Revolve24 2019 Brands Hatch
Discussion
Wasn't there but had a look online, had ruled it out in the past as I though the entry fees were silly for the 12 and 24 but the 6 hour solo is pretty reasonable, so might give that a go next year. One of my cousins did it but wasn't feeling very well so I think he spent most of the time lying on the grass watching the other guys!
Looks like you had great weather for it. Avg lap times seem to suggest good conditions or better field than last year too.
I enjoyed it last year but like with the Red Bull Timelaps they're one-time events for me. I never manage to sleep at all besides maybe an hour so it's a pretty draining weekend.
I enjoyed it last year but like with the Red Bull Timelaps they're one-time events for me. I never manage to sleep at all besides maybe an hour so it's a pretty draining weekend.
We've had a decent PH showing over the years but less of us this year.
Keith is too modest to point out that he won the 12 hour solo. Chapeau.
I raced the six hour solo and set new power PBs for everything above 2.5hrs. Only enough for third place this year. I'm still a bit off from last month's PBP (1,200km) and the bug I picked up afterwards so wasn't sure how to pace things. In the end I overcooked it and was suffering with strong cramp in my right leg (the weaker one) after 4h15m. IEvery lap I thought I'd have to stop and stretch it out but in the end I was able to nurse it by using the granny ring, knocking the power right off and stretching on every descent. Not sure why I keep doing this race; the course is so grippy and unsuited to me
https://www.strava.com/activities/2711111534
Keith is too modest to point out that he won the 12 hour solo. Chapeau.
I raced the six hour solo and set new power PBs for everything above 2.5hrs. Only enough for third place this year. I'm still a bit off from last month's PBP (1,200km) and the bug I picked up afterwards so wasn't sure how to pace things. In the end I overcooked it and was suffering with strong cramp in my right leg (the weaker one) after 4h15m. IEvery lap I thought I'd have to stop and stretch it out but in the end I was able to nurse it by using the granny ring, knocking the power right off and stretching on every descent. Not sure why I keep doing this race; the course is so grippy and unsuited to me
https://www.strava.com/activities/2711111534
I was.
Did the 24hr as a duo and I covered 79 laps (192 miles and 6000m at just under 20mph) and I managed a whole 3 hours sleep this time.
Most of my laps were sub 9mins and had 25/30% of them under 7mins.
Cracking weekend both weather wise and cycling wise.
Bike and new wheels were flawless and my legs felt pretty good all weekend.
Did the 24hr as a duo and I covered 79 laps (192 miles and 6000m at just under 20mph) and I managed a whole 3 hours sleep this time.
Most of my laps were sub 9mins and had 25/30% of them under 7mins.
Cracking weekend both weather wise and cycling wise.
Bike and new wheels were flawless and my legs felt pretty good all weekend.
Edited by Dannbodge on Tuesday 17th September 12:42
Gruffy said:
Keith is too modest to point out that he won the 12 hour solo. Chapeau.
Despite flying from HK the night before with a stinking cold - by and large the jetlag kept away (apart from a particularly miserable time around 2am where I grabbed any wheel going) I clocked 214 miles / 16,400 feet - (the furthest distance the solo 12 has been won with - and certainly a target that others can beat) over the 200 mile target I had set but annoyingly a lap short of 350km. Annoyingly, I allowed myself a '200 mile celebration' pit stop for a couple of jaffa cakes before going out for the last 45 mins for a smashfest. Had I not done that, I'd have been third overall, beating the third place team (finished on the same lap but 2 mins behind) - and I also would have broken that 350km. Ah well...maaaybe next time.
Not exactly a pretty picture, but endurance racing isn't pretty
And this thing was magnificent
Really enjhoyable circuit to ride although it's vicious in terms of uphill sections after a few hours. As Gruffy said - so much grip and it's lovely and smooth.
Need to decide if I'm going to do it again next year. Or whether I want to do the 24. At the moment I'd be more tempted by joining a team but I don't know - I saw someone complain that 3hrs was too far to drive to do it. Frankly so is 13hrs to fly
I'm doing the 12 in Australia again next year - hoping to go one better than my 2nd place this year but I was a long way off the winner on that occasion so going further is the main aim.
Australia is a much flatter circuit - it's also a much nicer temperature! I'm not used to the cold. During the night it dropped to 10C, there were people out in jersey and shorts. I was wearing a baselayer, jersey, arm warmers, thermal jersey and rain gillet - with fleece gloves
To those unsure about the cost - it's worth it over a normal sportive, if only for the experience of doing it once. A closed race track, a great atmosphere and cracking organisation.
Edited by keith2.2 on Wednesday 18th September 03:22
Dannbodge said:
Neither.
It's the second uphill after the little straight (surtees)
Just had a look on Strava, yes that bit does look toughIt's the second uphill after the little straight (surtees)
https://www.strava.com/segments/1288757
When I've watched racing at Brands it's always been on the Indy loop so not familiar with the geography of the back half of the circuit. The more I think about it the more I want to do the 6 next year. Won't be anywhere near the front but reckon I could do about 110-120 miles. Plus my cousin has committed to it so game on
You carry so much speed into Druids that it's never more than a 10s effort to the top.
Surtees is quite different. It's long enough that you can't rely on momentum. The first half saps your speed and then the second half is an 8% ramp that's long enough to bite. This is where the damage is done for me. Matches are burnt on every lap and it adds up.
Hawthorn is long but the steeper entry can be largely ignored as you'll carry enough speed from Pilgrims Drop. Then it's a long but shallow drag to Westfield and a long fast descent back to the line.
1.7% climbing average. My six hours was almost 4,000m of elevation over 213km.
Surtees is quite different. It's long enough that you can't rely on momentum. The first half saps your speed and then the second half is an 8% ramp that's long enough to bite. This is where the damage is done for me. Matches are burnt on every lap and it adds up.
Hawthorn is long but the steeper entry can be largely ignored as you'll carry enough speed from Pilgrims Drop. Then it's a long but shallow drag to Westfield and a long fast descent back to the line.
1.7% climbing average. My six hours was almost 4,000m of elevation over 213km.
Basically the whole bloody circuit is up hill - it's like an Escher drawing!
Surtees is still giving me nightmares
You come out of the fastest part of the circuit and then feel the momentum drain and there's nowhere to hide as it rises up and left. Do you take the slightly steeper inside line, or head out and go further - I don't think there's a correct choice so I tended to just end up spinning up the inside in about 3rd gear (maybe 1st later on)
Group ridingI found tricky - 83kg and on an aero bike meant I struggled to ride in a group on the hill sections - faster than most down hill and then slower up hill meant my choices were to either try and get a tow up the hills but be burning matches to do so, or sail past on the downhill and then be caught on the up and have to slot back in. I never did work out the best way of doing it but I settled for the latter.
There was a piece of advice in the track-walk video that I disagree with, and that was to coast down all the hills to save energy. I think putting in 50-100W downhill, not much more than the weight of the legs turning the pedals, just gave that bit of extra - free- momentum.
The start finish straight has a nice run in so doesn't feel like an uphill - I was averaging 50kph along there lap after lap - just having to knock down a couple of gears to keep the cadence up going from the start/finish line into paddock hill.
Surtees is still giving me nightmares
You come out of the fastest part of the circuit and then feel the momentum drain and there's nowhere to hide as it rises up and left. Do you take the slightly steeper inside line, or head out and go further - I don't think there's a correct choice so I tended to just end up spinning up the inside in about 3rd gear (maybe 1st later on)
Group ridingI found tricky - 83kg and on an aero bike meant I struggled to ride in a group on the hill sections - faster than most down hill and then slower up hill meant my choices were to either try and get a tow up the hills but be burning matches to do so, or sail past on the downhill and then be caught on the up and have to slot back in. I never did work out the best way of doing it but I settled for the latter.
There was a piece of advice in the track-walk video that I disagree with, and that was to coast down all the hills to save energy. I think putting in 50-100W downhill, not much more than the weight of the legs turning the pedals, just gave that bit of extra - free- momentum.
The start finish straight has a nice run in so doesn't feel like an uphill - I was averaging 50kph along there lap after lap - just having to knock down a couple of gears to keep the cadence up going from the start/finish line into paddock hill.
Edited by keith2.2 on Thursday 19th September 02:57
keith2.2 said:
Basically the whole bloody circuit is up hill - it's like an Escher drawing!
Surtees is still giving me nightmares
You come out of the fastest part of the circuit and then feel the momentum drain and there's nowhere to hide as it rises up and left. Do you take the slightly steeper inside line, or head out and go further - I don't think there's a correct choice so I tended to just end up spinning up the inside in about 3rd gear (maybe 1st later on)
Group ridingI found tricky - 83kg and on an aero bike meant I struggled to ride in a group on the hill sections - faster than most down hill and then slower up hill meant my choices were to either try and get a tow up the hills but be burning matches to do so, or sail past on the downhill and then be caught on the up and have to slot back in. I never did work out the best way of doing it but I settled for the latter.
There was a piece of advice in the track-walk video that I disagree with, and that was to coast down all the hills to save energy. I think putting in 50-100W downhill, not much more than the weight of the legs turning the pedals, just gave that bit of extra - free- momentum.
The start finish straight has a nice run in so doesn't feel like an uphill - I was averaging 50kph along there lap after lap - just having to knock down a couple of gears to keep the cadence up going from the start/finish line into paddock hill.
I found completely the opposite for when I was in a group (68kg on a 7kg bike)Surtees is still giving me nightmares
You come out of the fastest part of the circuit and then feel the momentum drain and there's nowhere to hide as it rises up and left. Do you take the slightly steeper inside line, or head out and go further - I don't think there's a correct choice so I tended to just end up spinning up the inside in about 3rd gear (maybe 1st later on)
Group ridingI found tricky - 83kg and on an aero bike meant I struggled to ride in a group on the hill sections - faster than most down hill and then slower up hill meant my choices were to either try and get a tow up the hills but be burning matches to do so, or sail past on the downhill and then be caught on the up and have to slot back in. I never did work out the best way of doing it but I settled for the latter.
There was a piece of advice in the track-walk video that I disagree with, and that was to coast down all the hills to save energy. I think putting in 50-100W downhill, not much more than the weight of the legs turning the pedals, just gave that bit of extra - free- momentum.
The start finish straight has a nice run in so doesn't feel like an uphill - I was averaging 50kph along there lap after lap - just having to knock down a couple of gears to keep the cadence up going from the start/finish line into paddock hill.
Edited by keith2.2 on Thursday 19th September 02:57
Get left behind on the downhills, keep a nice pace on the flats, then nearly crash into everyone on the uphills.
Dannbodge said:
I found completely the opposite for when I was in a group (68kg on a 7kg bike)
Get left behind on the downhills, keep a nice pace on the flats, then nearly crash into everyone on the uphills.
hahaha so there's a sweetspot around 75kg on a 7.2kg bike that will see you sitting perfectly in the peloton.Get left behind on the downhills, keep a nice pace on the flats, then nearly crash into everyone on the uphills.
I'm also an aero 80kg and have the same rhythm issues trying to find riders to work with. For the six hour race I just go into the red up the hills and freewheel sooner on the descents. Often I'd ease off a tiny bit on the climbs knowing I'd coast back onto the wheel by the time I hit the next trough. For the longer distances it didn't make sense to burn matches so I'd end up riding it largely solo; pinging off the front on the descents and then climbing slower. Not very efficient but the best option.
I think the sweet spot for descending is to keep pedalling into the descent and then tuck at a certain velocity, once before you'd hit threshold basically.
I think the sweet spot for descending is to keep pedalling into the descent and then tuck at a certain velocity, once before you'd hit threshold basically.
keith2.2 said:
hahaha so there's a sweetspot around 75kg on a 7.2kg bike that will see you sitting perfectly in the peloton.
Sounds like there could be!Although I'm fairly good at short sharp hills and lots of smaller efforts, so Brands fits my "rider profile" quite well.
I was riding with a PM and it's quite interesting looking at my lap times and average power. You can clearly see when I was solo/on the front compared to in a bunch.
Dannbodge said:
Neither.
It's the second uphill after the little straight (surtees)
This. Last year it had quite the headwind as well, I hated that section. Druids was easy, just punch over it and done where as that section dragged on. The wind did make the finishing straight rapid though.It's the second uphill after the little straight (surtees)
I've just updated my Adelaide post here if anyone is interested. AS commented there - its funny how things change
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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