Report and results from JC of the first Rollapaluza CC track event.

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Results:

Scarlett    1.58
Matt    2.01
Olivier    2.07
Tom Ballhatchet    2.15
Mirco    2.16
Jason    2.19
Brent    2.3
George    2.31
TT Tom    2.33
Tom P    2.33
Martin    2.34
Caspar    2.35
Sam Jones    2.48
Jack    2.5
Dan    2.54
Stelle    2.55
Jan    3.06
Julia    3.46
Irene’s facebook pics here.

[Show as slideshow]

I managed a 1.13.12 on 81″ fixed, which is only about 3 mintues slower than my target, so I’m happy with that. I failed to ‘leave it all on the road’ like you’re meant to, but reckon I sustained about a 90-95% effort, which was probably the sensible thing to do given the combined nature of the course and riding fixed on tribars for the first time properly.

The course was mental: 3 bastard climbs in the first 5 miles, but I couldn’t carry as much speed into them as the ’spacemen’ due to having to spin madly down the descents, which were covered in loose stuff, with fairly tight corners at 35mph on fixed.

Lots of potholed, twisty lanes, and weird little 180 degree turns. Thank god it didn’t rain.

The organisation/marshalling was amazing. As good as I’ve ever seen. And quite a few enthusiastic spectators, although they were usually at the most grovellingist bits of the course. Someone was taking photos at the top of the final big draggy climb (Essendon), which I’d normally romp up, but was feeling shaky by that point today. As you’d expect, however, Rollapaluza have the most stylish team kit, and there’s no risk of the photo being blurred.

First proper outing for the tribars - I got used to them pretty quickly, but only used them on the flatter sections. They probably helped me keep grinding along at 21mph into the 12mph headwind on the top section of the course.

I finished 2/3 down the field of 75 riders. Definitely got round quicker than quite a few geared riders who I know have been cranking out 200 miles per week all winter, so that’s positive. Left before the final riders finished, but half a dozen went under the hour, which is impressive, seeing as Boardman’s record is a 57.20 (and even Sean Yates only did a 1.02 last time). Hutchinson has done a 54, but I think the course was shortened a little due to roadworks.

So, I got my £20 for charity from the generous soul on timetriallingforum.co.uk, and thanks again to Ant for his contribution. And special mention goes to Mark ‘Pnut’ Arnold, who rode a 90″ fixed (with full spaceman accoutrements) and did a 1.04.59.

And thanks also to the East London Velo crew (formerly Team Economic Energy) who rode the 20 miles out to the event, and back again.

Next up, Hainault Hilly 50k, on 81″ fixed again…

1 65 Simon Gaywood Team Corley Cycles . 0:58:36
2 60 Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport . 0:58:54
3 75 Matthew Bottrill De Rosa RT . 0:59:20
4 51 Darren Barclay Arctic - Premier Racing Team. . 0:59:46
5 85 Richard Prebble Candi TV - Pinarello RT V . 0:59:51
6 90 Julian Ramsbottom De Rosa RT . 0:59:58
7 55 Danny Axford Arctic - Premier Racing Team . 1:00:30
8 50 James Perkins Zenith CC . 1:00:32
9 70 Michael Broadwith Shorter Rochford RT . 1:01:32
10 56 Brett Harwood Westbrook Cycles . 1:02:24
11 20 Scott Walker De Rosa RT . 1:02:25
12 31 Dean Lubin PCA Ciclos Uno . 1:02:58
13 86 Jonathan Shubert Verulam CC . 1:03:24
14 30 Simon Bateson East London Velo . 1:03:50
15 71 Martin Garner De Rosa RT . 1:04:10
16 62 Pnut Arnold API Metrow . 1:04:59
17 64 Tom Lackerby De Rosa RT J 1:05:40
18 10 Daniel Bill Strafford CC . 1:05:52
19 45 Jez Cox Team Bike and Run London . 1:05:56
20 22 Darren Treadaway Shorter Rochford RT . 1:06:10
21 41 David Vaughan Shorter Rochford RT . 1:06:10
22 15 Hugh Vivian Finsbury Park CC V 1:06:17
23 42 Phil Lisher Team Welwyn . 1:06:37
24 46 Nick Sparks Sheffield Triathlon Club . 1:06:55
25 11 Gavin Rumbles CC Luton V 1:07:20
26 73 Tom Gosbee Team Welwyn J 1:07:22
27 43 Murdo Jamieson Kingston Wheelers . 1:07:24
28 21 Sam Hayes Bedfordshire Road Club . 1:07:57
29 67 David Barnes East London Velo . 1:08:02
30 72 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park CC . 1:08:06
31 37 Emma Trott Welwyn Wheelers L 1:08:24
32 47 Stewart Wilson Roy Pink Cycles RT . 1:09:11
33 54 James Cocker East London Velo . 1:09:15
34 66 David Staff VTTA East Anglia V 1:09:28
35 81 Desmond Gayler Kenton Road Club V 1:09:48
36 16 Dave Candy Shorter Rochford RT V 1:10:22
37 52 Neil Hornett Chelmer CC . 1:10:36
38 7 Michael Metayer Kingston Wheelers . 1:10:39
39 36 Nicholas Latimer North Road CC . 1:10:47
40 59 Javier Carabias East London Velo . 1:10:57
41 87 Simon Layfield Team Welwyn V 1:10:58
42 58 Alex Peeke Welwyn Wheelers . 1:11:05
43 78 Robert Windsor East London Velo V 1:11:09
44 6 Neil Marrin Finsbury Park CC . 1:11:37
45 8 Alex Anderson Welwyn Wheelers J 1:11:45
46 53 Steve James North Road CC . 1:11:58
47 32 Alex Turner FVS TRI . 1:12:13
48 28 Gray Turnock Finsbury Park CC V 1:12:44
49 61 Robert Engers Shorter Rochford RT V 1:12:55
50 63 Simon Gent East London Velo . 1:12:57
51 44 Scarlett Parker Rollapaluza CC . 1:13:12
52 33 Daniel Young Alltrax . 1:13:44
53 35 Tony Stott Westbrook Cycles V 1:13:54
54 48 Jeff Robinson North Road CC . 1:14:06
55 49 Spencer Wilson East London Velo . 1:14:28
56 74 Darren Cainey East London Velo V 1:14:55
57 26 Philip Young Hertfordshire Wheelers V 1:15:05
58 17 Avie Yiangou Whitewebbs CC V 1:15:07
59 82 Tom Silverlock Hemel Hempstead CC V 1:15:27
60 88 Ralph Dadswell Antelope Racing Team TV 1:16:36
61 39 Michael Clark FVS TRI V 1:17:10
62 13 Tony Shoesmith North Road CC . 1:17:48
63 89 Simon Best North Road CC V 1:18:06
64 69 Graham Freer Finsbury Park CC V 1:19:19
65 23 Tim Chandler Welwyn Wheelers . 1:19:31
66 18 Andrew Ilsley A5 Rangers . 1:19:32
67 57 Barry Page Hertfordshire Wheelers V 1:19:55
68 38 Lyndon Lewis Bedfordshire Road Club V 1:20:05
69 9 Sue Fenwick Crest CC LV 1:20:42
70 24 Samuel Parker Finsbury Park CC . 1:20:46
71 77 David Ledgerton Hitchin Nomads CC V 1:21:48
72 84 Caroline Harding Finchley RT L 1:21:55
73 19 Anna Grindy East London Velo L 1:22:59
74 83 Andrew Porter Welwyn Wheelers V 1:23:20
75 68 Warren Cobb North Road CC V 1:30:39

Ghent 6 Day 2008

Rollpaluza organized a trip to watch the racing at Ghent’s Kuipke velodrome in Belgium for the famous 6-day event. 9 hardy souls in the minibus from London to Ghent, via the ferry from Dover to Calais. We arrived on day 5 to watch Saturday night’s events, and stayed overnight for the finale on Sunday.

For anyone who’s never seen 6 day racing, this is a far cry from the world championships and Olympic cycling events that have attracted so much public interest of late, by contrast these races are all about entertainment, and it takes place over 6 days with the riders racing in pairs to gain points which count towards an overall score.

After arriving at our hotel on Saturday, we took the 5-minute trip into town, wandered around the “Plum” bike shop for a bit, looking at an impressive collection of vintage machines, and many equally impressive brand new ones, then went in search of steak, mussels and frites to satisfy our stomachs in preparation for the night of racing, which was to go on until 2am.

The Kuipke is a small track, which makes for great, close up spectating, track centre is filled with people watching the race, buying beer and generally soaking up the atmosphere, the riders and mechanics must make-do with tiny “dug out” style boxes for all their race prep and bike fettling.

Race format followed a madison style system, with flying laps, points races, devils (elimination) scratch races, derny (motor paced races) and even some Keirin thrown in. Music is played over a large sound system, and you are even entertained by singers during the short intervals. Audience participation is actively encouraged, and the riders often ride parade laps where they whip up the crowd, leading mexican waves (known as “La Ola “) amongst the cheering spectators, many of them making full use of the many beer sales points throughout the velodrome!

We were lucky enough to watch tour legend Eric Zabel competing, alongside fellow German Leif Lampater, in his farewell competition, this made for some exciting changes on the leader board as they were battling with favourites Robert Bartko and his partner, the local hero Iljo Keisse for the top spot.

Sunday saw the temperature drop below -1 and more snow arriving in Ghent, it also saw Bartko and Keisse take the win, with Zabel and Lampater second, and Kenny De Ketele and Andreas Beikirch third up after a huge final madison event.

The Rollpaluza crew arrived back in London, tired but happy before 11PM on Sunday night, safe in the knowledge that 6-day is a cracking way to spend time in a velodrome, where else could you see a 25stone Dutchman riding a Derny bike, whilst being tapped on the behind with a large, inflatable chocolate milk bottle wielded by a Tour De France legend?

Take it from me, whatever your opinions on track racing, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve been to a 6-day!

Thanks to Winston, Charlene and Hippy for pics.

Hippy’s pics here

Ricky’s pics here.

Wayne’s pics here.

Andrew beat a huge field of 64 to take another glorious win in the Surrey League event last Saturday!

Full results here.

Rollapaluza CC Home 

Instead of going to a strip bar and getting so drunk you allow your best friends to strip you naked and put you on a train bound for Belgrade, my mate Webby decided to eschew a traditional style stag night and introduce the Dunwich Dynamo into the celebration of his impending shacklement.

The plan was to ride the DD then decamp to another friend’s house, reasonably nearby, where we would eat, drink and be merry.

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Rollapaluza had three riders in this event, below is Desi’s ride diary…… Read more »

London’s huge fixed gear forum Londonfgss staged their first track day at London’s famous Herne Hill velodrome. Read more »

Concrete proof of the diversity of the events that we take part in. Club member “Dazzler” organised this years version of this fast-becoming-classic ride started by club member Bill some years ago. Read more »