Herne Hill Saturday Training

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  • I think it's a bit controversial. I'm only in the basic training - third in a row if it wont rain today - but ridden couple of thousand miles back when I was racing and training with my club. It was 10 years ago and I gave up cycling for a few years but riding in a group and behaving correctly is absolutely fine by me.

    In the last two occasions I found ridicoulusly hard to ride in the group because of two things. My thighs get exhausted really quick because of fixed gear. I have to get used to that but it will be better over time. But more importantly I had problems with the fact that most of the riders were not used to ride in group. Speeding up, slowing down constantly which is the killer of endurance. They picking up speed in the excitement down from the bank then start to panic at the entry therefore massive braking. And if you are at the back of the group the rate of change in speed are massive.

    At the end the problem was that I had to concentrate more on the group riding, avoiding others than training. I know it's better when there's no 70 people on the track but I feel I'm not strong enough for the intermediate group. So, how to progress?

  • ^
    I think it is clear how you progress - you do the three weeks required....why is that so hard for people to fathom?

    I just finished my third week today and while certain things aren't ideal for experienced riders sometimes (slower groups, folks letting gaps open, difference in rider ability on the "front of one group to back of another" drill) people are making out like it is some kind of pergatory.

    The coaches do a great job at seperating the standards so today after the paired riding there were 3 seperate single file groups all at different speeds....just find the one that suits you!

    Anyway, I think it is good that you need to do this, not only for the skills and track craft but also just to learn to appreciate and actually commit to something and wait for the results.....instant gratification society etc....

  • . They picking up speed in the excitement down from the bank then start to panic at the entry therefore massive braking.

    You are correct about the effect but it's not so much caused by the above.

    You should have been told how to ride a banked track at a constant speed, ie. pressing on into the turns and soft pedalling out of them. There's even a diagram on this forum somewhere.
    It's simply riders failing to control their speed, and instead letting the track geometry dictate it. This might be fine for the first two riders in the group, but as you quite rightly say, this is magnified by a massive amount by the time you get to the back of the group. It's also exacerbated by riders chasing to fill up "gaps" (why do you need to be 2" away in a basic training session?) and riders kicking back (leg braking) when they approach the rider in front.

    There are no circumstances in which 70 novice riders should be on the track in the same bunch, or be expected to deal with it. It can take a fair bit of track time before a rider is capable of applying the protocol effectively.

  • Also exacerbated today by tailwind back straight/headwind home straight; inters was yo-yoing something chronic at lower speeds.

  • The safest thing to do is skitch the rider in front if a gap looks like opening up, and skid if it seems to be closing too rapidly. These situations won't even happen if you ride some decent 6" dildo bars, as you can then squeeze through any gap.

  • Sage advice.

  • It is also good to wear skinny jeans and Vans because these give you more self awareness on the track.

  • It is also good to wear skinny jeans and Vans because these give you more self awareness on the track.

    Quoted for evidence in impending lawsuit.

  • I wouldn't, unless you want your assets reinsured.

  • Today's basic started out in the way everyone's moaning about ^^ but went really smoothly after that, mainly because of the excellent coaching responding to all the splinters and mixed abilities. After some patchy fours, the pairs went nicely (if a bit short, obviously) and the 20ish laps in a line, with leaders dropping every 1/2, was just great. Pretty tight, not slow, and measured pacing from a large bunch.

    Flippin' loved it!

  • +1

    Today was great fun. Another big thanks to the coaches.

  • Today's basic started out in the way everyone's moaning about ^^ but went really smoothly after that, mainly because of the excellent coaching responding to all the splinters and mixed abilities. After some patchy fours, the pairs went nicely (if a bit short, obviously) and the 20ish laps in a line, with leaders dropping every 1/2, was just great. Pretty tight, not slow, and measured pacing from a large bunch.

    Flippin' loved it!

    +1. thought that the coaches did an incredible job this weekend with a huge number of people. and as skully says, it sorted itself out pretty quick.

    intermediates this week. i will be on a big grey Nelson with 'awesome' purple bar tape.

  • After visiting Herne Hill for the first time today, I'm planning on heading down tomorrow for the Induction. Does anyone know how much it costs to hire a bike there, and will anyone else be there?

  • After visiting Herne Hill for the first time today, I'm planning on heading down tomorrow for the Induction. Does anyone know how much it costs to hire a bike there, and will anyone else be there?

    I went first time last week and it was a great experience. The fee is £8 and bike hire is included in the fee. You can also stay for the beginners afterward which is also included in the fee.

    Will be there tomorrow for beginners again (weather dependent).

  • You can also stay for the beginners afterward which is also included in the fee.

    Provided you pass the induction.

  • That's a bargain if the hire and the training are included.

    What would I have to do to not pass the induction?

  • What would I have to do to not pass the induction?

    Fail to obey coaches' instructions, ride dangerously, display poor behaviour.

    That sort of stuff really. It's not a fitness test, you just have to be a safe rider that we can trust not to cause problems for anyone.

  • Hopefully I'll be alright, I can do really big skids and ride no-handed, and I've been playing Road Rash on the Megadrive all day.

    Do the hire bikes have clips and straps or should I bring shoes with road cleats?

  • Clips and straps, but bring shoes with cleats and pedals and I think you can swap them over, as long as you swap them back at the end of the session.

  • you won't regret it. It is really good fun and if the basic seems like it is taking it "easy" at first the coaches will work it out so that everyone ends up in a group at the right speedn for them. Like RPM says just do what the coaches say - they really are great. The first one of the year about 75 people turned up and they could have stressed out and paniced but took it all in with good humour and managed a great session with minimal risk.

  • whats rain watch saying about beginners today?

  • twitter says all public sessions cancelled

  • cheers this track thing is proving more difficult to stick to than I expected

  • haha, agreed. was down there at half nine, only to find the track was too wet to ride.

  • Shame.

    The 24km round trip was good practice though.

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Herne Hill Saturday Training

Posted by Avatar for adman @adman

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