You were looking good this afternoon Robbie. I was in the stands waiting for Sophie to finish her RSR training session and watched your scratch race. Great timing for that final sprint past the chap who was in front of you going into the last bend!
I am doing the SQT tomorrow evening at 6:00 and will probably go with the Monday after work routine as Sarurday afternoon doesn't go down well with everyone at home.
I too wish I could get the skills of our amazing youth squad. Just getting on and off gracefully is still a challenge which I am going to practice in the utility room this afternoon. Sore legs after yesterday's Greenway steady ride.
Did a training session at Calshot today - madness. I actually felt a little bit dizzy, and it's freezing, we are very lucky to have the Olympic velodrome so close! Got to do a 35 lap scratch race (not so far with the short laps!) managed to get a jump and lap the field, very exciting! Can wait to do a real race. Will look at some SQT's in London soon.
Looks a crazy short track Mitchy! And narrow compared to London. Must have been riders all over the track on yr scratch race. Good riding. Enjoy tonight James!
Another good session today. Good to ride with Mitchy in the group. Beginning to feel confident on the track now and ready for the next step. Again three structured exercises then finishing with a 15 minute scratch race... with three intermediate sprints. Mitchy spanked the first sprint no hassle taking a few riders scalps. After another ten laps or so the bell rang again. Found myself on the front and took the 2nd sprint by a whisker from guess who... Mitchy. Ashwell blue flying. More laps then the bell went for another sprint... tactically both let it go. Then 8 laps to go Mitchy went for it... smashed the group taking two riders with him. I couldn't keep that pace but kept going at full gas, managed to take the two hangers on. Mitchy first with half a lap on me in second, then the rest of the field half a lap plus behind. Blue train did well. Ashwell one and two.
Today was the hardest toughest yet with 21 riders in one group. Meant we had 5 training exercises then a 50 lap scratch race. Often found myself in groups with riders who were pretty quick... pushed me big time to hold wheels. Stayed in there just. Tired coming into the race. But so were others. For 40 out of the 50 laps I stayed up front sharing the pace with two others. Behind in a pretty packed field were incidents where riders came off etc... didn't even know at the time. Kept going and at 12 to go found myself in a group of 6 half a lap ahead. The last 10 go quickly but it was the same three of us doing the work. 2 laps to go I went for it... but only managed to pull the 5 with me. Last lap was pure sprint... ended up 5th but only a couple of bike lengths from 1st. Still learning. Getting faster hopefully. Needing mitchy's attack skills!
Loved it. Really tough though. Flying lap in 16.2 - no ride on track before! 500 TT in 41. 2km tt/pursuit in 2.35, keiren heat and B final (missed A final but 6''), Devil - 27 riders started, I finished 3rd - my favorite race, totally frantic. Nearly went out early, ended up in sprint to stay in with bloke who won my keirin heat. 50 lap scratch - attacked and had a go at winning it, caught by bunch off final bend. And finished with 50 lap points, 5th across line, but underestimated the significance of the intermediate points and lost a couple of places. 9th overall, and no crashes!! Want to enter national masters, maybe the scratch, devil and points - sprinting is definitely not for me!!
I managed to get a cancelation yesterday to do my level4. Was just back from a weeks snowboarding so was all a bit warm and nowhere near slippy enough but all done thankfully. I was there early and watched a vets endurance sqt and a sprint sqt alternating track time. The vets sqt looked good and seemed a similar format to the descriptions above.
Which sessions are you booked into? and im assuming you have been booking the intermediate not the vets? Im not sure i will have too many oppurtunities in March but should be good after that and hope to get some track time.
Sounds great Mitchy... and well put together. The riders above you must have been quick because you were flying in London. Well done! And nice one Tim!! We now have four accredited riders for the Worlds Team Pursuit in October (vets).
SQT's booked as follows: 12 March intermediate 26 March intermediate
2 April Endurance (racing group) 16 April Endurance
All above Saturday 1pm start NB the April endurance sessions are with track racers
Another good session with 19 riders in one group. Usual warm up in twos doing lap changes then single line half lap changes leading to riding fast on the rail. Then the elimination race without elimination lol. Just stayed in the first 5 each lap and saved me legs. Ten mins rest before the 40 lap points race with 4 intermediate sprints. Stayed near the front most of the time... avoiding riders who were tiring at the back. Didn't really go for any of the sprints. They were really going for it. Had good legs for the last few laps... ended riding the last 2 at the front and nobody managed to take me on the line. Another first to boost my confidence to move up to the track league. Finished with 25 minutes riding at 20-21 mph laps - which is resting pace in the Full Gas track league. That emptied the tank!
Rode a couple of SQT sessions over Easter. Booked into the Advanced SQT on Saturday 2nd April... so won't be there Sunday. But I'm off to Welwyn on Monday night to 'be observed' ready for Track League.
Good to see Tom in the car park... And 5 Ashwell riders crit racing round the outdoor track. Watched a few laps. Very tidy riding with a few shouts here and there. The advanced SQT is split with endurance and sprint. It's obvious who's who! lol. Thought Andrew Leverton's legs were massive... some of these guys were cartoons! Most were full gas league riders. All on flash bikes and warmed up smashing it on rollers. Good session. Knowing you're riding with good riders is reassuring. Felt like I slotted in ok today... stayed in there and enjoyed it. Managed 3rd in the scratch race... more tactful than speed!
Comments
Im booked in the following:
Jan 16
Jan 30
Feb 13
Feb 20
March 12
Proper training ending with a 30 lap scratch race... (which I managed to win. Whoop!)
Good luck Mitchy... that sounds like a Gent track!!!
Wait til you get another go at a Keirin:)
I am doing the SQT tomorrow evening at 6:00 and will probably go with the Monday after work routine as Sarurday afternoon doesn't go down well with everyone at home.
I too wish I could get the skills of our amazing youth squad. Just getting on and off gracefully is still a challenge which I am going to practice in the utility room this afternoon. Sore legs after yesterday's Greenway steady ride.
Ended up doing some Bingo and Sean's Game.....
All good fun and pretty quick but manageable so will try and do another one of these sessions soon.
Home by 9:30 and so better than a standard Monday
Three structured training efforts then open scratch race normally.
Just got over my manflu too!
Good luck next week at the big race at Derby!
Loved it - I ride with a big grin on my face whenever I'm on the track!!
Btw Mitchy- how was Derby?
JP
Which sessions are you booked into? and im assuming you have been booking the intermediate not the vets? Im not sure i will have too many oppurtunities in March but should be good after that and hope to get some track time.
And nice one Tim!! We now have four accredited riders for the Worlds Team Pursuit in October (vets).
SQT's booked as follows:
12 March intermediate
26 March intermediate
2 April Endurance (racing group)
16 April Endurance
All above Saturday 1pm start
NB the April endurance sessions are with track racers
But I'm off to Welwyn on Monday night to 'be observed' ready for Track League.