Race night virgin

[Ken Ho]

Well, not any more. I competed in my first track race night last night, after just a few training sessions, in the novice class, at Nerang.
It was a ton of fun, and full of surprises and things to learn.
FIrst race was a scratch Madi, each novice paired with an A Grade rider. There are a bunch of fast juniors in the novice class, so that was a fast and furious affair. I was happy to hang on until the sprint at the end. Just failed to hold the wheel of my A-Grader around the final turn and faded to the line, but I was happy with that. It was a bit if a baptism of fire for me, hammering along at flat knacker at close quarters.
There are clearly a lot of tactics to learn, as well as fitness to gain, and speed to be sought. It's clear that superior bike handling skills need to be developed and refined also.
The last race was a 3 lap team sprint from a standing start, which I had never done before. Each team was a novice, a B grader and an A grader. I got away OK, belted around, and peeled off at the right spot. I looked down to see my team go by, and nearly put myself into the wall, not realising how quick I was moving. Afterwards, I realised that I didn't forget to keep pedalling though, which is surprising. There is so much going on and it all happens very quickly.
I will be back. Track will take my riding to a whole new level.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Well done, Ken. Track is addictive. It sounds like you really enjoyed yourself.

Coincidentally, we ran team sprints last night as well. It's great when you only have to do one lap

[foo on patrol]

Good onya mate!

I have done a lot and I mean a lot laps on that track and night time it is lightning fast. You just need too get used to how, the track throws you coming out of...oh bugger, I can't remember which straight it is now and the fact that the back straight is up hill.

Foo

[Ken Ho]

Yes, track is addictive. The coach, Peter Spence, is a great guy and if I let him, he will do wonders for my riding.
The back straight is a bit up-hill, but the home straight is down a bit, so yes, you get fired out the end. I felt I was getting more speed on the western corner though, having a Steve Austin moment of "she's breaking up" as I zoomed over the bumps, with my eyeballs bouncing around in my head.
My legs are actually pretty shagged today, much more so than if I rode 100km on the road. More like 150km+ shagged.

[foo on patrol]

Yep that's right, after the front straight and it brings in a whole lot of other handling issues in a madison when throwing in your partner.

When you're doing turns, peel off after the apex of the bends as this will allow you too drop back in easier.

Foo

[Nikko127]

Ha ha, yeah I tried to hold Jeff Harris' wheel last week which wasnt easy. Away at work for last nights track, how was it?
Holy smokes some of those juniors are fastr.

[Ken Ho]

Ha ha, yeah I tried to hold Jeff Harris' wheel last week which wasnt easy. Away at work for last nights track, how was it?
Holy smokes some of those juniors are fastr.

Well, it involved getting chicked by a girl who looked about 12 or 13. Just as well I have no ego or it would have been pulverised.

[Nikko127]

Just noticed the photos have been posted on facebook. Nice turnout for the novice grade. Next week I'll be back.

[Ken Ho]

Just noticed the photos have been posted on facebook. Nice turnout for the novice grade. Next week I'll be back.

Can you post a linky for me ? I'm such a facebook idiot. Found their main page, can't find pics from Friday.

[ozdavo]

Just noticed the photos have been posted on facebook. Nice turnout for the novice grade. Next week I'll be back.

Can you post a linky for me ? I'm such a facebook idiot. Found their main page, can't find pics from Friday.

Ken, here are the pics:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.402582363148022.92664.316288858444040&type=1

I had a great night too (my 2nd), and it's good to put a face to a forum member.
Dave

[Ken Ho]

Thanks for the link. Now I don't know who you are.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

He's the one in the lycra. Does anyone else have the problem that they can't recognise people away from their bikes? or is it just me?

[DavidI]

He's the one in the lycra. Does anyone else have the problem that they can't recognise people away from their bikes? or is it just me?

No, not just you. I remember years ago when my then-club had a coaching and information seminar, was hard to tell if you were talking to an old mate or a newbie as the looked different in "civvies" !
Ken, well done on getting in there. Track racing is highly addictive!

[brades68]

Ken, I've just started my second season of track on the Kenrick Tucker Velodrome in Rocky......... i love it - it's a blast. I know what you mean about Juniors, we have some handy ones up here and i'm not put off by getting flogged up by 13 & 14 yr olds either!
And a +1 to being addictive

Cheers
Mick

[Ken Ho]

He's the one in the lycra. Does anyone else have the problem that they can't recognise people away from their bikes? or is it just me?

It's not that. Met a heap of new people, and not sure if OzDave is one. I think I know who he is, and we have chatted heaps, without knowing who we were on here. It's one reason I use my real name. I was the one in a T-shirt at training the other night, giving Coach Spence the horrors.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks those Juniors are bloody fast. I'd hate to think they were slow, and still flogging me.

[ireland57]

Track is fast , scary , spectacular , fookin hard ...........and yes it's addictive .

I had my first races last night at T'ville's Cup on Wheels.
I didn't do the keirins as I hadn't sat on behind the m/bike before and just wasn't sure enough about what to do.......next time I will.

I'm usually a D grader on the road and raced C as there was no D grade. My only goal was to stay on during the points and scratch races and after much hard work I did. I can only push an 86" gear (now maybe an 88/90 during races) but the fellows I raced had +94"'s so keeping up meant spinning at much higher cadence than I can usually handle.

I did best in the handicaps (well I did have a 4 mile start) but never realised how bloody hard they were. 2 laps ok.
4 laps. Man...what a shock!

One thing that surprised me was that at race time the nerves went after a few laps and I was ok sitting in the little bunch we had.

Bike's for sale now as it's too big. Doh.

[foo on patrol]

It won't hurt you to stay a 86'' for a while Ireland, it will just make you work a bit harder for a start and get your legs used to spinning on a fixie.

I would suggest you go up to 88" then 90" and the 92" and stay on that for a full season.

Foo

[ireland57]

Thanks Foo......sorry about the late reply.

Sounds good. They need more work.

[Ken Ho]

Had my first taste of the asphalt on Friday. Going in for my first operation ever this Friday. Broken wing.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Had my first taste of the asphalt on Friday. Going in for my first operation ever this Friday. Broken wing.

Forgot to tell you: rubber side down. Keep it in mind for the next time.

[ozdavo]

Had my first taste of the asphalt on Friday. Going in for my first operation ever this Friday. Broken wing.

Shame to hear Ken, so I'm guessing you wont be at Nerang tonight.
Heal soon.

[Ken Ho]

Had my first taste of the asphalt on Friday. Going in for my first operation ever this Friday. Broken wing.

Shame to hear Ken, so I'm guessing you wont be at Nerang tonight.
Heal soon.

NAh, I'm away for a month anyway. Up in MAckay. &#it happens.

[foo on patrol]

Bugger, never a enjoyable experience.

Foo

[Ken Ho]

Bolted back together today by a lovely bloke wh is also a top TT rider. Still a bit doughy, but the bones are in the right place now and I'm happy about that.

[foo on patrol]

Good to hear mate and make sure you do the rehab properly.

Foo