2015 Herne Hill Track League

I just emailed George and phoned BC.
George replied that he is not aware of a limit but will call BC to check.
BC said I can have as many as I like, I just won't get BC points.
So I'll run with that. I do have to physically have my provisional in hand though, which could take 2 weeks to reach club secretary...
I'll be down tonight to watch in the meantime.

This was all incredibly helpful as I only had provisional and my BC membership was due for renewal. So renewed the membership and got the silver licence so I can now race (well, lose) to my hearts content. They sent an email with the verification which I'll bring down tonight - which you could do too I 'spose @Yukirin?

Anyway hopefully this thread will morph over the season from newb licence chat to "yeah I think I'm just finding 94' to spinny" chat come July...

you can probably get away with your membership number and a print off of the confirmation email.

I stand corrected.

Good luck to everyone tonight. I would say see you there but I'm likely to be able to ride much league for the next six weeks because of my work :(

That was great fun, so glad it's back! Bit cold, but ok once we got going.

Looked like a nasty tumble in the C's though. I hope the chap in the forum cap (sorry you did introduce yourself) isn't feeling too banged up and that your wife doesn't give you too much stick for the grazes!

Roll on next week :)

Ha thanks for the thought @Ecobeard. I'm ok after the tumble, think I got a bit of a head smack when I went down and my right side has some good roadrash and impact aches but generally ok. I was a bit pissed off after it happened, the group was really sitting up - they were not riding through safely I'd say and would have been yelled at if it were a drill - after each lap in the devil so it was really squishing the middle/back so I wasn't surprised when I heard the wheel rub. I cant always be at the front! (he says). Still though got 4th when they ran it again and got involved in a small breakaway during a the 5k scratch so learned lots. Bit of a full evening for me though.

Best way in - at the deep end! :)

Fair play for getting straight back up at the re-start though, good man.

Thought it was going to rain last night, but looks like it didn't. I might come down for the Track League one day.

Glad you're ok! Yeah, nobody wanted to take the front but equally nobody wanted to rotate through to the back, half wheels everywhere... After getting really squished and a bit of contact in lap 1&2 I opted for a safer line higher up near the front, then on the home straight the "Woah!" started coming through from behind, my back wheel was clipped and I went into a guy on my left. Luckily he was bigger so he didnt move much and kept me rubber side down. My heart was still trying to escape my chest at the re-start, did a couple of laps but then sat up as I thought I was one of the last two... but then my number wasnt called. much confuse but too late to get back on.
Still, I rocked up not even expecting to get on track - 17 mile windy ride in, worked through my lunch (But scoffed a Soreen loaf trackside) - 28c Gatorskin at road pressure = 0 expectations, just had a good time out there!

So, I need a more realistic gear! Who can sell me a 50T 144bcd chainring for a tenner?

I might have a 3/32 one you can have. Will check tonight.

That would be great, thanks!

Didn't make it to my first TL last night. For some reason my shins were so bad that walking was painful. No idea why!

Sorry to hear about the crash. How often do they end up happening in the Cs?

We try to have one every other week but nothing's guaranteed, unfortunately.

Lolz.

FYI guys - it's a devil.. people aren't going to ride through properly and they are going to stall on the front if they can.

It's all about position and half wheeling/overlapping is pretty standard, if you find yourself stuck in the middle, get your elbows out and carve yourself out a little spot. If you find yourself at the back, make one big effort to get over the top of the group, and keep pedalling until you get the the front (don't just stop pedalling after the sprint - or you'll be in the same boat next lap).

If you don't like the chop/chop in the bunch then HTFU and get to the front - it's much easier to make a smooth effort and hold your place than always jumping on wheels at the back.

Tl;dr
HTFU

Oh and good on you for getting back on straight away.

U WOT M7?

Just need some kind of right shoulder pad too for full protection.

^what dan said - was gonna write something to that effect myself but couldn't be arsed.

Thanks @dan that's definitely the lesson I learned last night: HTFU and stay on the front, HTFU and work to stay in the breakaway, HTFU and sprint when it's time and not when the others go. Hard work, basically.

You can adopt my devil tactics if you like, which is to go out on the first sprint. Works like a charm.

I'm going full NFL body armour this year

Typical gaz, always so retro..

"I thought this lap was neutralised?!"

I usually try to hold the front in a devil, but its a bit harder to do in A's

All of the above +1

I would wear a feather on top of my Knights helmet though

(@dan #rep for being arsed to write all that out....)