The Beacon Message Board

The re-classification seems like a good move. I do hope that leaders come fwd and support this. I can't be there as I am racing on Sunday. There are a couple of races around the Pinvin area if anyone is over that way. 10.00 am start from Bishampton village Hall.

These are my plans for the next few months. All LVRC. Any thoughts on BC events that might be appropriate to join in with you lads and lassies? Or any of these events take your fancy oh peoples over 40? EVENTS- MY CALENDAR 10:07 Sun, 19 Mar 2017 La Fleche WAltonne rr E/F/G STALLARD ONIMPEX UK, BIORA...

Not too sure what to make of those NP figures. Actual P for race was 200W so an upgrade to 260+ sems excessive. GC is an excellent programme but I struggled to hold 250W on a 20min FTP test earlier in the season! Good stuff youngsters. This page is doing it's job. I had no idea what was going on in ...

Rode this on Sunday 19 March. Percy Stallard event with cats E-G. Racing alongside Steve Jolley (National age group E Champion), John French (1981 National 50m Champion), Joey Williamson (European age Cat RR champion) etc. Could be a tadd fast. Hard course and very windy, which had deep section rimmed bikes careering over the road. First attack went almost from the gun. Steve Jolley, John French, Joey Williamson and 3 others, all Cat E. Several others tried to get across but boy were they moving. I waited then jumped. Eyeballs out for a long pull. Just made it to them then hung on the back. Went through a couple of times but this felt out of my league. Sat on the back of the break for about a mile but was on or near the red zone despite sitting in. Suicide loomed as I went up a slight drag at over my FTP by some way. I took the practical view of the event as a whole and dropped off. It was some time before the bunch caught up. I rested for a while before completing the first lap and coming to the finish point. Oh no, another 1 km, uphill finish like last race! Hard going and when we crested the steepest part, eyes bulging, heart-rate maxing out, that is where they placed the yellow flag. I can hear the organisers saying “Now start your sprint if you can, still going uphill!â€￾ I was not looking forward to the next 3 laps let alone the finish sprint. Numerous attacks came and went. Tim Crumpton went late in the race. I carefully let him go as people sat on me. Not my age cat, not my problem. People gave half hearted chase. All that remains is the final miles. A very narrow road led to the uphill finish. Hectic doesn’t really describe it. I saw one rider try to muscle through on the outside before being pushed gently into the grass verge just in front of me. People at the front not ready to go too early, those at the back bunching up and cursing. I sat 3rd or 4th row back. The hill appeared, people jumped I just sat on and then people started to go backwards and I was leading the uphill sprint! I reached the yellow 200m flag and tried to go again. A rider squeezed past me in last few metres but I had nothing left to give. Hope he was a cat E rider! He wasn’t. It was Joe Rowe new addition to the F cats. 2nd in F cats I think. Wrong. At the presentation I had only come third. Someone who was an F cat rider had snuck off on that last lap and I hadn’t noticed.
All in all very pleased. Not doing the volume of work of last year and most of what I am doing is short, track stuff and indoor trainer.

For the stat geeks
Time 1:50:54 Distance 62km Speed 33km/hr NP 262W TSS 239
Max P 807W 1 min P 521W

Although i have not been on many club rides due to racing (and travelling to observe the humiliation at Goodison Park this WE), from my observation a large section of the B riders are more than capable of moving onto the A ride (although some of them might have to slow down a bit)! It reminds me of ...

Laurence re heading rustling; I don't mind at all. Good idea. Re Darley Moor. Looks good. Next weeks race full but I will look at some of the others although 3rd cat will almost certainly be too much for ageing legs and lungs akin to yesterday's birthday party balloons. What's the course like? Matt ...

First race of the year and the first of 7 races in the LVRC over 65 series of 2017. Weather atrocious but still drove down to Towcester. (Quote Carolyne Clegg I can't even get the dogs to go out for a walk! Several riders rode in capes! I went for the bare legs look a la Keith Adcock! LVRC race repo...

I might try a repeat FTP test next week as its months since I did my first when I got 271 W. Strava currently thinks it should be 302 W. Eek :shock: My excuse for not repeating is illness and that it has been so friggin hot all summer, even at 0500 dawn that I fear I'd cook Good grief, those figure...

All this research and technical talk from Dave means that he never has to leave his " man room", make the tea, do the garden or clean the house. Is there a section in his power meter books that gives him some advice on these things?
Anne

Thanks Steve. You have been looking at the LVRC web site I take it. It was a daunting 2 days despite the winning start in the scratch race. Kept dropping points and ended up having to rescue a podium place by doing well in the points race. Not my favourite event. (Too much hard work needed)! In the ...

I have a similar philosophy re ALL insurance. The key for any insurance I have is; a) is it a legal requ' to have it, or b) would the loss be so great that i couldn't afford the price of replacement, (house). Boiler, bikes etc I forget it usually. Put money each month into an account called insuranc...

The starter (Dave Hughes?) decides on the day if you are roadman or not.

Oh the power!

I did the Monday night session a few times. Very good and divided into two ability groups. They are as hard as you want them to be for many of the exercises.

I have no comparison with any of the other SQT sessions.

David Cole wrote: Of course avoid doing this over Christmas as I don't want to make it an obsession.

OMG. You're killing me Dave.

A complex issue. I am only 5'7" but my lean racing weight is 80Kg (12.5 St). And that was my optimum racing weight as a teenager too. Last year managed to get down to 79Kg as the lowest I can remember but that is mainly due to muscle atrophy. Age is a cruel thing. I remember when I had BIG legs! Thi...

In general, when I try to do longish intervals at or around threshold on the road, I find that my average power for the interval is usually a bit below the target (usually due to a car pulling out, or a slightly downhill section where it's hard to maintain the power), whereas on the turbo I can get...

Tim wrote: hopefully we can chose one when Stu is on holiday again

... and when Croggan is crocked, Clegg is abroad, Ravenscroft is otherwise engaged, etc etc. Then us oldies might finish within a lap!

Anne and I will be there a well. Jess.

Am I too late to order stuff. I meant to order it on Friday but we have been at Newport velodrome for a few days. For Dave I would like to order : Men's large long sleeved top plus large gilet . I don't have a PayPal account but will pay Steve S. when I see him on Thursday at club night. Thanks Anne...

Henri Cartier-Bresson. Ah I remember the phrase very well. As i recall, the key image was of an older gentleman jumping over a puddle caught in mid flight.

FTP OUTSIDE v TRAINER Complex and varied Many people find it harder to get high wattage indoors on trainer. Some people use two different FTP's, one for out and one for Turbo. The following has details. http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/adjusting-your-functional-threshold-power-for-indoor-r...

OK, OK yes I did forget the link, just being a bit of a drama king, building up suspense. (Note that lack of sexism there?)

https://spinwell.wordpress.com/tag/race/page/9/

Dave

Whilst idly using up yet another day on planet earth, (retired don't you know), I came across this site and images. All are to be found in the Beacon archives. However the first image does show the strength of turnout on track day. Can we get this size of turnout this year? I bet we can. (Coincident...

Brilliant stuff. Sounds pretty good for week 2! We need live streaming of the races! Is there a link to results for this and the league Stu does too so we can share that? I know no-one likes blowing their own trumpet! Currently not sure how to find results on line as they arrived via email this wee...

In response to Andy' s comment about Dave's track racing. I have known Dave for 45 years and I have never found him a "joy"!!!
Anne

A few points. The LVRC does cater for a lot of the older age group so it may be that the BC do let it lie. Not only LVRC but also some other organisations eg TLI. I think they could give some support to these bodies but as you point out they concentrate on the Elite end. It's called the Trickle down...

I agree Pete, I was responding to Tim's comment/question;

"The following is how we have done over the last decade in Road and Track British Cycling points. Don't know if we can look at LVRC too?"

As you say, there is no way of linking points at all.

I am not sure if there is any direct link between the points for LVRC and BC.

I like the motivational aspect of this table though Tim. I will keep folks up to date about what us old geezers are up to in LVRC although I think that I am the only one at the moment.

Hi Jess. Anne and I intend to come to the TT training session. 4th is best for us.

I have never done any testing so this is anecdotal, with all the usual caveats. Bought a used PX TT bike last year. I weigh 80 Kg. No perceptible flex. I put out a fair amount of power given my weight. Impressed enough to buy PX Stealth for my wife to ride the European and Worlds triathlon champs. F...

That's pretty good representation then. Onward and upwards.

Impressive.

I have entered the MAmilo for the 4th Feb. Next weeks was full and the final week's event is just a couple of days before that National Track champs so don't want to risk that.

It looks like there will be three of us there but not in all the same event.

Not really that serious Laurence, just trying to get a buzz. Track certainly does that. Can't see me doing much in the national omnium as I am up against dedicated track men and I am nowhere near to last year for my fitness. However the 'rush'from having a go at that level... As for BC racing I am a...

First things first. These stickeys are close to what I was suggesting we needed last year. Great. Only just got back into training so won’t be going v well for some months yet but going to start to race earlier than last year. I know that there is no one of even close to my age group racing so I m...

You're all mad. Mad I tell you, mad.

Too late this time Andrew, I'm grounded. Give my apologies to everyone at the track league next meet.
Anyone want to buy a almost brand new track bike?

Dave,
Is this another bike you have bought!!
I saw you taking it out of the loft- is this where you hide everything you don't want me to see?
Do other wives/ partners have the same problem?
Anne

Precisely Laurence.

You are quite right Andy. The main objective of riding a bike is enjoyment. For me the second is health and third the competitive edge. For some the competition may be the key driving force and the health and enjoyment benefits are a by-product of that. I just enjoy watching talent develop. Don't ta...

Cheers Tim. Look fwd to it.

So easy to get bogged down in all the detail here but the advice from Slogfest is noteworthy. Just taking 0.95 x 20 mins Power and calling this the FTP is the way to inflated figs. (Good for ego / boasting, v bad for longer efforts dependant on declared FTP). Do it properly la Croggan and you wont g...

I'm intrigued Laurence, what on earth is the traffic like around Spaghetti Junction and Tyburn Rd at that time of night. I used to hate driving around there coming home from work let alone commuting and as for training....

Andy I hope that fits in with your busy racing schedule. Long ground out miles can play havoc with ultimate top speed. I've got you down as favourite to win the 10, 25, 50, and BAR, as well as RR and Crit champs. Hows the FTP, about 290 at the mo? Craig about time you got a number on your back as we...

OK Tim, happy to go or not, to suit the group needs. Obviously need clarification closer to the date. Happy to assist with the session in whatever way the coaches see fit.

Andrew I am currently in discussion with the Arena / coaches re exemptions. Simon was impressed so I shall see what happens!

Looking at those numbers, I happily recind my place for a newbie. Enjoy.

OMG, behave George.

Hi Andrew, just what I was looking at. May be a little crazy at my age but looks like good fun. As the Dr Pepper ad said, "what's the worst that can happen". Besides which I've bought the bike now! Just going to negotiate with Derby re how much accreditation needed. Off down the gym to pump massive ...

The Shirley said last year that they probably had done their last promotion of this event. They have been doing it for a very long time.

Same as Stuart, put me down for March but will stand aside for any newbies that want to try. I always try to encourage everyone to have a go at many different disciplines of the sport and you might just find an aspect that ticks your boxes. Racing anyone?