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11/11/2009 13:09:18
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rothers
Posts 1017
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Am just spending my lunch hour toying with a few ideas, one of which is to get a wheelers team together to attack either the L'etape de la defonce, or the Ras du Crymu.
Both of them are team events and the entry fee includes overnight accomdation and feedage ( uni digs etc ). L'etape is a 3/4 and the Ras is a 2/3/4, both are fiercley contested with the latter being much tougher with two mountain top finishes.
Would anyone be daft enough to put themseleves forward to take part in these - My preference would be the Ras as its a 5 day race holding more prestige, and will take some serious training to get to ! 
L'etape review : http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/news/letapedeladefonce08.htm
Event Link : http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/Bridge/calendar_future.asp?evt_cp=7&evt_mode=1&evt_id={43D0DC62-F425-481C-ABAC-52C24AE0E391}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=20
Ras :
http://www3.newport.ac.uk/displayPage.aspx?object_id=1340&type=PAG
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11/11/2009 13:39:55
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NickW
Posts 1386
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Hmmm Emma Pooley battered the whole field in the final mountain top finish stage in the Ras '08 IIRC
I quite fancy doing the Ras or the Etape (subject to finalising hols arrangements for 2010 with Mrs W and doing some training  )
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11/11/2009 13:45:37
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TomF
Posts 1040
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Now that's thinking big, rothers.
You're both clearly mental. No way I could ride such a thing, but will more than happily lend some support.
Crazy, crazy men.
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11/11/2009 13:49:33
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rothers
Posts 1017
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Tom, It is scary, but achievable! If you can race two RR's back to back on consequitive days then there is no reason why anyone with the the right training plan and prep you could not compete in this.
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11/11/2009 14:20:39
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Ed
Posts 1084
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How competetive is entry? i.e. do you have to have results on the board prior to entry.
Would certainly be interested in helping although probably not a ride this coming season.
--
Ed Rollason Photography I Twitter I Facebook
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11/11/2009 14:24:28
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TomF
Posts 1040
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Rothers - that's the kind of spirit I like. Great idea. You just need a strong team of four, and should do well.
I'll hand out musettes full of pot belge as you approach that final lap....
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11/11/2009 14:38:23
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Ed
Posts 1084
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NickW wrote:
subject to finalising hols arrangements for 2010 with Mrs W)
That should be a problem Nick, I thought your holiday plans went something along the lines of...
Nick: lets go to the lake district dear
Mrs W: Ooh that would be nice, a romantic weekend away
Nick: oh goodness a cyclocross race only just down the road, I mean, how did that happen...!?
--
Ed Rollason Photography I Twitter I Facebook
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11/11/2009 14:42:27
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NickW
Posts 1386
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Errrrm yes, along with lets go to France on holiday this year, oh look I have an entry for the Etape, how did that happen... and let's go to Bruges for a short break next Easter.. oh look, the fulledition of the Tour of Flanders sportive happens to start from there.
Trouble is all of them involve hotels or B&Bs in nice places, the Ras involves dossing down in student halls in Wales.... (apologies for any offence this may cause to any Welsh club mates )
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11/11/2009 16:00:55
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Si Bridge
Posts 322
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Hmmm, any room for a 3rd cat 'ringer' ?
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11/11/2009 16:27:13
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NickW
Posts 1386
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Now we're talking
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11/11/2009 16:35:37
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Eugene
Posts 690
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these sound way too tough for me as a new rider and that, however got me thinking of another idea to add to the pot........
I'd be interested in trying RR next season for the experience but also to give my riding some focus. However its a bit daunting as a beginner. If there are others out there who have never tried racing and are interested it could be good for us to get together , apply for our Cat 4 licenses and pick some common events from the 2010 calendar - GO Race or other intro races or some Regional B/C circuit races and enter a Wheelers team in those? Not sure if team entries in these are the thing but could get some Wheelers jerseys visible at least. Could spread the dates throughout the year as training targets and keep in touch re training etc and egg each other on.
Also we could make sure that we do the chaingangs to get experience and when the pace hots up in January if (when!) we are getting dropped by the faster riders could still work as a group though at a lower pace.
Finally maybe one of the more experienced racers could take the group under their wing & give advice etc etc?
what do people think?
edited by Eugene on 11/11/2009
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11/11/2009 16:45:36
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Ed
Posts 1084
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Eugene,
I rode a few non BC races this last season and am applying for a Cat 4 license for next season. I know I'm not the only one, there should be a very good turn out for the CDNW races next year.
--
Ed Rollason Photography I Twitter I Facebook
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11/11/2009 17:15:43
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NickW
Posts 1386
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Eugene
As Ed says TLIs are a good bet for intro races, generally shorter than the CDNWs and imho a little bit slower bunch speed too. The important thing is to be happy riding in a big bunch when you try one
We have a winter training meeting next Monday at the velodrome which will help you plan for the next few months with the intention of racing next year so try and come along to that
We will then have a race meeting at the beginning of next year which will include experienced members giving an overview of the different types of racing and recommendations of what races to enter for new members as well as giving you an idea of what the different courses are like. We'll also cover the different race organisations you can join for this area. This will include TTs as well as RRing.
When the Chain Gangs speed up, if they are on a circuit (such as Dunham massey) you can either join a slower group or wait for the bunch to come around again, you will find quite often it naturally splits into two groups as it goes along so if you get dropped by the faster bunch you can get swept up by the second one and join them, if you can keep up with Martin, Alex, Jerry and the Leigh Prem boys etc on the last lap, forget the TLIs and just enter the CDNWs......
If you try a BC road race which allows entry on the line, such as the races at Darley Moor (not that I'd recommend that wind swept sufferfest for your first race) you can enter on the day and just pay for a day licence without paying out for a full BC race licence, cheaper way of finding out whether you like RRing or not, then apply for your licence if you want to race regularly.
edited by NickW on 11/11/2009
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11/11/2009 17:26:57
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Eugene
Posts 690
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thanks Nick, Ed,
Knowing about these meetings and your responses in this post have really helped.
I must admit from reviewing the BC website it all looks terribly complicated never mind the question of being fit enough..........appreciate the clear summary in your reply and the benchmark re being fit enough. Perfect! owe you one 
edited by Eugene on 11/11/2009
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11/11/2009 17:35:08
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NickW
Posts 1386
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Martin will explain it all, the entering races etc is easy enough really - its the racing itself which is hard and involves a lot of pain , as a relative beginner myself I found chain gangs in the spring helped massively, they're the one session I tried my utmost not to miss last year, then its just a case of trying to hang in there when the pace winds up
(and you don't have to be able to go quite as fast as Simon Bridge or Martin to survive a Cat 3/4 race)
edited by NickW on 11/11/2009
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11/11/2009 20:48:53
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ant
Posts 1047
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NickW wrote:
then its just a case of trying to hang in there when the pace winds up
I remember those cold, frosty january saturdays at dunham like they were yesterday! *shudder*
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12/11/2009 07:07:44
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rothers
Posts 1017
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Si B (LPRC) wrote:
Hmmm, any room for a 3rd cat 'ringer' ?
Si If you are still in the chipper dept by July then i'll..............
Gladly sit on your wheel
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12/11/2009 20:58:14
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Stuart A
Posts 35
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Sounds like fun especially the Ras. Just need to do a few more of those 6 hour rides through the Peak District with my two Elite training buddies and if I'm still alive after that count me in
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13/11/2009 13:49:06
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rothers
Posts 1017
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All, reply from the L'etape organiser :
'This is how things look at the moment, might change. 7 mile Team time trial Saturday morning not a drag-strip, If you enter early you get an early start, if you enter late you get a late start or if the race is full, entry returned, 50 odd mile road race Saturday afternoon, not really hilly but is undulating and goes round the coast so can be windy, Sunday 45 mile road race, hilly. although the race is for 3/4 cats it tends to be very competitive, if you want to win you need a good team around you, not just for the TTT (as London Dynamo found out this year, going into the last stage in yellow, they were well and truly tucked up) the race is not for the novice, and riders off the back risk being mauled to death by stray sheep.'
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13/11/2009 18:55:22
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rothers
Posts 1017
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Following on from my rambles about the Ras and the etape heres a few other ideas for those who've not heard of these before !
Shrewsbury ( Paramount ) Circuit Races :
06.03.2010 / 13.03.2010 /20.03.2010 -http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/eventsfuture.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=1&evt_id={1C316BF7-F63D-425E-8595-52EF03829E8B}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=3rd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=5
Good starter races round a 10m wide 1km long closed circuit for bike racing. Usually 1 hour plus 5 laps. Circuit is built on a lesuire complex with showers , changing rooms and a cafe for a brew afterwards.
Circuit drags up to the finish line then round a sweeping left hander that can be pedalled at full tilt ( easiest place to get way ! ) then drops round the back to the hairpin of Death. Someone will always crash on this ( as i have whilst being out the front on my own - work that out! ). Riding tends to be of a decent standard and field gets strung out courtesy of the hairpin. Easier riding at the front of the bunch as the middle of the field tends to be a bit fighting for wheels. Good Early Season workout. Don't be put off by the distance - takes about 1 hour 30 to get there down the m56 and a483 / a5. Pre entry is not usually required, but you do pay a preimum to sign on the line!
Victoria Park Criteriums ( Leamington Spa ) http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/eventsfuture.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=1&evt_id={DE1DC0AA-D3C4-4321-8352-0FE3FE9C6177}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=3rd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=5
There are three weeks of these and the format is great - especially if you are a 4th cat ! You pay one entry fee and get two races in the day ( one 25k and the other 35k ) - If you are a 4th cat you race against other 4ths only so you stand a decent chance of being able to get some BC points on the board. Circuit is an old victorian park just on the edge of Leamington Spa of 900 metres with no real hazards other than the other riders!
Pre entry is essential for these as these are mega popular and are always over subscribed. It's a really nice day out - take a bag of food, warm clothes and a folding chair. Sometimes they even have tricycle racing which is something worth watching in itself!
28.03.2010 Seacroft Wheelers Spring Road Race - http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/eventsfuture.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=1&evt_id={886B4AF2-0CD7-4E47-9A53-AE6A176A6731}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=3rd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=5
Good Honest flat RR circuit with nothing more than two railway bridges as inclines. Circuit is in mining country however and is exposed as hell! If the wind gets up here you will know about it, before the crackdown on white line crossing it was common to be riding in the right hand gutter on one side of this this circuit! Again - a fair drive but worth it as its a decent race and well attended.
18.04.2010 Two Counties RR/Norman Southall Memorial Trophy - http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/eventsfuture.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=1&evt_id={6FDF83D1-C0A2-410B-BDDB-8B536A440664}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=3rd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=5
This was my Fav race of last year - Great and safe rolling 18 mile long circuit on wide A roads with the exception of a couple of 40 mph descents and the 'Rabbit run' a 1 in 6 country lane that forms the start of the last two miles before the finish. Everyone who finished it knew they'd been in a hard race - not one for the absolute beginner but a great one for testing how good your winter training has gone!
25.04.2010 Birmingham Circuit Races - [url=]http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/eve/eventsfuture.asp?evt_cp=1&evt_mode=1&evt_id={621DA073-A0EC-4CD6-B51B-B35F4A80DF68}&evt_seriesid=&evt_myevents=No&RefID=&RefType=&evt_month=All&evt_kw=&evt_regions=All+Regions&evt_disc=Road+Racing&evt_class=&evt_cat=3rd&evt_series=&evt_resultspp=5
Not done these before but will try next year - Closed circuit round a business park - again split into 4th cat only, 3rd cat and e/1/2, last years edition of the e/1/2 was won by some bloke called Roger Hammond who turned up for a pootle.
edited by rothers on 13/11/2009
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