Herne Hill Saturday Training

It was due to one or two guys not understanding how to ease off on the outside line. They just seemed to stop pedalling and caused the line to snake dangerously. Once the guy in the Italy top gave up keeping up, it was much smoother.

Was I supposed to get a card when I did my induction then?

Yes

Whoops.

Was good that they actually checked the induction cards today. Unfortunately a few people who had genuinely been to the required sessions no longer carried their cards as they'd never been checked before.

Did people without cards get turned away from intermediates? I did induction pre-introduction of cards so haven't got one and was hoping to ride next Saturday.

it's good that they actually did that.

Have you done your 3x basics too?

If you had someone to vouch for you then you were okay. That being said, one guy who had been vouched for turned out to be mad sketchy.

i'm guessing they wont be vouching for you again then tibbs?

When I returned my wristband after the induction there was nobody at the table doing cards, so I'm assuming most of the people who went to my induction didn't get one either.

That said, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to do it again.

it's good that they actually did that.

Have you done your 3x basics too?

Yes - I did about a year of basics 2 years ago (at the time the coaches generally told you when they considered you were safe enough to move up to intermediates, which meant most people did a lot more than 3 basics) and then intermediates all last year... so while I'm very glad of anything that makes it safer, my experience of basics pre-dates the card system.

Anyway, if someone vouching for you is good enough then it won't be a problem. I just haven't been down to the track much this year due to limited cycling time so want to avoid getting turned away if I do get the opportunity.

The way with Herne Hill tends to be, if you bother to get there early to have a chat with the person running the session and explain your situation then they will let you do the session.

They really need to be more consistent with enforcing the progression cards if it's ever going to work properly.
I started collecting stamps in March this year and last Saturday was the only time I ever got checked.

It was a fairly sketchy session anyway: someone snapped a chain (and got pushed along for a bit by an impressively quick-thinking Paul from FHHV), and I almost rode into someone joining onto the back of rotation when I'd been told "last man" by the guy in front of him.

Then I got two fucking punctures and had to walk home!
Veloflex >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

How are you btw, Dan?

I almost rode into someone joining onto the back of rotation when I'd been told "last man" by the guy in front of him.

Someone saying 'last man' does not exonerate you from the basic responsibility of looking behind to check before you move. Do you trust the the guy that said 'last man'? Did he look behind to check nobody else had joined on? Why are you letting someone else do your looking for you?

The 'last man/rider' call is just etiquette to let you know you're about the right time to change. Riders must always check behind before moving in these training sessions.

How are you btw, Dan?

I'm alright thanks man - back at work today. Hands are pretty free from pain (still purple with bruising and swollen though! Lots of bruising came out on Saturday/ Sunday). Leg is healing slowly - pretty nasty wound and not an awful lot of skin to pull together there, first day without compression on it.

I won't be at the track tonight but hoping to be OK for Wednesday as it's the last proper track league and handicapped sprint I think. Will probably have the confidence of a wet flannel, but would still like to ride - will steer clear of big scratch races for a while.

will steer clear of big scratch races for a while.

Yep.

Ouch... I guess it's best to get back on quickly to regain confidence.

@RPM: Fair enough, didn't see him coming, should've looked properly. I did a look that was more out of habit than to actually see what was going on behind me. He could've made himself known, though. When you've been following the same wheel all morning and that rider calls "last man", it is surprising to find someone else there.

Ouch... I guess it's best to get back on quickly to regain confidence.

@RPM: Fair enough, didn't see him coming, should've looked properly. I did a look that was more out of habit than to actually see what was going on behind me. He could've made himself known, though. When you've been following the same wheel all morning and that rider calls "last man", it is surprising to find someone else there.

Sorry mate, RPM is right. If you are not looking for the end of the string and are accidentally moving down on people then you are not ready for Intermediates. That's usually covered in the Basic sessions. It's your responsibility to look before you move, and riders join/drop from strings all the time. If for instance you caused a crash, you would always be known as that guy that caused the crash from not looking properly. Sorry to sound harsh here, but safety first, not just yours, but those around you ;)

Cards were asked for on Sat and probably will be moving forwards. Make sure you have them on you before your next session.

I don't even know where my card is anymore.

I don't even know where my card is anymore.

Have you been going to Intermediates for awhile or are you new?

Usually I'm totally amazing, I promise.

On the topic of looking behind you properly, we spent 15 minutes going around the track only looking backwards tonight.

been going for a while now, intermittently though as I sometimes have to work on weekends.

Who will vouch for this sumo guy, I hear he isn't even fat. Don't know who to trust anymore!

Who will vouch for this sumo guy, I hear he isn't even fat. Don't know who to trust anymore!

I'm sorry, I don't know if vouching for people is an option, or if it even should be :( You could ask a coach on the day, but there is no guarantee.
Consider that there are around 50-100 riders per induction(x2), +-90 riders per beginners, and around 40-90 riders in Intermediates, every Sat alone. This is ignoring other sessions during the week, and all the weekly private hires.
It's not the coaches responsibility to 'remember' you with that volume of people, week in, and week out. Its your responsibility to get your card, have it stamped, or sort it out.
Personally if there is no stamp I would ask a coach who is there every week to sign it, or ask for 2 coaches to sign it(just to be safe) instead of getting a stamp. At least that way you can verify you did the session by showing them their signatures...
Sometimes cards run out, or the stamp goes missing, or there is nobody there to do it. Its frustrating for everyone involved, but these are reasonable situations you can speak to a coach about resolving then and there. If you forgot/lost your card, forgot to get a stamp etc then its obviously a different situation?
Its a new system this year, so realistically it needs ironing out. If someone has a genius resolution, then please share it so it can be passed onto HH-or pass it on directly at your next session :)

You would simply be in awe of the amount of people that try blag their way into Intermediates, or Beginners...some riders will even avoid signing on and paying to avoid being caught out...

been going for a while now, intermittently though as I sometimes have to work on weekends.

Who will vouch for this sumo guy, I hear he isn't even fat. Don't know who to trust anymore!

Let's face it, his whole interest in riding on the track is to sumo-wrestle people to the ground. The name's a bit of a giveaway.