The Beacon Message Board

Gavin the most popular reviewer of this sort of kit is DC Rainmaker. He has an excellent reputation for accurate and unbiased opinions of most tech kit around. This is his review of the latest Garmin pedals. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/08/hands-on-garmin-vector-3-power-meter.html# If I had a cr...

Power meter training . Gavin ; I use Pedals for reading power. I like to be able to swop easily between bikes to make the most of my power meter. I put them on everything including my track bike. They also go on holiday with me. Bung in plastic bag and away they go. I use Powertap P1. Brilliant for...

View from the old Guy July - September 2017 A strange couple of months July and August turned out to be. Following the National Track champs I found it hard to get switched on to training again. You would have thought that the track success would have been such a boost that I would be champing at th...

I must stop racing soon and go on more club runs. Enjoyable, met 5 new Beacon riders and even got to go on the front a bit. Cheers Phil.

Then that is an excellent result. Many of the pure sprinters will struggle to get away / stay away in a break. From what I have sen you will soon be able to do that with some regularity. Then that impressive sprint of yours will kick in big time. I would take a lot of positives from this result.

Laurence by the time you read this you will have finished the race at MK bowl. How did it go? Best tactic is get in the first six riders into the last lap and hang on for all your worth approaching the foot of that hill. MUCH easier said than done but you go uphill well! Not sure if I have posted th...

Stuart I am genuinely in awe! I don't average those sort of speeds on my training rides! Another exceptional Beacon accomplishment!

As a fat boy at the back when it comes to hills I am truly impressed by all this HC activity. Could be a good HC season, along with all the other excellent accomplishments this year. Well done to James Tate as well.

Very sad. The remorseless march of time...

I think that I have already posted this somewhere already but to reiterate, I am racing that day (National Criterium Champs) so not able to make it. I really hope that it goes well. Surely we should have more than enough members / partners / contacts to be overloaded with help.

Sorry Dave (et al), I am racing that day. National Crit champs. Hope it all goes well for you / Beacon / riders.

Cheers for the run Barry. A super day for a bike ride. Sunny but crisp rather than hot. I am not used to this relentless distance stuff at the moment but hung on OK.On the up; Barry; leading and pace of ride. Will Woodhouse Acquitted himself very well on upscale ride On the way down; Vince Time to i...

Nicely done Laurence. I love the bit where you say " Full results are available here (you have to scroll down a bit through the age categories)". Now that is getting old!

Sorry Martin, I'm on holiday tomorrow for a couple of weeks.

Yep you are spot on Les. It is the risk / reward emphasis. As I said, I have NO issue with the innate drive that humans have to push the limits, it's what we do, and not just in sport. That is why we elect officials. What is going to be interesting is what happens from now on through. Consistency is...

Sagan the Fall Guy? Yes and no. In all walks of life, people get way with what they are allowed to get away with. Long have I heard derisive comments of footballers for diving or exaggerating injury to gain an advantage over the opposition. These players are doing the right thing for themselves/ tea...

View from the old guy- British Masters National Track Championships 2017 So this has been a full on 4 days of high level (aged) track racing at the Welsh National track Velodrome in Newport. I really didn’t know what to expect. My hope was to get on the podium at least once, get the obligatory pictu...

View from the old guy LVRC National RR Championships 25 June 2017 I had very mixed feelings about riding this event. Although one of my 2017 targets, mentally noted at the end of last year, things had developed. Anne had her main target as retaining her National sprint Triathlon title at the start o...

Dam but you're right. How did he do that? I suggest; give him the trophy, cancel the event and decide which pub we will all go to instead.

Now that is a generous HC I've got there. Very tempting!

Re B/C runs. John and I went out on B and back on C. Both runs were at completely appropriate pace I thought. C run a delight as we rambled back at a very conversation friendly rate. Cheers to Andy and Dave as leaders. Re Jemal. Poor lad had either the knock or a touch of sunstroke. After leaving yo...

Bloody marvellous, a shark in the local swimming pool. Advert for on-bike cameras?

Sunday 4th June 2017. Tommy Godwinn LVRC RR
First race back after the "off" was a Percy Stallard event. Most of the field were E cats so I knew it would be hard. In the end there were 6 E cats away and I came 8th O/A and 2nd in my Cat, losing out in the bunch sprint by a wheel.

Nice one Matt and well written, I could have been there. You do find that the higher cat races you get in the more likely they are see the break ahead as an opportunity and attempt to bridge over to a break in one's and two's. The younger, or lower cat bunch just seemed determined to pull the break ...

Thanks Martin for the organisation. Thanks to Gary for the mechanical help- I bet you won't ride behind me again. We did finish but thought our times might mess up the handicaps.
Anne

Thanks for the support guys. I have already made an addendum to current plan Martin, "At all times grip bars very tightly on British roads".

James, I take your mishap, getting trapped behind crash , and raise you ... VIEW FROM THE OLD GUY (VIA THE TARMAC) The Worcester St Johns GERRY HUGHES RR So onto Sunday’s latest test of strength. A good field for the race but unfortunately for any thoughts of me winning, a large contingent of E cat ...

VIEW FROM THE OLD GUY- TT SECTION BEACON OPEN 10 K33 10D SATURDAY MAY 13th 2017 So here we go, dressed all in full TT garb, like some gnome looking for a garden pond to fish and riding a fully rigged go faster bike, hoping to do a time that a half decent OAP would do on a mobility scooter. Bizarrely...

View from the old guy part 7 STOURPORT BC CRIT CAT 4’s TUESDAY MAY 9th 2017 I usually ride the Warwick’s eve 10 on Tuesdays for some FTP traing but this was a good chance to ride with some fellow Beaconites. Also this was being run by the Beacon (Laurence) so good to support this event. No real ...

Good rides though regardless of finishing pos'n. Both in the leading group, and finishing time in what in the Tour would call S.T.

The Derby Track league has concluded the points competition and I have won the F cat o/a winner but lost out on the over 60 cat to Mac Mcgready. The last two meetings will be a free of points event and I am switching to race with the younger riders. However looking at the speeds, they are averaging ...

Intending to ride the Masters National track champs next month, (flying 200 metres etc). Will this be a good sharpener for me?

Re Tyre science. The science is persuasive though it is important to remember that although science is the most measurable and so "provable" of life's imponderables it is also the most pragmatic in that it's main principle is any conclusions fit the current evidence only. In the future... Given that...

I've been told off for posting in the wrong location so here is my re-posted post. If you get my drift. Is this where it should be now?

View from the old guy part 7

ENVILLE – STOURBRIDGE VELO, L.V.R.C.PROMOTION
PERCY STALLARD, CATS E & F SUNDAY 7 MAY 2017

So where was I? Oh yes, view from the old guy part 6 ended thus; back from Patch’s party and going to bed early. Actually not that early as I stayed up to watch MOTD. I know, not taking things serious enough.
Sunday 7th May dawned bright and clear if a trifle sharp to start. This was a Percy Stallard event and is a key race in the LVRC calendar. I had finished second in my age Category last year which had been my first RR for 35 yrs. (13th June 1982, a 3/J race won by… John Hitchcock)!
Back to the plot. An excellent field was assembled and in my age category, along with many other strong riders was Joe Rowe who was the winner at Pinvin, Don Parry, reigning National R.R. Champion and, newly promoted to this age group, the very rapid sprinter Ralph Keeler. On top of that we were racing alongside the star packed Category E riders. Racing 4 times up Six Ashes Hill with that lot was going to be guaranteed pain.
From the off the pace up the hill was high. Several attacks went and were pulled back but eventually some of the fastest Cat E riders escaped. Crucially for me the F cats were all together. The second time up the hill the pace was unrelenting. I found myself in some trouble and dropped to the back. The elastic stretched and then, as the summit was in reach, it snapped. I took a deep breath and latched on to Johnny Poole’s back wheel as he came past, himself distanced from the pack. John is a strong rider, so if he is in trouble… Over the top, once slightly recovered, I lifted the pace ,came round John, a good mate of mine, and shouted to him to get on my wheel. We strained every sinew, did through and off and contact was re-made with the main bunch in less than a mile. All I could do was think was, “we aren’t even half way through the race yet and another twice up that hillâ€￾. For the rest of the lap I conserved as much energy as possible. Tucked in the peloton, Crouched deep on the bars. Following wheels as tightly as I dared. By the time the lap was over there were about 5 of the fastest riders now up the road in two groups. Crucially non of the F cat riders had been able to make it off the front. I felt stronger now. The hill came and this time I was mentally more prepared for it. I employed the age old trick of going to the front of the bunch as the hill started and then dropping back towards the tail end as the hill progressed, thereby allowing myself the distance of the length of the bunch to before I would be detached. I didn’t actually need to do that as I was feeling much stronger this time up but still on the limit. An attack of three riders went clear towards the top of the hill. Ralph Keeler was one of them. Good grief he was strong! Riding away from most of the bunch on a hill. He will be giving sprinters a bad name! A chase ensued downhill. The three stayed away. I launched an attack and caught them up by diving on the inside of a car that was holding us up somewhat. (I know, I shouldn’t have). Ralph looked surprised to see me but that slow car had also towed the bunch up towards us and soon we were all back together. John Poole then attacked, got clear and stayed away. Good lad I thought, not my category! Last time up the hill the peloton seemed resigned to a sprint. All the main contenders were there. On the last lap we took the detour to the right. The 2Km uphill finishing straight came with all the F cats intact. I was lying second behind a non sprinter type rider. He was not going to figure. I glanced over my shoulder, Ralph, hard on my wheel fixed me a sprinters stare and behind him was Don Parry. I didn’t bother looking for anyone else. These were going to be the main players in the final act. The flag hove into sight and I left it as late as I thought sensible. I kicked hard but almost as soon as I did I knew it was too early. Uphill, head wind and legs that felt dead from that hill, took their toll. Ralph came by first, clear winner, then as I closed in on the line over came Don, struggling but pulling ahead almost in agonising slow motion. So third it was. Good race and beaten fair and square. Power figs show that I was considerably under my normal sprint power at the end. The race had take it’s toll but it had been the same for us all so chapeau to them all.

View from the old guy part 3.
Derby Track league Thursday 20th April. Landed from Mallorca on Wednesday night and decide to risk going to the track next day but didn’t feel very relaxed from journey etc. Managed to win both scratch races (bunch finishes) and win the points race so v pleased. However came down when lying 4th in the Elimination race. Literally, eliminated! Now lying 1st in Cat F and second O/A in over 60’s racing at the TL.

View from the old guy part 4.
Saturday 22nd April - DEREK SMITH MEMORIAL RR 10.00hrs, Halifax, HX4 8JG, Undulating!
This is part of the Over 65 year long series. I was first reserve for this and just got in. A reasonable field was assembled including some unfamiliar names that were local to the area. Read the course details with some considerable apprehension. When the organiser says undulating! Quite a long hill in the course and 10 laps so 10 x up the hill. And the finish? Yep you guessed it, finish up the hill. One for the climbers. One of the people I have got to know well pointed to a rider from CCLune and said with some quiver in his voice,â€￾he just sails up hills. He rode away from a good field the other week to win on his ownâ€￾ Great, just what I wanted to hear!
The race started with all being sensible, till that hill. Lap 1. Hanging on. One lap down, only 9 more to go. Each lap was a replica of the previous one. Unrelenting up the hill, recovery down it. Surely someone was going to just go for it (come on Mr Lune CC) and put me out of my misery. After 9 laps I realised that it was coming down to a sprint. Uphill mind but still, in with a chance of a placing. The last lap was a strange, quiet affair. The pace was brisk but no attacks. The hill came into view. The pace lifted and it only kicked off really as we went past the Yellow flag. I followed, followed and followed and then went for it. Over and past the two leading riders and waiting for the whirl of carbon wheels heralding the rapid climbers to come past. But no! 1st place and so far in this series two wins and a 2nd This one felt good. Not my terrain and not my kind of finish.

View from the old guy part 5
SATURDAY 29th APRIL
TUNSTALL WHEELERS – BRIAN ROURKE AND PRO –VISION Darley Moor
Met up with a few old and familiar face. Paul Kilbourne being someone I haven’t seen since Mallorca several years ago. Also on the card was Steve Davis of the Ferryhill Wheelers who comprehensively won the LVRC track Omnium at the start of the year. Super rider and no slouch in a gallop either. A mixture of E and F cats assembled on the line and we were off. The pace was brisk. The E cats were pushing for as break and eventually it came. I watched carefully but they were 3 Cat E’s so no need to chase. But I did! Failed and dropped back to the bunch. A cat F then attacked. I had no energy to go straight away so waited for his effort to fail like mine did. It didn’t, he got across. I attacked again with Steve Davis. Steve dropped off and I chase alone for a lap. Failed again. So to come second was the best I could do. About 5 of us worked with me trying to get some support from the back of the bunch. No Joy. A prime offer for “next lapâ€￾ destroyed any chance of pulling the leading 4 back as all refused to work with a prime on offer and that was it. A couple of E riders clipped off on the final lap and I just sat and waited. Half way round the last lap, two rather large E cat riders made their way to the front half of the bunch. Never seen at any other time in the race so it was clear what was coming next. The largest one had the physique of a rugby player and moved smoothly up to third or fourth wheel. Game on! Round the last corner and the finish line was fully 500m down the straight. And dead straight into the wind it was too. You need to hold your nerve for these. Wait for it, wait for it. Big guy hammers for the line but too early I thought, I sat on and looked round. The other sprinter guy was struggling and Rob Mattheson was glued to my wheel. With 150 to go I launched and hoped for he best. Good enough and another second place in the bag this season. However I had been well beaten by a very good rider. I made a note of his name. Someone to look out for next time.

View from the old guy part 6
Friday 5th May. Halesowen TL
Having got trapped in traffic the previous day I had not been able to race at Derby TL. This seemed like a good idea. It was so good to see the amount of riders that we have these days and for me it was a joy to have fellow riders to talk to in the famous RWG kit.So we had me, Jess, Adrian (our GL), Robin, Pete and Gavin. Also support and advice from Xavier. Then along comes Neil Jennings and that star of the track, Colin Edney.
The first race was a surprise for the massed ranks of the Halesowen contingent. “The Beacon have come mob handed. Hunting in packsâ€￾ Which was a bit rich considering they resembled a purple crowd scene from Lord of the Rings. I took a little time to settle and the went for the first sprint of the evening, just pipping a rather muscled gentleman from one of the few remaining clubs not Beacon or Halesowen. Feeling pleased at the reasonable turn of speed had not been too out of place amongst the younger contingent I then sat in for the rest of the race. Meanwhile, unknown to me Gavin had cleared off straight after my effort and stayed away for the rest of the race. Go Beacon go!
I honestly can’t remember much more of the evening but managed to get second place in the Vets and ladies event. As we went to the line I heard one of the organisers proudly say that the spread of ages for that particular race was 50 Years. The youngest being a 16 yr old girl and the oldest being 66! Now who could that be?

Gavin promptly won another race. Robin whirled round with increasing confidence and, with his ability, never in any real trouble, and Jess was Jess. Super smooth riding and whilst not yet acquired track speed you just know it is coming for her.

The last race of the evening was the hardest. The A’s and B’s were in with the rest of us but pulled for ¾ of a lap over 35 laps. It was hard. Very impressed by Adrian who refused to be dropped. He rode hard in every race and attacked numerous times. The pace, when the fast boys caught us up, was brutal but Adrian and I just about in contention until the sprint started in earnest on the last lap. Still I managed to do better than I thought I would and will be back when racing schedule permits.
Star one of the night for us was Gavin. He personally won half of the events he was entered for and quit the last race early as he was riding Darley Moor this morning (How did it go Gavin?). But I must say that star two for me was Pete Marshall. He got up and rode every event with enthusiasm and was not disgraced in any of them. An example to us all. All in all a very good night.

Bonus view from the old guy.
Just returned form my yearly ritual. Good party with Michelle, Gary Keri and Patch. Nice beer Scott. Now for that rather brutal race tomorrow. Time for bed!

I love it when you talk macho Dave. "Sort out the Marshals"

Seeing John this afternoon so will have a chat then.

Thanks for the pics, Ian, and the road bike times, Steve. Are the hill climb times going to be made available? Just checking so that I can tell this person asking the Facebook page, either way. I am not sure if John looks at the message board much Laurence so he may not respond to this post. I susp...

I know this is several weeks late but the reasoning is in the report.


View from the old guy Part 2
CC LUTON CLAYDONS CLASSIC SPRING ROAD RACE. A STALLARD ONIMPEX UK, BIORACER SERIES EVENT Milton Keynes Sunday 2nd April 2017

So now just about mentally recovered to discuss the next day’s racing fiasco. (Having won Solihull early season Crit previous day).

Sunday dawned bright and clear. The drive down was almost surreal and majestic. Sunshine, radio 3 was playing, (I kid you not), the dawn chorus LIVE from a welsh wood. Just birds waking to the new day. Bloody marvellous! And then, in an almost surreal and definitely ethereal way, the music broke in with  Joseph Parry and Richard Davies – singing Myfanwy. The day could not get much better and this was definitely going to be a good day.

The venue was superb and I have the pictures to prove it. (Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm & Eco Centre). Car parking was plentiful with an entire field and hard parking. Bloody hell. Some day in prospect eh!
Any downside? Well yes. It was a Percy Stallard and the competition was out in force. Also having to race with the E cats. Things normally pan out so that they clear off and we oldies can then enjoy ourselves. But this wasn’t a normal day. Oh dear no.
For a start off they had a hill. I mean a proper hill. Then, just to confuse me, they finished the race with a sprinters paradise. Round a rt hander and there it was, straight and flat. All I had to do was get there.
The hill killed me. Even worse, the race stayed together. Bugger off E cats, please. I blame it all on Joe Rowe. Several times the Es broke away and Joe decided to go with them. And because he was an F cat, that meant I had to chase too, along with all the other F****** F’s. This new boy to the F cats is going to be a nightmare this season. Not only did he pip me to the end of Fleche Walton, thereby taking the lead of the Percy Stallard series by a single point, but the next week, on a sprinters course, he clears off to win by minutes in the Pinvin Over 65 race. No respect that lad. But not today Joe. Not today.
I suffered up that hill. God did I suffer. Lap 2 was bad but final time up I got cramp. First in the left leg. (Ride through it dam you). Then the right as well. I almost cried. So near and yet so far. I soft peddled and dropped to the very back of the bunch. Then I was off the back. The road levelled. I made one huge effort and just made contact. All I had to do was hang in there, recover and then make my way to the front, and that finish. I could taste it.
I made it, recovered, then moved up to the front and sat there. Someone even took up the front position and just led me in. Ralph “Cipolliniâ€￾ Keeler (Cat E) tucked in behind. The F cat was going to be mine. Ignore all the Cat E’s and concentrate on the few Cat F’s left with not a sprinter amongst them. Joe Rowe eat your heart out. Not only was the lead of the Percy Stallard series up for grabs but revenge, REVENGE I say. That corner I mentioned previously was in sight. Steady, STEADY, keep calm. Wait for the yellow flag, that’s all you have to do. Then it happened. John French took a flyer. No worry, he was an E cat, not my problem. Well that was the brain talking. Unknown to the brain the body took over and there I was, going after him. WHY? I rounded him and the corner was upon me. That’s OK, just over 200m left, I knew they wouldn’t catch me. I rounded the corner and there, 200 m up the road was …not the finish line but the Yellow flag. What? Who moved that. Still 400M to go.
The rest played out in slow motion. I hit the 200 metre to go point still clear. But the legs were now cramping and I was ploughing through treacle. 100 m to go, still there. Just 50 m left and a flash of red Lycra came by, Ralph! Please god let him be so far ahead of the rest that I still have a hope. No chance. They ALL came by. My last recollection of the race was Joe, serenely and stately almost, drifting past in what felt like slow motion, on my right. Worst of all was Rob Mattheson who after the race said well done assuming I had got the bunch sprint. He hadn’t even noticed that he had passed me. Good bye Cat F win. Goodbye Percy Stallard win. Good bye Percy Stallard series lead.

It’s taken me three weeks to face up to what was a harrowing experience. All I had to do was wait ...

Registered.

I started racing again last year after a near 40 yr break. Tech had moved on massively so, having had a science based mentality all my life, I started with the research of all aspects of going faster. I am disappointed to find that my greatest advantage over the slightly less informed masses have be...

I am struggling with that one Laurence. Mind you I did't spot AC until you mentioned him!

Just found this on fb. Finish of Fleche Waltonne RR I reported on above. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRGC3L0JsDQ Video of finish from behind showing how narrow the road was. Note dog walker, car etc on RHS. I was towards the front somewhere. Notice speed drop as hill really bites and note the ye...

View from the old guy Part 1 Solihull early season Criterium Tudor Grange Saturday 1st April 2017 So now just about ready to talk about last week ends racing Saturday 1st April was the LVRC’s Solihull Early season Crit at Tudor Grange. Not too many entries so raced with D’s and E’s alongside a...

Some remarkable results here. Some records are going to go soon! So good to see the club with it's competitive teeth back in. (I do have to pop mine in the glass before I go to sleep though).

May do a couple of TT's soon but not expecting too much this season.

Tim wrote:Not slowest 36 year old Xav?

Nice try Tim

Dave, if you are really stuck I will marshall. My brother is coming up from the south coast to ride and see us. His wife doesn't ride so I was going to keep her company for a short time.
However, I am happy to help at the HQ.
Anne

Dave, I have arranged to get back from Mallorca so that I can be there. However I am helping out on the start line and then the MC'ing for results etc. Sorry I can't help with the marshalling.

Surely we can't be struggling for volunteers with a club membership of this size and so active?

The second race of the season in the over 65’s series.

The field was just for over 65’s and as such is rare and very welcome. Age starts to cause quite rapid drop off in performance after the age of 50 or so and these events are to encourage older riders by giving them something they can be competitive at.

The course was pretty well flat, heading north from Bishampton, West to Nauton Beauchamp, South towards Pinvin and heading East to finish past Throckmorton airfield. Just under 5 laps. Not feeling my usually self and more than likely complacent in my view that, come the end game, it will be a bunch sprint I didn’t wander up to the front of the race until lap 2. “Where’s the lead car ?â€￾ I enquired. “Gone with the breakaway riderâ€￾ I was told. “Breakaway rider! When did that happen?â€￾ It turned out he had gone from the gun, and no one has chased!

Finding out that it was Joe Rowe, newbie to this age cat I heaved a sigh and decided that I certainly wasn’t going to give chase. If he made it, good luck to him. Second place though still up for grabs.

Four and a bit laps later and over 2 mins down on the winner, the bunch headed into the final Km. The wind was from the front and right so I was riding in second place, to the left. Perfect. The rider in front was Ken Bradbury who beat me to silver at the national crit champs last year. There were three main sprinters, Ken, Malcolm Fraser, and Nick Selibas. Ken seemed to panic and went too early into a head wind. Rooky mistake and not one that I expected from him. The yellow flag came and went and still I had people lined up behind me. With about 150m to go I pulled out of Ken’s slipstream and gunned it to win by a length or so to take second place.

Anne video'd the sprint but no idea how to put it here so it is on the Beacon Facebook page.

I have been riding this for six meetings. Doing OK but can't get the upper hand over Geoff Cooke and Mac McCready going very well. Still doing OK for an F rider. (Need to take out that Cooke bloke. Probably need an elephant gun though)! I will miss the next meeting as I am in Mallorca. (Usually scor...