[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

So cyclocross.
We spent the day at the Southampton leg of the National Trophy Series, in a massive sports park.

The course was pretty long, a few miles (2-3 maybe 4), each lap.
There's no flat ground, if you weren't going up hill that meant you were coming down.
Other than the long straight from the start line the rest of the course was all compacted near the finish line.
So we could see the riders at the start, out of the woodland down, to us parallel with the finishing straight.
By only moving 20 feet we could see the riders round a cricket pitch before zig-zagging towards the hurdles.
Then a fast descent to the final bend and the finish line straight.

We arrived at the veterans races, 40-49 , and 50+.
The other races were under 14's then 16's.
Then bizarrely they had a staggered start for the elite boys, then girls, then ladies, all 1 minute apart.

That meant the commentator was talking us through 3 races at the same time, unsurprisingly he was very good and seriously knew his stuff.

Before the elite race they had an under 8's and under 10's race.

Then the main event, the elite men's and under 23's, featuring GB national champ Ian Field.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Nice one Pogue, thanks, this is basically what I'm after knowing, how little ones will be received on there and when it's likely to be booked out. We'll take in the swings and slides just next to it too to try to fill the day out, because as you say, it's not overly exciting , but they're all keen so will enjoy it as a day out anyway. They're a competitive bunch between themselves, so a stop watch will be in tow and some fun racing will definitely be on the cards. We'll soon get the measure of it and work out who starts where on the track to try to get some photo finishes set up as well

I think you'll have fun!

Enjoy it, I look forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Cool, I'll be down in Brighton in a couple of weeks so that's a great excuse to drag the other half into a bike shop!

Be aware, though, that Prestige isn't your average Bike Shop. It caters for those with more money than your average Joe...the cycle porn factor is high! Friendly enough place, but I treat it more as an art gallery than somewhere that I might spend any money.

Except on the clothes.

 

[1066familyman]

So cyclocross.
We spent the day at the Southampton leg of the National Trophy Series, in a massive sports park.

The course was pretty long, a few miles (2-3 maybe 4), each lap.
There's no flat ground, if you weren't going up hill that meant you were coming down.
Other than the long straight from the start line the rest of the course was all compacted near the finish line.
So we could see the riders at the start, out of the woodland down, to us parallel with the finishing straight.
By only moving 20 feet we could see the riders round a cricket pitch before zig-zagging towards the hurdles.
Then a fast descent to the final bend and the finish line straight.

We arrived at the veterans races, 40-49 , and 50+.
The other races were under 14's then 16's.
Then bizarrely they had a staggered start for the elite boys, then girls, then ladies, all 1 minute apart.

That meant the commentator was talking us through 3 races at the same time, unsurprisingly he was very good and seriously knew his stuff.

Before the elite race they had an under 8's and under 10's race.

Then the main event, the elite men's and under 23's, featuring GB national champ Ian Field.

Any pics or videos SB?

You thinking of having a bash and seeing if Jnr Stat wants a go too?

More to the point, does Jnr.Stat have any idea that he might be getting a Zdeněk Štybar poster for Christmas yet?

 

[Stat Brother]

Any pics or videos SB?

You thinking of having a bash and seeing if Jnr Stat wants a go too?

More to the point, does Jnr.Stat have any idea that he might be getting a Zdeněk Štybar poster for Christmas yet?

I'll pop some pics up soon.
I'm currently having a discussion with the 21st Century about how to easily get them from my phone, to NSC.
It would appear I'm out of my depth!!

The racing was great.

The lad that won the under 14's was a fantastic rider.
Only a little kid, but absolutely dominated the race, and was a class apart when it came to bike handling.
That's not to say second & third weren't up to it, he was just so much better.

As for the little ones as you'd expect it was great racing.
Very reminiscent of that classic photo of the little kiddie at sports day with his road bike and aero helmet v others with stabilisers.

It was a right mix and match event some kids had some serious kit, others just missing the tassels and basket.

Sadly one little girl cried her way around the smaller course, for all 3 laps

All of them were loving the final straight.


As for the elite race, different gravy.

With it being a legit race there were UCI points up for grabs, hence the GB champ taking part.
But, luckily, there was also a 2 man team from Belgium (I think), as they made sure it was a race to the final bend.
Those 3 riders were almost half a lap ahead of the others, at the end. Even then only one lowlander was in competition with Ian.

It took till the penultimate bend of the 10th and last lap for Ian's winning move to stick, all very exciting.

The thrill of the racing was enhanced by being just a few inches away from the riders, the other side of the tape.


Right back to the photos.

 

[Stat Brother]

They're not great, I don't normally use my phone for this sort of stuff.









Edit - nuts, I've made them too small.
I'll not bother with the rest.

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm being nagged to provide some ideas for Xmas presents I'd like. Having spent loads on bikes I think my cycling wardrobe could now do with some updating. I know a few of you have recommended Morvelo, and I quite like the look of some of their stuff.

Can anyone comment on what their sizing is like? I'm roughly 5'11", 33" waist, 42" chest and 12st6lbs. My Assos bibs are a large, so I'd probably guess large jersey and bib.

Bit miffed that they are offering a free cap with the purchase of a jersey, but don't have any black and white caps, as I was looking at their black and white jerseys and bibs.

Oh I meant to say should you ever decide to do the right thing and go down the Italian, Santini, retro classic route, via www.prendas.co.uk you'll be an xxxx-large.

Honest.

 

[Notters]

There's very rarely anyone on the track at all [MENTION=10856]1066familyman[/MENTION]. I've seen families with their picnic rug laid out ON the track! Feck knows why.

 

[Notters]

Bargain.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLSUBF...272854513&mc_cid=206e9aa393&mc_eid=0de6e76ce8

 

[Motogull]

Hey SB, just put the tweeted pics up.

Hey Bold, not much mileage from you lately. Everything okay?

As much as I liked Guy Martin's show last night, part of me wanted to see him hoisted out of that tandem. Too fit. I'd have been crying in a heap well before his pods got sore.

 

[strings]

Bargain.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLSUBF...272854513&mc_cid=206e9aa393&mc_eid=0de6e76ce8

That is a bargain, but I need this in my life:

I have convinced myself that it isn't a national jersey, so is OK.

 

[Motogull]

You get what you pay for. My mate has a garminge8. The 3 rides we've done, exactly the same, see him netting extra 300-500 climbing ft on Strava.

 

[1066familyman]

Well what a lovely day out at Preston Park that was!

Perfect weather and the kids in their element cruising round the track and having a bash at timing themselves too for their fastest lap. Amazing how such a good facility is virtually deserted. A few people about, from the occasional blokes on proper road bikes to families with assorted bikes and picnics, and a few people playing football on the grass in the middle, but never ever crowded. I doubt we was ever on the track with more than another half a dozen people on it at the same time.

And seeing as I'm prone to wheeling out my soapbox about a lack of an Olympic legacy and the expense of grass roots sport for kids - Preston Park track is entirely free for anyone to just rock up and use, aside from the odd occasion when clubs have it booked. Brilliant stuff!, just the way it should be.

 

[1066familyman]

You get what you pay for. My mate has a garminge8. The 3 rides we've done, exactly the same, see him netting extra 300-500 climbing ft on Strava.

Strava, and every other gps site/device/app for that matter, need their figures taking with a pinch of salt at times that's for sure. I've ridden some hills round here that I know for a fact hit 20 - 25% in places yet Strava rarely gives a figure over about 16%. Conversely, as SB noted once before, I was once clocked at going just over 50 mph, when the real figures was more like just over 40mph. Mind you, that's more the mobile app I was recording with than Strava I suppose.

Mind you Moto, if your mate has a more expensive bike than you as well and has signed up for Strava Premium then I'm sure he deserves those glossier figures as a result. It's only fair after all. Look at it as a sort of a 1901 club of cycling

 

[Motogull]

Strava, and every other gps site/device/app for that matter, need their figures taking with a pinch of salt at times that's for sure. I've ridden some hills round here that I know for a fact hit 20 - 25% in places yet Strava rarely gives a figure over about 16%. Conversely, as SB noted once before, I was once clocked at going just over 50 mph, when the real figures was more like just over 40mph. Mind you, that's more the mobile app I was recording with than Strava I suppose.

Mind you Moto, if your mate has a more expensive bike than you as well and has signed up for Strava Premium then I'm sure he deserves those glossier figures as a result. It's only fair after all. Look at it as a sort of a 1901 club of cycling

He's the fella with the £2.5 peena. I beat him by 8 secs up the big climb apparently.

P Park sounds good. Too far off my manor though really.

 

[1066familyman]

He's the fella with the £2.5 peena. I beat him by 8 secs up the big climb apparently.

P Park sounds good. Too far off my manor though really.

It's too far off mine as well really. Makes for something a bit different for a day out with the kids though. A little hidden gem of a place. If I lived close by I'd be up there with them a fair old bit I reckon. As it is, Rye Nature reserve remains the safe ride of choice for us on a regular basis.

 

[Stat Brother]

Well what a lovely day out at Preston Park that was!

Perfect weather and the kids in their element cruising round the track and having a bash at timing themselves too for their fastest lap. Amazing how such a good facility is virtually deserted. A few people about, from the occasional blokes on proper road bikes to families with assorted bikes and picnics, and a few people playing football on the grass in the middle, but never ever crowded. I doubt we was ever on the track with more than another half a dozen people on it at the same time.

And seeing as I'm prone to wheeling out my soapbox about a lack of an Olympic legacy and the expense of grass roots sport for kids - Preston Park track is entirely free for anyone to just rock up and use, aside from the odd occasion when clubs have it booked. Brilliant stuff!, just the way it should be.

Next stop The Ghent Six Day.

Assuming they eat their frites with mayo.
Just how many Gauloises can the mini 1066'ers smoke in an evening.

 

[1066familyman]

Next stop The Ghent Six Day.

Assuming they eat their frites with mayo.
Just how many Gauloises can the mini 1066'ers smoke in an evening.

Nah, next stop here:

[yt]RceaBa4WftM[/yt]

It's only about half hour up the road from us

 

[TrickyOne]

Bargain.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLSUBF...272854513&mc_cid=206e9aa393&mc_eid=0de6e76ce8

Notters , have you used these guys before and if so, any good??

 

[Stat Brother]

Nah, next stop here:

It's only about half hour up the road from us

Cool.
It would be physically impossible for the jnr stats to comprehend what might be a good cornering speed.
No matter how many times they raced they would only ever go straight on at the turn.