DP Beginners chaingang

[Dan_K]

Am thinking of doing this tomorrow if anyone fancies it?

[Marcus]

Would like to come Dan and make it regularly, not sure my fitness is up to it yet.
If you do go let me and others know what the speed, distance, time, terrain and general level is like and is it geared towards ACCers in the 17,18,19 or above groups.

Cheers
Marcus

[Andrew G]

Goes without saying but be nice if you're crashing another club's ride, etiquette used to always be that you didn't wear your own club's kit. This is the same as riding in another club's evening 10, although sadly some of these manners seem to have slipped in places over the years but I always think it is good practice. It's a sign of respect for the club you are joining for that ride/event.
[quote="DP Website"]What started out on Wednesday evenings as the women's chaingang has metamorphosed into a sporting ride but one that is still sociable and takes time to re-group (as opposed to the fast chaingang, where this is not guaranteed!).

The Wednesday chaingang is focused on giving riders new to chaingangs a steady paced ride where they can learn the techniques to ride 'through and off'. Some of the more experienced riders from the club will be along on a regular basis to help with advice and tips. This ride is the first step for new riders before moving on to the faster Tuesday and Thursday chaingangs, or simply for those wanting a steady paced ride mid-week.

1 - The Wednesday ride aims for an 18 mph average (Saturday ride goes at 15mph, so that should tell anyone trying it for the first time that it will be approx 20% quicker and harder)

2 - The principle behind the ride is to introduce riders to riding and working together, perhaps as a preliminary to stepping up to Tues/Thurs chaingangs and racing.

3 - That once it clears the suburbs past West Wickham it becomes through-and-off in the way that Kevin has explained it (outside line moving up slowly), as illustrated in Andy's diagram No 3, and in the YouTube clip.

3b - on the two steep hills, the pace is too slow and individual's strengths too divergent for through and off to make sense, so its best to allow the groups to devolve for the climbs. After each hill there is a regrouping point (roundabout, traffic lights) to put the ride back together and carry on.

4 - Discipline at all times is paramount. This means calling "last man" as you pass the last rider on the inside so s/he knows it is clear to move into the outside line. That if we adhere strictly to that, there should be no problems with people jumping into a gap (or wobbling around looking over their shoulders...)

5 - When you drop off to the left you resist the temptation to lift the pace, but keep moving smoothly - otherwise the outside line can't get past and the whole thing falls apart.

5b. When at the front of the fast lane. and ready to pull left, make sure you have sufficient space to pull over without causing the rider at the front of the slow lane to have to brake before his front wheel gets taken out. If you're struggling to pull ahead smoothly, take some turns out to recover your strength.

6 - If you're knackered, then a flick of the right elbow should tell the rider behind that you're sitting in for a bit to recover. When/if you rejoin the rotation you should call out clearly to make the rider in front aware of that.

7 - There are two regroup points to pick up anyone who gets dropped - the roundabout at Badger's Mount and the traffic lights where Farnborough High Street joins the A26.

8 - That we look out for each other. That experienced/stronger riders help the others if they need it. That we listen to each other.

9 - when you reach the front and move to the left and the rider o your right comes past, give him a shout of "clear" so that he/she knows it is safe to move over.

And if you're at the back and you see the front riders doing a lap of the roundabout — DON'T FOLLOW THEM. They are doing it to let you catch up!

Meeting time is 7pm (to leave at 7:15pm) at Elmer's End

[Antloony]

Shame our own club cant cater for a beginners chaingang or training ride. Certain aspects of our club are a real let down and need addressing I feel. A club of our size and stature shouldn't be gate crashing another clubs ride, it should be the other way around.

[Keith]

[quote="Antloony"]Shame our own club cant cater for a beginners chaingang or training ride. Certain aspects of our club are a real let down and need addressing I feel. A club of our size and stature shouldn't be gate crashing another clubs ride, it should be the other way around.

[Antloony]

[quote="Keith"]I think that in the current era, Addiscombe CC simply isn't a road racing club.

[Keith]

P.S. Interestingly, the club puts on successful road races each and every year.
[quote="Antloony"]Sorry for the hijack...carry on as if I wasn't here....

[Toks]

Good points Anthony and Keith. Only today I was wondering whether to promote the Club Road Race again. We've had one for four years straight now but I still don't think it features on the ACC club calender. There's lots of things that need improving and sticking to the competitive theme - a club of our size doesn't even have a regular yearly Hill Climb. It really is a shame

[Dan_K]

I'm really disappointed that something like this doesn't exist at Addiscombe.
I'll bet there are loads of riders at the 17/18 level who want to do some midweek training but are intimidated by faster chaingangs.
Personally, I want to do it for fitness and then do some more racing later in the year.
I'd like to have the experience to start something like this off but it needs a few likeminded individuals.

[Amy]

Well, we did try and run a chaingang for us lesser mortals - Serge started the idea of a B standard chaingang - but lack of numbers and the weather didn't help get it off the ground and then it got hijacked by the A standard lot and those able to hang on long enough. Serge and Ant did do a good job of moderating it when they were riding, even dragging the odd rider back on, so that slower people like me got to hang on for a bit longer than otherwise.

I'd like to get a ride in the week now that I'm feeling stronger and do the alternative rides at the weekend. Thursday is good for me.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Toks"]a club of our size doesn't even have a regular yearly Hill Climb. It really is a shame

[LeeS]

[quote="Amy"]Well, we did try and run a chaingang for us lesser mortals - Serge started the idea of a B standard chaingang - but lack of numbers and the weather didn't help get it off the ground and then it got hijacked by the A standard lot and those able to hang on long enough. Serge and Ant did do a good job of moderating it when they were riding, even dragging the odd rider back on, so that slower people like me got to hang on for a bit longer than otherwise.

[Dan_K]

That's a good shout Lee.

I like to mix it up a bit though and do a fair bit of riding on my own the rest of the week. I did over 200 miles last week, all bar 50 on my own!
Providing I can get down there tonight, i'll give it a go but I would like to see a midweek club run. Waiting until a Saturday is a bit too long.....

[Andrew G]

No reason there can't be any number of mid week runs if someone says they're going and a couple do it then it will take off from there once it becomes a regular fixture. Huw used to do a hilly Wednesday one in the summer when the evenings were light, same route each week, it's in the routes section.

[Amy]

[quote="Andrew G"]No reason there can't be any number of mid week runs if someone says they're going and a couple do it then it will take off from there once it becomes a regular fixture. Huw used to do a hilly Wednesday one in the summer when the evenings were light, same route each week, it's in the routes section.