Jim's Training Event 1

 

Training Ride One

Saturday, 5th January 2008
Cottingham Circuit

 

A really good turnout, the weather worked in our favour, and there were 23 recruits turned out. It’s always difficult to work out the groups, particularly on the first day, and the middle group was far too big; a good count is about 6 to work together.

It would be nice to be able to get together straight after the session and analyse what happened, particularly as the first two groups broke up quite drastically. I expect that of the first group because abilities are quite mixed with a lot of unknown quantities. I think some of you got carried away thinking it was a race; it’s only a training ride to get along together.

You can see from the lap times who worked it out right, particularly if you examine the scratch group who did as they were told, had a nice cosy chat the first lap to get warmed up and then worked together, sharing the load, over the remaining laps

Apologies to three new lads that I wasn’t able to recognise in the groups, Stuart Wadsworth, L Watson (or Wilson?), and D.Hunt. But the groups set off as Group One: David Brearley, Chris Norfolk, Simon Mason, Paul Hayward, Phil Eden, and two I didn’t know. Group Two, which was two big, were: Derek Palmer, Nat Chester, Dave Hudson, John Brearley, Andy Tummins, Mark Ollerenshaw, Mark Walker, Michael Chorlton and one other. Group Three were Ryan MacLachlan, Paul Noton, Karl Downes, Peter Fielding-Smith and Nathan Wilson. Alan Whittaker joined in after a couple of laps.

Group one started fairly fast for ‘novices’, certainly not chatty for a chat lap, and then into lap two too fast – three lads including Phil Eden and Mark Philipson pushed the pace a little and it splintered the rest of the group. In one way I was pleased to see Phil going well, he’s often been one of the stragglers.

I believe that Andy Tummons, and to some extent John Brearley, caused the upset in group two, with Andy soon dropping John and trying to stay on his own for a few laps – not too organised I’m afraid.

Group three were sensible, and if you take out the first lap realising that group three were really chatting, many would have finished together from all the groups. Here’s the lap times:

	Group One	Group Two	Group Three
Lap One	8.05	8.10	9.29
Lap Two	7.07	7.15	7.01
Lap Three	7.29	6.56	6.52
Lap Four	7.45	6.59	6.54
Lap Five	7.40	7.04	7.01
Lap Six	7.19	6.24	5.46

If we have the same numbers, or more, next week then I’ll have more groups.
If you’re reading this but not interested in training, yet are interested how riders are progressing then why not come along. We need the help and it is entertaining – better than football to me, especially when you get to know the players.

Riders

Group 1:  David Brearley, Chris Norfolk, Simon Mason, Paul Hayward, Phil Eden, Mark Philipson, Stuart Wadsworth, David Hunt, Alan Whittaker +

Group 2:  Derek Palmer, Nat Chester, Dave Hudson, John Brearley, Andy Tummins, Mark Ollerenshaw, Mark Walker, Lee Watson, Michael Chorlton  :

Group 3: Ryan MacLachlan, Paul Noton, Karl Downes, Pete Fielding-Smith