Team BKool CycleChat

[Goldwolfie]

My pc crashed so I restarted behind Rob. Yeah I thought I'd try and give you a bit of a tow but unfortunately I caught you just when we hit a 6% incline and I am not sure I was much help! Sorry for not waiting longer for you - I actually wasn't sure if I was being an unwelcome distraction!

No problem at all Bridgy, you would have had to park up to wait for me. It was good to know that there was someone left on the road as AAAC, Bill and Bobinski would have been in the shower by that stage - not together I hope.

 

[RickB]

Sorry, missed that one. I was busy doing a real life time trial.

Unfortunately the girl I chased was considerably faster than me this time. 23 seconds, which is about 1 second per km.
Compared to last year, the level was generaly raised a notch. Guys from 2 groups down would have incredible TT bikes with disc wheels costing almost what my whole bike does. I have a pretty heavy clincher discwheel and opted it out, due to amount of turns and hills we faced.
Looks like I'm 6th in my group with an avg. speed of 40 kph (24.85 mph)

Wow - Your average speed was faster than my average in the Club Race! (23ish mph)

Well, another club race behind me and another 13th place so just inside the points again. 4 laps of about 6.5 miles.

I started in group 2 (7 of us) with a 4 minute headstart over group 3. The group worked well together and we stayed away from group 3 and scratch (about 30 odd riders) until half way around lap 3. Held on pretty well and didnt really feel on the edge at any point (though certainly was getting near it at times). Have to say Bkool conditions you very well for road racing, with the constant surges and bursts - you dont get that on club rides!

The finish was at the top of a 300m climb and I managed to position myself very near the front. Only one guy had broken away so we were racing for 2nd place at this point. Just like on Bkool, I'm not the fastest up the climbs with my 13 stone weight, so I decided to throw caution to the wind and try an early break for the line, but started to run out of steam halfway up the hill - 11 riders came past me! To be fair I think most of them would have beat me regardless of what I tried.

On the plus side - no-one really expected me to be anywhere near the front in my first races, so overall very happy and definitely recommend you guys giving it a go.

 

[bridgy]

Wow - Your average speed was faster than my average in the Club Race! (23ish mph)

Well, another club race behind me and another 13th place so just inside the points again. 4 laps of about 6.5 miles.

I started in group 2 (7 of us) with a 4 minute headstart over group 3. The group worked well together and we stayed away from group 3 and scratch (about 30 odd riders) until half way around lap 3. Held on pretty well and didnt really feel on the edge at any point (though certainly was getting near it at times). Have to say Bkool conditions you very well for road racing, with the constant surges and bursts - you dont get that on club rides!

The finish was at the top of a 300m climb and I managed to position myself very near the front. Only one guy had broken away so we were racing for 2nd place at this point. Just like on Bkool, I'm not the fastest up the climbs with my 13 stone weight, so I decided to throw caution to the wind and try an early break for the line, but started to run out of steam halfway up the hill - 11 riders came past me! To be fair I think most of them would have beat me regardless of what I tried.

On the plus side - no-one really expected me to be anywhere near the front in my first races, so overall very happy and definitely recommend you guys giving it a go.

Nice one Rick - I saw your ride on Strava and was impressed by the speed for what looks a reasonably lumpy course. I guess the group riding helps that a bit, but I can imagine it was still pretty full on! Top 10 has to be the aim for next time

 

[CXRAndy]

Boy did I misjudge that one!!!!!

Looked at the profile and thought if I got to the top of the big climb I'd be able to coast to the finish - so I put too much into the climb and those little kicks on the way down really took their toll.

@bridgy came past me with 6 miles to go (not sure where he'd been) and slowed to give me atow. Much appreciated but my legs were gone and I couldn't latch on.

Seemed to get a second wind for the last mile,so at least that was is now done and dusted.

Same here, I average 312W on the climb, but then felt dead all the way to the finish

 

[bobinski]

Bridgy
Cracking time.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Nice one Rick - I saw your ride on Strava and was impressed by the speed for what looks a reasonably lumpy course. I guess the group riding helps that a bit, but I can imagine it was still pretty full on! Top 10 has to be the aim for next time

See you snuck a re-run in today Bridgy, well done (bettered me by; 28 seconds, 0.4 kph, 1.1.watts avg , but only 0.06 watt/kg)

My ride was all or nothing, literally, I was either giving it may all or giving it nothing.
As a result you demolished me on the downhills to make up for my stronger initial climb which killed off any chance of me putting much into the descent.

 

[bridgy]

Bridgy
Cracking time.

Cheers Bob

 

[bridgy]

See you snuck a re-run in today Bridgy, well done (bettered me by; 28 seconds, 0.4 kph, 1.1.watts avg , but only 0.06 watt/kg)

My ride was all or nothing, literally, I was either giving it may all or giving it nothing.
As a result you demolished me on the downhills to make up for my stronger initial climb which killed off any chance of me putting much into the descent.

Thanks AAAC.

I challenged yours and Bill's ghosts as I know I won't make the re-run tomorrow.

When the PC crashed yesterday I was catching you on the descent and was only 20 secs behind. I think I climbed a bit quicker today so caught you on the descent a bit quicker. I built up a lead and then you and Bill caught me again, but surprisingly I managed to pull away again towards the end - I guess this was the part where you both said you were suffering.

That's a tougher course than it looks!

 

[RamirezAGC]

Blimey, you have all been busy. The adjusted weight handicaps looked interesting and it looks like they were enjoyed by all.
I've been off the turbo for the last week or so in prep and then recovery from the London Revolution, which I'm very pleased to say I completed without too much stress (I'm ignoring the last 5 miles on both days as they were proper pants ). I also wanted to say thank you to all those in the league that have helped to push me that little bit harder and longer as I don't think I would have managed it without you all

Right enough of the soppy stuff, I'm looking forward to getting back on the turbo next week with my sore knees, see you in the Bkool universe soon.

 

[Whorty]

Hi Geoff, hopefully my ride is there now ... if you see it can you approve please? Cheers.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Thanks AAAC.

I challenged yours and Bill's ghosts as I know I won't make the re-run tomorrow.

When the PC crashed yesterday I was catching you on the descent and was only 20 secs behind. I think I climbed a bit quicker today so caught you on the descent a bit quicker. I built up a lead and then you and Bill caught me again, but surprisingly I managed to pull away again towards the end - I guess this was the part where you both said you were suffering.

That's a tougher course than it looks!

It's also the point where you were not there so with nothing to chase it can often make a difference as to how hard you push yourself.
However I will not make 5:00 on Saturday either but my wife has to be at work at 07:30 tomorrow and will not finish to 13:30 so sit bones and the like allowong I might be tempted to pass my time on the Turbo or do some gardening.

PS: I see my Tuesday ride in the Handicap still has not landed.
There was an error when I exited the ride but it stated that the pending session would upload on next login, so I logged out and in and sure enough I got a message that the pending stage had been uploaded. Perhaps it's lost forever. Never mind, good job I did the practice. If my behind and local area allows me to compete next week then it give me a cracking target to try and hit i.e. take 2 minutes plus out of you!

 

[bridgy]

It's also the point where you were not there so with nothing to chase it can often make a difference as to how hard you push yourself.
However I will not make 5:00 on Saturday either but my wife has to be at work at 07:30 tomorrow and will not finish to 13:30 so sit bones and the like allowong I might be tempted to pass my time on the Turbo or do some gardening.

PS: I see my Tuesday ride in the Handicap still has not landed.
There was an error when I exited the ride but it stated that the pending session would upload on next login, so I logged out and in and sure enough I got a message that the pending stage had been uploaded. Perhaps it's lost forever. Never mind, good job I did the practice. If my behind and local area allows me to compete next week then it give me a cracking target to try and hit i.e. take 2 minutes plus out of you!

I'm sure if my PC hadn't crashed during the race yesterday, and I'd passed you like I did today, you'd have reacted - and probably beaten me

 

[AAAC 76C]

CHAINGANG TONIGHT AT 7PM

I wont be starting the session so I'm sure someone will be along shortly with more details. You'll be looking out for Entrenamiento a la hora del almuerzo.

Should be an interesting one - its straight in with an assault on a hill followed by a long downhill which should allow time to recover a bit before the last section.
(Got my 2nd club race tonight so wish me luck! )

Rick dont save my ride today, I did in on my Classic as an expeiment and as expected I flew downhill taking minutes out of bridgy instead of the other way around. I thought I stopped before the line so I don't know if it has registred in the league or not.

Yep, I only did 32.88km of 33.03, that's about 150m short by my math

 

[Add]

Right well, just setting off to Cardiff, full of cold and trepidation. I imagine my Velothon will be a very steady one, conserving what I can for next weekend. I have warned Camlo I won't be riding with her, as our paces are so far apart, but I might actually do just that. We are starting in the same pen, so can hopefully stay together.
Just hope I don't get knocked off by any one of 15k cyclists. There are 1100 in our start pen alone.
Should be interesting, never done anything like this before....wish us luck!

 

[bridgy]

Right well, just setting off to Cardiff, full of cold and trepidation. I imagine my Velothon will be a very steady one, conserving what I can for next weekend. I have warned Camlo I won't be riding with her, as our paces are so far apart, but I might actually do just that. We are starting in the same pen, so can hopefully stay together.
Just hope I don't get knocked off by any one of 15k cyclists. There are 1100 in our start pen alone.
Should be interesting, never done anything like this before....wish us luck!

Best of luck @Add hope you and Camlo have a great day - let us know how it goes