Herne Hill Saturday Training

Looks dry enough for the track to be open though also looks like that may change. Anyone down there to confirm?

Spoke too soon. I think I have the answer to my question :(

I live 5 mins from the track and it's been raining here since 10, ground was also still wet from last night, so didn't bother going.

I believe being photographed takes a part of my soul away.

Good thing photography is not allowed at the track.

Came for the cycle jumble, stayed for the induction session!

Was really enjoyable, and the coaches helpful, friendly and tolerant of the many noobs on the track :p

Will be back for more

Was really enjoyable, and the coaches helpful, friendly and tolerant of the many noobs on the track :p

Will be back for more

Had a great day today at the induction today too... I imagine you're the guy who'd "just bought a stem" while we were waiting for bikes...

^Yes haha! And you possibly the guy with the beard?

^Yep, and the neon Alain Michel bike crying out to not have risers on it, and be ridden properly round the track!

Haha yeah that frame is lovely!

Came for the cycle jumble, stayed for the induction session!

Was really enjoyable, and the coaches helpful, friendly and tolerant of the many noobs on the track :p

Will be back for more

Good to see you chap. Sorry to dart off before the session finished - things to do etc. Sounds like you had fun!

Good to see you chap. Sorry to dart off before the session finished - things to do etc. Sounds like you had fun!

Likewise! I had no idea what your forum name (or real name for that matter) was, so I couldn't find you on here after.

Heading back this saturday?

i'll head over this week!

returning to HH tomorrow, did the induction and subsequent session previous to the card thing being introduced, would like to go to the novice training rather than repeat induction, reckon that's ok or am i forced to do the induction again? understand why etc., but would be keen not to redo the very first, i.e. 12:00 session, again as i hear you can't go straight on to the subsequent novice training session on the same day anymore.

Likewise! I had no idea what your forum name (or real name for that matter) was, so I couldn't find you on here after.

Heading back this saturday?

Ha! I'm afraid I couldn't remember your real name either. Mine's Andrew for future reference, though I'm out this weekend due to family visits!

returning to HH tomorrow, did the induction and subsequent session previous to the card thing being introduced, would like to go to the novice training rather than repeat induction, reckon that's ok or am i forced to do the induction again? understand why etc., but would be keen not to redo the very first, i.e. 12:00 session, again as i hear you can't go straight on to the subsequent novice training session on the same day anymore.

It'll be fine. Just turn up, sign up and go.

Wow, track was heaving today. The youth 9 a.m. session was full with every bike in use, some children were even turned away :( Induction also seemed to be filled to capacity. I suspect for the next few weeks the advice will have to be to get there early!

half of the intermediate session was made up out of chaps on hire bikes and the pace of things where different. things are changing

I wonder about the suitability of hire bikes for the intermediate session...

Having said that I rode (and raced!) a hire bike for a whole season before shelling out for a dedicated track bike, but that was in the good old days.

Just after the last London Olympic boom, in 1948?

Not to date meself or anything but the standard of hire bikes these days is far superior to what was on offer around the, er..., mid 80s, when tractor tyres and BMX pedals were all the rage. I really don't think that someone on a hire bike with their own pedals is at much of a disadvantage. Certainly suitable enough for a training session.

Olympic fever and sunny weather really brought them out today though. As ever, hats off to the coaches for controlling everything.

Just after the last London Olympic boom, in 1948?

1908 #ouractualgreatestteam

Would of come today had I not been audaxing, completely forgot

i was there on sat at the 13:00 session with a mate ,it was ok, not as fast as the last equivalent session I rode last year. i think it's certainly harder to maintain a higher pace on the hire bikes, they are pretty heavy, but also you're handed them just before you need to hit the track on them, so mine had a really low front tire pressure for e.g. Had a lap and a half at the front due to traffic on the team sprint training, pushed it a bit, felt it significantly more than i would do at that pace on my regular ride.

Did make me increase the priority of making my dolan track compliant as soon as possible. also, the instructors do a great job, but it can still be a bit confusing if you're doing something new for the first couple of laps. this isn't an advanced session after all, it's right to expect relatively track-inexperienced riders to be confused / take a few laps to get going.

essay over.

i am currently in the process of building/slowly buying enough parts until i can build a fixed gear bike. apart form riding a few of my friends fixed gears briefly, i am not experienced in riding fixed whatsoever, however i used to ride bmx so im quite confident on bikes in general. after watching the olympic track cycling and learning they rode fixed, i thought they seemed to be the best in the world at riding fixed gear so looked for some kind of training sessions in that sort of environment. would going to herne hill velodrome and attending the induction, and subsequent training sessions be a good way to learn/get into riding fixed gear?