3rd to last, 2nd to last, last?I'm rooting for you Ducky. Tenner each way - don't let me down.
'Handicap' road racing
- Thread starter Sittingduck
- Start date
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OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Very likely! Field is probably going to be full, with 80 riders. I just hope I get there early and get a place because last week folk got turned away. I don't know if any E or 1st Cat will ride but there will deffo be a whole bunch of 2nd and 3rd. It could be a learning experience 
Andrew_P
In between here and there
Hey good luck ducks, post up the Strava route so I can take a peek?!Very likely! Field is probably going to be full, with 80 riders. I just hope I get there early and get a place because last week folk got turned away. I don't know if any E or 1st Cat will ride but there will deffo be a whole bunch of 2nd and 3rd. It could be a learning experience
I thought this looked like a fun entry in to a bit of mamil racing but me thinks it would be a bit much for a noob, might pop up to Palace Park and have a watch though
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Hi
Yes, I am thinking of giving Palace crits a bash at some point but from what I have heard, CP is brutal. It's quite technical and narrow too. I rode round the course there a few months back and it was bad enough having to dodge Grannies walking labradors on a Friday lunchtime, much less 100 nutters on road bikes. Infact the Info page at RiderHQ for the Paragon Crits mentions that is is for folk who have raced before... so prob worth going to watch as you mentioned and maybe ask one of the organisers?
The course Tomorrow is down by Charlwood and I have ridden the roads round there regularly but not the entire lap. So I did a recce on Thurs - you can see the loop about half way into this Strava ride, starts by Horley the goes uphill, over towards Norwood Hill then down into Charlwood and through to Povey Cross...
Yes, I am thinking of giving Palace crits a bash at some point but from what I have heard, CP is brutal. It's quite technical and narrow too. I rode round the course there a few months back and it was bad enough having to dodge Grannies walking labradors on a Friday lunchtime, much less 100 nutters on road bikes. Infact the Info page at RiderHQ for the Paragon Crits mentions that is is for folk who have raced before... so prob worth going to watch as you mentioned and maybe ask one of the organisers?
The course Tomorrow is down by Charlwood and I have ridden the roads round there regularly but not the entire lap. So I did a recce on Thurs - you can see the loop about half way into this Strava ride, starts by Horley the goes uphill, over towards Norwood Hill then down into Charlwood and through to Povey Cross...
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Yes my first race, so I am expecting to get shelled out of the back half way round the first lap. At least I know another bunch will soon be along, in the form of 3rd Cats, so maybe chance for a tow - for about 2 minutes anway before getting dropped again.
My understanding of Palace is that all groups are going round the same (fairly short and tight) circuit at the same time and the respective groups finish on a different set of laps. It's a bit up and down there too, so will be difficult to stay together but safe, I would think.
My understanding of Palace is that all groups are going round the same (fairly short and tight) circuit at the same time and the respective groups finish on a different set of laps. It's a bit up and down there too, so will be difficult to stay together but safe, I would think.
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Well that was knackering! 
Didn't finish last and didn't crash, so fairly happy. Our group got caught by the next two groups on the road right on the hill (bell lap) and the 3 of us got shelled out of the back and struggled to stay in touch, on the final lap. Very hard going and I was a little dissapointed that I blew up a bit tackling the short hill at the bell. A few came in after me and some were DNF, not sure of my placing but guessing something like 65th or so... time will tell.
Strava link here
Didn't finish last and didn't crash, so fairly happy. Our group got caught by the next two groups on the road right on the hill (bell lap) and the 3 of us got shelled out of the back and struggled to stay in touch, on the final lap. Very hard going and I was a little dissapointed that I blew up a bit tackling the short hill at the bell. A few came in after me and some were DNF, not sure of my placing but guessing something like 65th or so... time will tell.
Strava link here
themosquitoking
Guru
- Location
- Spain
Well that was knackering!
Didn't finish last and didn't crash, so fairly happy. Our group got caught by the next two groups on the road right on the hill (bell lap) and the 3 of us got shelled out of the back and struggled to stay in touch, on the final lap. Very hard going and I was a little dissapointed that I blew up a bit tackling the short hill at the bell. A few came in after me and some were DNF, not sure of my placing but guessing something like 65th or so... time will tell.
Strava link here
Holy crap, you averaged 23.something mph. That's god territory to me, good work.
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Hah - cheers but mainly through doing an organised chaingang for 3 laps worth. Some tactical errors made but it's all a good learning experience!
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
OP
OP
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Definitely. A game of deceit, I reckon... have to make it look like you are doing as much work as possible while actually doing as little as you can get away with. I made some bad judgments and found myself off the front of our group more than once on the first 2 laps. The energy expended cost me dear, in the end. Oh well, all good fun!
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Nice one SD 
