Womens Track Training: Herne Hill Sundays 4pm(Weekly from May 1st)

It's not actually much different, tbh. I was expecting a white-knuckle ride of terror and for the Langster to turn into a monstrous fire-breathing beast that was impossible to control and would try to kill me every five yards but it is, effectively, exactly the same only with moar pedalling.

I put all this down to needless panic brought on by too much reading forum and not enough riding bike

My 1st 2 days of fixed were essentially me going "shit! Shit! SHIT!" but perhaps launching myself into rush hour traffic in the south London alps wasn't the best idea but then my brain sorta flipped (flopped) and I realised the key is to KEEP PEDALLING. Keep pedalling? On a bike? Surely that's bike riding 101. Easy.

When I played polo a while ago using a freewheel really freaked me out!

See, that's the thing - it's people saying the "shit! Shit!" sort of thing that made me think it was going to be such a terrifying experience. Other things people say like, "riding fixed gives you a smoother pedalling motion" (the flipside of which seems to suggest "if you don't ride fixed then you don't already have a smooth pedalling motion") and, "omg i forgot to pedal when I did such-and-such and nearly died" made me think that it was going to be radically different. It actually turned out that there wasn't a jot of difference in how I pedal and on the couple of occasions I've thought "tired now, time for COASTING" the bike's just gently encouraged me to remain in motion.

I do go really slow, though, making me the perfect candidate for Tarck

When I started riding fixed I went REAL REAL REAL slow for the first few days. Then I got used to it and picked up the pace! I'm sure you will too.

according to my cateye I'm back to normal commuter speeds today (which is, btw, also really slow).

when I started riding fixed I went really fast, for about 5 mins and straight into the back of a van.
Then I went really really slow for a while but have since picked up the pace a bit :)

Well, finally got myself some road shoes so I can ride Jim's Fuji on the track....hopefully my death lungs will be recovered in time for the 4th! Just got to work out how to ride brakless to the track now....

Hoping to make it down at the weekend for my first post-knee op track session!

Well, finally got myself some road shoes so I can ride Jim's Fuji on the track....hopefully my death lungs will be recovered in time for the 4th! Just got to work out how to ride brakless to the track now....

Woah! careful.... you can just ride down on your own bike and use a bike from Herne Hill... it's all the same price.

I hope to be in for this! If I can find my bike under a year's worth of dust

The weather is not looking good for sunday. Fingers crossed the predicted rain doesn't come!

If it does there is always the Ladies Army Ladies Polo Fundraiser at LMNH to hit up: http://www.lfgss.com/thread80983.html

I'm planning to be at the beginners session on Saturday as well (forecast looks slightly better).. so there will be at least one girl for company =)

Am supposed to be looking at a bike on Sunday (one of them weird things with an engine attached, rather than a proper bike) so am likely to skip this session. Sigh. Soon. Sooooon

Fingers crossed the rain stays away.

Apparently there is a session on before us on Sunday so we wont be able to get onto the track until 2pm. i would still suggest aiming to get there for 1.30pm if you need to hire a bike to give us time to allocate them out, etc.

I can't wait!

Woah! careful.... you can just ride down on your own bike and use a bike from Herne Hill... it's all the same price.

No way, the Fuji is an absolute dream to ride! There are options in the pipeline...hehe. (I live pretty close, and I've ridden it before, so should be cool! heh)

planning to make this, but the weather forecast looks orrible

Hope the grim weather stays away so we can get out on the track! I was discussing this with a friend the other day, what goes into your essential track day kit?

Bike, 13t 14t 15t track cogs, lockring remover, chain whip, drinks, food (1 gel or energy bar), sun screen

and insect repellent [seriously, the blackflies there are vicous little buggers]

Bike, 13t 14t 15t track cogs, lockring remover, chain whip,

Not really necessary for beginners sessions though, are they?

The bike bit (clearly) but if you're borrowing one of the track bikes you can't be switching cogs can you? And even if you've got your own bike, this is more the stuff of advanced riders.

Serious q btw.

Hope the grim weather stays away so we can get out on the track! I was discussing this with a friend the other day, what goes into your essential track day kit?

Bottle of water, helmet, pedal spanner to swap pedals onto hire bike, jersey/ t-shirt that covers shoulders. Money for pint and chips afterwards. Flapjack.

. Money for pint and chips afterwards.

Here endeth the lesson.

What a brilliant afternoon - fun in the sun on the track.

yeah, what she^ said

^^ great afternoon indeed !