Training Log Archive: DuncanIn the 1 days ending Jul 23, 2012:
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Monday Jul 23, 2012 #
7 PM
Cycle race (West Riding Track League) 20:00 [4] 10.0 km (2:00 / km)
Non-orienteering event of the summer No. 1 - track racing on a grass velodrome round the cricket pitch in Roundhay Park. Did one of these last year so I knew what to expect this time - hard/scary/fun racing against some fast juniors, fast seniors and slow old men.
Race 1: 6 lap Handicap - Given my handicap putting me in group 2 a quarter of a lap in front of the finish line with the fastest guys chasing us down. Was just aiming not to be last in the group. Set off and got clipped in alright but was a bit nervous and was riding outside the guy infront's wheel seeing as I never ride in a pack. Got shouted at for taking up too much room and had the fast guys passing on both sides which was a bit hairy. Eventually got settled after about three laps and started pushing it on the next two laps and overtook some people (probably in the worst handicap), died on the last lap but I don't think anyone took me back.
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Race 2: A simple 1-lap scratch heat - Had someone to hold me up and give me a push off the start on the outside. Got away okay and just tucked in somewhere near the back of the 6 and finished probably 5th. I was borrowing a bike and never seemed able to put much extra pace on when I stood up so I think a larger chainring might have helped in the 'sprint' races.
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Race 3: Mass start 'Devil' where the last two riders over the line each lap get eliminated - Got off okay in the rolling start and hung about on the outside so I didn't get too boxed in. Decided I had had enough off worrying about being near the back so I made an effort to get up to the front and snuck into third-wheel of the outside stream so in 5/6th effectively.
Was feeling good about the position, I could see the track ahead and had some room to maneuver out as we got towards the finish line if I needed to. Stayed there for 2-3 laps but then the pack got scarily small and I was looking over my shoulder a lot (and bumping into people) to check I wasn't last, except this time I'd dropped back a bit and mis-counted so was eliminated :( I felt like I had quite a bit left to give so was a bit annoyed that I hadn't defended my Line 2 Third Wheel position more aggressively.
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Race 4: 500m handicap heat - My handicap was about 2/3rd back though the field and probably a bit stingy as I was last in the heat.
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Race 5: Unknown Distance endurance race - I hadn't really been listening to the tannoy and saw the lap-board didn't have a 'laps-to-go' number so was expecting just one lap which did seem a bit weird. Naturally I went off quite fast, getting into second place, and was quite surprised that no-one was coming past. I thought maybe they were tired but after the first lap when the guy in front kept didn't slow down I knew something was up and remembered I'd read in the program earlier something about an endurance race - the opposite of what I'd thought it was! Luckily I think we had a bit of a gap so had a rest while I got caught by a little group going at a decent pace.
One of the youngsters who had been fast all evening decided to go off the front and seeing as it was the last race of the night I followed him just to see if I could. We passed the leader while I got a free tow. After a lap or so he pulled off so I could lead(!) for a bit and we kept swapping for a few laps. He then put on some pace and I thought I'd snapped but he hit the back of a group we were lapping and slowed down so I caught him back up - if he'd passed them quickly I'd have given up.
It felt like like it was getting towards the end when one of his mates came up to us who had maybe been taking it easy. Those two stood up and made a move which I couldn't respond to but then they appeared to back off and on the back straight of the last lap I passed his mate into second. There was no way I was ever going to get past him when he stood up again but I did hold on my 2nd place to the finish. I'm not sure the second guy really contested me for it so I think I was gifted it somewhat but it was a good way to end the night.
Race 1: 6 lap Handicap - Given my handicap putting me in group 2 a quarter of a lap in front of the finish line with the fastest guys chasing us down. Was just aiming not to be last in the group. Set off and got clipped in alright but was a bit nervous and was riding outside the guy infront's wheel seeing as I never ride in a pack. Got shouted at for taking up too much room and had the fast guys passing on both sides which was a bit hairy. Eventually got settled after about three laps and started pushing it on the next two laps and overtook some people (probably in the worst handicap), died on the last lap but I don't think anyone took me back.
---
Race 2: A simple 1-lap scratch heat - Had someone to hold me up and give me a push off the start on the outside. Got away okay and just tucked in somewhere near the back of the 6 and finished probably 5th. I was borrowing a bike and never seemed able to put much extra pace on when I stood up so I think a larger chainring might have helped in the 'sprint' races.
---
Race 3: Mass start 'Devil' where the last two riders over the line each lap get eliminated - Got off okay in the rolling start and hung about on the outside so I didn't get too boxed in. Decided I had had enough off worrying about being near the back so I made an effort to get up to the front and snuck into third-wheel of the outside stream so in 5/6th effectively.
Was feeling good about the position, I could see the track ahead and had some room to maneuver out as we got towards the finish line if I needed to. Stayed there for 2-3 laps but then the pack got scarily small and I was looking over my shoulder a lot (and bumping into people) to check I wasn't last, except this time I'd dropped back a bit and mis-counted so was eliminated :( I felt like I had quite a bit left to give so was a bit annoyed that I hadn't defended my Line 2 Third Wheel position more aggressively.
---
Race 4: 500m handicap heat - My handicap was about 2/3rd back though the field and probably a bit stingy as I was last in the heat.
---
Race 5: Unknown Distance endurance race - I hadn't really been listening to the tannoy and saw the lap-board didn't have a 'laps-to-go' number so was expecting just one lap which did seem a bit weird. Naturally I went off quite fast, getting into second place, and was quite surprised that no-one was coming past. I thought maybe they were tired but after the first lap when the guy in front kept didn't slow down I knew something was up and remembered I'd read in the program earlier something about an endurance race - the opposite of what I'd thought it was! Luckily I think we had a bit of a gap so had a rest while I got caught by a little group going at a decent pace.
One of the youngsters who had been fast all evening decided to go off the front and seeing as it was the last race of the night I followed him just to see if I could. We passed the leader while I got a free tow. After a lap or so he pulled off so I could lead(!) for a bit and we kept swapping for a few laps. He then put on some pace and I thought I'd snapped but he hit the back of a group we were lapping and slowed down so I caught him back up - if he'd passed them quickly I'd have given up.
It felt like like it was getting towards the end when one of his mates came up to us who had maybe been taking it easy. Those two stood up and made a move which I couldn't respond to but then they appeared to back off and on the back straight of the last lap I passed his mate into second. There was no way I was ever going to get past him when he stood up again but I did hold on my 2nd place to the finish. I'm not sure the second guy really contested me for it so I think I was gifted it somewhat but it was a good way to end the night.