[Closed] So I want to try road racing + build a bike specifically for this

Pt2:

Setting off behind the car, the group strung out and I gradually worked my way forward. It took a while but eventually I got alongside Tiim to say hi. I didn't see you again mate- sorry!

After we'd joined the course we did a lap or two and then stopped at the line. I was front row right (inside).
A latecomer arrived and we did two more sighting laps behind the car before arriving back at the start!!

A brief note about the course. It was clockwise this week and (haven't checked yet) about the same length as Hillingdon.
The start finish was at the Northern end running E/W on a short straight. Then we turned onto a longer straight heading across the wind still.
Then a turn with cones on the inside marking some rough tarmac before another straight running due south down the wind.
90 degrees right and onto the southern straight. It had a couple of marked potholes but otherwise featureless.
Turn again, heading due North and smack into the wind!
One final turn and a short 60m sprint to the line.

Basically, there were two lines today. Inside and outside. Inside gave you shelter at the top and a good run down the wind and was my preference.
Everybody seemed to stick hard to wheels along the top two straight but if you went inside, you had protection from the wind and could soft pedal your way to the front most laps.

If you were inside at the bottom though, it meant a strong crosswind on the Southern straight and then being dumped out in the wind up the hard Upwind straight.

Optimum of course was inside at the top and outside at the bottom but in practice, I rarely achieved this.
My drafting was very average today. I was cagey after last week I think.

Latecomer ready- let's race 🙂

Pt 3:

The pace was hard on lap 1! People were well warmed up after the sighting laps and I just concentrated on getting a feel for things.
What lines did people take, what skill level was on display and where could I find the most shelter.
For 75% of the time, the pattern would be: easy across the top, harder down the wind, attack along the bottom, slow into the wind, rinse and repeat.
A few laps the gas stayed hard on right up the wind and a few times it was hard all lap.

With a bit of experience now, I learned to trust myself. No panic. Off the back twenty yards? No worries- don't blow up just soft pedal back on as they slow.

The crash must have happened in the first third of the race (time is a blur!) and was around the coned off bend. By riding inside here, I had the coned-off bit as a get out of jail spot and probably cut across for 2/3 of my laps lol. It was fine in there but meant I could square the corner off and carry more momentum. The comms had already said we could at our own risk.
Anyway, someone on the inside slid out into the bunch and ten or more went down.

My race was following a pattern. Cruise to the front across the top, sit top 1/3 down the wind, hang on tight and drift back along the bottom then regroup up the wind.

One or two breaks had gone and came back.

I was able to quickly look at my Garmin and saw 35mins had gone. Moving up in my usual spot, an attack of about 6 went so I decided to go as a wheel sucker.
We had a small gap for just over a lap but it was futile really and I was soon maxed out and hanging at the back once more desperately trying to recover.

A lap or so later, the pace ramped up because a break of four had counter attached hard. It was a great move and kept them away to the finish.

At this point I was struggling and nearly getting dropped. The group was probably 1/2 the size now and I knew I needed to move forward or go ping!

Again, I didn't panic- just trusted what I'd seen in other laps and sure enough, I moved to the front whilst still recovering and even got the better outside line at the bottom of the course.

There is literally >< that much difference between getting dropped and cruising sometimes 🙂

Anyway, 2 to go and the pace ramped up. I held my spot at first then slowly drifted back. One or two more dropped off- a reminder that the others ARE working hard too 😉

Things strung out, then bunched a little into the wind before stringing out again. I dodged a guy with a puncture and we dropped a couple more from the bunch.
Around the bend and a small sprint to pick up one more place.

At a guess, I was 25th but actually I have no idea!

Didn't get dropped or crash and went with one small move so I'll take that 🙂

Sorry Nath- accidentally hijacked your thread with a novel 🙂

Nice work CH, did that tick off your top 50% finish?

I don't know really Fifeandy. It's a shame they don't do full results. It was certainly very close to 50% of starters....

Watching the Strava flyby, I don't think my 'break' actually qualifies as a move 😉 😀

Oops. Double post.

I got caught behind the two guys who came of in front of me, nearly managed to weave between them but an awkward bounce from the bike in front sent it into my path and brought me down, I remounted and then had to chase hard for half a lap to get back to the bunch. Then spent a couple of laps recovering from that effort.

Last lap I was near the front of the bunch and it was clear the break was going to stick so I went for a do or die attack to see if i could scrape a top ten and attacked from the bend going into the final straight about 600-700 meters from the line slightly up hill and into a headwind but unfortunately the line came about 100 meters to late and the bucnh caught me up, I think I ended up somewhere about 20th.

Wow! Great ride mate. You did well to catch back on and get to the fruity end. That upwind slog is brutal isn't it!! Give me a hill to attack any day 😀

Anyway, someone on the inside slid out into the bunch and ten or more went down.

That would explain how I suddenly found myself sliding across the runway when I thought I had a 'safe' outside line.

Went down NDS so trueing wheels and new bar tape should be all. Slightly sore hip and head and some holes in the lycra but nothing too serious.

Hope to see you again next week CH and see you at the finish too!

If you go down in a crash, then for a crit you're usually allowed a lap out until the field come back round??

I dont know, they organisers said that this yr BC had stated that you could not take a lap out for a mechanical beccause the rule was being abused. I wasn't sure so just chased as soon as I got up on my feet.

Sounds like a good race CH, well done!

Punctures they allow a lap out, not sure about mechanicals.

I'm in a lot of pain right now and it haunted my race (forgot my gastro meds + gels/caffeine) - will do a quick summary in a bit.

Amazing how quick the meds work 😆

Okay so today TiRed was allowed out = much better racing, a few mishaps but unless I missed it absolutely 0 crashes, bonus!

I sat in the back with TiRed for about 30-35 mins of it, despite his best efforts to get me to attack 😆 , there was only one attack and due to strong wind after the clubhouse it didn't stick. It was pretty uneventful for 99% of that time.

Cue 5 laps to go. "I had a dream". On the windiest section I found myself on the front on this lap, I couldn't resist and brought a Twick CC member with me (Sam?) we went out off together and actually held the pack off for 2 laps before a 3rd rider joined us. Eventually though 3 of us wasn't enough and we were caught. But I made sure I stayed in the top 15 riders.

Last lap after the clubhouse I found myself in about 15th, on the left hand side of the track (hate this side). Around Brian's bend I managed to manoeuvre myself to the right hand side (sheer luck) and gunned it.

Between 5th or 6th I think 🙂

Ah! Gutted Tiim.... I did wonder 🙁

Hope you're ok too Nath!!!

Cool! Awesome job Nath. Well done you 🙂

Thanks mate.

Hopefully there's a pic of our little breakaway to celebrate the last race! 😆

Definitely felt back in the game this week.

My sprint finish was pathetic though at 990w: https://www.strava.com/activities/862680444

But that was with a feeling of being punched in the stomach 😆

110w more than mine lol! How did Johnny get on?

I didn't see him from 5 laps to go to be honest. Saw him at the front at somepoint in the first 35 mins.

I read it that Tim had gone down in a crash, not a mechanical? Lap out for a crash. Lap out for a puncture. Lap out for a mechanical is sometimes at the commissaire's discretion because you could argue should have maintained your bike better before the race. If you get caught behind a crash then thats tough luck, you've got to chase back on.

Yes, went down in the crash but tbh wouldn't have been much use even with a lap out. It was very surprising (must have been taken out from behind based on CH's description) so took a few mins to check everything was ok and gingerly rode back to the car.

I'm not sure on my position now... http://www.hughesartandphotos.com/Photos/Cycling/Cycling-20162017/IWS-2016-2017/Imperial-Winter-Series-9/Men-Cat4/i-rX6fszs/A

I think it's impossible to know from that shot mate. 7th right at that moment I'd say but it depends on your relative speeds I guess...

Laps out are dependent on the length of the circuit. Cyclopark is too long, so no lap out.

Well done to nath, broke away with one of our riders and it almost held! I was willing you both on from the rear - wore an XL sail of a yellow wind shell in that picture of the finish. The E123 was all tactics this week, but a decent pace. I was held up on the last lap and lost my solid midpack placing. The promoted fourth cat from Sigma broke away after five laps with four others. He and two lapped the field!

He certainly is strong! Sounds like a great day all round.
So cool you made a decent move Nath- you must have got your mojo back 🙂

What made them change their mind TiRed? Did they acknowledge last week was sketchy?

Different commissaire let me ride. In fact I was almost taken out with two laps to go! A few first-timers, one of whom needed a little instruction in how to corner and generally not take anyone down. But the race was pretty safe.

In fact Imperial pride themselves on what they've done for 4th Cat racing, and quite rightly so. The standard is very high despite the occasional spill - two this season compares well with higher level racing. I enjoyed sitting at the back providing advice.

Thanks @tired, really enjoyed today's race, despite feeling tired and stomach hurting.

Which guy was that tired? I heard you giving instructions to someone riding at the back with us.

Ah I see.
Last week shook me up not because of the crash as such but because of the constant feeling of unease. Also the fact that I felt unable to get away from the obvious dangerous folk as there were so many!!

Today didn't feel any different than the earlier Imperial rounds I did- a good overall standard of riding with one or two dodgy wheels to avoid but there was definitely more scope for moving away from it. Probably helped by the lower speed and killer head wind 🙂

I think it's great what you do though TiRed and it should be something B.C. embrace and seek to replicate as much as possible. You were a massive help to me!

@CH that club we were talking about didn't turn up this week, which probably helped things exponentially! Maybe Lucy banned them? 😆

Yes totally agree there should be an experienced rider in the 4s. Particularly as there is no minimum requirement to join a race other than BC membership.

It was a good end to the season - wish I could have stayed for the awards and free cake 🙂

Also the power meter was so incredibly useful in that attack - without it I would have had nothing to give in the final lap. Now I need to slam my stem ready for those crosswinds at Abingdon!

Also the power meter was so incredibly useful in that attack - without it I would have had nothing to give in the final lap.

My position on the bike was back to being awful again. I wasted a lot of energy all race unfortunately.

Oh my mind is made up @CH, I've got a potential job lined up next week - if it's mine then so is a PM 🙂

Interesting to see @tired was using a powerpod as I've never seen one of them in the flesh before.

A lot of this week was mental change plus less fear of being taken out, physically I was tired and in pain. 😆

Next time though you'll be more comfortable with the track, the people and I'll be behind you shouting profanity for ditching me yesterday haha. Which should mean you're back to being aero.

Lol! I'd guilt-shamed you into not attacking and blowing me out the back door so probably for the best I wasn't there 😀
It actually helped smooth out other plans with mrs Crosshair too which was a bonus.

I'm going to switch another spacer over later- although the plan is to do as little time on the Triban as possible this week and do either MTBing or road riding on my CX bike.

Then hit 'the Plan' next week 🙂

Going lower?

Yes! Stem is still sloping uphill mind you 😉

Going to hacksaw mine later.

Dropping it 15mm and chopping off circa 10mm 🙂

You'll look like that guy from the vid I linked earlier 😀

Haha.

Well I've got a 15mm spacer above the stem, which is ridiculous. So after I've chopped off some steerer I'll leave enough for a 5mm spacer above the current stem in it's current position should I find the position too extreme!

Hey I've just been reviewing my strava stats: https://www.strava.com/activities/862680444

I was using a 52/36 & 11-23 cassette, cadence = 94!! 😆
High cadence commutes in low gears has helped it seems!

P.s. Guy who crashed badly last week:

Paul Scrase: I got taken out last week - a broken collarbone, 5 broken ribs and a punctured lung! Going to be out for a while!

😯

Awesome! That's a nice rpm. Mine was back one to 86 but when dealing with surges, I was careful to spin and it really helped. 115 max.

Poor guy!! There's no safe way to crash at 28mph I guess!

Nath, you were riding with Alex Randall. He is young, fast and tore my legs off on Tuesday. Needs one point to go up to third. Your gearing and cadence were spot on. As were your tactics.

@CH - yeah legs felt much better for it too! Made sure I dropped 2 gears for the uphill section. Even after dropping a couple passed the clubhouse to get up the hill in the wind.

The straight was amazing though yesterday, pushing close to 32mph on my own @ circa 250w and crossed the line at 38mph. Wind behind us.

@tired - Thank you! Just a shame it didn't stick. I wasn't so sure about gearing choice, but once I got stuck in I realised I had chosen the perfect ratios for me at Hillingdon. Just been chatting to Alex on strava.

Not sure what cassette I'm going to bring to Abingdon 12/25 or 11/23?! It's going to be interesting revisiting the tactics book on a new course.

Steerer chopped by 10mm - which means I can just about return to the old position if I hate it.

Still have scope though judging by the commuter (closest)...

[img] [/img]

Racing bike has 20mm of spacers, trying it for a few miles on Saturday then will reduce by 5mm and retry on Sunday.

Another -5g for the weight spreadsheet too 😉

It's carrying about 1kg of Hillingdon mud still at the moment 😆

Trying to work on Aerodynamics for Abingdon by the sounds of it!

As I say, 260w in an upright position gave me 12mph upwind on my solo warmup lap 😀
It was cool at the top straight though where everyone stayed in a double line wheel-wheel and you could literally soft pedal down the side of them in complete shelter! (Well soft pedal relatively I guess 😉 )

They do mix and match the loops though apparently.....

I bet they loved you for that 😆

There's nothing I can do, apart from changing stem/bars to carbon ones (wouldn't ever do) to reduce weight on my bike. Could have bought a lighter carbon wheelset but I prefer the longevity factor of the hopes.

Keeping yours the same?

Yep 🙂 I will keep tweaking the bars as I force my myself into riding more aero but there's no upgrades planned. I think the weight is even less relevant at Abingdon.

Been following this thread for ages - trying to get some motivation for TLI races later this year! Keep up the good work 😀

@CH Aero wheels? 8)

@velocipede - not heard of TLI races before, guessing you need a seperate licence and no BC points?

@TiRed - made a comment for you:

Costs a bit more but have either of you thought about narrower bars? Adam Hansen rocks a set of 38cms!

Nah, I think my money is definitely better spent on race entry fees at this stage. More time out of the wind and a good wheel to follow with two laps to go should see me in the top half next round I hope....

Does anyone want to join me at Hillingdon circuit next week on Tuesday afternoon (21st) ? Was thinking 16:00 until dark.....

Might be tempted to take a 1/2 day for that.

Jesper might want in too!

On a side note, found this earlier (my frame has the identical geo): http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Cervelo/R5-Ultegra-Road-Bike-2017/8G92

On the link there's a "Find your size" tool. Says I should have my saddle at 785mm, also says it's a race fit only on the frame 😆

@CH - Up for this? https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/154659/Westerley-Spring-Crits

Cool. I think Weeksy is coming to. I want to try and go weekly for one of my 'S' workout sessions 🙂

[img] [/img]

I should have just took my glasses off I think 😀

I think they're trying to take themselves off!

How was it on the pun^^ure front?

I had to lower them to see where I was going although they did still stop a bit lol

About 3 or 4 I think. The mighty hardshells were fine luckily 😀

It's a good reason to take a Turbo as whilst they swept the track, I doubt they did all the places people warm up.

Re Westerley Crit- sounds good but a little far ahead to plan a weekend,

Trying to fix image hosting....

I'll let you know about the 21st later, would you be okay with leaving my bag in your car (if I come straight from work)?

Just spotted this too, sounds interesting: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/159395/London-Nocturne
http://www.londonnocturne.com/

Yes of course mate! No probs.

Cool, I'll let you know by the end of the week.

Purposely moving stuff around in work diary as we speak 😆

Sounds good! Not even going to think about the weather yet 😀

Come on results page, update already 😆

Where's the link to Abingdons results page?

There are provisional ones on FB-
https://m.facebook.com/pg/outdoortradersraceteam/posts/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

They only do the top ten 🙁

Ah that sucks, I'm sure if you ask though you'll get your official result? At least it should be posted on your BC account? https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/dashboard#my_results

Nearly time to be put out of my misery, I'm thinking 9th.

I think that was one of Imperials efforts to keep new riders keen by providing full results.
I don't think they have to beyond points? But I may be wrong....

They don't usually bother posting outside the top ten unless you're using transponders IME. I guess it can be a lot of effort deciding places for 30-40 riders who aren't even going to get points.

That's a shame, always interesting to know if you're progressing up the field or not.

It's really difficult to gauge from pics and memory 😆

Are there photographers are Abingdon? Gutted the regular photographers didn't capture my greatest attack to date 🙁

Yeah, there's normally a photographer or two. I think for the winter series they've been using a friend of the club and they just post all of the photos to the Facebook page, so you can get them for free. At least they did for round 1.

Ah that's cool, thanks for confirming @rawka

They're keeping me in suspense for the results, I'm going to crash their servers if I refresh the page any more haha

I feel your pain! At least Zwiftpower don't run them 😀

Wohooo!!

Well happy with this:

1st Rufus Greenway Twickenham CC
2nd Neil Ashton Wycombe Cycling Club
3rd Darren Marshall Kingston Wheelers
4th Edward Flight London Dynamo
5th Philip Bellingham Welwyn Wheelers
[b]6th Nathan B unattached[/b]
7th Alex Randall Twickenham CC
8th Craig Cole SD Racing
9th Simon Pearce Berkhamsted CC
10th Andrew Knott Welwyn Wheelers CC

Takes my total points up to 8 🙂

The 4th cat race started with a reduced field of 43 riders but the racing was brisk with the first serious attack from Johnathan Sargeant, then later by Matty Earles (Lovelo Cinelli RT). Alex Randell (Twickenham CC) made a serious move off the front with 5 km to go and Nathan Bond and Robbie Collison (Cranleigh CC) moving across. Meti Gashi (Watford Velosport) led at the bell, but on the line Rufus Greenway (Twickenham CC) claimed the victory from Neil Ashton (Wycombe CC) with Darren Marshall (Kingston Wheelers) in third place. Greenway has made impressive progress throughout the series and with many of his clubmates having cut their teeth in these races it was apt that he should conclude it with a win.

Not sure I agree with the write up, Alex followed my wheel. But hey ho.

Congratulations. Four points to go. And of course TCC is always mentioned in write ups 😉 . You know where to come... I even have a spare jersey or two.

I'm racing the Singlespeed Cyclocross in Brighton this weekend, just been bumped out of the hugely oversubscribed Spring Chicken, and the Surrey League has of course sold out! Still awaiting their calendar.

You might like to spend two Saturdays doing the Surrey League Race Training. There will be sessions at Cyclopark and Hillingdon. They are very good and mandated to race in Surrey League and SERRL races. The best road races for 4th cats are the Thursday Handicap series, set off in groups around a road circuit depending on category. These are Thursday evenings, and run throughout the summer. The 4th cats won the first one last year, despite me chasing ridiculously hard in the second group!

They don't usually bother posting outside the top ten unless you're using transponders IME

Awesome job Nath- well done! What a great end to the series for you 🙂

I reckon you can get your remaining points at Abingdon if you follow the right move.....

Thanks guys 🙂

Those training sessions / Surrey league sounds good. Unfortunately I'm racing on the 4th March so I couldn't get two training sessions in...unless they release more training dates?

Haha TCC would be the first club I'd consider joining.

Good luck at the weekend TiRed!

Late to this party, but I am road racing this year. I did a couple 4 or 5 years ago then nothing but have been training hard all winter.

Plan for the weekend is to do the Velo29 winter series race. My, perhaps ill thought out plan is to do a 45 min Cat 4 go race then with my clubmates, who are all cat 3 or above do the E1234 handicap.

I have done one of the Cat 4 races of the series already and managed 13th but I know what I did wrong then and I think I have a better sprint and will certainly attack off the front less.

Main plan for the year is to enter some 3/4 hilly road races.

Great performance Nath... Well done !

Thanks weeksy!

Over the moon with 6th - definitely ended the series on a high note!

Will you be coming to Abingdon?

@CH - I'll be at Hillingdon on Tuesday night, leaving work around 3 and will swap bikes with a quick pit stop 🙂

Yeah i may make it over... what's the timings/schedule ?

My lads Enduro race has been postponed to the Sat after, so i may be able to make it over for your race.