Track Race Report Thread

ironhanglider
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby ironhanglider » Wed Feb 17, 2016 11:37 pm

Well now I am totally confused.

First up, tonight was our best performance in ages. We stayed in the bunch for the whole of the scratch race, we did a comparatively good time in the flying lap. We could have done better in the 2 lap handicap, but didn't commit at the right time, and recovered ok after a poor start in the Italian pursuit. We actually felt like we were racing, as opposed to just making up numbers.

Harking back to last weekend, we were happy enough with our times for the three events, but we had no basis for comparison. As for me, my less than stellar performance on day 1 required a different solution for day 2. With a bigger gear I was much more competitive. So with that in mind (and coming off a not good performance the previous week) we decided to try a bigger chainring for this week. We had a 55T kicking around, so that seemed worth a try. However what I hadn't noticed was that somewhere along the line the wheel had been put in backwards :oops: , and I suspect that we were running the 16T cog on the weekend, rather than the 15T cog I was planning on, because I didn't pull the wheel completely out today when I put the new ring on. This means that we were running on an 89 inch gear rather than the 95.3, I thought we were using, and I'm fairly certain we were using the 95.3 last week. In hindsight we were actually using a 92.8" tonight, which is less than what we were using to a total lack of success previously.

Now the question is what gear do we use next week?

Cheers,

Cameron

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foo on patrol
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Thu Feb 18, 2016 9:15 pm

WTH goes on with your mechanical side of things??? :shock: :?

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby ironhanglider » Thu Feb 18, 2016 10:34 pm

Just a snafu. :oops:

We have a double sided hub with a 15 on one side and a 16 on the other. We had been running the 15 all season and just left the same wheels on the bike, but I pulled the wheels off to clean them up and make them pretty for the weekend, and it seems that some idiot put the wheel on backwards on Saturday. As for the weekend itself we had no benchmarks to aim at, so the times we did were simply the times we did with no particular reflection beyond that. Yes we were beaten by the girls tandem, but we were expecting that from past performances anyway, (they have been trying to qualify for Rio).

The bit that perplexes me is the fact that on my 91.8 on the Saturday, I was closely matched to Matt in the 200m, we were both outclassed in the scratch race but he was better than me when we were by ourselves, and whilst I hung on to his wheel in the Kierin, hanging on was all I could do and we were both off the pace. So it was in desperation I put the 94.5 on for the Sunday. I was again last in the TT by two seconds, but even though I was lapped in the points race I was at least able to hang on the second time around, and I did much better than expected in the Elimination. On that basis I felt that the bigger gear was working better for me. However I'm starting to second guess that now. I now suspect that the bigger gear is only helpful to me when I can use others to get me up to speed, and that I'm not strong enough to push that gear through the air by myself. It's a bit hard to test since the track bike will be back on the hooks for a little while yet.

On the tandem it seems that we were actually running an 89.4 on the weekend where we have been on a 95.4 all season, so in the belief that the bigger gear had helped me on Sunday, I put on a 92.8 for Wednesday, thinking that it was a 99. The result was our best race night of the year on what turned out to be a smaller gear. Maybe it was the new post I put on, which allowed John to get a bit further back. Maybe the actual gear doesn't matter as much as the gear we thought we were using, and therefore it is all in the mind...

I think next week we will actually run the 99, and see what happens, and revert back to the 92.8 if it doesn't work. I kind of like the look of the 55T ring.

Cheers,

Cameron

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foo on patrol
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:40 am

I would be surprised if you didn't go much better on the 99" gear, as I'm on 94.5" by myself and looking to go higher. :shock:

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby ironhanglider » Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:37 pm

We'll definitely give it a go. I'm pretty sure that there is enough adjustment left in the dropout to be able to do it without playing with chain length. (Although the chain now has two joining links next to each other so it's no big deal).

My problem is that whilst I look like a brute on a bike, I'm just not that strong... hopefully John can make up for the rest. It doesn't take away from the fact that we were buzzing after our improvement this week. Performance is the best morale booster. Unfortunately there are a few too many variables to be sure what the difference was. The training effect of the weekend, the rest we got from not racing the criterium on Tuesday, being in a better power/cadence zone with the smaller gear, the conditions on the night, or just the way the race happened to run. There was a strong attack in the middle of the race that caused a big reaction which may have taken the sting out of the others a bit. We don't really care, we got our money's worth.


Cheers,

Cameron.

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby Derny Driver » Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:16 pm

Just returned from Masters Track Nationals in Melbourne. I went primarily to accompany a novice lady I am coaching. 12 weeks ago she couldnt even ride on a banked track so it has been a steep learning curve for her. In her time trial we knew she couldnt go close to a medal time so we tried a massive gear just to see what happened - it was a massive failure but that was okay. In her pursuit we tried to run to a gold medal schedule, she managed 3 laps at the required pace then blew big time. She lost all her cadence but fought on .. after the race she rode the bike straight at me and I had to catch her and she couldnt get off for 5 or 6 minutes and then she couldnt walk. So I know she can push herself. We could have ridden the same gear as we rode at State Titles for a bronze medal I think, but she didnt want bronze, she wanted the Title, so we had a go and lost out. We know where we need to improve and will keep working on things for next year. 12 weeks was not enough time this year.
She rode in a ladies teams pursuit team and got silver which was a happy way to end the week. All the NSW ladies TP teams were thrown together on the day with no practise ...which is a recipe for disaster. I am certain my 4 ladies who won the State TP Title could have won the Nationals but only 2 came and they were in different teams. Next year I will bring 4 girls who know each other and have practised.

I got to walk the line for the NSW Open mens and Mens 150+ Team Pursuit ...the Victorian Open mens team led by world champ Michael Gallagher and ex-pro Tom Leaper were too good and beat the Bicisport team by a second. The 150+ race for Gold was incredible as my NSW boys had asked me to call them on a world record schedule, and were lapping a second faster than I had on the time sheet, and were going backwards to the combined Victorian / Queensland team who were just doing ridiculous lap times of high 14 seconds / 15 seconds. We were doing 15.7 and at half distance I had to ask them to go faster or we would lose. But then on Lap 5 the opposition blew big time and were all over the track ...and I switched my team off and they cruised to victory in 2:16 which I think is still a record. That was a lot of fun.

I pumped up a lot of NSW tyres, drank a lot of coffee (long days!) and was in my element hanging out with all the track riders. I met Hilton Clarke Snr and got a selfie with him as well as some other great bike riders like Michael Goldie. We went out for dinner in Lygon St and Brunswick St every night and generally had a blast. It was great racing every day and there are too many incredible performances to mention on here. Some of the comissairing decisions were a bit perplexing but the volunteers and officials did a great job as they always do.

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby mikesbytes » Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:11 pm

Sounds like a great weekend DD

Who was in the NSW 150+ team?
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby Derny Driver » Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:23 pm

mikesbytes wrote:Sounds like a great weekend DD

Who was in the NSW 150+ team?
3 world sprint champions ...Gavin White, Gary Mandy and Chris Murray. We grabbed a friend and good pursuiter Dominique Rideaux to do the first 2 laps and then swing off.
This photo is White, Murray, Mandy in that order, and my arm :D
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:52 pm

8)

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby brades68 » Mon Oct 03, 2016 12:33 pm

First race of the season up here in Rocky was Friday night. I didn't race at all last season, was a rare event for me to even ride the road races due to work and life so my fitness and strength is way down. But you have to start somewhere to regain it. A small number of riders meant i was in C Grade with a few younguns and given the first race night i thought i'd play it safe and not contest the last lap of the 4 races apart from leading out one of the juniors and allowing another to drop in so they didn't have to go to the back with 2 to go. Safer that way and they'd only swamp me when i run out of legs and lungs!

It was a good night, no crashes, with close racing all round. It's sure good to be back on the bike!

Cheers
Mick
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Fri Oct 07, 2016 2:04 pm

Hoping to get up there for the Carnival this year, Brades. :wink:

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sun Nov 27, 2016 12:16 pm

Well I raced at a the sprint meet, put on by Hip Clinic on the new Anna Meares Board Track. My legs were crap and I couldn't even get out the seat to kick. :( I did go quicker than I had since making my comeback to racing this year but pathetically slow = 14.06 for the 200mtrs. :oops:

The first heat was the same = legs crap the second, they were still crap, the third they were a little better but in the fourth round, they came good. :shock:

So I drew the bottom of the Track, which I hate but I had nothing to lose so just rolled along and went with the flow. The young girl that I was against took over the front with one and a half to go and tried to control things but I just rode up the bank more and rolled past her. Then as we were coming into the finish straight off the bank, the bell rang I just went bang and took off and gave it everything I had. Coming down the back straight I'm listening for her to draw up on my wheel but still nothing. :shock: The legs and lungs are screamin now and as I come into the finishing straight she still isn't there. Woohoo, I finally got a win. :D

I reached my goal for the year, by breaking into the 13sec bracket with a 13.76sec for the 200mtrs, yeah I know, still friggin slow but for me and the amount of riding that I can do (two days a week) I'm very happy to achieve this for the year as I didn't think that I would get there. :wink:

A new QLD record was set for a Master 3 division of 10.42sec for the 200mts (Nathan Graves) and the mid 10sec range was reached by four riders on about ten times. :shock:

Foo
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby brawlo » Mon Nov 28, 2016 3:06 pm

Nathan Graves is at M2, although he still took that record. The other Nathan (Mclachlan) took your M3 at 10.995

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:15 pm

They said he was M3 but I don't care, it was fast. :shock: :mrgreen:

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby brawlo » Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:50 am

He is damn fast! It's impressive seeing someone in M2 outpacing all the elites!

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Tue Nov 29, 2016 3:40 pm

Yes and he is being trained to go faster. :shock:

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby Derny Driver » Tue Nov 29, 2016 4:34 pm

Forget that, Im still trying not to comment about you beating that young girl in a race foo

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby Chris249 » Tue Nov 29, 2016 10:04 pm

Well, my aim this season was to actually do a season without the sort of minor joint injury I always get. That aim was working, but the rest of the pack has improved and I haven't (apart from going from terrible to almost not bad on TTs because of lowering my torso) because I'm soft pedalling the training because of the injury issue.

Part of the problem is that I still want to be the next fastest behind the winning pack in A, but because I haven't been doing high intensity work I've been lacking on acceleration. When the fast guys go I try to bounce with them, then I just miss getting onto their wheel. Meanwhile the main pack is sitting on my wheel, letting me drag them up and then going by with me with fresh legs. Well, that's my feeling anyway.

I planned to spend a few weeks just working on 6 second long intervals, but went for a weekend camping ride. I rode happily up 20 degree inclines in 30 degree heat carrying camping kit, then headed onto the dirt for some steeper stuff, did some bush bashing, carried the bike through a swamp, carried it across a river, rode home in 30 degrees......and crashed on the bike path near home because of a slow front tyre puncture. So now I'm carrying a dinged knee and still haven't done any serious speed work all season. AAAAAArrrrggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Tue Nov 29, 2016 10:22 pm

Derny Driver wrote:Forget that, Im still trying not to comment about you beating that young girl in a race foo
I got nothin to hide, she beat me in the second heat, along with the other to girls. :oops: My legs only came good for the 4th heat and besides, she is one of the top Juniors. :P

It's great to see the girls riding fast and strong these days. 8)

Foo
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Fri Feb 24, 2017 3:01 pm

Okay, here we go, the wash up from the State Masters.

Friday they started off and I only had 4.5hrs sleep on Thursday night. :evil: The heat (temp) was not good but it was the same for everyone.

The Time Trial was the first event of the day but I wasn't riding it, well that's what I thought, until one of my mates asked if I was ready? Um no, I'm not riding that.... But you're on the program....WTH? :? I see the Race Director and told him about the mistake. I'm riding the Sprints, Pursuit and Scratch races. He sorts that out and puts me into the Sprints, which they left me out of. :evil: Not a good start for my head space. :(

So qualifying comes up for the Sprints but my legs don't want to fire but still did 13.52secs, which was a PB for me. :D That ends Friday for me.

Saturday and the heat has increased by 5c and everyone is suffering inside.

Pursuit heats today and this will be the first one that I've done since 1979! :shock: 2klms and starting gates, of which I have never used before. So I talk to someone that has and he tells me the secret to a good start. 8)

In the gate and bang off I go (nailed the start :shock: ) and I stay out of the seat for half a lap and settle in for the hurt fest. I didn't bother looking across to see where the other rider was and with three laps to go I dig real deep and just hammer my legs. 2.59 for my first 2000mtr Pursuit. I'm happy as I wanted to be under the 3min mark and this gives me the ride off for Bronze on Sunday.

Next the Sprint final (only two of us) and the bloke that I'm up against was .2secs quicker in the qualifying. We shake hands at the start and off we go. He had the bottom of the Track and I was happy with that. Around we come for the bell and my legs still weren't good but feeling slightly better than the night before. He jumps and I try to kick with him but he pulls two lengths on me but as we come into the straight, I'm level with his back wheel and moving up alongside of him He gets me by half a bike length. 13.08sec for the 200mts. We have both gone half a second quicker than our qualifying. I'm happy with that.

Next heat I draw the bottom. Off we go and I gradually work us up to the top of the Track. Now I knew that I only had enough in my legs for 300mtrs flat out but bugger, he went 350mts from the end. :lol: He pulled five to six lengths on me and I could only pull back three of them but I was still happy with things as I was only ever going to this meet, to lay down times for the next 2yrs. :wink:

Sunday and the heat has gone up even more = 40c :shock:

My son was with me today and got to see me race for the very first time. :D They snavelled him for some volunteer work with the start gates. Time for the hurt session and I'm over on the back straight for the start. Then there is a tap on my shoulder from my Son...... good luck Dad, I know you can do it! Well that totally finished any chance of me getting third, as I became very emotional at that point and lost my focus. :shock:

In the gate now and lots of deep breathing. Bang (nailed it again :D ) and I was off. This time I started a bit harder and I had a friend to tell me if I was up or down. Three laps in and I was up by three bike lengths but again, I couldn't get my legs to settle. Three laps to go and I was trying to dig extra deep but nothing was happening. I got the call I'm down but I couldn't do anything about, yet the last 200mtrs I dragged something from somewhere and lifted again but he got me by 1.5sec. I did however, drop my time by 7secs on the qualifying time. :shock: I was wrecked, I got off the bike very slowly and hung onto the the fence, trying to stand upright and with the officials saying......you need to get off the Track! :roll: I replied with.....I will, when I can get my legs working. :P

Time for the Scratch race and there was a couple of blokes in there with fresh legs. 20laps up for this and I wasn't interested in doing any hard work. Two laps to go and I was where I wanted to be, so we get the bell and off we went. Into the back straight and the three in front of me had a moment and I had to make a decision on what to do, as I couldn't avoid a fallen rider down the bottom or the top if I kept the gas on. So I backed it off and then had to power up again once they sorted themselves. I was still one an a half lengths off the back of them but managed to climb into third place. :mrgreen:

To say that I was happy with how I went for this meet, would be an understatement, plus I took many positives out of it. The biggest positive is........ All of these blokes get too train every day, I get two. I set two PBs and I have set myself the goal of getting into the mid 12sec for the 200mts and a 2.30 for the 2000mtr Pursuit, for this time next year. :wink:

Foo

(sorry that's a long read)
I don't suffer fools easily and so long as you have done your best,you should have no regrets.
Goal 6000km

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby ironhanglider » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:55 am

Great post Foo!

I felt like I was there for a moment.

Cheers,

Cameron

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:24 am

Thanks mate. :)

Foo
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby TonyB » Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:03 pm

Hi Foo,

Thanks for a great report, as a +60 and new to track racing I have enjoyed following your return to track racing journey.

Tony

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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby foo on patrol » Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:36 pm

Thanks Tony. My love of cycling has never wavered, even during the 34yrs that I wasn't racing but my mind set is different now and am more patient. :wink:

I'm still ultra competitive and give no quarter but I just need to get the time to reach the pointy end again. :)

I hope you can enjoy it as much as I can but listen to everyone that offers you advice and then take the bits that will help you. :idea:

Foo
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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Postby TonyB » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:10 pm

Thanks Foo,

I am loving track, I race Vets B-grade and we have a great group, anyone of 5-6 can win on the night (and no kangaroos).

I am a bit like you, I did Tri's, TT's and long distance running about 30 years ago, family slowed things down a bit but kept running until the feet gave away, then 8 years ago took up vets bike racing and enjoyed every minute of it, I have just joined a CA club and I will see where that takes me.

Tony

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