Monday night race training

Indeed. Nothing on the twitter account but the website calendar says it's on from 7:00-9:00pm, which would be a bit dark? Have the floodlights been installed already?

No floodlights yet. I doubt it's on at 7pm if at all.

No floodlights yet, so the session will run from 7pm - dark. Track should be open from 6.30pm for warming up etc. As it's a bank holiday numbers will be down a bit anyway, so it won't split into 2 groups as usual (which means you get twice as much time on the track)

I wish I had read this before I depleted my energy.

^^ Same on Wednesday then?

So I am effectively a novice, I have done my track induction but in general I work on Saturdays so can’t put in the hours at basic training. After my induction last week I talked to the old guy at the sign up table and he said to come to the race training on Mondays.

Can anyone shed some light on how it is organised, how are the riders grouped, are there other less experienced riders? Am I going to be so out of my depth that I am a liability?

I shall be coming down tomorrow regardless but well see how it goes as to whether I participate or just spectate.

Do you have group riding skills from the road?

No, I am not part of a road cycling club

people should already be proficient at actually riding a bicycle.

^ But I am not new to riding a bicycle.

Have you ever ridden in a group any time other than induction?

No I havent

:-/

RPM had a very valid point; group riding is a specific skillset that takes a bit of learning. Some of the dynamics are different on the track because of the way the banking alters your speed, but even on the road it takes a while to become confident and safe while travelling shoulder to shoulder at 25+mph.

4th Cat road racing requires no induction or accreditation, and as a result there are an incredible number of accidents caused by people with poor group riding skills (even 3rds can be quite sketchy at times). This used to be less of an issue because riders tended to develop the skills on club runs, but these days more riders come straight into racing from outside the club system, and unless they join a club or get specific coaching there's nowhere for them to learn the skills. Even my 6-year-old (who rides with a club) has better group riding skills than some 4th cats :-(

No, I am not part of a road cycling club

I didn't actually ask you this. I asked if you had group riding experience.

There are many people (myself included) whose first experiences of group (700c) riding were with a bunch of friends on the road. Going out with a few people who have a bit of knowledge is nothing to be scared of, there are even coaching sessions on group riding at various closed-road circuits. None of this requires club membership, although there are no disadvantages in it, just some odd perceptions caused by people's prejudices.

Having said that, when I first went to the track, groups were very small and consisted largely of those with reasonable skills. These days the demand for novice track time far exceeds the availability so there is bound to be some disgruntled people who do not believe they 'fit' into the progression path.

Tracks like HHV do everything to ensure there are sessions for all levels of rider and I'm sure they will be open to any suggestions which will revolutionise their capacity to provide these sessions.

About to head down on my new steed! Dolan Pre-cursa with 'orrible white tyres and contact points! First session since the last one last year, so can't wait!

Get in there Nath

That was fun. Can never tell who is forum and who is not though... Apparently I'm now 3rd on the sprint segment.

Ive never been down to HH before can you watch saturdays/training days freely?

Ive never been down to HH before can you watch saturdays/training days freely?

Yes mate, public training sessions and racing are open for spectating.

A training query... I had a tough time trying to avoid being boxed in when everyone made the jump with 2-3 laps to go. I'm assuming it was because I wasn't being aware enough of what was going on behind me. Does anyone have any tips for me on how to not get boxed in and ending up right at the back of the pack?

go early? have a mate shout hup hup from the back when it starts winding up? pay more attention? have tried all three of those with varying success :/

You need to anticipate when it might happen and make sure you are on the wheel of a person you can trust to make a move at the correct time. This supposes you know the right people whose wheels to get on and you are able to get on the wheels. Failing that. Make sure you are near the front when you think it might kick off.
When I was racing, i found it was all about anticipating who might do what and when. It becomes easier the more you get to know your fellow racers and who to keep an eye on etc

slight hijack, re the extra race training tonight, does the session start at 18.30 per twitter or is it the track is open from 18.30 as per monday's?

Warm up from 6.30pm session starts at 7pm, like Mondays.

In in theory tonight, hope wind calms down a bit...
L

No sessions monday to friday this week Loic.