Last night was record night at the DLV. Though no records were broken, the racing was just as fierce!
This Wednesday Night Recap will focus on but one of the races of the evening:
B Category, Chariot A
Let me start by saying: I fucking love Chariot races. Though my last two have sucked (AKA I didn’t win)
But, there are lessons learned each time. Let’s review using this race as model.
Notice Pete’s sneaky grin below? That cracked me up. Ok, back to the Chariot…
Below is THE moment the bell rang.
Off the start Scott Patton (far right) and Bill Thomsen (in green) get a great jump.
If you scroll back up you’ll notice their right feet are at about 45°.
In fact, EVERYONE has their ‘right’ foot forward but Chris Kelly (on Bill’s right.)
I don’t know the significance of right vs. left on the banking but the cranks arm angle is key.
One moment later and so much has changed. Crank arm angle is now eclipsed by brute strength.
Scott extends his lead, Bill gains and up track birthday boy Jim Hodgson begins to mask his face!
It is here that one is distracted by ZIPP (new DLV sponsor) wheel bling
and might be inclined to assume the 3 victors of this race:
1. Scott 2. Jason & 3. Bill
Maybe…
But so much can change in only one lap.
Notice that Scott is down on the apron. Sometimes starting low is a bad card.
If you are not off the front, other riders wil swoop down from up track make is very hard to catch up.
Any advantage of using the track’s bank for gaining speed is zapped for him on this race.
But, as even as this Chariot started, out all bets are off and the banking is rendered pretty useless.
Let’s watch the final sprint from turn 4, where it is all decided. (…wait isn’t the Chariot itself a final sprint?)
There you have it. From a solid start to a crushing lap long sustained sprint coming down against
Jason Atwood, Bill Thomsen of Thomsen LTD decimated a field comprised of riders less than half his age!
Hell yeah Bill!
In other news of the night:
- Team Kazane was united for a night. Stafford & I finally got to try to work together
- FM:RACE swept the B Field!
- Justin Barber, in a perhaps permanent & long time coming CAT A effort took 1st overall.
- Results are here, more photos here & the last Weds Night Recap is here.
Here’s a good start … perhaps others can find some help.
1) Crank arm should not be as high as most people set them. Why? Your first pedal stroke is just getting you moving. You just want to get the OTHER foot back into play as soon as possible. It’s going to be able to do a FULL pedal stroke and get you moving any more. The first meter wont make or break a start, the 2nd and 3rd pedal strokes can/will.
2) Left foot forward. It’s not just a good idea, it’s nearly a law. When you STOMP on the pedals, your bike goes the OTHER way. When you stomp on the pedals going SLOW, on a banking, you go DOWN… so if you stomp on your left foot and the banking goes to the left… you are going to have the natural tendency to go left offset by the stomp-factor pushing you right, resulting in a straighter line.
3) In hoppy’s start its…
Riders Ready
Some other phrase
Bell
Between step 1 and 2, stand up, push back (ass in your holders face … ) after the second phrase… start to LUNGE forward with your whole body pulling with both arms simultaneously.
Don’t fly over the bars, rather control your flow and thrust your pelvis into your stem as if you were well… humping it. As the pedal comes over the top – repeat over and over. You should be pulling 100% equally with both arms. The bike should remain perependicular to the track and you should be going a straight line.
Sit down in turn 3… not before!
Hope something there helps…
Thank you for the very constructive comment Scott!
Fucking stuck behind the bus in 2, what can I say? Bill won’t beat me again =P