Author Topic: Newbie Racer! (Read 14365 times)

chownie · « **on:** February 11, 2019, 09:55 PM »

Something I've always wanted to do since I was 10 years old is race, 36 years later I attended my first training session at Braintree Bullets club and loved it! Late last year I bought my 2019 GT Speed Series and it felt perfect on Saturday at the training session.

I was told the first session was just an intro to see if I can ride a bike, 2 minutes later they said your fine join the group for training. Some sprint training, gate practice and learning to manual over doubles was awesome! The bike handles superb and I still can't believe how light it is as I'm used to park bikes which I thought were light until I got the GT.

If anyones interested I'll keep track of my progress on here as I find Mikku's posts on here interesting. Also any updates to the bike I will also add.

Cheers!

Mikku · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2019, 12:46 AM »

Excellent stuff!! Welcome to the over 40s who race club!

Look forward to reading all about it on here. Keep it

Nice-looking bike btw!

chownie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2019, 10:32 AM »

Thanks! Love the look of this bike, it got quite a bit of attention at the track, especially with the disc brake. First thing to replace when I have some money are the pedals as they're a bit slippy in the dirt.

Quote from: Mikku on February 12, 2019, 12:46 AM

Excellent stuff!! Welcome to the over 40s who race club!

Look forward to reading all about it on here. Keep it

Nice-looking bike btw!

In2bmx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2019, 10:47 AM »

Looks fun and fast

chownie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2019, 10:56 AM »

It is fun, i've not got it up to the fast bit yet lol.

Quote from: in2bmx on February 12, 2019, 10:47 AM

Looks fun and fast

CustardLips · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2019, 11:20 AM »

That GT is nice.

griff · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2019, 02:41 PM »

Great stuff - keep us all posted

chownie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2019, 05:04 PM »

It's stunning in the metal. Rides really nice too.

Quote from: CustardLips on February 12, 2019, 11:20 AM

That GT is nice.

chownie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2019, 05:04 PM »

Thanks, will do

Quote from: griff on February 12, 2019, 02:41 PM

Great stuff - keep us all posted

Mikku · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2019, 10:56 PM »

Quote from: chownie on February 12, 2019, 10:32 AM

Thanks! Love the look of this bike, it got quite a bit of attention at the track, especially with the disc brake. First thing to replace when I have some money are the pedals as they're a bit slippy in the dirt.

What pedals are on there now? & what shoes are you wearing? Staying with flats or thinking about clipping in?

I’m on flats (DMR V12s) with Vans and that combination keeps me locked in fine. But then, as you may have read, I’m not the fastest of riders!!

chownie · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2019, 05:12 PM »

It's got plastic GT pedals that came with it. They're not great on the track but ok for now. Probably stay with flats for a while but have no fear of clipping in as used to use them on my old mtb, a bit worrying at first but soon get used to them.
I'm wearing old Nike high tops as I don't mind them getting bashed up but probably get some more vans when they're knocking them out :-). I was looking at the HT pedals they look good with good reviews.

How do you find the carbon forks? I just worry about them breaking lol.

Quote from: Mikku on February 12, 2019, 10:56 PM

Quote from: chownie on February 12, 2019, 10:32 AM
Thanks! Love the look of this bike, it got quite a bit of attention at the track, especially with the disc brake. First thing to replace when I have some money are the pedals as they're a bit slippy in the dirt.

What pedals are on there now? & what shoes are you wearing? Staying with flats or thinking about clipping in?

I’m on flats (DMR V12s) with Vans and that combination keeps me locked in fine. But then, as you may have read, I’m not the fastest of riders!!

Mikku · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2019, 12:06 AM »

Haven’t yet had a chance to test the new forks in anger, but am due back out on track this weekend, so will report back then. Yeah, I’ve read the horror stories about carbon fork failure but tbh, with my level of riding and the tracks I race on, I’m not too worried. Famous last words!

Back to pedals, I’ve never clipped in, so can’t compare the two but most of the more serious guys I see racing over here do so, so there must be something in it. Not for me though!

chownie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2019, 02:58 PM »

Update on my training. Well I attended my second training session on Saturday and I took a while to get into it. After an hour I started to find my stride and things started to go well again. My fitness has improved a lot since the first session as I have been working hard in the gym. Got the manuals going near the end of the session then I had a fall as the front wheel came up too high.
All good though, straight back on and tried again, same thing happened! Problem is I landed awkwardly on my foot and my foot rolled resulting in a fractured ankle! So now I'm in plaster and looks like I won't be training for a while, very frustrating!
I did have a good time and already I'm dying to get back training.
They've been a great crowd at Braintree and were good when I was laying on the ground resting up from the crash.
So in the mean time I will just be watching plenty of youtube videos on racing and looking at bike parts lol.
I will be back :-).

bmxmatt1974 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2019, 09:42 PM »

That sucks about the injury, get well soon fella

chownie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2019, 09:58 PM »

Quote from: bmxmatt1974 on March 04, 2019, 09:42 PM

That sucks about the injury, get well soon fella

Thanks! Can't wait t o get back to it.

Mikku · « **Reply #15 on:** March 04, 2019, 11:21 PM »

Sorry to hear about that mate! We definitely don't bounce like we used to, eh!

Here's to a speedy recovery, during which you can pick up some new pedals!

Btw, my carbon forks held up fine on their first race outing a few weeks ago. Can definitely notice the lighter front end but in view of your recent experiences, maybe I shouldn't go too light up front!!!

Drawn · « **Reply #16 on:** March 05, 2019, 08:59 AM »

That's a shame about the stack. Hopefully you'll be back out there soon.
On the plus side, now you know the balance point of the bike and to not exceed it

chownie · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2019, 10:42 AM »

Quote from: Mikku on March 04, 2019, 11:21 PM

Sorry to hear about that mate! We definitely don't bounce like we used to, eh!

Here's to a speedy recovery, during which you can pick up some new pedals!

Btw, my carbon forks held up fine on their first race outing a few weeks ago. Can definitely notice the lighter front end but in view of your recent experiences, maybe I shouldn't go too light up front!!!

Thanks! Lol, I usually bounce ok, but not this time! Yep, looking at race parts but mainly pedals, so far looking at HT and Hope.

Good to hear about the carbon forks, maybe I will stick to cromo for now as you say, don't want my front end any lighter at the moment lol.

chownie · « **Reply #18 on:** March 05, 2019, 10:43 AM »

Quote from: Drawn on March 05, 2019, 08:59 AM

That's a shame about the stack. Hopefully you'll be back out there soon.
On the plus side, now you know the balance point of the bike and to not exceed it

Thanks, I hoe so!

Lol, I hope so but will probably forget when I'm back at the track!

Dingobmxer · « **Reply #19 on:** March 26, 2019, 05:22 PM »

Quote from: chownie on March 05, 2019, 10:42 AM

Quote from: Mikku on March 04, 2019, 11:21 PM
Sorry to hear about that mate! We definitely don't bounce like we used to, eh!

Here's to a speedy recovery, during which you can pick up some new pedals!

Btw, my carbon forks held up fine on their first race outing a few weeks ago. Can definitely notice the lighter front end but in view of your recent experiences, maybe I shouldn't go too light up front!!!

Thanks! Lol, I usually bounce ok, but not this time! Yep, looking at race parts but mainly pedals, so far looking at HT and Hope.

Good to hear about the carbon forks, maybe I will stick to cromo for now as you say, don't want my front end any lighter at the moment lol.

bike looks great but sorry to hear you crashed!

as for pedals Shimano XT large are brilliant and about half the price of Hope or HT from chainreaction atm

chownie · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2019, 11:13 AM »

Thanks, love it and can't wait to get riding again, hopefully won't be long now till i'm back. I was looking at the XT's the other day and the Saints, good to know the XT's are good :-)

Quote from: Dingobmxer on March 26, 2019, 05:22 PM

Quote from: chownie on March 05, 2019, 10:42 AM
Quote from: Mikku on March 04, 2019, 11:21 PM
Sorry to hear about that mate! We definitely don't bounce like we used to, eh!

Here's to a speedy recovery, during which you can pick up some new pedals!

Btw, my carbon forks held up fine on their first race outing a few weeks ago. Can definitely notice the lighter front end but in view of your recent experiences, maybe I shouldn't go too light up front!!!

Thanks! Lol, I usually bounce ok, but not this time! Yep, looking at race parts but mainly pedals, so far looking at HT and Hope.

Good to hear about the carbon forks, maybe I will stick to cromo for now as you say, don't want my front end any lighter at the moment lol.

bike looks great but sorry to hear you crashed!

as for pedals Shimano XT large are brilliant and about half the price of Hope or HT from chainreaction atm

Drawn · « **Reply #21 on:** April 01, 2019, 07:35 AM »

The Hope F20 Pedals are quite nice. Currently run them as they seem to just work with the Vans pattern.
Pins are definitely long enough you wont be slipping off them.
Thats my only problem with some pedals, having enough grip that you wont slip, but not having the pins too long that you tear apart shoes.
Used to run Blackspire Sub4s which were awesome, except tore my shoes apart as they were quite narrow pins.

If you can, try to see how they go with whatever shoes you run and then go from there.

Author Topic: Newbie Racer! (Read 14365 times)

In2bmx

griff