2012 Herne Hill Velodrome Track League

Lol wtf omg etc..

Brilliant. I would have one of those if it didn't look like Lisa Simpson giving a blowjob on a beach.

Results form the Back in Black meeting on the 15th of April have only just gone on too tbf.

With regards to that, does anyone know why we would get 5 BC points for plodding round at a leisurely pace and coming 5th in the team pursuit but a big fat nil points for winning the team sprint? I suspect we may have been docked points for Hillbilly starting his man 1 effort on the tops...

I think the rule is that only events over 3km count. A hangover from assuming that road and track riders are one and the same.Should be seperate road/track rankings really - but then again maybe that would put off point-hunting roadies.

If anything was going to dock you points it would be the massive push start George gave...

Why didn't the comms pull them?

Who got the push, all of them or just man 1? it's probably more of a hindrance to be pushed if you're man 2/3 and the others don't get an equal shove.

BC should get DQ'd

Cheating monkeys!

Why didn't the comms pull them?

Who got the push, all of them or just man 1? it's probably more of a hindrance to be pushed if you're man 2/3 and the others don't get an equal shove.

When's the last time you saw the comms disqualify anyone? Both the two regulars who used to do it are no longer with us...

A certain HH favourite took one hand off the bars in the closing stages of a race on Saturday to, rightfully, remonstrate with another rider. It took someone else to point out to the commissaires that this might not be within the rules.

When's the last time you saw the comms disqualify anyone?

About two years ago when I "told" them to disqualify some nodder who didn't just fail to hold his line in the finish straight but actually swung up to try and block Euan who was about to go round him. Can't believe they even needed pressurising to do that! Also Peter was about to jump over the fence and pretty much everyone else in a London club was ready for a argument!

A certain HH favourite took one hand off the bars in the closing stages of a race on Saturday to, rightfully, remonstrate with another rider. It took someone else to point out to the commissaires that this might not be within the rules.

Actually it's not really 'rightful' to remonstrate with other riders, during or after the race. You have to approach the judges with your grievence.

I know sometimes it's frustrating but such esteemed riders should be setting an example ;)

Is Symon saying "why is he not wearing leg warmers when it's so f*cking cold!?"

Didn't know that was in the rules now, still, good idea.

He drifted out of the sprinters line three times or something stupid like that.
He was from Wales though, so it's suprising he was even riding round in the right direction.

What is the world coming to? Eddy Wingrave would have disqualified us like a shot.

Anyway, how is this coming up now? Didn't anyone think it might be a good idea to mention it at the time? Not that I'm glad you didn't or anything...

He's saying "Get some proper width bars so you can control your bike"

^ and that Team Sprint stuff, I thought It'd just look sour grapes to whinge about things that probably weren't intentional. Plus, technically half the teams in the team sprint should have been disqualified. Trying to keep it friendly!

He's saying "Get some proper width bars so you can control your bike"

I'm gonna bite!

Funny how some people seem to hold a perfect line on aero bars with hands only a few cm apart then isn't it?

It's likely he would have wandered more on wider bars as they will provide more leverage to amplify any shonky steering caused by upper body movement when tiring.
Then I wasn't there to see it, so don't know if he was wavering from the datum right up to above the red. If he was riding where he is in the photo for the duration ofthe sprint and just going above the red then it's not an issue.

^ and that Team Sprint stuff, I thought It'd just look sour grapes to whinge about things that probably weren't intentional. Plus, technically half the teams in the team sprint should have been disqualified. Trying to keep it friendly!

Friendly? Sod that, disqualify the lot of them. Those rules weren't painstakingly drawn up by a bunch of wizened old pensioners in Switzerland just so you pigs could use them as bog roll!

^ and that Team Sprint stuff, I thought It'd just look sour grapes to whinge about things that probably weren't intentional. Plus, technically half the teams in the team sprint should have been disqualified. Trying to keep it friendly!

Fair enough.

looking good for some racing tonight!

Dont suppose anyone found a pair of Briko shades with blue lens' last night?
If so, they are mine.... :(

Some kiddy had 'em. I think he was handing them in to someone.

Didn't realize they were yours...

So on Wednesday, I rode my first track event in more than 34 years. Signing on and pinning a number on my jersey hasn't changed, but no scrutiny. That might have been a Kirkby CC thing, to make sure you weren't riding with any weapons.

First event was the 15 lap warm up, steady warm up pace for 10 laps, then the gun; all bets are off. And what a buzz to be riding in a bunch again, wheel to wheel, shoulder to shoulder.

Next up the AB sprint handicap, station 60 as opposed to the last man on station 25. Three guys in front. Bang! Caught the first three guys coming out of T2, then two riders come over the top, past me. I wait. 100m to go, rush the gap around the outside and across the line - 1st. I don't think the handicapper will be that generous next time out.

On to the B group 12 lap scratch race. Riders here, there and everywhere. Without the structure of a track training session, this is a little bit more intimidating than the warm up race. Relax, I'm doing ok. Pace is manageable, a few try going off the front, get caught, and another acceleration and another four give it a go. Four laps to go and a big acceleration at the front to pull the break back.. Then the pace dropped off again, a group come over the top, I've moved up towards the front. Two laps to go and it strings out. 9th or 10th. At the bell, a few riders in front of me swing up, I close the gap, chase down the leaders down the back straight. A rider comes up on to my shoulder. Wait, wait, GO! And I go over top and across the line - 1st.

Over 50 and youths 3 lap dash - one rider goes from the gun. We don't chase, we torture him a bit giving him a 50m lead for 2 laps, he keeps looking over his shoulder were not getting any closer, I can see he's trying real hard with a lap to go. We're high on the banking coming in to T1, I form a plan, stay high and go for a flying 200 from the top of T2. Then the rider at the front changes my plan, I'm caught unawares and couldn't get past the first two - 3rd.

Next, Win-Out. Don't remember this one. Basically sprints every two laps, winner of the first sprint is the winner and drops out, 2nd sprint winner gets 2nd place and so on. Sat up after 4 laps. Hard to figure out a strategy for this, other than pick a lap and go for it.

Devil - My old favourite. 20 odd riders, About 8 or 9 of us left, I don't understand why the first four or five were sprinting away o hard, with 7 or 8 riders left in. Chased them down as did not want to get eliminated, and then they sat up as they crossed the finish line. Race over. Sorry, I was enjoying myself too much doing my best Laura Trott impersonation to realise that was the last lap.

And with that I decided to head home happy with the evening's efforts. One rider said, I should ride with the A group of riders, maybe.For now, this 50 year old will take his wins when he can!

More importantly, if you've got this far, and you've never raced before or, are an ex-rider suffering a mid-life crisis like me but are a bit unnerved at the thought of competition come and have a go. Or try the Monday night race training session.

I'd say, f you've ridden with the Saturday intermediates a few times, can ride hard in most of the efforts in the first hour and hold your own pretty much in the second AND have good bike handling skills come and have a go. It's what I did, you can too!

Nice write up.

there is hope for us oldies "innit?"
xx

Yeah that is good reading.
Note to self.make more effort.