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

Edit- too slow..... missed your post above.

@CH My average power today was 242W - I was being lazy for the most of it haha.

I did achieve my objective of sitting in between people on corners rather than being on the outsides all the time though 🙂

Oh and I had a tactic today, thanks to TiReds words of wisdom this morning before the race. But the crash scuppered that, maybe next Saturday? 🙂

Nath- there's nothing selfish about that until TiReds team snaps you up and uses you as their super-domestique 😀

But that's the art of road racing really- controlled laziness 😀 I averaged 282 hauling my hefty bike about 😀

I would like to join a team eventually, probably in a month or so - be nice not having to work alone.

You could drop the weight on your bike very easily and relatively cheaply if you wanted (equally do tell me to stick it lol). Did you see the wheels I linked by the way?

Yes thanks, I ordered one earlier but cheers anyway.

I had my tongue in my cheek about the bike weight- the mighty Triban somersaults like a Beaut 😀

Oh haha sorry.

I already had the link ready;
I was going to suggest swapping to a double & [url= http://www.flyxii.com/en/products/flx-sp-2.html ]carbon seatpost [/url] 😆

Have you checked the fork?

Didn't see any photographers out today, did you? 😳

Don't swear at me 😀 I'm happy with my Triple- it makes Streatley Hill easier 😀

Yes, there was one I think.....

No, I haven't yet. I was going to go over it tomorrow 🙂

Hopefully - I just want to see the finishing line shot haha.

Fingers crossed it's okay!

Not sure what to do with my old Fulcrum Quattros now - save them for training rides or sell? I purposely went for the Hope carbon wheels as they're built with British roads in mind... but something tells me I should save them for racing and summer. But then I would use my carbon commuter for crap weather days anyway! Hmm

P.s. You've so nailed the sticking with the group thing too, so rightly so folk giving you praise!

Hmm

Anyone figure out my place from this pic?!

[img] [/img]

6th/7th? Lol

I'm saying:

white - dark w/white shoulder - invisible geezer - yellow - reb w/black arms - orange w/black arms - dark red w bands (you?)

(assuming you're all doing the same speed)

If you're dark red w bands, TUCK !!!

Recommend these for £62, they're a steal:

Have you tried the COSINE 32mm Alloy Clinchers? Weight wise they seem like a good deal and are almost as cheap as some new rims and a rebuild of my DTSwiss hubs

lol! Tricky! I'd say 6th.....

@scardeypants - yep that's me. I was but gained massively on the guy in front so pulled up (think I was also braking too).
As soon as people cross that line they forget to bloody pedal!!!!

I'd just overtaken the guy on my left too, hence why not moving it to that gap.

@CH How's your hip and bike doing?

Thanks for asking Nath 🙂

A bit sore- coped with a few light chores and doing the dogs etc. I broke it (and my pelvis) when I was 18 so there's 2 plates and 8 screws in there. I always struggle with my right sock but this morning it took about five minutes to finally loop it over my toes 😀
I need to be proactive in increasing my flexibility I think- this has been an eye opener!!
I'm going to hop on Zwift for some recovery in a bit. I had 2hrs Z2 scheduled but it will probably be 1 @ Z1 and see how it feels.

The bike is fine!! One shifter had slipped around a tad but that was it. I'm treating it to a new cassette and chain and perhaps some cables too....What a machine 🙂

(I did find myself looking at Scott's earlier but the £1100 speedster was no lighter!!!! And the Addict I liked was £2500....)

Well done both of you. Desperately unfortunate to be caught up in a crash. Handlebars overlapped mid bunch, and the ensuing carnage took out about 10 riders. I'm glad you are ok. I stopped, of course to tend the poor rider from Watford who has a classic fractured collarbone. And a skiing holiday in two weeks..

I genuinely expected CH to finish in the pack this time. You will next time.

As for the E123. Cold, raced in a club gilet, attacked very early to bridge a gap, then was swept up. Punctured and took a lap out. You would be surprised how hard it is to get onto the fast-moving bench as they came past. One of our team got into a breakaway, so the rest of the race was pretty easy for me, and I sprinted home possibly top third. Nil points, as usual.

Thanks! I genuinely thought I'd missed it as I spotted the initial incident so early. At least going wide gave me a soft landing anyway.

There was that one lap when I was out behind you- HR 180+ and I knew I had to hang tough or that would be it! Your soothing encouragement helped me to get back in the fray so another heartfelt thumbs up- I really appreciate it 🙂

Plenty of excitement to keep you warm in both races 🙂

@CH I built my bike initially for less than 1k 😉 £400 frame, £450 groupset, £150 wheels £100 to finish 🙂

@tired - thanks, all due to your instruction 🙂 I don't understand how there are so many punctures on a closed circuit?!
I was surprised there wasn't an incident on the S bends to be frank, I can't believe the rate of people cutting the corner without consideration of the folks on the edges..

CH will definitely keep in the bunch next time!

Ok so line talk then. Past the clubhouse, turn left and up the hill to the tight narrow bit. Everyone always bunches up before the Esses- preempting the carnage . I mostly found myself on the right, would make up places as people bunched up then risk life and limb getting back in line through the S bend. This then put me inside for the long right hander.

One lap, I tried doing the opposite. Started hard left past the clubhouse, made up places up the hill, had an easy run through the pinch point as they all followed the straight line but it then meant I was having to ride around the outside of the long right hander.

Which is better or neither?
If I tried to split the difference and ride up the hill in the middle, there wasn't room to move up places as the group bunched up- I had to slow down too (last round I did- I even had to bloody brake!!).

Nath- that's awesome!!! Nice bargain hunting 🙂 It was very light!!!!

Inside line (lhs is the safer line. Never be on the rhs on the last lap, best be near the middle. That kink is known as "hospital corner" for a reason. The big right hand bend called Brian's Bend is surprisingly safe. Try and avoid being on the lhs as the bunch kicks back (slows down) going up the incline. Being on the inside line will put you on the grass on the last lap! I prefer he RHS and accelerate out to find a wheel for the sprint.

By S bends I meant th kink up the hill passed the clubhouse btw. Last weekend I was squeezed on the far left as people we're cutting it on the inside. On Saturday I was squeezed on the far right.

On the tight right I prefer being on the inside, as on the long left before the finish line you can let the momentum push you up a few places as folks are braking on the inside. Generally wher I did my mini attacks on Saturday too as everyone is sticking to shelter, you've just got to push against the wind for 20-30 secs.

Ok cool. So generally, LHS until just after the kink, find a way across, inside around Brian's, then middle/outside after the slope.
Easy as that 😀

One of the ways I kept up so much better TiRed, was by having in the back of my mind your comment about the course being designed to make pedal strikes almost impossible. It really gave me the confidence to keep on trucking through the bends and further close down all any small gaps before the acceleration came out of the corner.

I'm there next week and am on the reserves for the 28th 🙂

Good man!

I'm trying to get the missus let me race on the 4th (it's my birthday weekend) so she's wanting to spend time with me apparently 🙄

Doesn't look like the regular two photographers were there on Saturday - shame as if I've actually got a point or two I was going to buy a picture in celebration haha.

Can't she come and watch? And bring a huge birthday cake? 😀

On the waiting list for the 4th Feb 😆

Booked in on the 21st/28th/11th

Also put a request out for 52/36 chainrings...

Booked on the 11th now just in case and joined the waiting list on the 4th 🙂 It's an unusual winter indeed for me to have as many spare Saturdays!
I'd love to say I'm going to do them all next year but there are around 30 non-optional days in my diary and I have no control over which ones they are!

I'm assuming nobody runs winter Crits on a Sunday to avoid clashing with 'cross?

I haven't found any.

Hoping to do the Tuesday 6:30pm BC West Thames series - just need to change my working hours on Tuesdays 😆

There's 18 of them so may be a slim chance of some more points!

Can you make that one?

Yes, definitely up for that!!

I'm going to try and do at least half of them, perhaps 3/4 if I can get a place! 8)

Should be competent by the next Winter Series that way.

Eyeing up 52/36 chainsets, Ultegra 6800 or Dura 9000 (it's so shiny 😆 )

52/36 ordered 😳

7th!!! 3 points on my licence woo!

Aces! Congratulations !

You realise your job now is to get Crosshair lined up next race so he can bring the 1200w sprint for the win!

Wow! Great job Nath!! That's awesome 🙂

Weeksy- bit of a waste on my provisional 😉 I'd settle for making the results list lol

Thanks guys! 9 to go!

CH more than welcome to stick on my wheel. Although last week it is I who was behind him 😆

How's your week going Nath?

I've been trying to stick to my hours/intensity but not so sure I shouldn't have been resting this hip instead. It is improving every day though so should be 'reet 🙂

Not very well to be honest, work is proper draining me and I'm fighting the onset of a cold.

I've commuted most days and;

Sunday - 50 mile on zwift
Mon - rest
Tues - was all set for the GCN Kiss race but got kicked out, couldn't get back in.
Wed - Zwift 10 mile TT with a 5 mile cool down on Zwift, got a stitch in the race so my power was down by like 40W lol!
[i]Thurs - doing the pre race workout
Fri - rest[/i]

Glad your hip is recovering, gentle spins should have it right for Saturday. Wheel all ready? What have you done with the tyre situation?

I'm not going to mention the weather this time!!!!!

@CH - Interesting watch/read: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/how-to-cycle-faster-instantly-without-riding-harder-42744/

Congratulations nath. First points and only a matter of time to collect the remainder, I'm sure.

Dura Ace is shiny a I have it. On my nice bike that I don't race. Ultegra is the sweet spot for light, stiff, affordable, replaceable. I race that.

I'm away this Saturday as I have been all week (four hrs of sufferfest is jus not the same as 200km o the road), so there will be no shouting to move up, hold your line, keep your heads up... but enjoy the race.

I seem I'm still languishing mid-pack in 18/36. But happy with the endurance aspects. Steady progress up the rankings and we had three in top 10. 🙂

Lower is faster... who'd have thought 😉

Thanks @tired - yeah I went with Ultegra in the end. Ah gutted, who's going to egg me on to attack?! 😆

@mrblobby - yeah that bit is obvious, it's the numbers that are the interesting bit. 🙂

Bit of a non-article in that i thought everyone knew that already.
Weirdly, i find position 3 more comfortable than position 4.

My back is weak as ****, due to damaging it rowing poorly, I need to work on strengthening it! I'll do that and work on my cda between Imperial winter series and the Tuesday night races.

What is it with people and my decking haha: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13073491

It's definitely better when I'm moving it so hopefully it will be ok.
The new wheel makes the front GP rub too! So I need to try a gatorskin later.
I tried to buy some 25mm GP's today but Banjo Cycles wouldn't budge on their £49.99 asking price- last time I try and support my local Bikeshop!!!!!!!!

Fingers crossed you keep the cold at bay. Winter racing certainly challenges the immune system!

Is that £49.99 each!?!

Try halfords/evans if you have a local store (Halfords BC discount + have a go at getting them to price match before the BC discount is mentioned lol)

Yes!!! I just complained on their FB. No effort to try and get close. I didn't have time to risk Halfords traffic. Hopefully a Gator will fit anyhow...

Crosshair, if you can't find anything in time let me know, it's likely I've got something in the shed you can borrow.

Thank you! Weeksy has offered too but I'm more than happy on Gatorskins if it goes on. Might help avoid all these punctures 😀

Evans? I've got one of my way home but that's not really any use to you as I'd only see you an hour before the race, unless you want to risk it?

CH, just drive here mate

Ok so the 28mm Gator goes on with no clearance issues! I've ended up with Gators on the Triban and GP's on my CX bike which is fine by me 🙂

I skipped tonight's intervals. A day spent leaping around in the woods was more than enough stress on the hip. So a quick recovery spin tomorrow with a sprint or two should see me right enough....
I'm getting butterflies already 😉

Me too!

Although that's because the crank arm has rubbed ever so slightly so I've moved up to the next washer size, just hope the arm doesn't fall off!! 😆

With your #Wattagebazooka, they ought to be reinforced 😀

Haha doubtful @CH!

This morning on my commute I got a p**ct**e, guarantee I get one tomorrow now - it's exactly what happened last time haha.

Just ordered a pair of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NZ59Q7A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&th=1&psc=1

£50 delivered using the code: BIGTHANKS

Shhhhhh! Don't mention the weather this week 😀

The bike has been spoilt with a new wheel, cassette and chain!! Fresh cables await for next week (fingers crossed I get a place) too 🙂

Not doing it this week haha.

Very nice! My new chainset is turning up this morning, must resist the temptation to fit before the race 😆

Best of luck this weekend chaps.

Thanks @mrblobby going to need it - not feeling that great....

Thoroughly enjoyable day at Hillingdon! Awesome weather, fantastic company and some great racing.

Lapped once and dropped once more but felt really happy in the bunch today.

I think I was riding around my stiff hip a little bit as I'm getting really bad cramps in my right thigh but no excuse.....

I only got dropped mind you because someone launched a huge solo attack.......... 😀 😀

Excellent, can't wait to hear his report on it 🙂

I came whistling down the start/finish straight and literally went from the back of the bunch to the front by not braking. I rocked up behind Nath and settled in to the pack next to him.
Then past the clubhouse into the wind, he suddenly whooshes off at 600w (?) or so and vanishes up the hill.

With hindsight, I should have gone too- not to atttack but to pre-empt the bunch acceleration. But no, I went with them instead. Up the hill and through the S bends and that was me shelled out the back!!!

The bunch split too for a while. I didn't just sit up and wait today- my friend was there watching/vlogging so I pressed on for a bit to show willing, which meant I wasn't lapped for several laps.

I got back on and felt really comfy. Communicating, moving freely around and hanging quite well. I think it was 6 to go that the pace ramped up and I pinged out once more but I didn't try too hard as I didn't want to mess up anyone's chances.

I TT'd for a bit and worked with a couple of guys but dropped both of them eventually.

So today...the circuit was very windy on a couple of sections.

We started with a sighting lap, because of cones marking ice on the circuit, this meant a rolling start. Somehow I found myself at the back of this. Anyway for the first couple of laps it was being controlled and slowed down by the leaders, or more the lack of people wanting to lead. I had slowly worked my way up the pack on the right hand side. When I was just out of the leaders peripheral vision I lost my patience and went for a TT, sticking to the right with the majority on the left. I think this caught a lot of folk of guard. I was out on my own for a lap or two before the inevitable happened, I was caught by the bunch. Specifically I found out at the lockers that the guy leading the chase for me didn't want me to have an easy day. 😆 I think my attack caused everyone to split into 2 large groups, those that had chased and those that hadn't. Apparently a lot of people quit?! I spent the rest of the race in the wind as punishment - people weren't massively up for letting me in (or so it felt like that). I pushed again with 3 laps to go and found myself on the front again, controlling the bunch at a lower pace - I was keeping an eye on the people behind. No one launched an attack but eventually I was swallowed up. Going into the final corners I was about 15-18th? and a little boxed in. I managed to get some good space after the last corner but it wasn't enough. I think I ended up 11th/12th just outside of the points.

It was good fun though, particularly as it was my first race in the dry!

Next race I'm holding my nerve and using energy only to get into a good position on the final laps and going for the sprint finish.

I'm sorry CH 😆

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/839245246/analysis
HR at 210 is rubbish I think, I top out at 198...

Good work CH and NB; must've been freezing - no icy patches ? (edit: ah, yeah)

Just had a look on the flyby thing. As well as nath, there was some rider kept smashing off the front of the pack, seems was his 1st race. I'd suggest he's one to watch out for as must have watts coming out of his ears and when he calms down a bit, ... 😯

Thanks scaredypants - it's all a bit mental so can't really keep an eye on anyone apart from the leader 😆

Apparently there was crashes today @crosshair, I didn't see any apart from a guy cutting the grass in front of the clubhouse!?

I thought everyone was well behaved today.

I heard some guys chatting about it and looking at a smashed up carbon frame and another's guys wheel. I got the impression that somebody was just riding into people on the last couple of laps!!

How bizarre, I didn't hear a thing 😆

I just fitted 25mm GP 4 seasons to the commuter, yeah I should have gone for 28s! 25s look tiny, even compared to GP4000s!?

Nice work both.

Really interesting reading progress nathb. Even if you're the strongest rider in the bunch it can still take a fair few frustrating races to figure out the best way of picking up points.

TBH in cat 4 I reckon working on your sprint then sitting in and consistently grabbing a few points is the rather boring way to go. Then things get more interesting once you're out of the 4's.

Some guy was about 10 seconds off of the front in the E1,2,3 race on a monster solo effort. The bunch reeled him back and swamped him right on the last lap poor guy! He was proper cooked when I spoke to him- made me feel bad for not trying hard enough 😀

I love how rock steady their group is through the corners too although I did hear one guy screaming at another on their cool down that "we've all got to go to work on Monday mate!!!!!!"

Thanks to TiRed too for last week's line advice. I felt much happier going up the hill on the left although I didn't always make it back to the inside for Brian's/ outside of the final left.

I had stopped and had a look at the ice that they coned off before the race and it wasn't really that slippery so I was happy on the inside of the final bend to use the extra space everyone was leaving around the cones to make up a place or two although one lap a guy clipped a cone which luckily just missed me 😉

@mrblobby I can sprint, I can sprint better when I haven't done a solo effort though haha. But yeah I just need to sit in and be boring for 45 mins then liven up at the end!

Here's some sprint data: https://www.strava.com/activities/839245106/analysis

@crosshair I had to go through the cones at one point as the person behind refused to move over and was half wheeling me... I also had someone's handlebar dig into my leg, forgot about that lol.

That's because you're a marked man 😀

You need a camouflage jersey 😉

@crosshair - I am, I think!? I'm going to switch up my jersey choice for next week if weather permits 😆

@mrblobby - when are you coming down to have a go? 🙂

Hillingdon ain't the same without TiRed 😆

@CH
Frameset/seatpost/clamp/headset/bb - £400 - http://www.workswellbikes.com/web/view/142.html
Shimano 105 5800 11 Speed 50/34 170,00 - 11/28 - £225 - http://www.shopto.net/cycling/shimano/GS58005034170112-shimano-105-5800-11-speed-5034-17000-1128-pressfit
Deda Zero stem - £12 - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/27486/#pid=28045
Deda Zero bars - £14 - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/deda-zero-bars/#pid=26956
Jagwire road pro kit - £23 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jagwire-Road-Pro-Break-Gear/dp/B001C4NJME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485075656&sr=8-1&keywords=Jagwire+road+kit
Then obviously saddle, pedals, bar tape, carbon paste - £50?
Wheels - Cosine 23mm for £62, or fulcrum racing sport for £150?

Total build £724 + wheels £62 = £786

Told you it was well under 1k lol

P.s photos are up: http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/Cycling-Circuits-/Imperial-Winter-Series-2101201/

@mrblobby - when are you coming down to have a go?

I am tempted despite it not really fitting in with what I'm trying to do at the moment. I'd like to have another go at it. Might do Abingdon in Feb or Thruxton and Castle Coombe later in the year. Though you'll probably have moved up a cat by then!

Edit... rest of the series full up?

It's really good fun, rather addicted to it to be honest. I'm not actually sure I want to move up - the E123s look scary at Hillingdon haha.

Should come down, show us how it's done 8)

Got us both in this one: http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/Cycling-Circuits-/Imperial-Winter-Series-2101201/i-dXCCVRb/A

nath, did you actually buy from shopto.net ?

I've had them pop up on searches once or twice I think, but I'm too suspicious for my own good of sites that seem to have bike stuff almost as an afterthought

Got us both in this one

Lol you're lucky CH has a long sleeve Jersey on!

@scaredypants - no I didn't buy my groupset from them, I built up my Ultegra group from various sites as I already had some stuff. However I've been ordering continental inner tubes off them fine (2x orders of 4 tubes), in fact the delivery from them has been next day!

Yeah and as Weeksy says - he's normally wearing shorts haha