Track Session 03 18/12/2015

[Paul Nicholas]

Faster session today with longer drills.

5 mile TT 32 laps effort which felt faster than last week, if people peel off in front of you it gets tough.

The second drill had two groups of seven out on the track on the whistle second in line drooped off the blue line on to the black and sprinted around to catch the tail of the other group.

The last drill totally got the better of me and was difficult to follow, from what I remember 4 riders were on the black line the rest of us on blue. First two riders on blue dropped down to join the tail of the black line group as the black line group lapped the blue the front two riders on black joined the blue line. I think! I screwed this up and apologised to the guy on my wheel who afterwards said that I should try his bike out with a bigger chainring on it. I used his bike to do a couple of laps and it made a huge difference, although stopping the thing was interesting, I had to do another lap to slow it down!

Anyway same group of riders as before really helpful and full of advice, and great fun too. If anyone can point me in the direction of a good track bike or what to look out for that would be great. I have also been looking for any info on the internet about the drills (names etc) but have yet to find anything so again any info on this would be great.

Ta
P

[Teresa]

Really great to read your report.

Sounds like you are getting a lot of fun out of the track, as well as skill and experience

[Paul Nicholas]

Thanks it's been a lot of fun so far. I've signed up for the improver course in January so hopefully I can go for accreditation after that.

[traine]

Paul

It has been really good reading your enthusiastic reports. I hope that others in the Club have read them too and either regained interest or been attracted to have a go themselves.

These drop in sessions are a great way for a novice to start as you have. Jonathan Saunders took the same route to accreditation last year and I think only Steven, Jonathan and I have accreditation in the Club. Good luck with your journey.

Steven and I rode the winter league 2002/3, the first after Newport Velodrome opened and Steven is right, it is the most fun you can have on a bike (with the possible exception of cyclo-cross but you get very dirty and cold doing that !)

I have to confess that I was not aware of your blog entries until Teresa pointed them out to me last night in club when I was telling everyone that I had been to the Velodrome that afternoon to see what the veterans season standard was. Every Friday there is a drop in for accredited veterans between 4.00pm and 6.30. I paid the entry fee although I did not have my bike with me (or any kit) so that I could go to the track centre and be amongst the 14 riders and speak to the coach. This happened to be an ex Oggie Kyleigh Manners. You would recognise him as he is 6 foot 2inches tall !

I think the standard of those vets there (they were from Bedford, Exeter, Birmingham, Bristol etc with only 3 or 4 local) is too high for my present condition but I shall still start in January and get a few laps in using my Raleigh TI all steel bike that was used by Louise Jones of Port Talbot in the 1980's to win Commonwealth Gold on the track. Kyleigh was very friendly and helpful.

I have bought kit from Velodrome Shop but Kyleigh recommends a bike shop in New town (I think he said) who may sell second hand bikes. Also keep an eye on Cycling Weekly are. I have seen a few in the last several weeks.

I personally do not have a problem in riding a 'classic' bike. Weight on a track bike is not really an issue. Wheel quality is more important.

It is great to have your enthusiasm in the Club. Keep it up and keep posting your interesting blogs. We all enjoy reading them

Cheers

Tim

[Paul Nicholas]

Thanks Tim, Start my course first week of January for three weeks so hopefully be able to participate in some other sessions after that.  Be good to meet up with you and go for a spin around the track.

I've got my eye on a couple of eBay steel track bikes so fingers crossed have something I can put together with a bigger chainring on it for the new year. Thanks for the tip on the shop in Newtown I'll pay them a visit, as is the case with these things there seems to be a lot of subtle differences between the bikes geometry with some set up for crits, other track, or "street" racing. So a visit to a shop would be really useful I think.

Ta
P

[traine]

Paul. Best of luck in January. The drop in on Fridays is for veterans only I.e. over 40's and they all ride together so I doubt if I will ever get into the main bunch. I am 70 in April next and years are now counting.

Perhaps, if you continue withe track during 2016 you might have a go at next winters track league.

Happy Christmas. I will be in the clubhouse next on Friday 15th January. Don't forget we have a roller competition in mid February. I assume you do rollers ?

Tim

[Paul Nicholas]

I'll pop into the club in the New Year, not tried the rollers but happy to give them a go!

Ta
P