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The race training is split (by ability) into two groups, and I get the impression that only the more advanced group will be doing the madison training; in any case, you can always skip an exercise you don't feel happy with.

I don't think I'm ready for madisons yet (ignoring the fact I have no friends), but I'm still planning to come tonight...

I decided to give it a miss on the basis of this morning's forecast (don't have a bike storage space, so it's logistically complicated to get there). Kicking myself now it's looking like it's going to dry out :-(

Thanks. I'm primarily doing this for the track, so I'll use the track bike.

Planning to start doing roller sessions, with the specific aim of improving my pedalling style/speed. I'm doing plenty of other riding, so these sessions are about technique rather than fitness. Which bike am I better off using? Track or road?

Great session last night, thanks all!

How much experience is required to join the "more experienced" group? I think I could hold my own on a power/speed basis, and don't think I'm doing anything unsafe, but I've only done two of these sessions so far, and still have a lot to learn tactically...

Brilliant, that makes perfect sense. I'll banish all thoughts of higher gearing (until I know what I'm doing, anyway) and teach myself to spin faster. Many thanks!

Thoroughly enjoyed Monday's session. I have so much to learn in terms of positioning and tactics, but picked up a lot, and one or two of the things I tried worked :-) Many thanks to the coaches!

Felt like I was spinning out in the handicap sprints (on 48x15 ~88") - worth trying a bigger gear, or do I just need to get better at spinning? I normally stay over 100rpm on the road, and gearing felt comfortable in the scratch races.

Prints arrived this morning. Very happy with them, many thanks!

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 :-(

Is the Monday fast-track induction actually running yet?

I was planning to do the mandatory 3 basic sessions before turning up on a Monday evening, but having done a reasonable amount of road racing and a few track sessions at Newport I'd welcome an opportunity to short-cut the process. My kids ride at Hillingdon on Saturdays, and if I come to Herne Hill they miss out...

There was quite a bit of concertina-ing going on in basic and I put it down to just a few more newbies.. But being too close makes perfect sense speed irregulities are passed down the line rather than absorbed by riders in total control of their pace.

Definitely a wide range of abilities in Basic, but everyone has to start somewhere. I wonder whether trying to maintain constant pace in a concertina-ing paceline actually teaches you more about speed control...

Dibs

Apparently the people who are running the bike storage have only been in place for a few weeks, and are working through a backlog of requests (in their own time, obviously; they're volunteers). Sounds like we just need to sit tight, and give them time to catch up.

Anyone know whether it's possible to park at/near the track during the week? I can't remember whether it's residents' parking on weekdays. One option for me would be to drive there in the morning with track bike in the boot and road bike on the roof. I'd then jump on the road bike, ride to work, and then reverse the whole exercise in the evening...

Finally managed to get some info from the police on the casualty's condition (it takes a long time for the information to filter through).

Don't think it's appropriate to give too many details on a forum, but it sounds like it wasn't as bad as it could have been. No life-changing injuries, and sounds like he'll make a full recovery. Hopefully he was home in time for Christmas...

The bike was mine; I left it in the road between the paramedic cars while giving a statement, and then left the scene (on the bike, which is filthy but thankfully not mangled) around 8.30.

Was actually a collision between vehicle and pedestrian. I saw it happen, and then stopped to dial 999, help look after casualty, give statement etc.

Casualty left on a backboard / stretcher, so not sure who was wrapped in the blanket; maybe the car driver, who was pretty shaken (as you'd expect).

Traffic was completely stopped, and I was pretty appalled by the number of riders walking/riding through the accident scene. Fair enough to walk past on the pavement (as most did) if it looks like the situation is under control, but straight through the middle of the accident scene itself? What the hell were you thinking?!?

Dibs the Fizik

Dibs - PM Sent

Gabe - thanks for the offer; I'm going with Branwen's frame, so feel free to offer it to Adroit.

Chompy - good point well made. I've got quite a lot of experience engineering, building and breaking lightweight and highly stressed carbon components, so I think i know what I'm doing. Rest assured that I won't ride it unless I'm confident in the repair, and I won't race it unless I'm very confident indeed. Worst case scenario, I have to replace the entire head tube; once I'm done, the bond between that and the frame should be as stiff/strong as the original....

Thanks, PM sent.

Depends what's out there, but preferably less than £150 for frame & forks.

Trying to put together a bike for road racing, on the cheap; partly because i'm bored with taking the rack and mudguards off my road bike every time I want to race it, and partly because I fancy another project. In particular, because I have some experience in building things out of carbon, I'm looking for a crash-damaged carbon frame which I could repair.

No question of liability; if I buy a damaged frame, I do it completely at my own risk.

Anyone have anything which fits the bill?

Good point, just discovered that! Pse can you PM me your email address, and I'll drop you a mail?Thanks.

Dibs on bars, PM to follow