stage 3, how many hours training needed?

Hello, new to the site, so apologies if this has been asked before.

just done stage 2 @LVVP last night (loved it!), and now looking to do stage 3.

got a skills session booked, but wondered roughly how many hours of track time (or how many skill session)are needed before attempting S3, as I understand there's a big step up from stage 2.

cheers!

As many as it takes for you to feel confident. Just book a block of skills sessions for a month, 3&4 happen at the same time and you'll get familiar with the coaches. If you're getting on fine but having to wait for your stage 3 accreditation just explain that to the coach and ask if you can jump in the stage 4 skills group for the evening.

Edit: what they're asking you to do isn't difficult, but experience of how other riders behave will be invaluable. You could book stage3 now, but if you end up in a shit group are you going to hold it together and still come across as a confident rider that deserves to move up?

Can't agree with this more. I had my level 3 today and dropped out at the second exercise because I got so spooked by the other riders. I thought I had enough experience, 3 skills sessions at LVV and over 50hrs at HHV this year. But 7 out of 9 riders in my group had never done a skills session and had never done and didn't know how to do pairs above the blue with one lap changes. I thought it was basic that you should have done these exercises beforehand, but it isn't. Riders going into stage 3 could've only had a couple hours of track time and done no research into the exercises expected and unfortunately I had 7 of these in my group. Anyway had a cry and I've got over it, £20 down, don't make the same mistake!

Anyone who's done stage 2, did you use your own bike? If so, what gear ratio did you use? I'm pretty sure the hire bikes are on 50-16 so was thinking of using that but want to check.

You'll be fine with anything you use at training at HH intermediates. Don't overthink it.