Road racing

The Feather team bikes are very nice, saw one yesterday at a race and was very jealous.

Well done on the result, thats brilliant for a first E12 race. I found it a massive step up when I got to 2nd Cat riding the E's and 1's and think it took me till July to finish a race!

It was a big step up. I'm used to ending up on the front and attacking almost by accident. That was definitely not the case yesterday. More hanging around the back and doing all I could to keep the wheel in front. Relentless, less of the stop/start of the lower races, just fast, or faster.

Stage races are awesome. Took 7th on the GC. 3rd in the TTT. Rode agressively in both the stages but just missed the decisive break.

http://www.velouk.net/2014/05/04/report-ilkley-cycling-club-2-day/

The Feather bikes are gorgeous in the flesh, and their riders were strong as well.

Massive props to Ilkley CC for organising, superb event.

Is anyone racing at Crystal Palace tonight?

looks good. V good result, would like to try a stage race. There was a Milton Keynes 3 day one at weekend also. Thought they normaly put stage finish times on velouk

Palace is annoying now in that you can't decide at the last moment to race. All booked up weeks in advance!

That's been the case with a lot of races in the NW this year. Booked up well in advance. Then on the day, loads don't show. Thankfully i've gotten a few EOLs due to this.

Won a TLI race last night. First race win, surprisingly anticlimatic.

i'm thinking of entering category 4 next year.

what level should i be at? like averages etc...

I'd say that riding safely and smartly was much more important than averages. Are you a club member? Have you ever ridden a chaingang? I spent a year getting spat out of the back of our local chainy twice a week, then a year of sitting in and eventually winning sign sprints, before i entered my first race. Admittedly this is more than most people, but it stood me in very good stead.

Holding a wheel, and riding smartly in the bunch, is IMHO far more important than brute power.

Yeah man, i ride with people a couple of nights a week, know hand signals etc...

eyebrows - what pressure are you running in your rear tyre? I found that my rear wheel tub jumps sometimes at the track, so experimented with running my tubs with 5-10 psi less and it seemed to solve the problem.

110 usually. GP4000s at the moment, 23c.

Oh well it's not that then. Might be a weight distribution thing and maybe accelerate on a bigger gear?

Cat 4 crits at Hillingdon average 24-25mph but it doesn't feel like it as you are sitting out of the wind in the bunch.

There were 3-4 of us who'd been riding intermediates training at Herne Hill previously and we were all comfortable with the pace and familiar with stupid changes of pace for no reason :)

Oh well it's not that then. Might be a weight distribution thing and maybe accelerate on a bigger gear?

I had this as my basic assumption (weight dist), but not 100% how to change it.
Was considering trialling a smaller frame, but can't work out whether that would make it worse or better.
I'm 100% its technique. Need corner practice with someone watching, but not sure when that's going to next be on...
Anyway race was cancelled for tonight, not sure whether to go down to a TT or save energy for tmw's tempo ride.

Get someone you're riding with tomorrow night (who is better at cornering than you) to take you through some corners, do exactly as they do... and then repeat but with you in the lead and them following you.

You're more likely to get good advice from Skinny, AndyP or dubtap to be honest :)
I only turn left or TT.

i'm thinking of entering category 4 next year.

what level should i be at? like averages etc...

Just turn up and have a go.
If you feel you're a danger or uncomfortable, you can always just roll out the back and come back again another week.
Though some bunch experience is needed really. But then again, there will be people there who cannot ride a bike. So you won't be the worst.

Just don't be timid, don't use your brakes unless you have to. So many people braking for no need, causes crashes. Everyone jumps on their brakes.

It's a shame there aren't many or more training days for road racing. Unlike Herne Hill. You may not be interested in the track, but if you've a track bike i'd go there for a month to get to grips with riding in a group. It's less wild that road racing, in terms of people being all over the shop, but it'll help.

Won a TLI race last night. First race win, surprisingly anticlimatic.

Win a big race and it won't be!!! Onwards and up!

They're doing weekly road racing training sessions at Lea Valley on the road circuit now. Very good by all accounts ^^

JC on here was coaching them but last one was last night.

Replaced with 10 mile TT's every Tuesday night from now though

Anybody know when crits start at Lea Valley. Apparently its fast, flat and due to replace Hillingdon as London's premier carbon graveyard. I'll still race there though.

Need to work on sprinting/ placing/ not getting excited.
Was fun to race with Hoops though. Ilton, good beginners circuit- if you're in the area.

Was good to see you dude!
Strong racing..... dont do so much work on the front, and you'll have more left in the tank for the attacks on the last few laps!