Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

Does anyone regualrly attend Heffron on Saturdays from DHBC? I'm keen to start getting some racing in there when SUVelo are not racing.

What is the timing of the grades? Do they all roll off at 3pm as per the website?

Cheers,

Noel

Sign on from 2:30pm, with rolling out from 3pm. Start times are about a minute difference.

I've raced there a fair few times but I probably won't be there the next two or three weeks. If you've never raced there I suggest going a bit early, the juniors race from 2pm but you can generally roll around the track early if you stay out of the way.

Rhys / Andrew,

Thanks for the heads up.

I'll probably give it a go this weekend if the weather is good.

After all this rain I'm keen to hit Heffron this Saturday afternoon. I'll be racing C grade. Will anyone else be going?

that's the plan

I would love to race but I've been sick all week and think an slow-long ride might be a better option

Bit of a fizzer this weekend. I ran C grade and flatted around 3 laps in. Out of interest, are you able to take a lap out with the RBCC guys for mechanicals or is that only SU Velo. I didn't have a pump, spare tube or wheel handy though but may be useful to know.

1 lap out for mechanical. But you must report to commissaire

That's a shame Noel. If only they would re-surface Heffron it would be so much nicer.

1 lap out for mechanical. But you must report to commissaire

I didn't realise you had to report to the commissaire. I have seen a few people (one larger gent in particular) feign a mechanical, and after a few squeezes of the spokes, he was back in the fray next lap.

I'll be rolling past the cafe at 2pm today if anyone wants to come racing st hefron.
Russell

Hi Russell,
Yes I plan to race. See you at the Cafe at 2pm.
cheers
Adrian

Weather permitting, I'll be racing C grade at hefron on Saturday. I'll go past the cafe at 2pm if anyone would like to join me. Russell

I'm undecided. I'm hoping to knock over as many kays as possible this weekend. Plan as it stands is LACC North Ride Sat and Waterfall Sunday.

Good luck. The weather gods are favourable at the moment. Hopefully the worst is over today.....

Noel,
Enjoy. North rides are good.
I'm trying to learn some race tactics by repeated trial and error. Base fitness can wait

I'm heading out tomorrow for RBCC in C Grade. Depending on my day (free time) i'll most likely ride over. Let me know if anyone is keen to ride over and we can meet @ Marrickville Rd Cafe.

People still leaving at 2pm from the Cafe this Saturday?
Never been to Heffron, let alone race there. Would like to try out in a D grade race. Assume that is where one starts.

Marc, they will drop you in C Grade if new. Planning on going out this weekend?

Haven't even ridden the course before, assume theyd at least put me in something easier. C grade seems pretty steep to me seeing that the Fasties are riding B grade.
How does this thing work? Need info.

Marc, have confidence. I think C would suit you given how long you've been riding and your strength. May not take a win right aways but D would be too easy for you.

D grade at the moment is mainly juniors and women. Average speed around 30 to 31 km/h. Usually less than a handful of riders. You choice but I would suggest c grade if you do any sort of training.

I'm in the C Grade is quite challenging and D is too easy basket.

D Grade with SUVelo can be competitive though if they get a large bunch.

OK I will do C grade.
Not sure if I can make it this Saturday though. Just heard that I may be the taxi driver for my 12yo daughter who is competing in some dance Eisteddfod somewhere in Sydney - definitely not the Inner West. Will confirm.

Ok just got word I am free again on Saturday arvo. My mum is babysitting my 2 younger ones.
If that is the case, and I'd like to race in group C, can I tag along with someone going to Heffron? Don't have a car and so plan to ride to Maroubra.
Marc

Marc. I might ride over with you. I won't be racing though as I am testing our my knee strain. Best bet would be to leave from Marrickville Rd @ 2pm

Nozzle I got use of a car. Will call u

Had An interesting experience today. Essentially I came in second last in C grade. Got dropped after the first lap and fought heavy winds from then on. A little humiliating (good for the soul) but put it down to experience. Hard work but had fun thanks to Noel/NoZzle for walking me thru the process. Strangely enuf my average time was down on what I do over the 75 km Waterfall round trip. Averaged only 31kph but I did 31.8kmph at my last Waterfall attempt 2 weeks ago.

I think this proves I don't use PED And my gluts feel like jelly.

As Lindsay long taught, learn to draft and position well, and avoid using the brakes. The tail is to be avoided at all cost for its rubber band effect. It's guaranteed to break you. I truly think you have enough base power right now to at least last a good portion of the race in C. What you lack right now is most likely to be that so called "race form", one that relates to repeated short high intensity surges, one that takes repeated races or specific high intensity training to develop. You'll do better next time.

congrats marc. my firs run with c grade was a similar experience
just aim for one more lap every week

Did I see Tom Bolton in top 3?

congrats marc. my firs run with c grade was a similar experience
just aim for one more lap every week

Aim for one lap more each week!
That will take me 16 weeks
Any idea how to do intensity training? Limited info I got so far says I need to do bouts of 2 min sprints and 5min cruises. Assume I do this on the trainer. Not sure how the kids are going to like this. The trainer is noisy and have to compete with their TV watching.

if you aim for one more, you usually do more and surprise your self.
i my aim last time was one more lap than another girl i was racing, and i finished the race with the pack(she got dropped after lap 6, i was dead, and was totally surprised, how easy it became once the race settled)

and plus c grade slows down after the 3rd or 4th lap. if you can hang on that long, you'll be set

How'd you get dropped, were you doing too much work on the front or rubber-banding on the back? Personally I find it easier to stay in the first 6 or 10 riders, you have to do turns on the front but you don't have to keep accelerating after corners in the rubber band.

i blew my knee the week before. it was still strapped and swollen. not one of the best decisions i've made
then the next race, my fitness wasn't there (and i still had no power from my knee)
the last race i did was fairly easy

How'd you get dropped, were you doing too much work on the front or rubber-banding on the back? Personally I find it easier to stay in the first 6 or 10 riders, you have to do turns on the front but you don't have to keep accelerating after corners in the rubber band.

Largely due to inexperience and, what Weiyun called, 'race form'. I assume 'race form' relates to one's ability to do consecutive sprints.
I started off okay and thought I was in the middle of the bunch, but soon realised I was at the back and found it hard to stay on from then on. I didnt have a good idea of the size of the group. Should have pushed harder to stay in the centre. Know better now. Also was pleasantly surprised at how close guys ride next to one another. Have to keep a line of travel and stay there. Dangerous to deviate. All part of the learning process I guess.