The Beacon Message Board

You'll want to upgrade the wheels.

what a great ride through some lovely surrey countryside. Bombing through the city of London past all the famous landmarks without worrying about traffic was a real experience. Thought the start was a bit over organised. We were told to get there an hour before our start time. This only meant we wou...

Tim yep anyone able get round the wed route should give racing ago if they want. I'd prob suggest those short Concorde races to start with or BCC to a really good crit late April each year which is 4th cat only. As far as turbos and rollers go, i don't use either. I own rollers but use them more for...

Tim I wasn't suggesting the ride is a waste of time, merely that those still doing it in the middle of racing season and hoping it will help them in a Sunday race might be wasting there time. This ride is good training pre season and during breaks from blocks of racing, which is when you'll find me ...

As a very occasional participant of this ride, I'd like to offer my opinion (aka stick my ore in) The ride either needs to be a quality training ride or a fast bike ride. It can't be both. Anyone using it as a training ride for racing is wasting their time, in my opinion. Those who are looking to im...

andrew clayton wrote:great to be riding with a sizable bunch from the club. Good to meet a few new faces too.

It was nice to meet you andy, you were looking pretty strong. Hope to see you at a few more RR's soon.

Depends on work for me. If you do race Curborough, make sure you stay near the front from the start. Every time I've raced it the break has always got away. There's usually a head wind up the finishing straight so if you're chasing to close gaps you'll have your work cut out. Also there's a sort of ...

If Froome and contador crash out my money would be on Richie Porte or Cadel Evans

Well done! 70 Riders!! Christ that's some turn out for a Thursday night. No wonder there was a pile up. Me and Lee Marrow raced Mallory all season last year the most we had was 25-30. Talk about the Wiggo effect. It's a great circuit and should be safer than it is. Tuesday nights are 2nd and 3rd cat...

I'll have what he's having!

Great achievement to amass so many points so early in the season. Be interested to see results later in the season against the E/1/2's. Also be interesting to hear what his training plan was like pre season.

But what were you doing, Gary? Chatting to 148? (Who is that btw?)

I've raced behind that arse often enough to be sure that 148 is Doug.[/quote]

At this time of year you will gain no benefit from high intensity sessions such as spinning Surely once a week is OK? I didn't waste £25 on 10 sessions of it did I? :roll: :wink: You will obviously get some benefit from doing it once a week. But you will only suffer burn out if you did it everyday,...

Graham Obree says "training is not good for you. Training followed by the correct recuperation and nutrition is good for you." At this time of year you will gain no benefit from high intensity sessions such as spinning, for when it counts (spring and summer). All you will do is burn out or injure yo...

Damn Shame about Rabobank. There is no way they have pulled out over the USADA report, that's just a smoke screen. It's so strange they stood by the dirty dopers of the past (Dekker, Rasmusen etc) but now the sport is undoubtedly cleaner they decide to pull out!! Millar is right, they choose to run ...

I'm just wondering if Nike are now trying to distance themselves due to the allegations of hush money being paid to Verbruggen?

I can't wait for the next LA book. Probably titled " told you it wasn't about the bike "

Hammond was on the team in 2005-2006. All of the former team mates say they were clean from 2006 onwards. So that leaves 2005. Did Hammond actually race with LA in 2005? If not then he's not likely to have been offered PED's. I believe Hammond and therefore why would USADA want his testimony? LA isn...

ok, putting 26 eye witness statements to one side. Lets just assume they are all liars.

What is your explanation for the £1m (bank statements proving the payments are enclosed in the USADA report) paid to Dr Farrari during a time when Armstrong has been on record as saying he never worked with him?

I see Phil Liggett thinks along the same lines as i do and i notice Landis lost his case against the UCI. Will be interesting to see what the UCI decide to do. I for one hope they won't just take the word of riders who cut a deal. You and Mr Liggett must be the only two people left in the world wit...

Giordana do full range of kids kit. If the club decide to move to them as kit supplier I should be able to secure some for him.

Well done, indeed!

However has anyone actually seen or heard from Gary since? I'm desperate to get hold of him regarding the current clothing situation.

I'm not fussed either way with Lance. Not a fan, not a hater. But what is clear is this: Lance was given the opportunity to defend the accusations that he doped through the court of arbitration. HE has decided not to and in doing so has accepted the charges and punishment that go with it. Now if tha...

My commitment to the sport has been seriously tested this week. 2 crashes and racing in foul wet weather conditions isn't really my idea of fun. However, onwards I plodded up to Mallory Park last night. The forcast wasn't too bad, maybe a light rain shower, possibly not. What greeted us was a monsoo...

Q rings are currently offering 30 day money back guarantee. If not 100% satisfied you can send them back for a refund. Worth a try then I'd say

Lee Marrow and me raced Mallory Park again last night. It was a smaller field, about 25, than last week. It was a stronger field too with some big powerful riders who blew the thing to bits from the start. It was fast, over 25mph avg and probably the hardest race i've done so far. However me and Lee...

You can pay extra (£5, i think) on the night for a provisional license but you won't get any points, i don't think. If you are going to do a lot of racing then buying a license will be more cost effective, but if you want to try before you buy then just pay a bit extra on the night. Entry is on the ...

Tim Having ridden a few circuit races now and also a Road Race, I can say the safest Circuit so far is Mallory Park, but its also the fastest and blustery. It's like a big interval training session. Although the Road Race was a lumpier course and a lot longer (57 miles) and faster (25.5mph avg with ...

Well done Doug! In the points then now.

Good results lads, well done.

I'm coming training with you boys in the off season!

Lee Marrow and myself took a trip over to Mallory Park on Thursday evening to race the 4th Cat Crit. It was Lee's first race after a 20 YEAR absence and also his first of the season. It was the first time either of us had raced at Mallory park. The weather was fab, although the track was exposed whi...

Gary Mac, Doug and myself turned up along with about 25 other riders for this one last night. This was the first time I'd raced on this circuit and i couldn't believe the two hairpin bends. There's sure to be a crash on one of those, I thought. The wind was a big factor too as the field got strung o...

Ha ha! I have to say I really enjoyed the racing. It was faster than the previous Vic Park meeting 3 weeks ago. Doug's comedy moment was hilarious. Almost as funny as me on the final lap of the second race. I went round the outside on the bend before the back straight and shouted to doug to get in m...

Hi Doug

Am thinking of dipping my toes in this year. Staying upright and injury free will be the goal!!

I'm looking at the 4th Cat only stuff so the Victoria Crits and Birmingham Crit.

Could do with some tips on training and tactics etc if you'd like to help?

Yep its definitely THE Steve Jones. Him and Andy come out on the BCC Saturday morning ride sometimes, really nice guys. Andy is an ex pro too and they are both really helpful and offer hints and tips to us not so ex pro's!! I think the shop is doing very nicely judging by the number of new pinarello...

Hi Tim I've been using the cateye v3 for a couple of years now. Can't fault it really. Gives you a load of info inc. HR and Cadance. It has a lap button too which is good if you want specific data from your interval training etc. Only thing it doesn't do is tell you where you are or how to get home ...