Calshot.

[Andrew G]

Well it wasn't that cold in there and it was the most fun I've had in ages. I absolutely loved it.

Yes the banks are very steep (you can't walk/crawl up the crown of the bends in trainers) and the straight isn't really a straight.

Having Keith Coffey there was also a good help as he offered advice as we went round and spent some of the time acting as derny.

Star of the show has to be Jo who's never ridden a fixed wheel bike before but after 5 minutes doing circles on the infield was up on the track behind the coach and soon up on the blue line and then up the top of the track by the barriers.

It was very well organised and we were never off the bikes for more than a couple of minutes between exercises, just to explain the next one.

Plenty of variety, riding different areas of the track, group riding, through and off using the banking to adjust speed, and a couple of "drop down the bank and sprint round the bottom on to the back of the group" exercises.

Near the end we all took it in turns to do a flying lap TT, some finding it harder than others to stay low exiting the bends as the centrifugal force wants to throw you up the banking.

Finally Kieran, Keith, and I did something the coach called (I think) an Italian sprint. This was like a team/Olympic sprint, from a flying start the front man does 2 laps and peels off, second man another 2 laps and peels off, then the final man does 3 laps to complete the kilometre.

A quick glance between Kieran and I and we voted Keith to be last man, I was second, and Kieran would lead us off. The coach said 1 minute 20 would be good for a first attempt, and 1 minute 16 would be competitive.

Strangely, although we weren't hanging about, it didn't feel that quick but we did a 1 minute 17 . (Probably aided considerably by Keith's final leg, but lets not get picky ).

Sadly Mike couldn't ride as he had an upset stomach, but a huge thank you for organising this. As I said earlier I loved every minute of it.

Snoop - where were you?

I took my camera and Mike's Dad took some photos for me early on and I took a few of the getting instructions bits, and also got some of the riders on their flying lap TTs. Retro camera - 35mm film; manual focus; fixed 50mm lens so will have to wait until I get them developed, but I'll stick some pics up as soon as I can.

Cheers,

Andrew (still ).

[kieran]

sorry Andrew didn't see this and just started a new thread on the day.

[Grahame]

[quote="keiran"]Well, the ACC calshot trip took place today, a big thanks to Mike for organising it and he couldn't take part in the end . Also thanks to Joanna for the lift there and back, plus the coffee (seeing as the bar was closed and the coffee machine broken, this was especially welcome), given the wet weather I was very glad of it. Well, the following turned up to try out the track there:

me
Andrew
Keith
Tamar
Joanna
Ben
Grant
(Mike turned up with cake )

Because the group was so small we all managed to spent almost all of the 2 hours riding on the track so didn't get cold standing around and had enough time to get used to the steep banking.

We tried out a number of sessions to get used to the track and also riding fixed, well done Joanna, first time on a fixed! and you pick calshot to try it out!

At the end we did a flying timed lap, naturally Keith did the fastest, but Andrew wasn't far behind. Then myself, Keith and Andrew did a flying Italian team kilometer and managed 1min 17 seconds, apparently a very respectable time!

I would definitely go again and I think everyone who went would say that the steep banking shouldn't put you off and after a few laps you won't even notice it. No spills on the day either. Oh, thanks to Keith for going on the front and setting the pace.

[Joanna]

What GREAT fun .

Well once l managed to get on the bike. That fixed wheel thing was a bit strange for getting on. but suprisingly I didnt have too much trouble adapting once on the bike. the coach was initially a bit concerned that I had never riden track or a fixed wheel bike but I passed the test. (ride round a netball court fast on the straights slow on the corners keeping front wheel in between the parallel lines) once I had managed that he relaxed a bit. and took me up on the track. I remembered to pedal all the time. I think Calshot helped as it is soooo steep that I really believed that if I stopped for a second I would fall off and as its so short there was no time to relax before the next corner.

One scary moment for me an exercise that had us all riding on the top of the track and the front person racing down to the bottom and round to the back.
It slowed on the bend and I wanted to go faster (that if i slow down i will fall off feeling) so as i couldnt go up came down to find someone else doing the same
quick short cut accross the middle for me and a few seconds to get control of my heart rate before I was brave enough to get back up there

Still I will be back next time, hopefully a bit fitter, only my second time on a bike in 6 weeks due to the lurgy so I really noticed the lack of fitness on the longer exercises.

A huge thanks to Mike for arranging this. Another tick for me on my list of things I will do one day .

[Mike I]

My photos won't be as good as Andrew's - in the way that a moulded lump of plastic isn't as good as a proper steel-framed bike. But they will be here quicker...

Maybe the moderators can tweak them so they're not so big

Coach Alan says, "Look guys, you're going to have this much fun!"

[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/Thismuchfunweb.jpg[/img]

Joanna begins to experience the joy and purity of the fixie...

[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/Jopracticingweb.jpg[/img]

And some group riding ...

[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/Groupweb.jpg[/img]

I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. We might have to do it again, but this time I'll try and avoid the dodgy haddock the evening before (probably swam up the coast from P*rtsmouth ), so I can have a go!

[Edit: Mike I downloaded them, tried a couple of photoshop tweaks and resized, I trimmed the middle one too. AG]

[Andrew G]

Well Mike my photos weren't great as I made a bit of a horlicks and should have used the telephoto lens I took, as everyone was a bit too distant and I had to crop quite a bit. I also managed to nudge the distance ring and ended up with quite a few blurry ones.

Thanks to your Dad taking a few before I let my clumsy hands do the work I have some from early on. I've cropped and got a few out.

Sorry folks but you'll just have to go to Calshot yourselves to see the action properly.

The banking is steep
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/01Trackbanking.jpg[/img]

Keith acts as Derny and goes fast enough to be blurred
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/08Group.jpg[/img]

A little game of follow the leader
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/10Group.jpg[/img]

Tamar on her flying lap sprint/TT
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/23Tamarflyinglap.jpg[/img]

Flying lap times - I have to confess that vanity made me put this one in
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Calshot%20050108/29Flyinglaptimes.jpg[/img]

[kieran]

thanks for posting up the pictures guys, also thanks Grahame for moving my post I am in awe of your amazing moderator powers!

[Snoop Doug]

Wow Andrew - you were flying mate - nice one!