posted May 31, 2007

I race for an amatuer team in Southampton. Ages range from 15-45. We ride local BCF races and TLI events which cater more for vets. The race scene relies on a handful of volunteers so we've organised a couple of races ourselves. You don't have to be PC Evans standard to race. We average 100-200 miles a week. If you can ride around 20-30 miles on your own at 18-20 mph then you can stay in 3rd and 4ths race. You either go with the breaks and work together to stay away from the bunch or sit in a try your luck on the sprint. See http://www.dhc-racing.co.uk/ for details of events we run - only 1-1.5 hr drive from London on lovely New Forest roads!

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posted May 31, 2007

Hi again Martin.

Racing at all levels is hard for the guys taking part - Gordon's comment to you is too true. I ride local races and compete in the Friday night league at Welwyn track (Tony Gibb won the league several years running before his commonwealth games medal). There is nothing like the buzz of a race to blow away the working week's cobwebs and track does that for me. Having the likes of the PCA boys riding with you gives your game a bit of a lift - I think there is always something to learn in sport even if the lessons are a little painful at times.

In terms of getting into racing, there are lots of varied opportunities.

Many clubs organise evening time trial leagues that can be open to non members for a small fee £2? and these give people who are not confident in a group a chance to pit themselves against others or measure their improvement over time. My own club runs a summer 10 mile league with over 30 riders taking part each week.

Obviously there are BC road races across the country at different levels. Having turned 40 a couple of years ago I am now eligible for the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC) events. These are age related road races but they are flexible and allow younger riders into the older age categories to start with.

Cycling is tough as a sport. I have played many ball sports including roller hockey but nothing puts so much of a smile on my face as track racing - even when Tony Gibb is trying to "pull my legs off".

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posted May 31, 2007

In your last post you wrote

"The best piece of advice I received was from Gordon McCauley, “Go at your own pace Martin and anybody who says it doesn’t hurt isn’t doing it properly.”"

I agree that you should go at your own pace, but not that cycling should necessarily hurt. Racing is all about pain
so I can see why Gordon McCauley would say that, but if you approach the Cyclosportive with the idea that you have to push yourself into the pain zone you will burn out before the end. The pain will find you, don't go looking for it like a racer. I hope you manage to meet some Audax, long distance and touring riders in your diary to see another facette of cycling. As a fit novice, their experience and approach will be more applicable to the physical challenges you are facing

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posted May 31, 2007

Whether Lloyd or Clarke not bad to come second without a team. And if he's not being paid to ride is he not an amateur (albeit one far removed from my humble standings)

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posted Jun 2, 2007

I think there is an awe of elite riders that leaves many people defeated before they turn a pedal. I'm an amateur, training and racing around 7 to 10 hours a week and only able to race alternate weekends, but I will take on, and sometimes beat PCA and other top riders. How? because I train smart and hard to make the most of the time I do have available and because I am not afraid to take them on. My attitude has always been, "okay, so you're supposed to be good, let's see what you are made of". I'm not discounting how good some of these riders are, but they are all human and can be beaten, but not if you decide that they're going to win before you leave the strip!

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posted Jun 3, 2007

Martin have been watching your video diary of your preparation for the kent cyclosportive with a hint of jealousy. Had i still been in england i would have been joining you on the day,i had the good fortune to take part in the red ride some years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion,even cycling alongside stephen rochemenjoy the ride and good luck.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

Martin, To ride elite races you are more likely to get you entry accepted if you are in a team and enter en-bloc. For most "fish and chippers you enter as an individual on an entry form, which you can find on the BC web site. To ride time trials you must be in a club to ride Open events, and to ride club events some will accept non members, but many will insist you are a member of a club because of the insurance aspects. Races on the open road have a maximum field laid down by law so the promotor will reject the weaker riders, but only if he gets a full field of entries.Events on closed circuits often have unlimited fields, But again if the circuit is only liicensed for a set number of riders at a time, there will be aselection method.It is always best to enter in advance, because then if the promotor has a full field before the closing date then you will know not to turn up if you have not been accepted.If you go on the day and try to enter on the line it is often meore expensive, and if there is a nearly full field entered in advance you wull be left waiting for the organizer to know riders have not turne up on the day before you can enter in their place.
Talk to the road racing lads you trained with, and they will be able to tell you the local events where you should be able to get a ride and have a go.
events

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posted Jun 14, 2007

Martin, have you tried doing any timetrials most local clubs run an evening 10 series through the summer. I think I saw somewhere you are based in the Ipswich area, Ford Cycle Club run an evening race series for novice riders at their Laindon test track, I completed in these last year and have done a few this season which have been very enjoyable.

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