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I think it is time to create a list of 'avatar' names against rider number as it is not always obvious who is posting. This also means we could actually converse face to face on Wednesday nights!

Avatar Name = Rider No = Club (if applicable)

colinsmith123 = 15 = WKRC

Just entered this. Anyone got any idea what the course is like?

Hilly, couple of Cat 3 climbs and a Cat 2 finish.

Not sure if it was the fading light causing this, the unknown distance race seemed incredibly fast. Throw in a the odd rider or TWO not holding his line as well as he should, certainly added to the adrenalin rush.

I will gladly swap a mosquito bite for a Blandford Fly bite, which I'm hoping are incapable of burrowng through 6" of tarmac.

Fisrt league event this evening.

Add your comments, race reports, opinions on the racing on this forum as the season progresses!

+1. It was quick too. nearly averaged 38kph and i was off for the last 10 laps before the intermission.

Was that average of 38kph from start to finish minus the intermission, about 1.5 hours ride time? Kind of explains why I am sitting on the sofa knackered.

Yeah very quick, someone said there were a few Cat A riders in there today
The coaches were funny shouting 'no racing' and 'go on!!!!' at the same time

Cat A is for us old folk over 40. I think you may have meant Cat 1's. And I doubt it, unless they saw this as a recovery ride session!

Much safer intermediate session this week. Well done coaches and riders.

Yeah, thanks for that Andy but the some people might think "heavy rain" is "drizzle" and vice versa. I also follow HH on twitter too and as going for the 3rd basic session where it seems the policy is no riding at all if wet. So with "wet" would that include just dampness on the track etc and if it is going to get cancelled when are those decisions made.

The answer to your question is here..

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/sessions_and_training/wet_weather_policy/

Other than twitter, once you've turned up a few times and seen the state of the track in the wet you become more savvy to the conditions. One coach may say it is ok to ride, another may not. Their decision not the riders in the first instance. There is not a measuring stick to determine whether it is too wet to ride, hence the guidance.

Nope, humour well over my head and wasted on me!!

Among other reasons, I'm doing the track pathway as a way of getting experiance of group riding before I go out with a club.

That sounds fair

I found colin's original response harsh in comparison to the much friendlier attitude I'd found at the track itself and wanted to assert that I had heard the same as wildmaurice (re mondays) from a more reliable-sounding source than a "nice old man".

Personally, I'm a big fan of the pathway system, which is why I'm sticking to it. It's very good fun so far, and the learning curve seems to be about right.

I do not think I was being harsh, simply stating the people who run HH have a a pathway for riders to follow as you have already agreed. As a more experienced rider who has progressed along the pathway to the level where you are confident to ride at a race pace, would you be happy riding with a novice rider whose only experience is a one hour induction.?

The best thing about HH is the informal nature of how it is run. It heavily relies on the goodwill of the volunteers and coaches to make it all work. Equally it relies on those taking part, not braking the rules. I think there will be many a rider who might be in for a bit of a shock when they go to ride The Pringle next year.

As regards the friendly attitude, I think you'll find I am as equally friendly as the rest of the riders at HH, but I am equally vocal when things are not as they should be, or could be.

I ama novice, I did my track induction last weekend but in general I work on Saturdays so can’t put in the hours at basic training. After my induction last week I talked to the nice old guy who was at the sign up table and he said to come to the race training on Mondays.

Can you shed some light on how the race training is organised, how are the riders grouped, are there other less experienced riders? Am I going to be so out of my depth that I am a liability?

I shall be coming down tomorrow regardless but well see how it goes as to whether I participate or just spectate.

What the nice old man should've said was this:

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/sessions_and_training/session_pathway/

Simply put, you do not have the skills to ride a track bike at anything close to Cat C race pace and you would be a danger to other users.

But hey, if someone wants to tell my I'm wrong....

The last few laps of that through and off today was comparable to B Cat racing if anyone is thinking about Track League.

The cold wind did not help today. I am not sure the coaches affectively allowing this training session to turn into a 'race' this early in the season when riders may not have their track legs working is such a good idea. I'll be the first to admit I was a bit wobbly for the first 20-30 minutes or so. The cold cross wind today was of no help to anyone. When the pace went up towards the end, there were more experienced riders playing 'rush the gap' which then lead to less fit riders not capable of holding the wheel in front. In my view it got close to being unsafe with riders all over the track. A few less fit riders were jumping back in towards the end having taken a few laps out, so I baled with 5 laps to go in both halves of the session. Hopefully the coaches picked up on this and will address this next week.

That said, it was great to be back at HH again. Seeing some familiar faces from last year, and a few new faces mixing it up. What with the inner track and hard stand area being about 2/3rds finished, the cable trench for lighting being dug, a promising track season awaits.

Markgee, FWW, Get to Dover as soon as you can before your departure time. The earlier you get in the queue, the earlier you'll be on your way. (Hopefully)
I'd suggest you check the traffic reports tomorrow.

If you've got a turbo, bring it with you. An hour or so riding on the side of motorway will be a lot less boring than staring at the car in front, and if you're real lucky you might get nicked for riding your bike.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21951968

If you are off to the Ronde or just getting away this weekend by ferry this may affect you. French ports to go on strike from 07.00am Thursday to 07.00am Friday.

We were due to leave Dover at midday on Friday, but based on past experience of how long it takes to clear the backlog we've taken the plunge and booked on to the Eurotunnel, not cheap but not many other options. Eurotunnel still has a few spaces for Friday PM but be quick.

And perfect his victory wheelie..

Would be good to see Gilbert and Boonen in the mix for RvV, to lift the spirit of the locals.. Two years ago I watched Flecha in a breakaway at Oudenaarde, managed to catch the race in three different spots, got wrecked on local beers..

Can you remember where you managed to do this? Weather looking ok for Saturday and Sunday, dry at least and above freezing, but plenty of time for the weather forecasters to change their minds.

http://road.cc/content/news/79164-tennant-and-förstermann-among-stars-herne-hill-good-friday-meeting

"Leif Lampater, Andy Tennant and Germany’s Robert Förstemann, plus Paralympic stars Jody Cundy and Jon-Allan Butterworth...
Also 3 womens specific events"

Looking good!
**Could be one of the best GFs since 2007
**
( when Brantley Wiggston famously won the mixed doubles by 17 lengths and a nose. #comeontim)

I cannot imagine it being that good, I will not be there. On the bright side, long term weather forecast is indicating a balmy 8 C and low risk of rain. But there is plenty of time for that to change!

1. Look out for me. Most likely be pulling Geraint over the Paterberg the day after as well.
   

This is from the BBC Sport website, quoting Alex Ferguson responding to the news that 34 year old Rio Ferdinand has been recalled to in the England World Cup

Sir Alex Ferguson says he was "as surprised as anyone" about Rio Ferdinand's recall into the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
But he stressed the 34-year-old will only be released after consultation with the Manchester United club doctor. "I was as surprised as anyone when I heard," Ferguson said.

"I need to speak to the [United] doctor because we prepare Ferdinand in a certain way and there are treatments he has to go through."

Change the sport and the context slightly of the last sentence:

This is a quote from David Brailsford, responding to the news that 32 year old Bradley Wiggins has been selected to ride for Team GB in the World Championships. [following his injury 4 weeks ago]

"I need to speak to the [Team Sky] doctor because we prepare Bradley in a certain way and there are treatments he has to go through."

So, what's the difference? The first seems to have aroused no suspicion of doping whatsover. Currently, there are 480 comments at the foot of the article.

The second if was true, would be seen as a blatant admission of doping within Team Sky, generating a scandal almost equal to that of Dopestrong and would have Paul Kimmage calling for a public execution at the Tower.

Why is one acceptable and the other, not?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21803149

Looking forward to riding a longer, outdoor velodrome; for the first time.

Looking forward to riding a shorter, indoor velodrome; for the first time.

From Twitter:
Sorry to say Spring Omnium 1 (24th March) is cancelled and no public training until 30th March.

Isn't there another Velodrome in London we could use?

The good thing about sprinters who neglect the aerobic and speed endurance side of things is that they're much easier to beat.

I'll let Miles know.

one thing Ill add is be carefull of CNS fatigue, sometimes it can take a couple of weeks for it to catch up after some intense sessions with not enough rest in between, and then you end up having to take it easy for a week and losing that progress you thought you made.

hill sprints, standing starts, too many full effort flying 200m's, just be aware of how many times/how frequently you push yourself past the limit

CNS fatigue; what is that exactly? Sounds like a posh new word for knackered, or the slightly more scientific term, over-training.

Trying to buy my race licence (hope to ride in the league this year) and I'm not sure if I need to purchase the full licence with silver membership or if the provisional licence with silver membership is enough. Can anyone help?

If you are ONLY going to ride League, then you only need a provisional with silver. You cannot get points on your license. TL points are awarded (I think) at the end of the season based on overall placings, so I guess not much of a worry to you.

However, track racing is addictive and if you've got a competitive streak like me and found you've scored a few TL points after a few weeks no doubt someone will ask, 'you riding the Omnium event on Saturday?' Now you are able to get some points on your license.

For now, buy a provisional and then once you are addicted, upgrade to a full license.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/mem-st-Racing-Licence-Prices-0-Need-a-Racing-Licence--0

The deterious en-route was pretty appalling I thought. If riders can got to the trouble of carrying it with contents, then it is not that much of an effort to put the packaging back in to the pocket.

A quote from the Lee Valley Website

http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/velo-park/

The 6,000 seat Velodrome: world records broken, seven of 10 medals won by Team GB at the London 2012 Games, award winning for its architecture, designed for the very highest level of international cycling competition and from early 2014, open for cyclists of all abilities to enjoy. Track cycling has never been the easiest sport to simply ‘try your hand at’, but at the Velodrome, taster courses will mean that everyone can have a go. Who knows, you could be ‘discovered’ by the Velodrome’s resident talent scouts!
[B][/B]
So now we know why it is taking them so long to open to the public. Having stripped out the Olympic element, they are constructing social housing for the newly created posts of resident talent scouts.

But there is hope. The above LV statement does say, *'and from early 2014, open for cyclists of all abilities to enjoy.' *

Being of a somewhat egostitical and eliteist dispostion, I read this as 'cyclists who have never ridden a steeply banked track will have to wait until the official opening, early 2014, though we will be inviting experienced cyclists to use the velodrome as part of our soft landings approach to opening the facility to the public, this avoiding the debacle that occured when the White Water Centre opened to the public and we were overwhelmed.
[URL="http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/velo-park/"][/URL]