Herne Hill Over 40s and Womens' session Weds 23rd

[Bridget]

I'm planning to go to this session at Herne Hill on Wednesday morning 9-10am if anyone would like to join me. As the name suggests, you need to be over 40 and/or a woman. You don't need to have ridden on the track before and can do an induction as part of the session.

http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/sessi ... index.html

[Elliot M]

Unfortunately I'm at work - also going round in circles, if slightly less sweatily.

Shame, as I it would be nice to take advantage of my recently acquired demographic status.

[Nick L]

Being neither a woman or over 40, I did the normal induction last Saturday. Great fun! Can't believe I didn't try it earlier.

Now I'm planning to go along to a few of the 12am beginner sessions starting this Saturday, so if anyone fancies coming along I'll see you down there.

Nick

[Elliot M]

Has anyone been to the road bike sessions on tues? I now work from home occasionally - but am wondering how early one needs to turn up to get on; if people get turned away etc

[Bridget]

Well done Nick. I didn't get to the Weds session so can't come on Saturday as haven't done the induction yet. Actually I have but a few years ago and need to do again. Planning to this Sunday so might be up for Saturday sessions in future.

Elliot - never been to the road bike session. Seems a bit odd to ride a road bike on the track but maybe it's ok as the banking there is so shallow.

[Elliot M]

Went to the road bike session this eve - fancied the idea of a ride with no vehicle traffic for a bit of experimenting with cadence, trying to ride in the drops more of the time, etc and it was pretty good for that.

It's a supervised but uncoached session, no track certification required. But looks like it's for steady riding at whatever speed, TT practice, that sort of thing, don't go expecting head-to-head race practice/chaingang.

£7 perhaps a little steep.

[Bridget]

£7 does sound a bit cheap for that. How was it riding on the banking on a road bike?

We got our session there on Sunday for free as it was delayed and only had an hour.

[Elliot M]

Did you mean cheap or steep?

Banking was fine, haven't been for about 2 years so felt a bit nervous looking down for the first few laps, but that soon went. Didn't notice any issues with road bike geometry etc. But my saddle and bars are certainly a lot more comfortable than the 'vintage' track bikes I've rented there!

But I found it very difficult to remember I had a freewheel and thus I should stop pedalling when coming up onto someone's wheel though

[Bridget]

Yeah, I meant steep!

All their track bikes seem to have been updated now - vintage replaced with newer Fuji ones. At least that's what they gave us on Sunday