North London Criteriums

More importantly, clock or anti?

My point was that as well as the gates being open there are gaps either side of the gate which have a bollard in the middle of them. I assume they'll be blocked off but if not, you can fit a bike either side of each bollard. I wouldn't like to try squeezing two bikes through those gaps.

anti clockwise would be best I reckon, it's how I rode it, southern corner is fast enough if you get right line, finish line should be on the following straight...slight uphill, wonder where they will put it....

main issue will be dog-walkers I reckon.

I have always thought that would make a good crit circuit. Tough though. I think there are speed bumps and road furniture as well. [edit: noted up thread].

What is this Islington CC? I presume ShannonBall can explain?

Islington cc are a newly formed club. i rode with them yesterday and they seem to be a nice bunch. it looks like they are planning lots of local events, and are really enthusiastic. The crits are part of a wider cycling festival being organised by them and the local borough councils to take place in Finsbury park at the same time.

i'm going to be away on the 16th but i'd totally recommend getting involved or entering a race from what i heard yesterday.

More importantly, clock or anti?

Clockwise

We'll have a car following the race and a motorbike outrider up front

My point was that as well as the gates being open there are gaps either side of the gate which have a bollard in the middle of them. I assume they'll be blocked off but if not, you can fit a bike either side of each bollard. I wouldn't like to try squeezing two bikes through those gaps.

That will be blocked

I have always thought that would make a good crit circuit. Tough though. I think there are speed bumps and road furniture as well. [edit: noted up thread].

What is this Islington CC? I presume ShannonBall can explain?

It will be an excellent circuit and yes a good challenge. The surface is good with no speed bumps. One rut that will be coned off.

Islington CC is an embryonic club, but we have already hit double figures for both membership and club rides and are starting Go-Ride coaching for juniors on Saturday.

anti clockwise would be best I reckon, it's how I rode it, southern corner is fast enough if you get right line, finish line should be on the following straight...slight uphill, wonder where they will put it....

main issue will be dog-walkers I reckon.

Clockwise means a better finish - uphill from the hairpin on Seven Sisters to the finish near the cafe

The wider festival...

http://www.lfgss.com/picture.php?albumid=2678&pictureid=15577

Clockwise

Out; I only turn left.

We'll have a car following the race and a motorbike outrider up front

In again for the sticky bottle!!

I checked out the course tonight; you're cutting a bit fine to get it resurfaced in time aren't you?

Leave the deep sections at home people!

'tap - the surface is good - there is one bad spot which will have cones on it.

any bike requirements Shannon? Will ride fixed if I can...

**Help! The North London Crits needs you! If you can marshal, be a judge, motorbike outrider on the afternoon of Sunday 16 June in Finsbury Park, please send me a message ASAP. It is very possible the race will not go ahead if we do get enough help.
**

any bike requirements Shannon? Will ride fixed if I can...

Not that I know of

It might rain too. Can you let us know by Friday if this is going ahead or not. Thanks

It is looking better for marshals - thanks for the two guys who offered - looks like we are going ahead

Good luck with this, its great to see an old course being used again. Some of my club's "older " members remember racing at Finsbury Park.

Lea Valley CC would have loved to have taken part - but we have booked Hog Hill for a club road race that morning

Islington would be more than welcome @ Hog Hill on a Tuesday night for our ten mile TTs. PM about getting there..

Old course indeed. Here's a story I got fron Bob Davis...

Len Unwin, former admin guy at BCF, rode an Olympic qualifying race at Finsbury Park in 1948. His story was that they did a 100 lap race - about 140 miles - racing clockwise. At the end of the long straight (parallel Seven Sisters Road), people fell over at the corner (taken at speed on an adverse camber) and the blood was flowing into the drain in the corner.

They did big miles in those days. 140 miles is not such big mileage nowadays, but you get bored and lose concentration when it is on a short circuit. Hence the falls.

We are trying to get in touch with Len. Does anyone know him?
He would be ace to give out the prizes!

And yes, we're going clockwise, we'll sweep that corner, but do take care.

any bike requirements Shannon? Will ride fixed if I can...

Sorry - no fiexed or single-speed bikes allowed

We will have to have a special category next year!

British Cycling Commissaire cancelled the races due to "safety concerns" after the event had started.

I'd like to know the full story, I heard that a cyclist unconnected to the event hit a bollard and needed medical attention. They may have been drinking.

Very disappointing for everyone involved. I hope that this isn't the last time someone tries to put on a race event in Finsbury Park, it should be a good venue.

Someone on IG said a drunk ran into the U12s race. Resulting in a bad crash.

Was hoping to ride in the 3/4 cat race for this but was set back by reasons I won't go into here. Managed to make it out just now hoping to see the cat 1/2 but no one in sight and have now heard that it was cancelled, though don't know why. I hope nobody is badly injured if the above post is true.

Would like to know exactly what happened.

I was told a similar story to ^Elvis when I arrived to register