Going to my first cycling race today. Its not as long as I would've liked it, but its the only race which is hosted by my local club, which isn't too long.(they only have a pretty short and an ultra long one -.-)
So todays race is 2.7km with an average gradient of around 7%, starting with only 3% and kicking up later to 22% close before the finish. I expect to become last, thats not the problem, but I fear the margin. In my test runs up there, I needed for 1.6kms more time than the U13 riders for the whole track...
Much more time...
A 11 year old guy was 5 minutes faster on 1.1km more track....
Finished my road season today, had a pretty good season, so I'm pretty happy, 6 victories as well (4 in 1 race though )
Also I have managed the ultimate consistency in National races and races organised by cycling Victoria (effectively state), my results: 10, 9, 10, DNF (crash), 26 (injured), 13th (injured), 9, 11, 9, 10, 11, 36, 31
The first three and last two are national, but still came ninth, tenth or eleventh in 8 of the 13 state or national races I did I can now be like A pro cyclist, like Sagan and Rojas,
I am maybe planning to take a week of cycling in Spain in November. But the big question I have, do you know where to buy some cycling map with good cycling roads, or a tips on a app that have good cycling roads. Can you follow others rides on Strava?
I know I've been inactive for a while, but I left for a campaign of European UCI racing in mid July. I got back in mid September. I have a loooong story, so prepare yourselves. I'll post it all in the next few days.
Hey Aidan, looking forward to your "story". I tried to follow where you are in Europe from your twitter account and it seemed like one hell of a "trip".
knasen wrote:
I am maybe planning to take a week of cycling in Spain in November. But the big question I have, do you know where to buy some cycling map with good cycling roads, or a tips on a app that have good cycling roads. Can you follow others rides on Strava?
Yup, you can follow riders on Strava and see what routes they take. Ideally, you look up a climb nearby your residence, look up the guys who do the most riding and are from this area and then take a look at what they are riding. You can find some fantastic mountains and roads that way. You can also just write them and ask for advice.
Welcome back Aidan!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I know I've been inactive for a while, but I left for a campaign of European UCI racing in mid July. I got back in mid September. I have a loooong story, so prepare yourselves. I'll post it all in the next few days.
Aidan
Welcome back mate, hope you enjoyed your little trip in to Europe
Helmet cams both create extra drag away from the rest of your body and can be dangerous in the event of a crash with direct impact to the camera. The most efficient and safest alternative is to mount a cam to the bike; the only thing you'll really miss is helmet often gives better shots.
Had my second race today. 5th place. I'm quite happy with that. It was a hilly course with 5 11km laps. On the first lap a duo left us all for the minor places. I could stay in the second group, fighting for the last podium spot. I could hang on their wheel easily for 1 lap(although I think that my bike is pretty bad at rolling. I use the Top-Tube-Tuck and I also pedaled in my biggest gear and the guy ahead just was way faster without pedaling at all. Not sure whats going on there.) On the 2nd lap, on the major hill, I made a mistake. One of our group attacked and since nobody could/wanted to follow, I(probably the weakest rider in that group) closed the gap. I was damn proud of me, that I dropped everyone else, but 10-20m before the hilltop I couldn't hang on the wheel of the attacker and I fell back in the group and they(who could've guessed it) distanced me in the downhill. So I was alone on the road, I think P8 or P9. I could gain some places back in the later laps, and I edged out a guy on the sprint to the line. The last 150-200m are a bit uphill(3-4%) and I had to go early, being in the big ring, because he was around 10-15m ahead. I overtook him 30m from the finish. Overall, I'm pretty happy with my performance. Sadly, I was nervous before the start, so I forgot to activate Strava...
trekbmc wrote:
Finished my road season today, had a pretty good season, so I'm pretty happy, 6 victories as well (4 in 1 race though )
Also I have managed the ultimate consistency in National races and races organised by cycling Victoria (effectively state), my results: 10, 9, 10, DNF (crash), 26 (injured), 13th (injured), 9, 11, 9, 10, 11, 36, 31
The first three and last two are national, but still came ninth, tenth or eleventh in 8 of the 13 state or national races I did I can now be like A pro cyclist, like Sagan and Rojas,
So I'm assuming the next target come next season in the Baw Baw classic? Man I love that mountain.
Are you doing ToB this year?
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Scatmaster111 wrote:
Helmet cams both create extra drag away from the rest of your body and can be dangerous in the event of a crash with direct impact to the camera. The most efficient and safest alternative is to mount a cam to the bike; the only thing you'll really miss is helmet often gives better shots.
The odds of a helmet cam causing you an injury in an accident is pretty low but the odds that it might help identify, say a car driver who casused an accident is high. A friend was involved in a hit and run this weekend and she wishes she had a helmet cam to help catch the bastard who smacked into her and fled the scence of the accident.
Also who cares about aero drag? Unless you are a pro it's negligible
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
trekbmc wrote:
Finished my road season today, had a pretty good season, so I'm pretty happy, 6 victories as well (4 in 1 race though )
Also I have managed the ultimate consistency in National races and races organised by cycling Victoria (effectively state), my results: 10, 9, 10, DNF (crash), 26 (injured), 13th (injured), 9, 11, 9, 10, 11, 36, 31
The first three and last two are national, but still came ninth, tenth or eleventh in 8 of the 13 state or national races I did I can now be like A pro cyclist, like Sagan and Rojas,
So I'm assuming the next target come next season in the Baw Baw classic? Man I love that mountain.
Are you doing ToB this year?
Haha, I'm still 14. So not doing Bau Bau or Bright. I really love climbing though, so I want to do those races at some point.
There isn't really many mountain races for juniors, just the national mountain climb championships, kind of the Skyline stage at Eildon and a short race up Arthur's Seat (that was so fun ) Still, last summer I was doing repeats up Donna Buang and Perrans Creek Road, which wasn't best for the rest of the junior season . I'm going to Sweden for a year or two though, so I'm only doing criteriums and maybe the club champs until then anyway.
Are you racing ToB then? Or will you be at the St. Kilda or Hawthorn Crits?
Btw I'm amazed you Everested up William Road, isn't that dirt and steep? I know the people who live next to it.
Scatmaster111 wrote:
Helmet cams both create extra drag away from the rest of your body and can be dangerous in the event of a crash with direct impact to the camera. The most efficient and safest alternative is to mount a cam to the bike; the only thing you'll really miss is helmet often gives better shots.
The odds of a helmet cam causing you an injury in an accident is pretty low but the odds that it might help identify, say a car driver who casused an accident is high. A friend was involved in a hit and run this weekend and she wishes she had a helmet cam to help catch the bastard who smacked into her and fled the scence of the accident.
Also who cares about aero drag? Unless you are a pro it's negligible
Well there's a big difference between riding upright or in a tucked position.
Scatmaster111 wrote:
Helmet cams both create extra drag away from the rest of your body and can be dangerous in the event of a crash with direct impact to the camera. The most efficient and safest alternative is to mount a cam to the bike; the only thing you'll really miss is helmet often gives better shots.
The odds of a helmet cam causing you an injury in an accident is pretty low but the odds that it might help identify, say a car driver who casused an accident is high. A friend was involved in a hit and run this weekend and she wishes she had a helmet cam to help catch the bastard who smacked into her and fled the scence of the accident.
Also who cares about aero drag? Unless you are a pro it's negligible
Well there's a big difference between riding upright or in a tucked position.
That's not the same as someone talking about a helmet cam causing drag, of course you get down low to create less drag which does make a difference to any cyclist but I doubt most rec cyclists are going to notice any drag when wearing a helmet cam
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
trekbmc wrote:
Finished my road season today, had a pretty good season, so I'm pretty happy, 6 victories as well (4 in 1 race though )
Also I have managed the ultimate consistency in National races and races organised by cycling Victoria (effectively state), my results: 10, 9, 10, DNF (crash), 26 (injured), 13th (injured), 9, 11, 9, 10, 11, 36, 31
The first three and last two are national, but still came ninth, tenth or eleventh in 8 of the 13 state or national races I did I can now be like A pro cyclist, like Sagan and Rojas,
So I'm assuming the next target come next season in the Baw Baw classic? Man I love that mountain.
Are you doing ToB this year?
Haha, I'm still 14. So not doing Bau Bau or Bright. I really love climbing though, so I want to do those races at some point.
There isn't really many mountain races for juniors, just the national mountain climb championships, kind of the Skyline stage at Eildon and a short race up Arthur's Seat (that was so fun ) Still, last summer I was doing repeats up Donna Buang and Perrans Creek Road, which wasn't best for the rest of the junior season . I'm going to Sweden for a year or two though, so I'm only doing criteriums and maybe the club champs until then anyway.
Are you racing ToB then? Or will you be at the St. Kilda or Hawthorn Crits?
Btw I'm amazed you Everested up William Road, isn't that dirt and steep? I know the people who live next to it.
William Rd is dirt/gravel but not as steep as say Old Coach Rd over in Montrose, my avatar is a picture from that day. Wore the skin of the inside of my knees over the day using them to balance my bike on the descent but it was worth it.
Doing reps on Perrins is a good effort buddy, love that road myself having done 25 in one session on that when a mate Everested it the week after he fell short when he became ill on his attempt, it's a tough nut so again good job! It's a pity there isn't more climbing for the juniors but with restricted gearing I guess I can understand it. I won't be at ToB this year as it's a mess when it comes to grading with to many cyclist who should be racing A grade sandbagging and racing in lower grades so I don't feel like having my legs ripped off
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
trekbmc wrote:
Finished my road season today, had a pretty good season, so I'm pretty happy, 6 victories as well (4 in 1 race though )
Also I have managed the ultimate consistency in National races and races organised by cycling Victoria (effectively state), my results: 10, 9, 10, DNF (crash), 26 (injured), 13th (injured), 9, 11, 9, 10, 11, 36, 31
The first three and last two are national, but still came ninth, tenth or eleventh in 8 of the 13 state or national races I did I can now be like A pro cyclist, like Sagan and Rojas,
So I'm assuming the next target come next season in the Baw Baw classic? Man I love that mountain.
Are you doing ToB this year?
Haha, I'm still 14. So not doing Bau Bau or Bright. I really love climbing though, so I want to do those races at some point.
There isn't really many mountain races for juniors, just the national mountain climb championships, kind of the Skyline stage at Eildon and a short race up Arthur's Seat (that was so fun ) Still, last summer I was doing repeats up Donna Buang and Perrans Creek Road, which wasn't best for the rest of the junior season . I'm going to Sweden for a year or two though, so I'm only doing criteriums and maybe the club champs until then anyway.
Are you racing ToB then? Or will you be at the St. Kilda or Hawthorn Crits?
Btw I'm amazed you Everested up William Road, isn't that dirt and steep? I know the people who live next to it.
William Rd is dirt/gravel but not as steep as say Old Coach Rd over in Montrose, my avatar is a picture from that day. Wore the skin of the inside of my knees over the day using them to balance my bike on the descent but it was worth it.
Doing reps on Perrins is a good effort buddy, love that road myself having done 25 in one session on that when a mate Everested it the week after he fell short when he became ill on his attempt, it's a tough nut so again good job! It's a pity there isn't more climbing for the juniors but with restricted gearing I guess I can understand it. I won't be at ToB this year as it's a mess when it comes to grading with to many cyclist who should be racing A grade sandbagging and racing in lower grades so I don't feel like having my legs ripped off
I've never seen Old Coach Road, although I see some of those roads like that and just can't imagine descending them, (then again, I'm the weakest descender in most junior racing ) or climbing them for that matter.
I did about 6 attempts up Perrins at the most. I love those really steep climbs, but it killed me for the ride back. So I'm pretty amazed at 25 (or everesting). I think the restricted gearing is actually a reason to do more climbing, since it just stops the gears from being too hard (had a slightly downhill time trial with a tail wind, where everybody just span their hardest gear with little effort. It's the same with long races, they have a limit on distance, so it really suits the track riders (like Brunswick's has a large junior track program), and I only start to win at 50km at least (such as the junior 3DT).
I know what you mean with grading issues, so fair enough.
Today I did the longest ride of my life: Kingston to Mandeville and back, 188km, +1200m of climbing, 8 hours. I learned two things today: I really REALLY hate the roads in Jamaica and the weather forecast is never correct on a riding day.
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
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