Herne Hill Saturday Training

Basic training was definitely faster this week, don't know who was starting to push it on but I was quite happy to join in and let things speed up. The six man pursuiting was a bit of fun - really had a go when it wasmy turn.

Basic training was definitely faster this week, don't know who was starting to push it on but I was quite happy to join in and let things speed up. The six man pursuiting was a bit of fun - really had a go when it wasmy turn.

People were dropping like flies in that last pursuit, I was one of them. I don't know if anyone on here had a speedo but I'd be interested to see what the average speed and distance were.

I think the speed was down to the TTer up at the front, but there were a few guys really pushing. I was part of a 6 man line doing fast laps towards the end, but had to peel off the back as I was losing them. It was definitely tougher than last week - fewer exercises and more 'just ride'.

Great fun though.

Finally done my induction, had great fun!

I plan to be back next week for basics.

Glorious sunshine for the first time this year and I've been ... stuck in an office where the windows don't open. Miserable. Will be back for basics next week and hoping that the speed stays high.

90 riders during the intermediates. Kudos to the coaches keeping it under control.

90 riders during the intermediates. Kudos to the coaches keeping it under control.

there was a time when intermediates were doing Intermediate training and beginners were doing Beginners training....

had a lot of fun, hurt like hell, but good to be back out on the track again, only way to get stronger is to keep coming to the sessions.

despite the ache in my thighs and hips, felt surprisingly good, strong and quick for the rest of the day..

Did my induction with Indra yesterday. Was great! Will most certainly be back for basics next week.

I did basic training yesterday (having done the ladies session previously). It was fun though I found it difficult to hear what the coaches were saying (maybe just me and my poor hearing?) so spent quite a lot of time feeling confused. Towards the end my hand went completely numb thanks to the joys of carpal tunnel syndrome - I managed to make a bit of a tit of myself by trying to grab the railing with my numb hand, failing, and crashing into the side...

Thanks to the coaches, see you next week!

Hats - it can be difficult to hear the coaches at times. An observation from intermediates is that riders seem shy to communicate with each other. If you haven't heard what the drill is, ask the rider next to you.

A few more thoughts from inters:

• Well done to the coaches for effectively managing 90 riders! That seems to be the upper limit you can have on the track safely.
  
• Out of respect for other riders, people should fully concentrate. Some very chatty social riders yesterday whose extended conversations lead to gaps and less smooth riding, which is more problematic on such a congested track.
  
• Why do people have their Garmin on their stem? Question whether this is advisable, or indeed whether it should be allowed.
  
• My understanding is this is a 'skills' session, rather than a fitness session. Clearly there will be natural variances in form, but if you are really out of shape maybe it is fairer to other riders to build your fitness on the roads?
  

It was pretty fast yesterday> Personally I enjoyed the session the week before more as it seemed that the group was at a more consistent level of experience than yesterdays with more concertina-ing happening making it hard to get into a rhythm. Also I think there was more variety and this week was a bit more fitness/speed. This is not in any way a complaint just giving my thoughts.Now I've three ticks I'll try and start doing Mondays (and maybe a few more beginners just for fun) before jumping into intermediate Saturdays

• Why do people have their Garmin on their stem? Question whether this is advisable, or indeed whether it should be allowed.
  
  

Why do you see this as a problem? I have it set to only show speed and it helps with the pace judgment. Also, I don't think you are alowed to have anything in your pockets whilst riding on the track.

I guess because it is another potential distraction to concentration. Clearly most people manage fine with one though, as there are a lot who do it. I ride with one in my pocket, so guess I need to check that is legit. If not, I'll stem mount and tape over the screen so I'm not distracted! Regarding effort, isn't perceived effort enough for the track?

I guess because it is another potential distraction to concentration. Clearly most people manage fine with one though, as there are a lot who do it. I ride with one in my pocket, so guess I need to check that is legit. If not, I'll stem mount and tape over the screen so I'm not distracted! Regarding effort, isn't perceived effort enough for the track?

Stoopid to have things in pockets (stoopid to have pockets?). Not only if it falls out and causes a crash, but if you crash and it injures you if you land on it (kidney punch).

Interesting what you say about perceived effort. Yes, a speedo does help with pacing judgement as you can see the effect of the banking and your corresponding effort adjustment.
I once used a speedo to lead a group through and off exercise, funny how in the last 10 laps or so everyone stated getting all serious, getting even lower on the drops and chewing the stem as it 'got faster'. Except it didn't get faster at all, I kept it at the same pace throughout, but because the riders were getting tired they naturally thought it was getting faster.

Surprised folks weren't pissing about trying to manipulate position in the last 10 laps so they could "win" the "race"!

Things i noticed yesterday:

Messy at the back of the bunch of the pursuits and sprints - a lot of groups were pulling up way short of the back of the group and so to actually get back on you were either sat in this mess or jumping about between all these guys not willing/able to get up and into a pair on the group.

When it was concertinering during rotation a few chaps were standing up to sprint "back on" - and suddenly coming back to your wheel the moment their arse left the saddle.

Garmins beeping everytime we cross the line is a pain in the arse.

But a nice well managed session even though at the end of it I didn't really feel to done over like I usually do due to a lack of H&H for the last 15 mins.

I had to stand up once or twice to get the feeling back in my nads.

Feel abit like Fausto, wasn't as hard as it normally is for Intermediate training on Saturday.
Think the number of people made it hard for the coaches as there was such varying levels of fitness and skill but they did an amazing job of making it safe and good fun.
Gonna try my hand at Race Training tonight and see how that goes
Unfortunately cant make Saturdays novice racing but may try and make the track league on Wednesday

Hats - it can be difficult to hear the coaches at times. An observation from intermediates is that riders seem shy to communicate with each other. If you haven't heard what the drill is, ask the rider next to you.

Very good point, I will be less shy (literally first time I've had to say that!).

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.

Just saw this now, thanks about the bike.

The gear was 48x16

I was gonna throw a 16t on but decided against it because an intro was never gonna be fast and I'm used to running 48x19 on the road so it felt big at the pace we were going lol.

Next week I hope to be on 51x16.

I was on 50x16 and in the faster bits towards the end found it getting quite spinny (legs are certainly sore today), but with all the concertinering my legs were taking a beating through braking. Terrible practice I know, but there were a couple of proper "werrrghhhooaahh" moments at the beginning.

If my knee is feeling better by the weekend then I'll see you in the pillockton! As I don't have a cap I might just tattoo DAS on my forehead to try and start some converations.

Well I'll try it out and see how it goes.

Now you know my bike and face be sure to come over and speak on saturday.

conversation starter: "last man"

Hope training on saturday isn't too fast for those of us racing the novice thing in the afternoon!

I'm sure it'll be fine, having researched it I think the knee pain is down to the fact that the cranks on my track bike have a different q factor to my road cranks. Need to adjust my cleats before Saturday...

Hope training on saturday isn't too fast for those of us racing the novice thing in the afternoon!

Recovery pint in between?