JasonHolder
on youtube. learning to be a gent
Can anyone whose ridden this, explain to me how this event is run please?
castle combe series
- Thread starter JasonHolder
- Start date
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SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
Did the first one of the season, what can I say to help?
OP
OP
JasonHolder
on youtube. learning to be a gent
Whats the set up, laps, groups general advice for racing there and how you found it
cheersOff topic- I had my car on there in 2012 and this happened lol
Whats the set up, laps, groups general advice for racing there and how you found it
Off topic- I had my car on there in 2012 and this happened lol
General advice would be this:
OP
OP
JasonHolder
on youtube. learning to be a gent
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
okay, if you aren't already you'll need to join BC and have a race licence (race membership where you'll have a prov licence). from here, purchase entry to the event via the BC website, if your licence hasn't arrived at this point just take proof of membership with you. The race is 50 mins + 5 laps (I think). There should be a warm up area available at the track, you'll see many riding around the car park but this is 'against the rules' if you have a turbo or rollers take those to use next to your car.
Having never raced before it took off quickly, and you'll soon experience the higher cat riders catching your group, the [pack will move to one side to let them through, stay with them].
it's a C+ cat event, so your prov racing licence would normally mean you have to pay for a day licence, but the kind fellows at andy cook cycling waive that from your first 3 events.
I'm sorry if that seems quite jumbled, the most important thing I would say is to be ready for a bloody hard ride and try to not get near the back otherwise you'll find yourself getting dropped like I did.
If you want questions answered from the organiser their details are available via the BC site for you to email
Having never raced before it took off quickly, and you'll soon experience the higher cat riders catching your group, the [pack will move to one side to let them through, stay with them].
it's a C+ cat event, so your prov racing licence would normally mean you have to pay for a day licence, but the kind fellows at andy cook cycling waive that from your first 3 events.
I'm sorry if that seems quite jumbled, the most important thing I would say is to be ready for a bloody hard ride and try to not get near the back otherwise you'll find yourself getting dropped like I did.
If you want questions answered from the organiser their details are available via the BC site for you to email
OP
OP
JasonHolder
on youtube. learning to be a gent
Cheers mate
Castle Combe is a fairly big pack, so try not to get intimidated by the numbers. It's fairly easy to find yourself hanging off the back in the first lap and then you'll never be able to make your way back up- the pack can stretch to about 70 metres long when the hammer's down... If you're on the front, you generally won't need to brake for any of the corners, but with the concertina effect it'll involve a lot of sprinting towards the back. Work out where the wind is coming from and try to keep sheltered, although it's not always possible.
Other than that, ride safe! You tend to get a lot of angst and shouting in such a big pack- as long as you don't cross wheels through corners or make any sudden movements you should be fine.
Other than that, ride safe! You tend to get a lot of angst and shouting in such a big pack- as long as you don't cross wheels through corners or make any sudden movements you should be fine.
OP
OP
JasonHolder
on youtube. learning to be a gent
Thanks! What Cat you rode up there?
Rode my first ever race in the 4ths there, found it fairly bewildering to be honest! Did a few more, then earned my third at the Easter Classic they do there, so I know the track fairly well. A couple of my mates were thinking of heading down tonight, but I think they decided on Ilton instead for their first time- huge expanses of tarmac and a lot less technical, so it's maybe a bit easier to get settled.
Let me know if you have any really specific questions...
Let me know if you have any really specific questions...
Monsieur Remings
Guru
- Location
- Yatton UK
Of the two, Ilton is less scary first time around but depending on wind, can be much faster (and is also more expensive to ride there on the night - £20 Ilton and £12 at Coombe).
Castle Coombe is much more technical and 4th Cats will be racing alongside 3rd...as others have said, the E,1,2 riders will pass at some point...don't let it distract you. Stay out of wind if you can, resist the temptation to fly away (you'll be caught), make no sudden movements and hold your line. Take any advice that comes your way because you will get told to keep your line as a beginner. There will be loads of you so keep mentally alert and watch coming out of the corners, firstly in the sense you don't want to get sandwiched or nudged off-course and then at the far end prepare to get out of the saddle and accelerate unless you want to be dropped.
Good luck and Ilton is worth a go as others have implied. You'll have a 4th Cat only race there.
Castle Coombe is much more technical and 4th Cats will be racing alongside 3rd...as others have said, the E,1,2 riders will pass at some point...don't let it distract you. Stay out of wind if you can, resist the temptation to fly away (you'll be caught), make no sudden movements and hold your line. Take any advice that comes your way because you will get told to keep your line as a beginner. There will be loads of you so keep mentally alert and watch coming out of the corners, firstly in the sense you don't want to get sandwiched or nudged off-course and then at the far end prepare to get out of the saddle and accelerate unless you want to be dropped.
Good luck and Ilton is worth a go as others have implied. You'll have a 4th Cat only race there.
e-rider
Banned member
- Location
- South West
I'd be interetsed to know what average speed is achieved over th hour for the 3/4th cat race?
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
That will depend on the dynamic of the race...
Average speed means very little in crits. Sometimes the pace will be constantly high for a while, sometimes there is a bit of a rest and the average drops, sometimes the crit is more like a series of sprint intervals.
For example, the first 10 miles of a 3/4 race I did a while back was 28 mph, and not really that tough. I jumped in the E12 straight after and the first 10 miles and the average speed was the same, and fatigue from already racing aside, it was monstrously harder as the hits were much bigger and longer as people tried to establish the break.