2011-06-11 Smithfield Nocturne

Well that was fun. Well done to everyone that skidded, I really didn't think I would win. Thanks for the support from everyone in the crowd and I hope to see you all there next year.

I would just like to say that the skid comp is a tiny part of the Nocturne, and that there are full on pro's racing and getting to watch them ride was one of the high lights for me. the speed that those kids ride at is somethiing that normal people will only dream off and most of us will never experience, they are the real deal and deserve the credit.

Great seeing everyone, stay drunk and see you all again soon!

This. The pro racing was amazingly fast. Dowsett was averaging 30mph according to the commentator, and hitting 40 on the short straights. Stunning. I grew up going to crits as my dad used to race them, but that was something else. The penny races were great too, with Mr pith helmet, some proper moustaches, a chap that looked like Fiddy and of course kat and charlotte racing each other. There is something very incongruous about a rider in full Lycra and a giro helmet riding a penny farthing.

Well done Jim!
Sorry I missed it, didnt get out of work till late.

I can't seem to write a post that covers how much everything was awesome.

Annekat; races; penny farthing; beer and cake; the support from everyone for the skid comp; actually skidding; Hillbilly and MeTheBMXer for helping me change over tyres when I either was stuck in the middle or panicking too much.

Awesome. Still smiling.

shit, forgot I owe both Jim and KRZ money! Won't forget next time I see you!

..who was in the zone?!

I keep telling you, I am the architect of the zone. You were most definitely in it though.

haha, I surely was. Really great evening, nice to meet new people

This. Great night.

Sorry for noty finding you sky dancer. By the time I went in search of the stalls everyone had shut up shop.

No worries BlueQuinn. Did ask if anyone had seen you. I was by the finish line in the media section, and then on the north side at the velo-re stand eating cake and bratwurst, and drinking german beer. ( I described the strap concept to Betty who though her gear would be great for the holes)

Two of the Motorpoint team bikes got nicked after the race #thisislondonmyfriend

Check out the people's faces on the right.

I was going to have the Fiat.

Great day and glad to have met some of the peeps I read on here. For me the highlights include the Pennyfarthing and Mens races. I hope we get mentioned in dispatches as a fantastic support group!

Sorry to read about the theft, but not surprised at such an event.

This morning my body aches. I wouldn't have thought it possible that standing around for hours, occasionally banging the display equipment (rather energetically) would hurt my body. A long hot shower and gentle stretching might help.

Was ace to see illy and taogeoghanhart in a forumenger "1-2" at the head of the peloton for a lap in the support race.

did anyone bother to watch the proper racing? has to one of the best crit races i have seen in a long time. Dowsett going full gas and the pain cave faces trying to keep up, he obliterated half the field in the first 10 min and was gaining 100yds a lap, big cheer when he caught the main group, the cornering speed round the bottom section was nuts.

That dude was on EPO, MSG & OPP!

Yeah the mens criterium was good to watch but it was over as a competition after ten minutes, no way anyone was catching him. I think at one point the second bunch might have narrowed the gap to about twenty seconds halfway through, but then another couple of laps and he was off again. Insanely fast and very impressive to watch.

I was cheering Nik from LMNH on in the women's racing who had a minor crash, she texted me to say she was alright, dont know the extent of her incident but hope she's not too shaken up.

did anyone bother to watch the proper racing? has to one of the best crit races i have seen in a long time. Dowsett going full gas and the pain cave faces trying to keep up, he obliterated half the field in the first 10 min and was gaining 100yds a lap, big cheer when he caught the main group, the cornering speed round the bottom section was nuts.

i was going to leave after a couple of laps of the men's race but ended up staying for the whole thing to see if Dowsett could catch them. what a rider.

the air turbulence as they came past was an unexpected experience.

a good evening out.

Two of the Motorpoint team bikes got nicked after the race #thisislondonmyfriend

One of the girls I was helping out at the Velo:Re tent saw that happen.

It was from one of their team cars parked up on St. John Street. Not far back from mine with the Moser in the back. Spent the rest of the night very agitated.

Anyway. Seems like all who stayed to the end were out all along the course for the final crit race. What a spectacle, fantastic TT work off the front, big crash, and a wake coming off the course to rival that of an F1 race as the 'pack' went past.

Great to see so all the faces that aren't so regular now. Real shame LFGSS didn't represent this year as I felt last year it brought more forum members to the event.

Props to Leo for his purchase of 15 (number has changed dramatically during the evening) bags of wet cat food because "it was on offer".

Oh, and saying hello to Hatbeard who turned out not to be Hatbeard at all.

Hope everyone managed to get home ok.

apart from riding in to a curb then a bus i managed to get home safely... bit of a sore knuckle this morning.

Glamour of a pro life; win the race, get to bed at 3 am up at 7am to travel to a Skyride in Ipswich.
Alex Dowsett hat!

Oh, and saying hello to Hatbeard who turned out not to be Hatbeard at all.

Real shame LFGSS didn't represent this year as I felt last year it brought more forum members to the event.

Split camp by all accounts. We started off where you were but decamped to nearer the finish line (to watch Alex do some sweet skids). Would have been a big posse if we were all together.
Awesome day, you people are funny.

great afternoon. nice to see old people and meet new ones.

This. The pro racing was amazingly fast. Dowsett was averaging 30mph according to the commentator, and hitting 40 on the short straights.

It really was a pleasure to watch him ride. I particularly liked how he controlled the gap to the chase group by lapping them and then sitting on the front of their group for a bit...

Well done to the forum ladies who raced, Wiesia, Stelle, Nik, Rachel, inspiring stuff.