First Race as a 3rd cat.

Hi, I started racing last season, got third cat after a few races in September. I found that the cyclopark at Gravesend suited me better as it's a harder course and so there is less jostling for position in the final sprint.

Anyway yesterday I did the 3rd cat race at Hillingdon and the pace wasn't too high the whole race but it was busy and on the last corner two guys near the front came together, I then hit one of them and a couple went into the back of me... I think. But I think it is supposed to be less common than 4th cat races. And out of the 10 or so races I have done that is the first crash I've been in.

Yes the course is now the opposite way (at least to the summer series), doesn't make that much difference really, apart from the sprint finish being much shorter - potentially the cause of the crash as position is so crucial.

I had 50 x 11 and was thinking I need to stop using a compact, only really mattered because there was a tailwind on a slight downhill section, but I think 50 x 14 may be tricky.

That said, don't worry about the crashes, first one I have been in and they don't happen that often. I hope you enjoy it, I probably won't be there next weekend but maybe in future. Good luck and hope this helps.

Cheers for tat info.

Trouble is, 50x14 is the max gear that Im allowed to use for the next two years as a junior. Fun.

Does the E/1/2/3 pack ever overtake the 3rds?

And did it ever string out, or wsa it always 5/6 abreast?

I guess you have a headwind going up the hill after the clubhouse then, how's that? Probably better than on the long straight.

Ye there was a headwind up that hill, wasn't too bad though, but it does mean a tailwind on the finishing straight which is where your gears may cause problems.

The E123 race cause a bit of chaos, a breakaway got past us but then a chasing group overtook us and slowed down, so we over took them again and it all got a bit confused, with 3 or 4 E123 sitting in with us which they aren't allowed to do, so I think they may have been disqualified, but the commissaire kept telling them to drop out but they never did. I think the week before the two groups came together on the 3rd cat finishing lap, which caused serious problems.

It did string out sometimes, particularly during and after the primer, but even so because it was so busy towards the back I think it was probably 4/5/6 across.

Jesus! You're racing in JANUARY!

That's it I'm moving, my first race isn't until mid April!!!

Gotta start somehwere

I forgot to enter the indoor crit before the 10th, so I've set my eyes on this one.

Hopefully there'll be some other first year juniors there as well.

Also, my new kit hasn't arrived yet, so I'm wearing all black.

Nightrider

You doing any races up this way? Did you do the Ballater one last year?

Good luck Raleigh, sounds like you could be a bit short of gears being a junior though

Not get yourself some Road.cc kit??

Best of luck dude, let us know how it goes.

Yeah the Ballater race was cracking! Going to be proper prologue and 2 stages this year, should be ace!

All racing at Hillingdon cancelled today

Will have to wait for next week.

Oh not good.

Extra week of training though. Did you get my email the other day?