Herne Hill Saturday Training

I even have to contest the sprint up 3 flights of stairs to our flat after my son and I have been on a ride round the local parks - me carrying both the bikes.

V possibly.

Need smaller cog first doe

Cool, hopefully see you there.

I even have to contest the sprint up 3 flights of stairs to our flat after my son and I have been on a ride round the local parks - me carrying both the bikes.

haha i race my dog up the stairs after taking him for a walk.

Soft pedalling would be defending your position at times anyway e.g. wanting to remain 3rd or 4th wheel, and not wanting to get spat out the front. Wouldn't it?

Indeed. Or controlling the race from the front.

If everyone is forced by rule to go full chat at all times on pain of death then you may as well just run TTs?

Having said that, it wasn't that long ago that races had time limits, and if the riders didn't finish dicking about before the cut off, then they were all DQ'd no result.

Check the sprints from the 1908 Olympics. I think the same judges were doing track league as recently as 2009

Always bit confused about the rotation thing towards the end, the coaches tell you its not a race and then with a few laps to go you're suddenly 4 abreast and thats exactly what it is...

Is it bollox.
There are no numbers on your backs, you're not being judged FFS.

Plus the clue is in the instruction not to 'race' each other.

Even a little sprint at the end of a group training exercise or your 'rotation' isn't a race. You're at the front because chance put you there, not through any superior racing skills or tactics.

On Saturday mornings you are being given the opportunity to learn/experience how to ride the track. You can't learn anything about racing unless you attend a Monday, Sunday, Wednesday or specific session or race meet.

^ jake, I've got a spare 14tooth Dura Ace

Not sure what ratio people are thinking of riding for induction/basic but I found 50/16 pretty spot on on Saturday. Saw a couple of people mashing HUGE gears, which with all the slowing down and speeding up that we were all doing at the start couldn't be much fun.

Gearing should be between 82 and 88 gear inches for novice riders. (48 x 15 (86″) is ideal for adult riders) a slightly higher ratio around 88-90 gear inches is preferred for racing.

From http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/starting/bikes/. So 50 x 16 (84") is prettty good.

[QUOTE=erikjonsson;3541417]I was doing the second to last turn on the front of the bell lap and we came out three abreast at turn 4 during the third lap out because there was a very small and tired rider up front that refused to swing off.

Yes I spoke to him at the end of the race. He had the energy to sit on the wheel but was unable to contribute to the pace. He said he looked over his shoulder to swing up (questionable towards the end of a training session) and saw riders on his outside so he stayed were he was so they could go round him and take up the pace. He died badly, all riders had passed him by the home straight.

If everyone is forced by rule to go full chat at all times on pain of death then you may as well just run TTs?

The track that had this rule was at Paddington, alas it was dug up sometime the last century. Same size as Herne Hill but with a very shallow banking. If you swung up after doing your turn, rarely could you get back on because there was no backing to give you that extra kick. 20km races often had only six finishers. (Prizes down to sixth place!!) With judges warning riders and the strongest surviving, yes it was just like time trialling. On a fast day 96 inches was the gear of choice.

My grandparents used to take me to Paddington to watch when I was a baby.
It was certainly what was known as a 'cycling track' rather than a velodrome, and it's a sad situation that no track exists there any more.

Is there something like that in Preston Park in Brighton (or another park there) or has that closed/fallen apart as well, or was it never similar?

Does anyone know if this will be on tomorrow? I know it's planned to be

Is there something like that in Preston Park in Brighton (or another park there) or has that closed/fallen apart as well, or was it never similar?

Preston track league runs every Wednesday from the start of May. Yes it is very similar to Paddington. When not used as a track it was used as a park area. Sometimes in the past an unleashed dogs would add excitement. The track is ‘D’ shaped with its only banking going into the home straight. Hitting the banking at speed for the first time could cause the unwary to steer across the banking towards the then unfenced top of the banking. Looking down at a duck pond from a great height you did only once! The track has been revamped and being well supported by local clubs. Some London riders make the trip down to compete at their weekend open meetings.

I'd love to do that one day!

Ride down there, ride the track and then ride home.

I'd love to do that one day!

Ride down there, ride the track and then ride home.

after the last brighton trip? u mad bro?

I had fun, can't wait for the next!

All this talk of racing during training sessions. Here's what you want...
http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/racing_events/track_racing/novice_racing/

3 or 4 races each, prizes, no need for a racing license or membership of any organisation or club. Perfect introduction into track racing.

So I can just rock up and lose?

looks like it's open to anyone who's done at least 3 training sessions

I can't bloody wait.

Next week will be my third. Straight out of that into this? Not gonna happen, is it.

Next time.

It's looks like a lovely day for training if it's on! :-) I just hope it stays like this for the omnium tomorrow! :-D

Not sure if anyone else felt basics today was much faster than last week. No bad thing, mind - I was just fucked by the end after sticking with the lead group for most of it.
Seems that the last 20 minutes were made much faster by the Redhill CC guy at the front, he told me he's a TTer and was actively trying to get people faster.

Hope the guys I saw in the induction (Indra and someone else) enjoyed it, I left just as it started. Indra: your gear seemed well spinny, what was it? Nice bike btw.