Team BKool CycleChat

[<Tommy>]

I might be wrong but last nights chaingang was ideal for drafting. Unless Rick chooses a string of pancake flat courses is it likely to result in that much drafting? Unless people make a concerted effort to maintain contact around the hillier parts I can't see it. Obviously in a genuine chaingang ride it's a group effort more than a race. Maybe it would be more effective, if the goal is to draft, to move away from racing on chaingang sessions?

 

[Soarerv8]

Already getting excited about the 2025 Christmas Handicap Special. Is it Qatar hosting it?

Saving up for a bigger fan.

 

[bridgy]

I like the racing and I think the drafting discussions are really just about tactics - when to try and draft, who to draft with, when to make a break for it etc etc. And the differing terrain of the chainggang rides is great for mixing it all up - and as you say, long flat sections like in yesterday's race do lend themselves to drafting with those near you. Have you seen the profile of the next stage? A couple of minor hills at the start then mostly downhill or flat with most of the climbing right at the start this time - going to be interesting tactics again!

 

[Add]

I might be wrong but last nights chaingang was ideal for drafting. Unless Rick chooses a string of pancake flat courses is it likely to result in that much drafting? Unless people make a concerted effort to maintain contact around the hillier parts I can't see it. Obviously in a genuine chaingang ride it's a group effort more than a race. Maybe it would be more effective, if the goal is to draft, to move away from racing on chaingang sessions?

Telling this lot to not race, is like telling Soarer to step away from the cake! Pointless!

 

[bridgy]

Telling this lot to not race, is like telling Soarer to step away from the cake! Pointless!

Yeah. That too!!

 

[Bonno]

That **cked my head...you are now in your 60's and riding like that!!! holy cow..... I am 15 years behind you..

It's all down to my healthy outdoor lifestyle

 

[bobinski]

Already getting excited about the 2025 Christmas Handicap Special. Is it Qatar hosting it?

Yep, and our own Geoff will no longer be grumbling about us questioning our handicaps having descended into Sep Blatter style shenanigans & taking bribes to elicit a favorable handicap place

 

[Soarerv8]

Telling this lot to not race, is like telling Soarer to step away from the cake! Pointless!

Big section of downhill in next week's chain gang, that cake will probably prove to be quite a strong strategic decision.

 

[RickB]

I might be wrong but last nights chaingang was ideal for drafting. Unless Rick chooses a string of pancake flat courses is it likely to result in that much drafting? Unless people make a concerted effort to maintain contact around the hillier parts I can't see it. Obviously in a genuine chaingang ride it's a group effort more than a race. Maybe it would be more effective, if the goal is to draft, to move away from racing on chaingang sessions?

I like the racing and I think the drafting discussions are really just about tactics - when to try and draft, who to draft with, when to make a break for it etc etc. And the differing terrain of the chainggang rides is great for mixing it all up - and as you say, long flat sections like in yesterday's race do lend themselves to drafting with those near you. Have you seen the profile of the next stage? A couple of minor hills at the start then mostly downhill or flat with most of the climbing right at the start this time - going to be interesting tactics again!

View attachment 120072

I try to mix it up best I can but also try to find courses that leave the hills to near the end of a session to encourage some teamwork. Doesn't pan out that way a lot of the time obviously, but there's been several times now that Bill and I have drafted together along with others.

Drafting is more common when you get three or four of similar ability close together as one person simply cant blow away the others on his own (unless they use the on/off technique). I still lose out on the hills quite often but on the flats my watts are close to a number of riders on here.

Next weeks could be interesting if people dont get too split up by the initial climb. (PS: I wont be riding it as I've another Duathlon on Saturday 5th - on a Mountain bike this time)

 

[gbrown]

Yep, and our own Geoff will no longer be grumbling about us questioning our handicaps having descended into Sep Blatter style shenanigans & taking bribes to elicit a favorable handicap place

Sod waiting until 2025, I'm open to bribes for next Tuesday...

 

[Roleur1]

That's exactly what I was hoping you would do when I was sat just a few seconds behind you for ages at the start - I just didn't have enough to reel you in but I think we'd have worked well together - would have been an interesting battle up the final hill if we had!

In the end I realised I was in no man's land between you ahead and Adam and kipster behind so I waited for them - obviously impossible to know what would have happened if I'd battled on by myself!

That will be the plan next time then Bridgy. It would be great to get into a 2/ 3 up and see if we can make the drafting pay off we are pretty close on wattage/times etc. Dangling in no mans land is no fun just for the sake of dick swinging.

I was hoping Bill and the others were going to do that for me last night......hmphhh.

 

[<Tommy>]

Yeah don't get me wrong, I wasn't suggesting we don't race, just that I suppose it's hard to predict how the drafting will pan out.

To be honest I love the competition. It doesn't kill me to lose, or make my day if I hit my target but I love the battle!

 

[cppatrik]

It's all down to my healthy outdoor lifestyle

Hahaha!
Sorry but i can't resist:

 

[bobinski]

My eyes, my eyes!!!!!

someone PLEASE remove it

 

[Roleur1]

blimey thats not right is it.....t