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Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:55 pm
by mikesbytes
I haven't raced there, but I understand its similar to Gosford, which, I'm guessing you haven't ridden at, so from your viewpoint, that makes it like Hustville

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:57 am
by brawlo
Ah my local Vander.

See you there! Track is OK I guess, though I've only raced at DGV otherwise, so little to compare it to. Should be some fun racing. I raced last year for my first time and had a ball.

Look for the f'n huge black bike kicking it around in the masters category.

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:29 am
by vander
brawlo wrote:Ah my local Vander.

See you there! Track is OK I guess, though I've only raced at DGV otherwise, so little to compare it to. Should be some fun racing. I raced last year for my first time and had a ball.

Look for the f'n huge black bike kicking it around in the masters category.
I just had a look at last years results and there is only A and B grade :( Means I am racing B grade as I dont yet qualify for masters. Ill be out there on a white prolite getting my arse handed to me!

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:30 pm
by mikesbytes
At a guess masters would be tougher than B grade.

If there's only 2 grades, then its probably A = A/B and B = C/D but it will depend on who signed up

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:27 pm
by Beanzy
I will be there.

Track is similar to Lidcombe. Does not have the left hand turn on entry and exit of the straight. Probably more similar to hurstville but smoother.

B grade mens would probably be quivalent of C and D as mike has suggested. Going on you recent form as suggested by you posts you will be fine.

Look for the huge bloke in blue following the huge black bike in Masters :D

Beanzy

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:43 pm
by mikesbytes
vander, lucky your not in masters, otherwise your have the beanzinator to deal with (assuming he's recovered from his birthday)

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:23 am
by scotto
vander wrote:
brawlo wrote:Ah my local Vander.

See you there! Track is OK I guess, though I've only raced at DGV otherwise, so little to compare it to. Should be some fun racing. I raced last year for my first time and had a ball.

Look for the f'n huge black bike kicking it around in the masters category.
I just had a look at last years results and there is only A and B grade :( Means I am racing B grade as I dont yet qualify for masters. Ill be out there on a white prolite getting my arse handed to me!

i just saw you strava update dan entitled "10 Bobbins". thats is seriously some sick riding.
anyone who does bobbin head 5 times in a row from end to end shouldnt worry. you'll want a hilly track though :-)

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:35 pm
by foo on patrol
vander wrote:Signed up for the Goulburn track open next week. Should be good to do an open event. Any tips from anyone? Anyone raced at Goulburn before whats the track like?
Raced there in.......................77 :oops: it was the start of the Christmas Souther Circuit, sooooooooo my recollection is not applicable now Vander. :mrgreen:

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:08 pm
by vander
So raced Goulburn track open last night in Mens B grade it was a long hard trek out there and a very long night.
First race was a warm up scratch and after a warm up I felt alright until the gun went. Unlike Lidcombe were the first lap is slow this was on from the gun and I didnt feel the best and thought I was going to get dropped. I hung on but and with a lap to go I was about mid field but boxed in. I picked up the pace and found a way out only to run out of gears (I was spinning as hard as I could but felt like I had more power) I closed the gap in front of my but couldn't get over the guy in third and ended up coming in 4th. The people watching said I was bobbing all over the place.

Next race was the Wheelrace qualifiers. I got what I thought was a very average handicap of 175m over the 5 lap race. In the first 2 seconds one guy came around me but I managed to (barely) get on his wheel and he pulled me up to the 200m markers. I then sat on these guys wheels for pretty much the whole race and we were going quite quick. Last lap the back markers were nowhere to be seen and there weren't many in front of us so I picked up the pace and did the last lap 3 wide the whole way coming around everyone ended up in 2nd (best out of our little group).

Then there was a MASSIVE stack 4 girls went to hospital so it was quite a long wait about 1.5 hours or so and I got really cold. Right after this long race we had our elimination race and cause they were in a hurry there was no neutral lap and 2 out a time. I was really intense from the bell I sat towards the back getting up speed and coming around most of them. When there was 7 I had no idea how many were off the back of the pack (apparently 1) and I came second last out of the pack and thought they called my number so sat up a little till the guy next to me yelled at me I was still in but it was too late the pack was about 30m ahead and my race was over I came in 5th.

Next race was graded 2 lap handicap race. I had the generous handicap of 10m :shock: so there was only 1 B grader behind me. He came around me in not very long and I almost got his wheel then almost got on the back of the pack but it was too much I sat up and came last :(

Then my last race for the night was the Final of the wheel race. I had one guy 5m infront of me and a few still at 200m what I was hoping to get on. I got on the guy 5m infront we swapped a few turns then the middle/a few back markers came past us I just jumped on the group and blew up. The group that came past us and the guys at 200m joined up that was the final group of 5 (where all the money was) but I just didnt have it in me to hold them. I finished in about 8th-ish.

I bailed before the last race as I was doing the Calga time trail this morning and there was a long drive ahead of me. All in all good night. Just out of contention for everything. I talked to one of the guys at Calga this morning that was there (in A grade) he said A's field was quite strong and B would of been between Div 2 and Div 3 at Raw so baised on that I am really happy with how I went. I was on a 92" gear (48-14) and I needed a few more gears in a couple of the race (as well as a bigger heart).

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:19 pm
by foo on patrol
I would say more than likely, you just need to get more race miles/Ks in your legs and the 92inc gear will be good. :wink:
The bobbing comment indicates this to me, that you're just a bit under done. :)

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:32 pm
by vander
foo on patrol wrote:I would say more than likely, you just need to get more race miles/Ks in your legs and the 92inc gear will be good. :wink:
The bobbing comment indicates this to me, that you're just a bit under done. :)

Foo
I was spinning pretty fast 2 of the 3 ahead of me were on 96" (I dont know what the other was on). But your probably right. I have been doing long miles in prep for road races and not much track stuff, this was just for fun and to see how I went in open events. Im also not sure the bike is the perfect fit for me yet, it was only my 3rd ride on it and it didnt feel perfect. I think I will need a bigger gear for dunc gray.

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:37 pm
by vander
Another bout of track racing. I went down to Dunc to race tonight as my local training was off and I thought what better time to have a crack at the boards. First of all I rode around for a fair bit of warm up and yes the boards are scary but not quite what everyone makes out. It being my first night I started in C grade with scotto. First race was a warm up scratch 12 laps I think. At 7 to go I got to the front and upped the pace a little. After my lap I looked back and went to swing up and realised I had a gap. I didnt really know what to do as I wanted to take it easy but I rode a nice hard tempo for the next 7 laps doing enough to stay away but not too much to kill myself.

Second race was a elimination and now I had been bumped up to B. Not really knowing how I would go I sat at the back not getting boxed in and on the first sprint it was pretty tough and I was pretty close to being eliminated. By the second one I thought screw this im going to the front. No one would give me a nice easy wheel to sit on up near the front so I just jumped right on the front and sat there or secondish wheel (as a kid kept half taking the sprinters lane off me). When the bell went off I realised all of a sudden we were down to just 2. I let the other guy come to the front and when he kicked I kicked and came around to take it :D .

Third race was an Australian pursuit a really odd race. It was limited to a certain amount of laps I'm not sure how many there was and didn't know how many left when I was out there. I took it out pretty hard but not too hard and just set into a rhythm the guy in front of me went out really hard as did the guy behind me but because there was big gaps I was not caught. I held my tempo catching the guy in front and pulling away from the guy behind. I didn't know when the last lap was but all of a sudden it was over and I got second.

Last race was A and B combined 20 lap scratch. I was really tired and every time the pace lifted I really struggled and started to loose wheels every time. Coming in to the last lap I was on the back and just thought screw it I'm going to see what I have left. So I sprinted the last lap and ended up 6th but I was coming home fast. It was a really quiet night with not a lot of people there. All the grades were small and it all started and finished quickly. Good night and good first dig at the boards.

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:18 pm
by scotto
you wanted to start in d, i said c, yo end up nearly podiuming in A.

at least you didnt try out the juniors division too !!

well done. you seemed to smile your way through the pain.
and up your gearing....

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:40 am
by foo on patrol
Good results there for you Vander! 8)

I am confused by the (not sure how many laps in the race) statements you blokes say quite often in these events on the track, why is that? :?

The best way to ride (miss and outs) is from second or third wheel, if you're not strong enough too ride from the very front. :wink:

Ps...If you don't see me comment on any querires here, it's because I'm running away in a truck now for my old boss. :(

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:25 am
by vander
foo on patrol wrote:Good results there for you Vander! 8)

I am confused by the (not sure how many laps in the race) statements you blokes say quite often in these events on the track, why is that? :?

The best way to ride (miss and outs) is from second or third wheel, if you're not strong enough too ride from the very front. :wink:

Ps...If you don't see me comment on any querires here, it's because I'm running away in a truck now for my old boss. :(

Foo
I was trying to get second or third wheel in the miss and out but noone would let me in, not a real surprise. So I decided the front was the safest and it worked for me.

It was only the Australian pursuit that I had no idea what was going on (how many laps etc). It is quite an odd race and I think usually there isnt meant to be a limit on the laps but they do it for time reasons. In the elimination I was too focused on sitting on the front instead of looking back to know how long was left but the others I was completely aware.

Goodluck with your boss.

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:08 pm
by foo on patrol
Ok!

Thanks, didn't want to be sleeping in trucks again but you gotta put food on the table and we know how each other works and thinks! :wink:

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:22 am
by scotto
vander wrote:
foo on patrol wrote:Good results there for you Vander! 8)

I am confused by the (not sure how many laps in the race) statements you blokes say quite often in these events on the track, why is that? :?

The best way to ride (miss and outs) is from second or third wheel, if you're not strong enough too ride from the very front. :wink:

Ps...If you don't see me comment on any querires here, it's because I'm running away in a truck now for my old boss. :(

Foo
I was trying to get second or third wheel in the miss and out but noone would let me in, not a real surprise. So I decided the front was the safest and it worked for me.
they'll never let you in generally, though i often do if it means i stay away from the front till it matters. dont worry about pulling off and ending at up last. its taken me a whole season to see that thats not a problem, and that most winners end up coming over the back/top of the front 3. i enjoy the free ride a bit more now, although its a problem the bunch splits and you at the wrong end of the wrong bunch....

the australian pursuit is meant to be a 'last man standing' event, but sometimes time constraints mean it has a lap limit and the commisaires give it to the most aggressive

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:57 pm
by brades68
Raced on Friday night - D Grade with some success.
First up was a scratch race of 10 laps and the as we got into the second last lap i was on the front and wasn't going to give that up in a turn into the last lap so i held my line, put the hammer down coming into the back straight and reminded myself not to back off (unlike last race night!) and held out for a win.

Race 2 was a 6 lap keirin, sprint started by one of the youngsters with lap and half to go (he'd dropped back from C Grade with another for numbers) and i caught him in the back straight to hold on for another win :D

Race 3 was a 15 lap points race, got 3rd in first and second sprints and run out of puff in last sprint - all where taken out by the youngster (ahh the exuberance of youth!!).

All in all, had a great night. i have thrown my hat into the ring for the Queensland Masters Track Championships held in Rockhampton 27 - 29 Jan. just doing the Sprint race, not expecting to win, or even qualify. I am expecting to have fun, learn heaps and set a PB :D

Cheers
Mick

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:59 pm
by foo on patrol
Hey Brades, keep an eye out for a bloke called Ron Hickson from Townsville. :wink: Not knowing how old you are, if you come up
against him, watch him as he is crafty and good. I know this because he was one of my training and club mates at Ipswich when I
was racing and he is still going good. I was talking to him at my mates Wake last August and he was telling me about his riding. :mrgreen:

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:49 pm
by brades68
foo on patrol wrote:Hey Brades, keep an eye out for a bloke called Ron Hickson from Townsville. :wink: Not knowing how old you are, if you come up
against him, watch him as he is crafty and good. I know this because he was one of my training and club mates at Ipswich when I
was racing and he is still going good. I was talking to him at my mates Wake last August and he was telling me about his riding. :mrgreen:

Foo
I know of Ron, he's somewhat older than i am (me being a young tacker of 43!) but he's in Rocky now, still riding strong, C Grade i think

Cheers
Mick

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:14 pm
by scotto
Dunc Gray - Bankstown cycling - c grade - a few away on holidays meant i won all four races.
3 lap sprints 1 on 1- my first time doing this Olympic style event, with the emphasis on staying cool and not just going for it. I'd seen a lot of this but never done it. I covered the other guy forced him above and behind me and assumed at our level track stands and dead slow riding weren't gonna happen. Sure enough, he had to drop down in front of me allowing me to suck his wheel for the last 3/4 of a lap and pull out to cross first. Through to the finals, which were run 4-up. Started first, kept things slow then pulled back into third wheel somehow. When they went I followed and jumped at the right time. another win. I really enjoyed that style of race and its suits me riding style. ie I can sprint rather well, but just not from a standing start, which is what most of these 3 lap screamers have been in the past.

Final scratch race - 16 laps - saw me go to soon thinking the bell was rung, only to then realise there were 2 more laps. Dropped back then feeling quite the dick, but someone let me in at about 5th wheel (nice!) and i had a lap to recover then jump across by an inch or two.. The stars must have all lined up last night. Another good night with a full grade and hopefully i'll go the b grade

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:52 pm
by vander
Good night scotto. Cant believe I missed the match sprint! I really want to try one of them. I had training and am pretty depleted at the moment so it was really average.

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:27 pm
by scotto
i often describe track cycling as he closest thing to sex on a bike.
match sprints can therefor only be described as ... um ... I better not :P :oops: :P :oops: :P :oops:

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:16 pm
by foo on patrol
You're getting a bit cheeky here Scotto! :lol:

A good night for you though. 8)

Foo

Re: Track Race Report Thread

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:02 pm
by vander
Tonight was a struggle! I think im over training lucky I have the weekend off (though im moving so that wont help) but felt really average tonight. Only 2 grades at lidcombe tonight due to small numbers I was lucky enough to get A grade. First race was a scratch there was one really strong A grader he jumped with 3 to go and the guy infront of me almost held his wheel but just dropped it. We chased together for a lap then he sat up and I chased him and pegged him at about 50m but couldnt close came second (pretty much everyone sat up). Second race was less then 10min later possibly less then 5. It was a points race but a short one. First sprint I got 4th should of had more but just had nothing. Second one I pushed as hard as I could almost got second but with about 50m to go completely blew up and just sat up and sat it out. Third race was a Keiran (the strong A grader was our motorbike :D ) I was in third wheel. With a lap to go (440m) the 'motorbike' peeled off, the guy in second kicked I sat on him pretty with about 200m to go I started to come around but blew up again and came in 3rd. Last race was a handicap. I was 3rd from the back with 100m another guy had 90m right behind me. The plan was I was leading him out, I did about 2 laps and swung up. As I did the strong A grader was only 20m behind and the guy that was on my wheel didnt kick so the A grader caught him and took it out. After sitting up for half a lap I decided noone was going anywhere so had a bit of another dig and ended up coming home pretty fast in 3rd but a long way off the first 2.

Well earned time off for me I hope.