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Wind Power
I have spent previous Easter weekends in South London either watching cricket or swimming outdoors at the Lovely Lido. The weather forecast for this Good Friday caused plenty of concern leading up to the lunchtime start of the meet. A few drops of rain are sufficient enough to abandon the track. It wasn't looking too good the night before.
But the Gods of weather are clearly fans of fixed wheel bikes. Bright and blustery was the official verdict as I covered myself in lycra and cycled off to SE21 to celebrate this great sport of ours.
Like a Bat Out of Hell (and sadly with a dodgy PA soundtrack to match,) the first 200m-time trial rolled out shortly after 1pm. The meet attracted a truly international field, recognition of the status that this annual South London tradition still holds in the world of cycling.
After a series of cat and mouse sprints on the banks, it was soon time for the Devil Takes the High Road race. This is fifteen laps of relentless pace, with the last two riders being eliminated each time the finish line is crossed.
It was thirsty work just watching, and so I made my way over to the beer tent, which seemed to have been taken over for the afternoon by the fine men and women of the London messenger community.
It wasn't just the thrill of the track, or the taste of the Tennents that was worth risking being blown across South London for on Good Friday. Herne Hill has one of the finest bike jumble sales in the country. Lots of lycra seemed to be sold with any bare flesh on show soon being covered up.
With the skies beginning to bruise, the event organisers rolled out the big beasts for the highlight of the afternoon, the Dallmer Motor Paced Grand Prix. Each rider is assigned a leather clad biker boy to pace them through a punishing ride around the track. With the restrictions of indoor racing not applying to the great outdoors of Herne Hill, speeds of up to 100kmh are not unknown.
There's an element of showmanship from the biker boys who play to the crowd as they pace each lap. With no undertaking allowed, it takes great strength and courage for a rider to challenge for the top spot, essentially cycling double the distance to go over the top.
If you think this sounds weird, wait until you see the Keirin that followed. There's no stranger sight in cycling than this women's event. Paced by a part peddler / part Petrol Head up until the bell, and with race tactics having to be declared before the starting gun, it's all about building up to the final sprint for the line. It's the track bike equivalent of my Brixton to Tottenham Court Road Challenge, except I'm paced by cabbies with the added difficulty of being cut up at every corner.
A final forty lap Golden Wheel Scratch Race closed the meet. With £1,000 on offer for the winner, this was one of the most lucrative open track races in Europe. The riders held out, as did the weather, bringing to a close another successful afternoon of Good Friday track racing in South London.
Chapeau!
More Good Friday meet pictures over HERE.
technorati: herne hill velodrome
| Sunday 23 March, 2008 |
I have spent previous Easter weekends in South London either watching cricket or swimming outdoors at the Lovely Lido. The weather forecast for this Good Friday caused plenty of concern leading up to the lunchtime start of the meet. A few drops of rain are sufficient enough to abandon the track. It wasn't looking too good the night before.
But the Gods of weather are clearly fans of fixed wheel bikes. Bright and blustery was the official verdict as I covered myself in lycra and cycled off to SE21 to celebrate this great sport of ours.
Like a Bat Out of Hell (and sadly with a dodgy PA soundtrack to match,) the first 200m-time trial rolled out shortly after 1pm. The meet attracted a truly international field, recognition of the status that this annual South London tradition still holds in the world of cycling.
After a series of cat and mouse sprints on the banks, it was soon time for the Devil Takes the High Road race. This is fifteen laps of relentless pace, with the last two riders being eliminated each time the finish line is crossed.
It was thirsty work just watching, and so I made my way over to the beer tent, which seemed to have been taken over for the afternoon by the fine men and women of the London messenger community.
It wasn't just the thrill of the track, or the taste of the Tennents that was worth risking being blown across South London for on Good Friday. Herne Hill has one of the finest bike jumble sales in the country. Lots of lycra seemed to be sold with any bare flesh on show soon being covered up.
With the skies beginning to bruise, the event organisers rolled out the big beasts for the highlight of the afternoon, the Dallmer Motor Paced Grand Prix. Each rider is assigned a leather clad biker boy to pace them through a punishing ride around the track. With the restrictions of indoor racing not applying to the great outdoors of Herne Hill, speeds of up to 100kmh are not unknown.
There's an element of showmanship from the biker boys who play to the crowd as they pace each lap. With no undertaking allowed, it takes great strength and courage for a rider to challenge for the top spot, essentially cycling double the distance to go over the top.
If you think this sounds weird, wait until you see the Keirin that followed. There's no stranger sight in cycling than this women's event. Paced by a part peddler / part Petrol Head up until the bell, and with race tactics having to be declared before the starting gun, it's all about building up to the final sprint for the line. It's the track bike equivalent of my Brixton to Tottenham Court Road Challenge, except I'm paced by cabbies with the added difficulty of being cut up at every corner.
A final forty lap Golden Wheel Scratch Race closed the meet. With £1,000 on offer for the winner, this was one of the most lucrative open track races in Europe. The riders held out, as did the weather, bringing to a close another successful afternoon of Good Friday track racing in South London.
Chapeau!
More Good Friday meet pictures over HERE.
technorati: herne hill velodrome
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