ACC Racing Plans For 2008

[Wal]

[quote]wal, palace is probably the hardest place to start racing, even in the 3/4s!

it would be much easier doing it in a 4th only race at hillingdon. bit of winter series perhaps

[Sylv]

Yes Wal, a number of top-10 Beastway mtbers have been seen doing well at Palace last year - Vik C, Stuart (2nd cat), Mark N, Tony V ...

Although some like Mark, even though he'd be taking 1-lap turns at the front, hadn't the road-race experience required to finished placed in a sprint. It takes - and took me - a bit of time, but should be achievable.

[Stu Merckx Man]

[quote]In principle I should be able to hang on to the 3/4s. I did several CRs with the training group in the summer, and last year I did a 23.08 on one of the 10 mile tts at Holmwood...on an ordinary road bike, riding in the drops i.e. sans aero bars.

[Sylv]

In fact mtbers are somewhat at an advantage on a circuit like Palace which the roadies call "technical".

The notion of any road circuit being "technical" is enough to make a mtber smile

[Stu Merckx Man]

sylv- i was still typing whilst you posted so i missd the bit about mtb. i feel like a wimp now, saying implying palace is techincal

[Sylv]

And Stu it helps too when you have to ride in the grass

[quote]just need to learn race craft - I'll be seeking advice from the regular Palace racers on that...

[Sylv]

I' m not saying it's not hard though - of course it is. But not because there are tight corners or high speed descents, but because you just have to learn to stay in close contact with the group going through them - which in my opinion a mountain biker is well prepared for.

Oh yes and and that hill over and over again ...

[Wal]

Yep, as an mtb’er I can say that I do enjoy cornering at speed

I’m reminded of a race I entered years ago in NZ, a dual eliminator Car Park race for MTBs fitted with slick tyres. Basically we set off two at a time from the top of a (closed!) multistorey car park and raced a set course down to the bottom. A series of heats was followed by elimination rounds and the last man to win was the overall winner. It was an absolute riot - the fat slick tyres offered phenomenal grip and we were achieving ludicrous Moto GP-style lean angles…there were a couple of spills, but no one seriously hurt – even though the majority of riders’ protective clothing comprised an ordinary cycle helmet, gloves and jeans.

Sounds like I might have to call on my old car park racing skills at Palace, hey!

Sorry – heading a bit off-topic there!

[Rob C]

[quote="Wal"]
Problem is, I simply can't make it over to Hillingdon mid week. Even getting to Palace is going to take some advanced planning.

[Wal]

[quote]No problem then, the Hillingdon races are Saturday lunchtimes:

[-Adam-]

I've heard Canyon are like Focus, only not nearly so chav, and you don't have to give your card details to all the fraudsters using their website either.

Also, they are meant to ride pretty well too... A know a guy who rides for Kingston Wheelers who nearly took my head off when I crashed (its one of those 'based on extreme circumstances relationships'). He got one this summer and said it is nothing short of awesome... So I would imagine you'll be pretty pleased with it! Good luck with it...

Adam

[Wal]

[quote]Is that the frame the ill fated Unibet team used? They looked very very nice.

[Grahame]

Change of plan.

No racing for me. I'm going back to my "No way am I giving £60 to BCF" stance.

[-Adam-]

[quote="Grahame"]Change of plan.

No racing for me. I'm going back to my "No way am I giving £60 to BCF" stance.

[Grahame]

Two reasons:

1 I'm from Yorkshire and £60 is £60 is 1/2 a refurbished carburretor for the Citroen.

2 I know I will get just as obsessed about training and racing as I did about mountainbike racing in the early 90s when it took over from everything. Friends, career, girlfriend, family - none of it mattered as much as what I was eating, where and when the next training ride or race was, how fast I could get up the local hill (the nearest thing back then to a power meter). I can't do it by halves.

When I caught myself putting together a training plan last night (including 2-3 hour rides 3 evenings a week, in winter ), I decided that I was in danger of repeating past mistakes. And my family is MUCH more important to me than a few points on a (very expensive) bit of paper.