Message for Ajay (and beginner racers)

[andycarter]

I was also thinking of trying a bit of racing this year but didn't think i'd be very good so was just going to do time trialing instead.
I live SW london too so I'd be interested in extra training sessions.
As for Saturday's thro-and-off it felt even faster than 29mph. But then again i don't have a speedo at present (that's a cycle computer as opposed to a pair of skimpy swimming shorts !!!!).

[ajay khandelwal]

I got dropped on the club run, on the way OUT to Charlwood, by Monty the 'Eagle of Addiscombe' and his merry club run funsters! It usually happens on the way back! Nevertheless, this calls for urgent remedial action and I have purchased one BCF licence plated in Gold, and my goal for the season is to become agreeably third cat. I'm going to go on April 6th, even if its to support from the sidelines, so see you there Mathew. My only advice would be, get ready to ride really hard for the first five laps, and chose a good addiscombe rider to follow, try Toks. Also, 'hold your line' on those bends, as there is fair bit of jostling and the riders are much closer together and more twitchy, with some newbies, than the club ride. And keep training!

[Toks]

Mmm I don't know how you're gonna do it Virek but you need to lift the intensity if you're gonna start racing next month. Perhaps twice a week try doing intervals: Ride hard for a couple of minutes and then pedal easily for 4 mins then repeat this perhaps another five or six times or till you can't reach that same intensity again. Only do this once or preferably twice a week. Also if you're gonna ride in 'road races' not just crits (hillingdon's mostly flatish)you need to do some rides with hills. Sorry mate, I'm not trying to show off but this is what I've been told to do so thats what I'm trying to do. Oh sod it! Just get you're license and lets start racing. April 6th see you there!

[virek]

Are you lot out on the club run on Sat?

Perhaps you we could identify ourselves to each other, coz I'm buggered if I know what you look like Toks et al.

Perhaps a few of us "complete beginner racers" could go out in a group together with one or two more experienced people and they could aid us in the ride, things like speed, intervals (wtf are they?) and general tips and stuff. I pretty much know the route now so getting lost is not an option. Ajay/Toks, are you up for helping us out?

This would be very beneficial to me, er I think (if I don't keel over from a cardiac arrest) and hopefully help the others.

Like I say, I have ZERO race experience and any help will be better than I have now.

My only training I'm doing now is commuting to work (35 miles round trip) 3 - 5 times a week and bolloxing it down the bus lane when a git mountain biker passes me thinking he's Lance bleeding Armstrong in a time trial...get this, this morning I got burnt by somone on a Brompton (full cycle gear, SiDi shoes, crouching position, the lot) - he looked like Graeme Orbree on that think he built. Felt like pushing him off.

I suspect this may not be enough