|
|
Post by Darbs on Dec 17, 2012 12:44:01 GMT
I thought it was worth noting the road races that club members are riding during 2013, so other members can get an idea of who will be at a race.
Its always better if there are other WFCRC club members in a race, even if its only so you don't suffer alone!
These are the road races I will be riding during 2013, a few of the other club members also ride these as well. (All details are on the British Cycling website under Road Calendar).
24th March - Bill Jinks Memorial Road Race - Corely nr Coventry
7th April - Two Counties Road Race - Bridgnorth
21st April - Bristol South Road Race - Bristol
2nd June - Banbury Star Road Race - Banbury
9th June - Climb on Bikes Spring Road Race - Hereford
16th June - Stafford Grand Prix - Stafford
18th August - Gloucester City Summer Road Race - Gloucester
This is a provisonal list, there are no races listed here for May or July at the moment, so there will no doubt be more added. Also this list doesn't include the Tuesday evening summer circuit races at the Stourport track. More details of those will follow soon.
Feel free to add any races that you are planning to ride so that we create a full picture of the club members road racing activities.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack C on Dec 17, 2012 14:39:06 GMT
If winter training goes to plan I shall be racing the following (that are currently listed on the BC website): 3rd March - 41st Severn Bridge RR 28th April - Birmingham CC Circuit Races 2nd June - Stourbridge CC Road Race 16th June - Stafford Road Club Grand Prix 14th July - Severn Valley Road Race - Andy Poole Memorial 18th August - Gloucester City Summer Road Race As well as a selection of circuit races, shorter mid week road races and maybe even the odd TT (!!) dotted around the region. Plus I'm sure more races will be listed on BC before now and the start of the season Unfortunately now having a 2nd cat license means I have to get my legs ripped off by elite and 1st cat license holders on a more regular basis  That'll teach me!  |
|
|
|
Post by chrisharrison0407 on Dec 17, 2012 15:50:18 GMT
Hi all, first attempt in participating on the forum!, great idea and addition to the club! After a quiet introduction to the club as "Garners" mate I hope to shed that burden and kick on this season. Having squeaked a cat 3 license somehow! I've got big ideas this season!
I'm hoping to get involved in a few of the road races myself as well as the track, I'll no doubt join you as its nice to the see backs of some of you fellows as you disappear off up the road! As for my training its going great, I've hired a watt bike as you said Paul its all about the watts! unfortunately having fallen off the indoor trainer twice now! not sure that bodes well for the forth coming season.
Have a good Christmas all and look to getting out with some of you soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack C on Mar 15, 2013 10:31:29 GMT
So far have entered the following:
Paramount CRT - 14/4/13
Gerry Hughes Memorial RR - 21/4/13
Norman Harris RR - 5/5/13
Halesowen RR - 12/5/13
Has anyone else entered theses events?
Will be booking more RR's for May onward when I can, and planning to race SSC, Mallory Park and the SSSCCRRL as and when.
Would be great to see more WFCRC jerseys throughout the bunch/dishing out the pain! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by JustinW on Mar 19, 2013 20:47:15 GMT
Well god help me but I have done it Paid for my Race Licence today with British Cycling, should be here next week. Just need find some races to enter now  Feel a little green with this but going to give it my best shot, hopefully the training will pay off ;D And just in time my Wattbike is being delivered this Friday, my butt can only take so much on the rollers!  it's time to up the power. Got a week off work next week as well so plenty of riding to be had. |
|
|
|
Post by Darbs on Mar 19, 2013 22:11:53 GMT
I am very interested to see how your first race season goes.
If you base it on your sustainable power and final sprint, you'll be absolutely fine!
There are some tactics in 4th cat racing, but not many! Stick towards the front of the bunch for the whole race, don't cook yourself by doing all the work on the very front and don't sit at the back, the pace will change rapidly, if the elastic breaks its hard to chase back on. Don't go on a lone break on the first lap unless you are super-strong and there is no wind. Also don't worry too much about trying to guess which breaks will stay away to begin with, there is plenty of time to get used to that.
Get close to the front with 5k to go, be in the front 5 with 1k to go, let somebody else start the sprint, sit on his wheel , then give it all you've got in the last one or two hundred metres. You may be able to lead out the sprint and hold it to the line as you are able to put some pace on and hold it.
That may be fairly simplistic, but its not a million miles off. Remember though, everybody else is trying to do exactly the same, and there can be some 'interesting' bike handling!
Just get out there and do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by thebullfighter on Mar 19, 2013 22:15:19 GMT
The best thing to do is just go and ride some.... nothing better than experiencing the real thing.... you will soon get to know what's what.  |
|
|
|
Post by Darbs on Mar 19, 2013 22:20:29 GMT
Andy's right, so many people talk about racing, and get so wound up by it they never actually do any. Just get out there and ride a few.
The golden rule of riding in a fast moving bunch, is be predictable. No sudden moves or changes in speed, hold a smooth line through a corner and don't cut to the apex unless you are certain there is nobody on your inside. Be smooooooth.
Smooth is fast!
|
|
|
|
Post by JustinW on Mar 20, 2013 7:04:18 GMT
Cheers chaps, I'm all ears. Maybe have a chat with you on Saturday Paul to see if you can recommend some races to go on. I think it's more not really knowing what to expect but I'm certainly looking forward to having a go  , hopefully come out with a few points as well over the season. Silky smoooottthhhhh, no problem , and then a lot of aggression and power at the end. No problem, see if I can dish out a bit of suffering. Thanks for the email on the Carbon wheels Paul, funny the cosmics pair you recommended are on my ebay 'wish list'. Been looking at the Fast Forward wheels as well. |
|
|
|
Post by Jack C on Apr 13, 2013 19:01:56 GMT
Has anyone else been accepted to ride the Gerry Hughes Memorial RR next weekend? Just got confirmation of a ride this evening and wondered if ill be a lonely WFCRC jersey or not!! Also: if anyone has ridden this course before then any info would be much appreciated |
|
davidp
Lieutenant (Over 99 posts)
Posts: 240
|
Post by davidp on Apr 13, 2013 19:59:25 GMT
Hi Jack, From the HQ location this could be one of 2 courses. The most likely is the large mainly flat course which goes across Castlemorton Common to Rye St, that bit is exposed and is where most events finish, and the bunch can split in strong cross winds. After then go left on the Tewkesbury road to Long Green, this is fast and a tad rough, then left through Longdon with its little climb, and on to Tunnel Hill at Upton, where left on a decent surface, flat, and can be fast to Welland. We had 3 in the Stallard vets RR last year, myself, Ken Bradbury, and John Clarke; all finished in the bunch sprint. It's a bit of a wait and see course as early breaks are usually brought back. The other course is hilly, I've raced it once in the 70's!, iot goes up to Little Malvern, climbs British Camp and down towards Ledbury - very fast, then comes back through Eastnor and over Hollybush, a fast climb, down to Rye St where left and over Castlemorton Common to Welland. It's a climbers course and the break can go first time up British Camp, and the bunch will split there anyway so be up front from the start in Welland. I promoted BCF (BC) races on both these courses in the 70's; traffic today is still fairly light, but watch out for sheep on the road over Castlemorton. Have a good race. |
|
davidp
Lieutenant (Over 99 posts)
Posts: 240
|
Post by davidp on Apr 13, 2013 20:23:27 GMT
New road riders: Some good advice there from Darbs and here's my bit  Best place to be in the bunch is around 8th-12th, and always on the sheltered side, not in the wind. This position keeps you away from most crashes as they are usually behind in the main 'scrum', you keep an eye on what's happening with attacks and whether to try and go with any, and it gives you a buffer on climbs or when the attacks are stringing the whole thing out - you also tend to be in the front group if there is a split so can avoid a chase. Try and relax, if there are experienced riders near you then you can pick a good wheel to follow from time to time. During the race the biggest shock for beginers is how damn fast it is when the attacks are on, and sometimes how slow just afterwards - so it's key to be able to hang in there when the hammer's down. Keep your eyes open for what is ahead and learn to anticipate how the bunch constantly changes shape and you save valuable energy. Also listen!, the first sound of any impending crash reaches the ears before you can usually see where it is; but not all races have a clatter so don't worry. Enjoy the excitement of bunch racing, nothing really matches it. |
|
davidp
Lieutenant (Over 99 posts)
Posts: 240
|
Post by davidp on Apr 13, 2013 20:44:35 GMT
Looking at the races you guys are doing it seems there is a real lack of events nowadays. I just had a quick trawl through my 1969 diary, my 3rd season, and I rode 40 road races and 20 time trials, actually not a huge number back then. From end of Feb to October it was easy to do 2 road races every wk/end, most of these were local (B'Ham Div), although sometimes we would go a bit further afield. There were also plenty of local open TT's, some 10's but mostly 25's and some 50's, plus a regular mid week club event. There were also some mid week criteriums and town centre races in the summer, plus Salford Park track every Wed? night. The hardest races were the weekly Holly Lodge kermesse league near West Bromwich; you had to race 3 times an evening Much of my mileage was racing, typically 250 to 300 per week and I have to say there was very little time for cake - but I'm making up for that last bit RIGHT NOW  |
|
That'll teach me! 
Feel a little green with this but going to give it my best shot, hopefully the training will pay off ;D
it's time to up the power. Got a week off work next week as well so plenty of riding to be had.
, hopefully come out with a few points as well over the season.
