Club Ride - Saturday 27th April

After our trip to the Test Valley last week it's back to a ride around the forest this week.

Depart 0900 Brockenhurst

Route as follows
Brock, Wilverley, Burley, Crow, Poulner, Moyles Court, Ogdens, Hyde, Stuckton, Godshill, Wood Green, Hale, Lover, Lyburn, Nomansland, Furzey, Newbridge, Bartley, Ashurst, Colbury, Beaulieu, Bucklers Hard, East End, Pilley, Sway, Brock.

About 65 miles and we'll be aiming for 17-18 MPH average

Please remember it's a group ride and we keep together, it's fine to go at your own pace up the hills and re-group but we don't want a repeat of last weeks split in the group.

For those with Garmins route is at:

http://connect.garmin.com/course/3399979

Hope to see you Saturday

Barry

Thursday Night Chain Gang - 25th April

Chain gang on as usual this week. As the days get longer we will push the start time back to 1845 this week which will hopefully allow more to join. If the numbers are large again we may split into two groups or just do so for the last leg from Burley to Brock.

Please arrive ready warmed up and don't forget lights.

Depart frm St Saviours Church in Brockenhurst.

Regards

Barry

Thursday Night Chain Gang - 18th April

Chain gang is on as usual this Thursday. Depart 1830 from Brockenhurst. Same course as last two weeks. If we get similar numbers to last week we'll probably split into two different pace groups. Please arrive warmed up and ready to go. Don't forget lights as it's getting a bit dusky when we finish.

If you've not tried it please come along, even if you think it's too hard hang on for as long as you can and you'll get a hard training session and with the adaptation from that stress it will help you improve.

Hope to see another strong turnout on Thursday.

Barry

Club Ride - Saturday 20th April

This week we're going to head out of the forest and up the Test Valley. Plan is for 0900 depart form Brockenhurst.

Head up Ornamental Drive and out towards Fritham and then up to Stockbridge and beyond for about 65 miles at around 17MPH.

I rode past Bolderwood / High Corner yesterday and saw no roadworks signs on the Frtiham / Ocknells Plain old airport road re the resurfacing. I'm planning on using that road both ways on Saturday so if anybody has seen any closure signs please let me know so I can replan.

Probable Garmin route at

http://connect.garmin.com/course/3328163

Check mail / blog later in the weeks in case there are late changes.

Regards

Barry

Thursday Night Chain Gang - 11th April

The chain gang will be running again this Thursday. We had a good group of 5 last week. Feel free to come along for all or part of the ride. Depart will be 1830 sharp from St Saviours Church in Brockenhurst so please arrive already warmed up and ready to go.

Remember lights and hi-vis as there may be some light rain around.

Barry

Club Ride - Saturday 13th April

No actual club ride planned this week. A lot of club members will be riding in the Wiggle Sportive from Brockenhurst this weekend so good luck to all those who are. Remember to wear club kit and promote the image of good cycling in the area.

If you're not riding the Wiggle and want an informal group ride leave a comment below with a plan and others may join you.

Barry

Club Ride - Saturday 6th April

Apologies for the late email but plan for tomorrows ride is as follows:

Start point - BURLEY cricket Ground 0900, give those from the wild west a lay in and an easy start for once. If you're going to start form Brockenhurst then 0830.

This weeks route takes in some new roads to us, apologies but I've not had chance to ride all of the course as I had planned and I am on a PT course this weekend so won't be there to experience so I'd appreciate some feedback. Hopefully Justin will be riding and he may have a better knowledge of the roads between Salisbury, Alderbury and Woodgreen.

Burley Cricket Ground.
Crow, Ringwood, Moyles Court, Harbridge, Alderholt, Sandleheath, Rockbourne, Coombe Bissett, Odstock, Salisbury, Alderbury, Downtown, Woodgreen, Godshill, Stuckton, Mockbeggar then option,

1) Back via Moyles Court, Ringwood, Crow for 48 miles or
2) Red Shoot, Bolderwood, Brockenhurst for 60 miles


Garmin file at: http://connect.garmin.com/course/3221247

Route is 60 miles, as we're out of base and into build / pre race phase I would normally be advising to increase the pace a little and do a few zone 4 efforts in the ride. However, I've just been out for a ride and I think the wind will ensure that the effort levels will do this just sustaining normal group riding.

Have a good ride

Barry

Thursday Night Chain Gang

Now that the evenings are getting brighter and we’re turning up the intensity of our training the Chain Gang training ride will re-start on Thursday evenings. Thursday has been chosen as to best fit between Tuesday night TT’s and weekend racing / long rides. The rides will involve a 15 minute warm up followed by an hour of group riding at speed. The rules of the chain gang are harsh but fair. If you’re dropped or have a simple puncture it is up to you to find your own way home, if you crash, are ill or have a serious mechanical the group will stop.

For those of you not familiar with the Chain Gang it can best be described as a road version of a team pursuit or a team time trial. Each rider takes a short turn riding on the front and then moves to the back and takes shelter from the wind. Riding this way enables the group to travel faster than individuals and also practices skills needed for road / circuit racing. Newbies welcome, guidance will be given for those new to the discipline. Those that rode last year certainly improved their skills and fitness over the summer.

There are, however ways in which different abilities are catered for in a chain gang, the stronger riders will take longer turns at the front. Depending on the groups we have I would think that the initial training rides will be running at around 20MPH and in a month or so towards 22-23MPH. If numbers are high we will split into smaller groups so that we are not a hazard to other road users. In such cases we will try and match the fitness of riders as best as possible.

We have practiced this drill a number of times on the Saturday endurance rides and those that ride on the track are well experienced in this discipline and those of you that rode the 2-up also. I propose to run the first couple of rides as training rides so everybody cab practice the drill and become familiar with the course. I would also appreciate riders who are experienced at riding in pace lines to join in and improve the quality of the group with their experience. On those two rides we will practice the drills for riding in single and double pace lines so that we can ride hard but safely through the summer.

These rides will require a high level of discipline so please read below what is expected of you:

What to bring:

Road bike, riding on tri bars and being late on the brakes will not be appreciated by other riders. Remember you are responsible for your safety and those around you.

Tubes / pump / multi tool. If you puncture, hard luck. You are responsible for your own repairs.

Mobile phone. If you have a serious problem please call ride leader. If you drop off please text ride leader so we don’t have to turn back fearing the worst.

Lights / reflective clothing. We will be out near dusk on the early rides.

Money, some rides may finish at local pubs.

Drink / energy food.

Do’s and Dont’s

Be aware that everything you do has a knock-on effect on everyone behind and beside you. If you brake out of turn this will have a concertina effect and disrupt the whole group.

Never half wheel. When you hit the front, keep the pace consistent, if climbing keep the effort consistent.

When you come through for your turn and move over to the recovering line, do so smoothly and close to the rider you are taking over from. Don’t leave them with a massive gap.

Don’t leave gaps. If you are struggling to close a gap, wave the rider behind you through.

Don’t nail yourself trying to do super-hard turns if the pace is above what you are capable of or you know you are tiring. If you start to get dropped, the group will have to slow down to look after you, or in some cases you will be dropped. Or you may be able to follow the group whilst you recover.

Show your respect for other cyclists and the drivers with whom we share the road. Remember we represent cycling in the New Forest and want to enhance the reputation of cyclists not hinder it.

If you need to spit, makes sure you’re at the back of the line!

Logistics

We learned last year that having one course that we all knew well worked best. So the meeting point will be outside St Saviours Church in Brockenhurst each week. The ride will start promptly without a warm up so please do your own warm up routine before the prescribed start time.

The course will run anti-clockwise, up Rhinefield Road to the A35, then ride easy and single file to the Burley turning, re-start at the top of the first rise and continue to the Queens Head, re-group at the top of the hill by Burley Cricket Club and then continue to Brockenhurst or maybe a little beyond up the Rhinefield Road if we want a longer turn.

We will have to navigate the pinch points between Hinchelsea and Brock but hopefully at the time of day we're riding they will be quiet. If you're on the front try and anticipate well in advance whether we should go or ease off.

The first rides will start at 1830 and as daylight improved move to 1845 / 1900. Details each week will be posted at http://nfcc-training.blogspot.co.uk/ as will any cancellations for bad weather.

Look forward to seeing you out on Thursday evenings.

Barry

07711 631826

barry.wootten@gmail.com