2010 Road Racing

[ben]

Darley Moor again this weekend! Slightly different this time though, Sunday 12:00pm start. Apparently still entry on the line but its a 2/3/4cat race instead of 3/4. Shouldn't be much harder though. 58km which is 23-24 laps.
Both Andy and I are going so I hope some others can make it for a bit of a team effort. Anyone hoping to race over the summer should start getting the race miles in now otherwise the fitness curve will get too big.

[andyc]

can't wait for this, was going well today, any idea what time train you're getting ben? weather is looking good so we might even be able to ride home as well mmmm miles

[ben]

Darley Moor Circuit Race (11/04/10) 24laps, 58km. (4th place-Ben Thomas)

Once again the wind was in the "wrong" direction, howling up the long straight and adding a crosswind to the other sections. This immediately made the race much harder than usual. Of course there were still people who insisted on attacking in to a headwind which resulting in two large groups breaking off the front of the peloton within the first 5 laps. I was neatly situated in the front group of 12-15 which grew as the next chasing group latched on. Again attacks were going left, right and centre (obviously wind direction dependant ) which started to tire some of the weaker riders. Eventually with about 10 laps to go a group of three launched off the front of our group. They were working well together and quickly worked up a 100m lead which stretched out as we reached the headwind straight. With no one working to bring them back I took it on myself and TTd myself into the ground to catch them. A few came with me as I put the hammer down but after a surge up the drag in the finishing straight I looked behind to find myself alone and about 40m off the front three. I had the choice of letting a few people catch me to work together and share the pain or just carry on into the wind on my own. I tucked down and set off for the front three alone 8laps to go and the four of us had a fairly big advantage which began to grow after I shouted to the others that Plan B Racing had a team on the front of the chasing bunch!!! We worked fairly well together with only one deciding to go it alone. His attack didn't last long and soon we had only 2 laps to go. The chasing bunch had gained momentum and were closing down the gap. I thought it was much better to guarantee at least 4th place than risk the rest catching us so I moved back to the front and put in a few long turns to limit our loss to the chasing group. Two of the guys were sat in nicely coming into the bell lap and the last headwind section but if we would have certainly been caught if we started playing cat and mouse. Both me and the 3rd placed guy worked together until he was almost spent. Coming off the hairpin turn at the bottom of the circuit I moved to the front for my final effort dragging the others along at 30mph (ish), not a race winning move but to ensure I got some kind of placing. The two guys who sat in waited for the final drag and launched themselves to the line with the other bloke passing me through the final chicane as I sat up to check for the chasers. 4th place, not bad for a Darley Moor race, especially when it was so windy and with 2nd cats in the race!! 18 points now on the licence, roll on next weekend!!! Two Counties RR, my first road race of the year should be fun. Only 85km and should result in a nice 2-3up TTT with some people who live near me back home!!

[EdHarris]

Yet another exciting write-up, I enjoyed reading it so thank you. More importantly: what a fantastic result! Congratulations Ben.

[ben]

I reckon it would have been good to watch too. I ended up a bit like a madison race where no one really knows whose at the front, whose got lapped etc.

[Jamie]

looking at the up and coming races before the bucs i have decided to the John May memorial road race which is in Wakefield on the 9 th of may. this is a e/1/2/3 race so im hoping it will give me a good kicking before the bucs the weekend after. Im 90% i will have my car back by then and therefore planning on driving there, meaning there is a space for one other, although it will not be difficult to get a train out to this. Anyone planning to do the bucs road race should try do this race as it will be of a simialr standard field. Bad news is that the entries have to be in by 18th of april so ideally posted before the weekend, however they usually allow for a couple of days late.

www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/Bridge/calendar_future.asp?evt_cp=6&evt_mode=1&evt_id={5AE30BDE-5D0D-46AD-820C-7515AA2EC1D4}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=2nd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=20

If you dont want to blow your brains out that weekend there is also a circuit race at darley moor on the 9th and looking at the reports seem like a good day out.


Also next weekend there is a race in Rotherham, "Thurcroft lives again!" its a 2,3,4, 50 miles and is only 10 miles away so it will be easy to cycle out to. Entries have closed today however if my knee is feeling good i will ring the organiser late next week to see if there are any spaces available.

www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/Bridge/calendar_future.asp?evt_cp=3&evt_mode=1&evt_id={A51A0F2B-CEAC-4F6D-849C-847D6E3BDAD8}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=2nd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=20

If anyone is interested in these races let me know as it would be good to have some company in them

Jamie

[andyc]

still a lowly cat 4 atm, so probs can't do the john may one unfortunately- will head to darley moor though probably

by next weekend do you mean 17-18th or 24-25th? would be good to do an actual road race

have you given any thought to doing the Mallory Park crits mid week Jamie?

[Jamie]

its on the 25th

Yeah i would like to do a few but havent really looked into it, was hoping to be able to drive down but i don't have my car at the moment, i will check out the option of travelling by train when i start getting in the racing groove.

i will keep you posted about if and when ill do them

[ben]

I've sent my entry for the "Revived" Spring RR (Thurcroft race) so I should be doing that. I'm doing a race at home the weekend before the BUCS RR though so wont be doing the John May.

[alice]

do races ever happen on saturdays? ive got a few of them off. i feel that i might be brave enough to have a go, so tell me what i should try??? or will i just die?
(have to be accessible by train as i dont have a car)
or tell me some that are far in advance then i can get the time booked off work.

[ben]

Have a look on the BC website. Women can usually do the 3/4Cat races but this depends on the particular race. Their is also a womens national series that has a wide range of abilities in. My advice would be to find some info on Go Ride races (BC website) and do one of them to get a feel for it and to gauge your fitness. The road calendar on the BC website has all of the BC regulated races in the country so have a look at that.
I'd say that you'd probably struggle in a 3/4 race at the moment as even I'm on the edge of collapse at some points.

[ben]

Just about recovered from the "Revived Spring RR" today, mostly dehydrated though.
Both me and Andy set out at 8:10am this morning for the rid out to Braithwell village, just 15-16miles from home. There was a lovely tailwind all the way there so legs were nicely warm but not wrecked before the race.
As the race got underway on the 3.5 mile circuit (15laps to complete) a couple of early breaks went up the road before getting dragged back. The 3 corners slowish corners coupled with the 2 "rises" (not really hills) meant lots of accelerations each lap so it felt like a 52mile criterium. Eventually a strong group went up the road and it was left for the rest of us to form a chase. As usual no one wanted to do any work so I made my move to the front periodically to inject some pace. The corners were wearing me down and I couldn't cope with my bridging attempt to the break so I settled for working in the main bunch. It seemed that everyone just wanted to sit on my wheel until the slight hill up to the finish line, sprint around me for the summit then sit up and wait for me to come through again. After 2-3 laps of this I left them to it, just sitting in the bunch for the final laps. The break had swept up most of the points and as I wasnt paying attention, totally forgot which lap we were on and missed the final sprint!!
Oh well, 85 miles in total today and back in time for the end of Liege-Bastogne-Liege!

Thanks to Andy for riding out with me, then towing me home into the headwind when I was totally spent from the race.

Hope to see some more people at these races!!! Theres another Darley Moor coming up soon. Though I'll have to go look up the date for that.

[johna]

So how did you all get on at BUCS 10TT?

I rode the pooled clubs 25 mile TT on Saturday just the other side of donney. It’s a pan flat course (probably too flat). Temperature good but the wind was horrible – there was a good head wind or cross wind 3 quarters the way round. Had to change my tyre last night and all I had was a 28mm tourer, which made it a bit harder. Set off and got passed by my minute man very quickly – think I set off far too slow. So I decided to pick up the pace and after around ten my tri bars decided to come loose. Absolutely hammered it into the wind but then with the wind behind me it was almost like the wind was beneath my wings, I was averaging 26 mph and passing loads of riders who set off too quick. I got passed only twice and put in a time of 1.07. I was very pleased considering the winning time was 59.40. There is no nicer feeling than passing someone with all the kit on when you have nothing else other than rattling tri bars, which you're not using. I just need to work on spinning my legs in a faster gear. Got the bug now and want to do more. Ben if there are any other races like that (i.e. non bucs) let me know as I would like to do some.

As for Liege-b-Liege; Sad day when he wins – hope he has many drug tests and has won it clean, but I doubt it.

[ben]

Pics from todays race at martin.photium.com/portfolio94793.html

[andyc]

going home this weekend, for some race or other i think. probably a crit on the saturday as the RR i want to do is sold out but i have emailed the organiser about being a reserve, wait and see what happens.

no worries about the tow ben, was fun to watch but also really made me want to race!