Herne Hill Saturday Training

So I suppose it comes down to what the priorities and objectives are, for the beginner's sessions. To find more Bradley's and Laura's?

It isn't this!

That's a job for those who work with clubs and young people. I'm sure there are some latent talents amongst adults, but with all due respect to the riders, they're not being talent spotted.

Surely these numbers will impact the intermediate session soon and have a similar effect.

it will probably be like the last Olympics, it was pretty full for a while and then it came back to normal, maybe a bit more people but not that many

it will probably be like the last Olympics, it was pretty full for a while and then it came back to normal, maybe a bit more people but not that many

what ,,,, in 1948?

The bollocking (perhaps a slight exaggeration - stern, fair and well deserved lecture would be more accurate) last week was just that most people were getting carried away, and not thinking about the basics that we'd been taught (I'm including myself in this, before anyone says!). Lots of trying to go really fast, groups disintegrating during half lap changes etc, was just a bit of a shambles. People were still doing it this week, but it wasn't as bad.

It does feel like a lot of people in the basics group. I've done my three required sessions in it, and I'm planning on doing Monday night or Saturday morning to see if it's a bit quieter. Guess my main concern is that I'm still a bit too much of a rookie for both - how much of a leap is it?

Surely these numbers will impact the intermediate session soon and have a similar effect.

Due to personal terms and my bike being nicked over the summer, I returned to the track (after a month and a bit break to build and find myself a new bike) to the inters to find new faces and the usual regulars wasn't there (most likely due to open season race later that afternoon)

But there there were some questionable people turning up into the session as they were just circulating on the top banking and not really bothered about getting back into the group to attempt the rest of the training, which i found really disappointing. Also this also reflected on the speed of the intermediate training as it was definitely slower than the regular training session.

I do agree though that there should be a limit with the number of people turning up to each sessions, and i guess my last rant is that please don't turn up on the intermediate session and find it too hard and then sneaky jumping into the basic session to get more track time.

what ,,,, in 1948?

no Gerald!! since the last Olympics in Biejing I am NOT THAT OLD :)))))
xxxx love you!

it will probably be like the last Olympics, it was pretty full for a while and then it came back to normal, maybe a bit more people but not that many

^ this

come next year interest in track riding will nosedive again, like it always does.

anyway its all about cyclocross now...

please don't turn up on the intermediate session and find it too hard and then sneaky jumping into the basic session to get more track time.

Could you point these people out next time you see this happen? Thanks.

^ this

come next year interest in track riding will nosedive again, like it always does.

anyway its all about cyclocross now...

It's not really a nosedive, it just levels out slightly higher than the last level bit. Olympics always cause a blip. This year exacerbated by that wiggins fellow beforehand. Or rather by the press frenzy about the wiggins fellow.

Flat tyre on my way to Herne Hill...
No track for me today...
Enjoy the weather guys!

Just red Hoke's post above and I agree.

I love the sat session but the intermediate is more of a advanced basic right now. it would probably be a good idea to have a hands up for newcomers that bridged up from basic to intermediate and have what we do explained to them. Had people in my 4 and 6 groups not understanding they where to pull of the front every half lap :) 15 people circling the outer track at any time, 20 on the inside lap. And the random riders getting dropped from their groups sitting on the blue instead of riding out didnt help things either.

Coaches are doing a great job holding things together and sessions as they are in boom right now seems to suffer from lack of common sense in the new riders and a inability to ask questions rather than anything else.

Hi, I wanna go down to Herne hill next season or this season if it's not over already.
About 3 or 4 years ago I went to the kids session a few times and had a blast but it was too far to be regular and eventually school work got in the way and I stopped going.
I am now 15 and would like to go again, do I still fit into the children session?
I don't have a track legal bike at the moment and would have to rent.

Had people in my 4 and 6 groups not understanding they where to pull of the front every half lap.

Worrying, because this exercise is the main element of the novice training session, so there's really no excuse. Please do point out these riders to the coaches, so we can have a quiet chat with those who don't seem to be grasping the basics. We try to keep an eye out for such issues, but there aren't many of us to go around!

the intermediate session today was probably the most crowded I have ever seen...we tried to count and there were probably 60 riders on track, a bit hard to say with precision due to people being a bit all over the place at times. Coaches as always have done an incredible job considering the amount of traffic control necessary and the many inexperienced people I have spotted. I found what has been said above to be true with plenty of people rolling around the top of the track already after the first effort! I do not see how anyone is benefiting from this to be honest. There was a lot of shouting in all directions..) The final 30 laps were pretty fast and very good training despite the frequent overtaking of slower groups and random riders sitting in the middle of the track unsure of where to go. Special thanks go to coach Clive for making the training extra hard today during the efforts. Much appreciated.

I am now 15 and would like to go again, do I still fit into the children session?
I don't have a track legal bike at the moment and would have to rent.

Come along to the 9am youth session - there are quite a few 13/14/15 years olds who ride at this time. Arrive early though, particularly as you need a bike - we're selling out fast at the moment!

Just red Hoke's post above and I agree.

I love the sat session but the intermediate is more of a advanced basic right now. it would probably be a good idea to have a hands up for newcomers that bridged up from basic to intermediate and have what we do explained to them. Had people in my 4 and 6 groups not understanding they where to pull of the front every half lap :) 15 people circling the outer track at any time, 20 on the inside lap. And the random riders getting dropped from their groups sitting on the blue instead of riding out didnt help things either.

Coaches are doing a great job holding things together and sessions as they are in boom right now seems to suffer from lack of common sense in the new riders and a inability to ask questions rather than anything else.

There's no excuse for not understanding the drills and not asking if you're not sure, but in terms of speed and intensity it is a big step up from the basic to the intermediate, especially in light of the fact that the basic sessions are so busy now that the general pace and progress is a lot slower. I don't think it's a question of new riders lacking common sense, but rather a lack of general awareness on the track. Four or five slow basic sessions (if that) aren't really enough to prepare for some of the situations that were happening today, like the time when there were two groups overtaking a slower one at the same time. I had a close shave when someone picked an inopportune moment to leave the top of the track, but I think the admonishment he got from the coach will mean that won't happen again.

Today was my first intermediate session and, while I found the basic sessions I did at the start of summer a little on the slow side, I couldn't keep up the pace that the faster riders today were setting. I didn't leave the drills and circle round the top, but I did have to pull off with five laps to go at the end when I realised I'd lost the feeling in three fingers in each hand.

I can empathise with faster riders who feel that the average speed of the session may have dropped a bit since track cycling became 'cool' again. But I had a cracking time today, and to have 60 riders of pretty varied standard occasionally reaching pretty high speeds without any major mishaps is again a credit to the coaches, and sorry but this new rider will be back again.

Glad you enjoyed the session Tom! This thread can get a bit negative.

I agree with you about pursuit rotations going over the top of slower groups. I think there should be an acceptance that if your group catches the group in front you just rotate round behind them at a clear distance until you rejoin the main bunch. Swinging over the top is a nightmare, and just tends to split the group anyway.

Glad you enjoyed the session Tom! This thread can get a bit negative.

I agree with you about pursuit rotations going over the top of slower groups. I think there should be an acceptance that if your group catches the group in front you just rotate round behind them at a clear distance until you rejoin the main bunch. Swinging over the top is a nightmare, and just tends to split the group anyway.

I mean no offense with this but the above pretty much underlines what I said about a lack of understanding of what is going on in the intermediate sessions.

The coaches for this session effectively trains and prepares you for riding and racing on the velodrome where overtaking is the name of the game. If we would all have to stick to the slowest riders abilities and/or not overtake slower groups (like encouraged by the coach launching the groups by judging their abilities) we would effectively be riding around in one long line all the time. To keep the pursuit exercise flowing smoothly we have groups overtaking others to avoid a situation where there is a big bunch on the other side of the track and no fresh riders for the coach to launch into a new lap.

And again im not pointing fingers here i'm just agreeing with what hoke said previously. An influx of new riders bridging up from basic to intermediate has slowed the pace down a fair bit. I dont object to there being slow riders as long as they ask questions first rather than creating an needlessly dangerous situation. We all swing out for a breather now and then and is instructed to do so. Maybe when that amount of riders gets beyond what seems manageable from a safety perspective, the pace is too high, or the segmentation of abilities wrong.

That being said i'm always amazed on how it actually works out pretty well despite the mass amount of riders on the track at times.

There is a significant difference between moving up in a bunch or pushing up the pace line in a scratch race and one pursuit team moving over the top of another, and I don't think the latter constitutes training for the former particularly. Practice for moving in the the bunch comes with the lap countdown at the end, or in other dedicated exercises IMO.

Come along to the 9am youth session - there are quite a few 13/14/15 years olds who ride at this time. Arrive early though, particularly as you need a bike - we're selling out fast at the moment!

Thanks I'll head down when I can, it should be a nice ride there but quite far on fixed.

Excuse my language here, but today intermediate session was FUCKING GREAT! was great to see some of the top track riders back on the track and really pushed us to ride harder, faster and much longer and although it was painful, i loved every moment of it and more importantly i guess its sets a level of standard we should be aiming for =) will be back for next week session, no pain no gain..

There is a significant difference between moving up in a bunch or pushing up the pace line in a scratch race and one pursuit team moving over the top of another, and I don't think the latter constitutes training for the former particularly. Practice for moving in the the bunch comes with the lap countdown at the end, or in other dedicated exercises IMO.

true. I guess I havent really looked at the 4-8 man groups as pursuit training but you are right in that it wouldn't happen in a actual pursuit race ;)

There is a significant difference between moving up in a bunch or pushing up the pace line in a scratch race and one pursuit team moving over the top of another, and I don't think the latter constitutes training for the former particularly.

This exercise is useful for a number of reasons. Riding as a 'team pursuit' is one of them, but certainly not the most important. Overtaking and being overtaken by groups of riders happens - in races, derny training etc. - and it's important that riders get comfortable with this situation. Looking before you move, not swinging up the track assuming it's clear behind and controlling/judging speed are important elements of track craft. Any of the coaches will be happy to run through things if you need any detailed clarification why we run a particular exercise.

Is race training on tonight? I have been traveleing for a few weeks and want to get riding again.