view early in the session on whether I am too far out of my depth, and therefore likely to impact the quality of the session for others. Discretion is almost certainly the better part of valour in these cases, I think.

Also, get your gearing properly sorted before you try to move up. Go for 86 and ride the same as everyone else. You will be surprised how this helps your trackcraft.

I returned to the track this year after many years' absence, so I did the induction followed by beginners' session, before moving on to the intermediates which I've been attending regularly over the summer.

IMO if you have a good idea about awareness on the track, riding smoothly without twitching or getting out of the saddle every time you need to close a small gap, etc. then you should be fine in the intermediates even if your fitness level is less than the average. Riders are generally experienced enough to keep things pretty smooth, and whilst your fitness level might be found out when the pace is wound up towards the end of each exercise, as long as you're sensible about leaving or rejoining the group when necessary there shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, I'll bow to the judgement of any coaches that have the benefit of actually watching anyone ride, but this is my view anyway.

Also, some have found the step up from 60 minutes of beginners to the 120 of intermediates to be quite large. It is important to recognise when you are struggling and when you have had enough – track-craft visibly declines in those desperately clinging on and it is then that mistakes occur. You won't get a medal for pushing yourself into the red to last a session, but you will be very unpopular if your attention wanders, you clip a wheel and go down taking four others with you.
This isn't meant in any way to put you off - Intermediates is a more comfortable session and a better learning environment because for the most part everyone knows where they should be and what they should be doing, you'll pick up the good habits far quicker than you would fighting your way through a beginner session. Plus you get more time for your money, and that means more fun. I just wish to highlight that it isn't a trivial leap.

Hah phil put similar sentiments to my own rather better. Read his, not my scary wordy lot.

Wise words - thanks for the tips.

The thing that is a shock to the system is actually riding for 30 mins non-stop at 22+ mph in the inters in some of the exercises. It's not like commuting or even riding on the road at speed where you still get to freewheel and stop.

You can cruise in the draft of other riders for ages but once you get out and start doing sprints and efforts in the wind you can quickly start burning matches.

Your body will adapt to it after a few goes but I think towards end of second hour you can get people physically struggling to hang on if they are not taking on some fuel between sessions and aren't used to that level of effort.

Even ze pwoper shaven roadies who turn up for a first session get caught out.

thanks so much for the tips guys!

David, please feel free to come and have a chat with any of the coaches on Saturday. We're always very happy to help.

Ok fab, see you on saturday

"but you will be very unpopular if your attention wanders, you clip a wheel and go down taking four others with you."

this actually happened a month ago ...

I usually get worried about two types of riders - either the tyros who think that they know it all after 0.1 second and then charge around until at some point they learn, maybe after taking out people around them *, or the second very nervous, unsure or unfit riders who don't know how to work with the experience and fitness they have.

HH works along the lines of people taking a lot of responsibility for assessing their own fitness and experience. Other tracks use more formal systems of 'tickets' and the like though this puts a pressure on coaches who at HH are already overworked and underpaid. Keeping the informal vibe at the track probably also means keeping the sense of riders taking responsibility for themselves, maybe more so than other similar sports venues.

• I was in this category, but a few years back now
  

this actually happened a month ago ...

and we all saw you sheepishly slinking away, hoping nobody noticed. first time back on the track since your last smash and straight back into the centre of the carnage...

"and we all saw you sheepishly slinking away, hoping nobody noticed. "

Haha. Nope nuffink to do with me, though I was a yay far away from being brought down with the melee.

Will you be there this Saturday 6pt?

I will. Am I going to be reunited with my favourite piece of cycling equipment?

you may well be 6pt. but surely the turbo is not more favouriter than your tri bars?!

It was a lovely day today, and my legs felt great. A real treat.

Sadly, there was a crash in the basic training session and one of the coaches went down, looks like a collar bone. Hope he's OK.

not again. who was it :(

It was Glen. Broken collar bone, sadly.

i saw it was someone in yellow but didnt realise it was that serious. wish him (i believe) get well very soon. shxt way to end a fabulous day.

on a separate note, doing intermediate for the first time i certainly realise my trackcraft and speed need improving. and a bike that fits (as opposed to one that is hired) and is a must. next week~