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Medium (56) - 5'10" to 6'2"

Only ever ridden on the track. Currently geared 86", but comes with another (larger, I think) chainring, a few alternate sprockets and a brand new Vittoria Pista spare tyre. Wheels are hand built Ambrosio Excellight on Token hubs.

Looking for £450, but make me an offer if you think the price is bonkers. At the full price I'll chuck in a set of Elite Parabolic rollers.

Collection from Richmond/Kingston.

Full geometry here: https://support.planetx.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/360018444360-Track-Bike-Sizing-and-Geometry

Fair point!

I normally run an extra 5-10psi at Herne Hill. Tubs stay at home, but I killed a couple of tubeless tyres with sidewall gashes before I started pumping them up harder. A bit of extra sideways action is a small price to pay for making it all the way to the finish in one piece...

I think you can fix it anywhere you like, so long as you don't receive outside assistance (and obviously good not to get in anyone's way). Pits allow you to get help/kit from other people. I was chatting with someone who left the course to get first aid treatment a couple of weeks ago. The comms then allowed him to rejoin the race, the only stipulation being that he do it from the same point he'd left, so I doubt you'd upset anyone if you ducked under the course tape to perform your repair in a safer location.

For league races, no need to be sneaky about wider tyres; it's totally legal. If it wasn't, newcomers to the sport wouldn't be able to try it out on MTBs, which would be a really bad thing. You only need to stay within the 33mm limit at National Trophy races and above; the comms in Derby yesterday had a jig, and were checking tyres before riders were called up at the start of the elite races.

Online entries for the Kingston Wheelers race close Tuesday evening - don't get caught out! Entry link here.

We have unlimited entries on the day, but it'll cost you an extra fiver and you'll be gridded at the back.

Results from other leagues will be taken into account by the gridding committee, so visitors who pre-enter should get a fair gridding!

That mudfest could have been Berkhamsted (Ashlyns School)...

^ Everything @andyp said.

The course is probably about as newbie-friendly as they come. It's wide, to encourage overtaking, and fast. There's a bit of everything, but the emphasis is on big sweeping curves, designed to be ridden at speed, rather than dead turns. You'll probably get lapped (as will half the rest of the field), but the riders lapping you will have no issue getting past; no need at all for you to get out of their way. The ground is very well drained, so anyone expecting a mudfest is going to be disappointed, it'll look nothing like the photo above.
Parcours is probably 80% grass, 20% gravel track. There's a set of steps that some people were riding last year, though I suspect running was quicker, and two pairs of hurdles. There's a couple of hills, but nothing brutal; single speed will be fine.
You can race on pretty much any bike you like, so long as it has bar end plugs, 2 brakes and a freewheel. I've actually ridden the course on a road bike, but that might be a bit sketchy in the wet.
Races are 1 hour for Senior, 40 mins for Vets and Women.
Entry and race times here or you can enter on the day, no limit on numbers, but it'll cost you an extra 5 quid.

Lol - I'd say I was sorry, but that would be lying...

Andy - all good thanks! Racing most weekends (Central League mainly). Once again trying to get fit solely by racing, which is not an approach I'd recommend...

Hope I'm allowed to plug our race on Sun 14 Oct. Same as last year, only better! Great course, great food, great atmosphere. Easily accessible by train; if you're anywhere in West London, ride there as a warm-up.

I found at least two separate rocks (felt a bit like bricks) in the water feature, I didn't particularly think they were an issue though. The endless bumps at the top of the course though, Ugh!

Would have been fine on a singlespeed I reckon, so long as it was about 30"...

Great course, proper old-school. I really enjoyed/hated it, if you know what I mean...

Looks awesome; how does one get on the invite list?

I had no idea Challenge made frames aswell as tubs; how long until we see one on the Pro circuit?

Online entries for Bedfont lakes here - entries close next Tuesday. Unlimited entry on the day (and day licences if required) but you won't get gridded.

Let's see if I can post the course map:

Looks like I’m missing Happy Valley part deux too, thanks to rail replacement buses.

Come to Bedfont Lakes (Central League) instead - 10 mins ride from Feltham Station (probably an hour's ride from Central London).

I'm running it, so it'll be awesome!

Insert M6 bolt from the front. Now turn the whole thing over, placing on a hard surface (eg workbench) so that the M6 bolt is resting on the workbench.

Now tap in a Torx wrench bit (gently). Because you have the M6 bolt on the other side, this won't drive the bolt any further into the fork.

Once the Torx bit is in place, unscrew gently whilst pushing the fork gently downwards, so that your M6 bolt helps push the nut out.

I'll take the chains, PM on the way

None of the session is particularly strenuous; definitely nothing at race pace. For me, the biggest issue was doing the final exercise (1/2 lap sprints on the whistle) on cold legs.

It's geared much more towards whether you'd be safe in a race, than whether you'd be any good.

2nd dibs

I was watching one of the Olympic men's omnium races on YouTube the other day (can't remember whether it was points or scratch) and everyone was doing it.

The problem that you can't make people drop out and those who probably should go back to the Saturday and Monday sessions for a few weeks of pointers don't have the self awareness to do so themselves...

Even if people can't be forced to drop out and go back to the training sessions, the more experienced riders should still be able to point out when someone's doing something unsafe; as a newbie racing in the C's, I'd welcome any criticism or advice I can get.

Maybe one of the key points should be that riders accept constructive criticism in good grace, and without getting defensive or giving their critic a hard time...

Heal quickly guys!

Session starts at 7, though the new warmup track is available earlier; quite handy if it takes you a while to get the legs going and you aren't travelling there by bike.

I'm planning to race on Wednesday, weather permitting. If the forecast is for rain I'll chuck the TT bike in the car instead and race at Hillingdon.

I'm in.

Yeah - madison training is first Monday of the month. Looked very impressive last week.

I'm out unfortunately - won't be able to get out of work in time :-(

Yeah, I was the guy in Kingston Wheelers kit who rode over the top of the VCL bike (thankfully missing the rider!) Hopefully no-one sustained any serious injuries; good to see everyone up and walking!

Oops!