3/4 Cat Road Races 2012
Moderators: Beacon RCC, David Cole, martin mc, JessRJ
3/4 Cat Road Races 2012
Here are a list of the 3/4 Cat races I'm thinking of entering next year. Don't know what other people have planned? I don't fancy entering the Curbourough circuit races as the circuit last year was ropey. There are still a load to go on the calendar-the Stourport Series dates on Tuesday evening (which we are helping with) haven't gone on yet. Also I haven't seen the South Shropshire Thursday night races, which Jon and Gareth usually do, on the BC calendar:
24 Mar 12
Victoria Park Criterium 2012 View races
Warwickshire
Closed Circuit
8 Apr 12
Two Counties Road Race View races
Shropshire
Road
14 Apr 12
Victoria Park Criterium 2012 View races
Warwickshire
Closed Circuit
22 Apr 12
Gerry Hughes Memorial Road Race View races
Worcestershire
Road
29 Apr 12
Birmingham Circuit Races View races
Birmingham
Closed Circuit
13 May
Halesowen A&CC Road Race 2012
Part of Series: West Midlands League View races
Stourport-on-severn
Road
27 May 12
Climb on Bikes Spring Road Race 2012 View races
Herefordshire
Road
6 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No 1 View races
Wishaw
Road
10 Jun 12
Stourbridge CC Road Race View races
Stourport-on-severn
13 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No 2 View races
Wishaw
Road
17 Jun 12
Stafford Grand Prix View races
Stafford
Road
20 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No.3 View races
Wishaw
Road
8 Jul 12
Paramount CRT Summer Bontrager Road Race View races
Telford
Road
24 Mar 12
Victoria Park Criterium 2012 View races
Warwickshire
Closed Circuit
8 Apr 12
Two Counties Road Race View races
Shropshire
Road
14 Apr 12
Victoria Park Criterium 2012 View races
Warwickshire
Closed Circuit
22 Apr 12
Gerry Hughes Memorial Road Race View races
Worcestershire
Road
29 Apr 12
Birmingham Circuit Races View races
Birmingham
Closed Circuit
13 May
Halesowen A&CC Road Race 2012
Part of Series: West Midlands League View races
Stourport-on-severn
Road
27 May 12
Climb on Bikes Spring Road Race 2012 View races
Herefordshire
Road
6 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No 1 View races
Wishaw
Road
10 Jun 12
Stourbridge CC Road Race View races
Stourport-on-severn
13 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No 2 View races
Wishaw
Road
17 Jun 12
Stafford Grand Prix View races
Stafford
Road
20 Jun 12
Concorde Road Race No.3 View races
Wishaw
Road
8 Jul 12
Paramount CRT Summer Bontrager Road Race View races
Telford
Road
- John Sanderson
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 27 Nov 2006 21:35
- Real Name:
- Location: Colchester, Essex
Im also looking to give some 4th cats a go IF I can find the time to crank up more regular longer training rides.
So some (at least one!) of the following:
March
Sun 4th def doing Mad March Hare
Sat 24th Victoria Park
April
Sun 29th Birmingham Circuit Races
May
Tues 15th Stourport
Tues 29th Stourport
June
Weds 6th Concorde
Tues 12th Stourport
Weds 13th Concorde
Weds 20th Concorde
Tues 26th Stourport
July
Tues 10th Stourport
Tues 24th Stourport
August
Tues 7th Stourport
I also would be happy to hear any tactics and practical tips. Im just wanting to give it a go this year to see if I enjoy and how far off the pace I am. I went to watch the Birmingham Circuit 4th Cat last year and it looked pretty tough going!
So some (at least one!) of the following:
March
Sun 4th def doing Mad March Hare
Sat 24th Victoria Park
April
Sun 29th Birmingham Circuit Races
May
Tues 15th Stourport
Tues 29th Stourport
June
Weds 6th Concorde
Tues 12th Stourport
Weds 13th Concorde
Weds 20th Concorde
Tues 26th Stourport
July
Tues 10th Stourport
Tues 24th Stourport
August
Tues 7th Stourport
I also would be happy to hear any tactics and practical tips. Im just wanting to give it a go this year to see if I enjoy and how far off the pace I am. I went to watch the Birmingham Circuit 4th Cat last year and it looked pretty tough going!
- John Sanderson
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 27 Nov 2006 21:35
- Real Name:
- Location: Colchester, Essex
'Tactics' is perhaps a bit advanced for 4th cat racing (not to be dismissive) but if you haven't raced before:
1. The race will start fast and then slow down - so hang on in there for the first few laps.
2. Crashes are not inevitable but you are best to place yourself as far up the pack as possible to avoid getting caught up in anything that does happen.
3. In crits a more technical circuit could be safer - Vic Park for example is a big flat egg shaped loop so people don't get dropped even if they aren't that experienced. Racing on circuits with lots of tight corners can sort out the better bike handlers...
There's every chance that it'll end in a bunch sprint. If there is going to be a crash it might well be in the last lap. Personally when I was starting out I used to sit up once the bell went on the basis i'd be aiming to stick the pace for the length of the race and didn't want to get caught up in any last lap chaos...!
1. The race will start fast and then slow down - so hang on in there for the first few laps.
2. Crashes are not inevitable but you are best to place yourself as far up the pack as possible to avoid getting caught up in anything that does happen.
3. In crits a more technical circuit could be safer - Vic Park for example is a big flat egg shaped loop so people don't get dropped even if they aren't that experienced. Racing on circuits with lots of tight corners can sort out the better bike handlers...
There's every chance that it'll end in a bunch sprint. If there is going to be a crash it might well be in the last lap. Personally when I was starting out I used to sit up once the bell went on the basis i'd be aiming to stick the pace for the length of the race and didn't want to get caught up in any last lap chaos...!
It's all about the bike.
- John Sanderson
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 27 Nov 2006 21:35
- Real Name:
- Location: Colchester, Essex
I think I raced there 5 times or so, doing 2 30K races each time, and saw an accident in every single race I was in. Fabians accident was particularly nasty - and rather upsetting to see!I well remember Fabian's nasty crash there - that wasn't a happy day for Beacon road-racers as I recall, John, was it?
It's all about the bike.
-
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 20 Nov 2006 15:19
- Real Name:
- Location: Birmingham (south)
-
- Posts: 29
- Joined: 20 Nov 2006 15:19
- Real Name:
- Location: Birmingham (south)
Ed.........Sounds like you had a very bad experience at Mallory Park. To be honest, when i took Philip there a few times, he really enjoyed it. The only comment he made, was that he found the tight chicane (The Bustop) between Shaws Hairpin and Devils Elbow a bit tricky. The problem being that Devils Elbow is only a few yards after, and means getting up to max speed 35-40 mph which takes one hell of a lot to do in a few yards.
NB I don't recall the bin you mention, and the bend (the esses) before the finish is very easy
NB I don't recall the bin you mention, and the bend (the esses) before the finish is very easy
I road concorde and birmingham circuit last year and they weren't bad-both were loops on quiet open roads but both had some tightish corners. Stourport is quite good but it does have 2 banked hairpins that can get a bit squashed. I didn't like the curbourough track at all.
My I only did 2 4th Cat races last year-the rest were 3 and 4. A lot of races end up in a bunch sprint but you do get breaks. I found that the 3/4 races were faster and the bunches tighter packed. You'll be finding your feet in the first few just staying in the bunch and getting used it.
I think it's all about positioning and tactics-too far back and you miss what is going on and can end up chasing on all the time but to far forward and you can knacker yourself out in the wind. The other thing was following the right wheels-if you get boxed in you can't respond or not get out when riders come around. Being familiar with the course is also good-where to break or start the sprint.
Having spoken and raced with Jon and Gareth helped-watching where they positioned themselves, wheels they followed, how they broke etc. They have raced loads-it seems to be the more races you do the more experineced you become and the better you race.
My I only did 2 4th Cat races last year-the rest were 3 and 4. A lot of races end up in a bunch sprint but you do get breaks. I found that the 3/4 races were faster and the bunches tighter packed. You'll be finding your feet in the first few just staying in the bunch and getting used it.
I think it's all about positioning and tactics-too far back and you miss what is going on and can end up chasing on all the time but to far forward and you can knacker yourself out in the wind. The other thing was following the right wheels-if you get boxed in you can't respond or not get out when riders come around. Being familiar with the course is also good-where to break or start the sprint.
Having spoken and raced with Jon and Gareth helped-watching where they positioned themselves, wheels they followed, how they broke etc. They have raced loads-it seems to be the more races you do the more experineced you become and the better you race.
Just seen the Birmingham Circuit Race which would prob have been my first ever 4th cat race clashes with the Little Mountain Time Trial! I like the hills and would like a time on the board to compare with next year so think I will do the time trial.
Would the people recommend the stourport or concorde as a first race?
Cheers
Tim
Would the people recommend the stourport or concorde as a first race?
Cheers
Tim