Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => The Dark Side => Topic started by: Blodwyn Pig on 16 September, 2019, 07:02:02 am

Title: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 16 September, 2019, 07:02:02 am
Just a heads up, there will be a round of BHPC racing at Gravesend Cyclopark, on Sat21 and Sun 22 September. Up the road from me so may pop along.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Tim Hall on 16 September, 2019, 07:22:12 am
Have you seen the current state of play, as shown on this table?

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/tables19.html (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/tables19.html)

See how many times the Red Baron is at or near the top of the various classes.

Go Kim. <high five>
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 September, 2019, 08:30:29 am
Quote from: Tim Hall on 16 September, 2019, 07:22:12 am
Have you seen the current state of play, as shown on this table?

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/tables19.html (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/tables19.html)

See how many times the Red Baron is at or near the top of the various classes.

Go Kim. <high five>
How can the Red Baron be both part-faired and unfaired at the same time? Their scoring system is a wonder of geekery. But top in 3 categories – wow!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 01:12:05 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 16 September, 2019, 08:30:29 am
How can the Red Baron be both part-faired and unfaired at the same time?

Categories overlap as they become more restrictive.  So, to attempt an ASCII venn-diagram:

(Open (Part-faired (Unfaired)))

A velomobile would only count as Open, but the Red Baron counts as all three.  The idea being to give those on less expensively aero machines / women / juniors / those using spare wheels etc. some fair competition.

Further confusion or possibly enlightenment may be found at http://www.bhpc.org.uk/how-to-race-with-bhpc.aspx


Quote
Their scoring system is a wonder of geekery. But top in 3 categories – wow!

Actually four.  But since nearly all[1] the women racing this year have been using unfaired machines, the Ladies Part Faired category is currently a bit redundant .  Similar story with Street and Sports[2], which appear to have deteriorated into me attempting to get the edge on John Lucian (who is frustratingly faster than me) with superior turning-up tactics.  (If anybody spots him at Gravesend, feel free to let his tyres down  ;))

Anyway, I now have control of the timing system[3].  Muhahaha.


[1] IIRC Magda Williams hoovered up some points in a Quest at Hillingdon.
[2] At last year's AGM it was suggested that the trophy for Sports should go to whoever was able to explain the difference between Sports and Street.  Or possibly the other way round.
[3] It was suffering from a b0rked cable.  Is now working.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 September, 2019, 01:33:05 pm
Quote from: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 01:12:05 pm
[2] At last year's AGM it was suggested that the trophy for Sports should go to whoever was able to explain the difference between Sports and Street.  Or possibly the other way round.
That's easy. Sports is just another category, whereas Street is a category people* don't see because they think "Surely that must be it?"

*Exact number to be determined but more than zero.
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 01:38:44 pm
Anyway, more details of the coming weekend here (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2019-round-9-gravesend-21st-sept_topic6943_post65715.html#65715) and here (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2019-round-10-gravesend-sun-22-sep_topic6949_post65716.html#65716):

Quote
Details for The Gravesend racing on the Saturday are:

we have the lower 2 circuits of the track (click to see pic) booked from 12-4pm

Sign-on starts ~11am

Race formats (split into Fast and Slow groups depending on numbers)
10min + 1 lap
20 min + 1 Lap
30 min + 1 Lap

The two race circuits can be used in a number of different combinations/directions, which can be decided on the day.

Quote
Details for The Gravesend racing on the Sunday are:

we have the lower 2 circuits of the track (click to see pic) booked from 10-3 pm

Sign-on starts ~9:30am

Race format (split into Fast and Slow groups depending on numbers)
2 hrs
The track is booked for 5 hrs to accommodate both a fast and a slow 2hr race, (but if numbers allow all to run in one race it could be increased to 3 hrs, or do an all-in 2hr race followed by another shorter race format to get full value for money from the track)

To recycle the content of a previous post:

[1]  O:-)
[2] Translation for non-sportsists:  Go as fast as you can, and when someone rings a bell, it's nearly over so go a bit faster.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 16 September, 2019, 01:51:36 pm
I’m hoping to be there (on upright trike, so a mobile chicane for some) but have a flight to catch Sunday evening, so must keep rubber side down.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 September, 2019, 03:06:08 pm
Sorry, gang, can't make this one coz I only get back from USAnia on the 21st and will be dead to the world on the 22nd.
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 04:39:56 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 16 September, 2019, 03:06:08 pm
Sorry, gang, can't make this one coz I only get back from USAnia on the 21st and will be dead to the world on the 22nd.

Perhaps a 2D Mr Larrington would work?
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Beardy on 17 September, 2019, 08:18:49 am
Quote from: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 04:39:56 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 16 September, 2019, 03:06:08 pm
Sorry, gang, can't make this one coz I only get back from USAnia on the 21st and will be dead to the world on the 22nd.

Perhaps a 2D Mr Larrington would work?
Does the 3D Mr Larrington work? You’re destroying my imaginings.  :o
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 September, 2019, 03:27:46 pm
Quote from: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 04:39:56 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 16 September, 2019, 03:06:08 pm
Sorry, gang, can't make this one coz I only get back from USAnia on the 21st and will be dead to the world on the 22nd.

Perhaps a 2D Mr Larrington would work?

Probably better than 2D Thomas, who is currently MIA but presumed buried under the Teetering Piles of CrapTM in the back of my grate frends Al'n'Alice's minivan.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Arellcat on 18 September, 2019, 09:06:11 pm
Quote from: Kim on 16 September, 2019, 01:12:05 pm
But since nearly all the women racing this year have been using unfaired machines, the Ladies Part Faired category is currently a bit redundant.

My Quest doesn't get out much beyond my 10-mile commute.  They maybe ought to rename the racing arm of the BHPC the EHPC, on account of other countries' inability to construct more than one decent circuit, and unwillingness to travel north of Lancaster.  :(
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2019, 05:11:39 pm
I have assembled a pile of Stuffs, including such essentials as The Red Baron; a tent; bike shoes; magic hat; an assortment of reverse-polarity anbaric string (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11510.msg2418494#msg2418494) and timing equipment; some flags; 2D Mr Larrington; sixteen Earth Pounds (property of Teh Treasurer); gaffer tape; cable ties and a several of changes of cycling clothing that I won't be too upset about if it gets shredded in a crash.  I've also charged various batteries and persuaded The Worst[1] Windows Tablet Ever Made™ that its Office 365 licence is still valid[2].

Later on this evening I will be celebrating the climate strike by hiring a car.   :(

And attempting to fit all the above into it at Audax o'clock tomorrow morning before going to participate in a traffic jam on The Road To Hell.


[1] For some inexplicable reason the Mega-Global Beige Box Corporation of Round Rock, USAnia decided that it didn't need a Devil's Radio, and for good measure put the charging socket right up alongside the USB port to inhibit the protracted use of dongles.  This is probably why it now does sign-on duty for the BHPC, rather than assisting with Thought Leadership or whatever.
[2] So as not to repeat the connect-me-to-the-interwebs sulk that it went into at dePreston when tasked with signing on riders.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Beardy on 20 September, 2019, 05:47:37 pm
You’ve forgotten the WD40. Armageddon is bound to occur if y;u don’t back WD40.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 20 September, 2019, 06:45:39 pm
I shall be there , spectatoring, on Sat,  prob around lunch time, wearing something inconspicuous.. :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2019, 11:42:52 pm
Quote from: Kim on 20 September, 2019, 05:11:39 pm
Later on this evening I will be celebrating the climate strike by hiring a car.   :(

Car collected, and a large quantity of avian and tree detritus scraped from the windscreen, with a view to seeing where I'm going rather than where the birdlife of Birmingham has been going.

Leafy side-streets aren't perhaps the best place for car club cars to reside.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: andrewc on 21 September, 2019, 12:17:46 am
Don't forget your hairnet.....and your trousers...  ;)       Be careful & have fun. 
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 21 September, 2019, 05:46:13 pm
What a most excellent afternoons'  entertainment, got to meet Kim, and Littlewheelsandbig OTP,  had a go on a Bachetta Corsa, and a Ken Rodgers trike, the later was FAR more scary than the former. Top stuff! ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 22 September, 2019, 10:40:04 pm
Well that was exhausting (and I mostly don't mean the Rushing About)...

I've uploaded the electronic timing system results: See the relevant BHPC forum threads for details.  Official results to come later, pending the decryption of various scrawled-on pieces of paper.

Due to the generally high disorganisation level, 2D Mr Larrington only came out in his official capacity as RFID system diagnostic tool[1].  Here he is looking after all the kit on the way home:

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/BHPC/2019_09_22_14_32_06_001.sized.jpg)


[1] I've stuck a tag with EPC 0xdead-beef to the back of him.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2019, 09:43:18 pm
Is that a copy of Russ Bridge's sketch of me being Mr Mardypants at the BM Awards Bash?
Title: Re: BHPC racing - Gravesend 21/22 September 2019
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2019, 11:06:17 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2019, 09:43:18 pm
Is that a copy of Russ Bridge's sketch of me being Mr Mardypants at the BM Awards Bash?

It is indeed.   :thumbsup:


I've spent a productive couple of hours fabricating consolidating timing data.  Saturday's results are mostly sorted.  Sunday's results have a big gap in them, because Neil Hood's infernal combustion engine has less stamina than a teenager on a KMX with about ten minutes of prior recumbent-riding experience.  (This is conclusively Not My Fault, because I was too busy riding my bicycle to notice the suspicious silence and the RFID box of blinkenlights being deprived of vital anbarism.)

In the best spirit of Strava or it didn't happen, we're trying to reconstruct the missing lap counts from GPS data and such, so if anyone has useful insights like "My Garmin says 45 laps and I still couldn't keep up with John Lucian", please let us know.

Otherwise we'll write off the gap and process it at two separate races, which would be suboptimal for those who put on a tremendous burst of speed in the second half.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 29 September, 2019, 09:05:07 am
short video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4hAJxqL9ZI
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2019, 05:43:08 pm
Results from Gravesend are finally up:
Saturday (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/09gravesend/gravesend1-19.html)
Sunday (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/10gravesend/gravesend2-19.html)

Updated points table. (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/10gravesend/tables19.html)

Meanwhile, there's more racing this Sunday at Stourport Sports Club (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stourport+Sports+Club/@52.3519746,-2.2784521,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xe6904d0dd6ae777a!8m2!3d52.3519746!4d-2.2762634) (near Kidderminster).  Sign-on from 10am.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 October, 2019, 05:54:45 pm
I admire Rebecca Sparey-Taylor's pragmatic bike naming scheme.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2019, 06:05:41 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 04 October, 2019, 05:54:45 pm
I admire Rebecca Sparey-Taylor's pragmatic bike naming scheme.

You do get some interesting bike names, even without resorting to TS Eliot.  Some of this has to do with people turning up for the first time, being asked the name of their bike at sign-on, and making up random stuff in the spur of the moment so as not to delay the queueueueue.  Typos, minor variations, and the name of a completely different bike that TEH SPREADSHEET OV DOOM thinks they used last time are also popular options.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Phil W on 04 October, 2019, 06:17:22 pm
What kind of chain ring guard do you need up front to take part?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 October, 2019, 06:29:13 pm
Quote from: phil w on 04 October, 2019, 06:17:22 pm
What kind of chain ring guard do you need up front to take part?

A by no means exhaustive list of things that I've seen people using:

-Bash ring larger than biggest chainring
-HPVelotechnic-style enclosed chainring guard
-ICE-style open chainring guard
-Very obviously home-made equivalents of the above
-Creative bodgery featuring materials such as wood, bamboo, metal sheet, multi-layered cross-ply Correx, and in one instance, a bit of plastic curtain runner
-Fairings that enclose the chainset

Basically, if it stands a reasonable chance of preventing chainring-impailment, it'll do.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2019, 10:01:55 pm
And congratulations to Kim on becoming a member of the BHPC's politburo  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 October, 2019, 10:37:19 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 20 October, 2019, 10:01:55 pm
And congratulations to Kim on becoming a member of the BHPC's politburo  :thumbsup:

Heather warned me that that was likely to happen once I knew how to do all the things...   :facepalm:

I retaliated with Ideas™ about categories, because  a) the women's class needed dragging into the Century of the Fruitbat  and  b) they weren't confusing enough already.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 02 February, 2020, 05:25:13 pm
Since I'm in calendar mode, let's bump this thread with a link to the now-finalised 2020 race season: http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Events/2020.aspx

(Dates have been added to the YACF calendar.)

A late kickoff this year, which will delight anyone who suffered bilateral calf cramps in the freezing rain at Curborough   :hand:

Maybe see some of you at Hillingdon...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 March, 2020, 08:58:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 February, 2020, 05:25:13 pm
Maybe see some of you at Hillingdon...

Or not.  We've cancelled it, and will probably be cancelling further 2020 events in due course.

http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/cancellation_topic7027_post66255.html refers.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 July, 2020, 12:41:22 am
Okay, we're un-cancelling the racing, starting with a confirmed[1] double bill at Darley Moor on the 30th and 31st of August (Sunday and Monday of the bank holiday weekend).  Gravesend and Hillingdon are a work in progress, but we're hoping they'll be able to go ahead too.

Keep an eye on http://www.bhpc.org.uk/events.aspx and the BHPC forum for more details, but in the interests of COVID-19 mitigation, we're planning to do the entire sign-on process online in advance (to avoid queues and handling cash etc.), and are considering alternative race formats to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission.  Note that Darley Moor aren't permitting spectators[2], but if someone's driving a race participant to the site or similar, that would be fine.

Meanwhile, if you've failed to renew your BHPC membership because you usually do it in time for the start of the racing season, the treasurer would be delighted[3] if you were to wander your way over to the online shop (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/membership-april-2020-december-2020) and do it now.  You'll also avoid missing out on the next issue of Laidback Cyclist.


[1] FCVO confirmed.  Obviously if the government impose new restrictions, this is all subject to change.
[2] Probably a good time to reiterate that you don't have to be in any way athletic to race.
[3] Understatement.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 20 July, 2020, 10:27:34 am
Kim, do you know what facilities are available at the Darley Moor circuit, specifically toilets and showers? I have not found relevant details on the Darley Moor circuit website.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 20 July, 2020, 10:58:23 am
I think I shall continue with my silent membership for yet another year.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 July, 2020, 11:31:36 am
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 20 July, 2020, 10:27:34 am
Kim, do you know what facilities are available at the Darley Moor circuit, specifically toilets and showers? I have not found relevant details on the Darley Moor circuit website.

This is a good question, and one of my plans for the 2020 season was to start collecting access information about the venues for the benefit of our attenders.

Anyway, my experience of Darley Moor is that they have a draughty toilet block (think school toilets from the 70s, only without the tracing paper or aroma of Ajax) near the entrance to the track area, with several standard-sized cubicles and a cold water sink.  Drinking water available from a tap outside.

There's at least one similar block further away in the camping / car park area, no idea if the facilities are different.  If there are showers or accessible toilets, I haven't noticed them.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: DuncanM on 20 July, 2020, 11:49:59 am
I saw on the BHPC facebook post announcing camping that the campsite will have toilet facilities but no shower facilities. They didn't mention accessibility.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 20 July, 2020, 11:47:05 pm
No showers is a bit grim for two days of racing plus travel. I will look for nearby alternatives.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 August, 2020, 08:52:21 pm
Just a heads-up to say that online sign-on for Darley Moor is now available in the BHPC web shop.  You can also book camping for the Saturday and/or Sunday nights. (Facilities are a field, some toilets and a tap.)

Bookings are fully refundable up to the Thursday before the race, or in the event of the race being cancelled.

If you haven't raced with the BHPC in the last year, I'll email you to let you know your allocated race number when I get round to processing[1] the sign-ons, so you should have plenty of time to fettle yourself some number boards.  If you're coming to more than one day of racing in a season, it's cheaper to join the BHPC.

https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on




[1] The process is not yet fully automated, and looking at some of the answers people give to ostensibly simple questions like "What's your Name?" and "Are you a new rider?", it's probably better if it stays that way.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 25 August, 2020, 07:08:01 pm
*Bump* because registrations close at 9pm on Thursday.  The jam-filled Babbage engine says we're going to have a decent turn-out.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 25 August, 2020, 07:46:17 pm
would have really loved to be there, to actually ride 'hilda on t'track, but i'm deep in the throws of No1 daughters swanky retro flat refurb, in That London.,  6 weeks in and 1 day off  :-\,  I finished the last of the  plastering  today, tomorrow will be painting and kitchen unit assembly.  I did think of bunking off for a couple of days, but time is precious, and 'moving in' is looming...  Enjoy all, I hope to make the next one.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Lightning Phil on 25 August, 2020, 08:12:15 pm
Think you need a chain guard of some sort to take part.  I know I’d be really slow not being a racer.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 25 August, 2020, 08:41:18 pm
Quote from: Lightning Phil on 25 August, 2020, 08:12:15 pm
Think you need a chain guard of some sort to take part.

Yes, you need at least one brake, a helmet and no dangerous sharp bits.  Beyond that, pretty much anything goes.

See 'safety' on http://www.bhpc.org.uk/how-to-race-with-bhpc.aspx


Quote
I know I’d be really slow not being a racer.

You'd be in good company.  Here are the results for the 40 minute race at Darley Moor last year. (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events19/08darleymoor/2019-08-11-darley-moor-r1-1st_race.html?raceCat=Open%20%28Open%29)  This time we're going to have some children in pedal cars, and a number of handcyclists, so I expect there'll be some much lower speeds.  (Also, I'm bringing an extra wheel, which should slow me down a fair bit.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 August, 2020, 09:53:00 pm
That went quite well.  Couldn't have wished for better weather, especially today.   :thumbsup:

I've just added today's results to http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Results/2020.aspx

As predicted, the extra wheel did indeed slow me down a fair bit.  I'm now allowed to take painkillers for my ill-adjusted mesh seat injuries...   :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: quixoticgeek on 31 August, 2020, 10:56:51 pm

Are there any photos?

J
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 August, 2020, 11:22:11 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 31 August, 2020, 10:56:51 pm
Are there any photos?

Probably.  I only have photos of boring things like toilets and doorways.  The HPV photography enthusiasts don't get nagged as persistently at the timing team, so they're probably waiting until they've had some sleep before uploading anything.

I think John Williams was filming for his Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKU3VJzRAMqoHVpnAAZ8JqQ), though he tends to focus on individual machines and their riders rather than the event itself.  (He also DNSed the 2-hour race and went home early citing post-COVID exhaustion, so that may take a while.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 31 August, 2020, 10:56:51 pm

Are there any photos?


Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 12:09:01 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 31 August, 2020, 10:56:51 pm

Are there any photos?


Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).

Beware that you may need sunglasses for teh mitey ORANGE paint of the Trinity Zoomers.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: quixoticgeek on 03 September, 2020, 06:29:07 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 12:09:01 pm
Beware that you may need sunglasses for teh mitey ORANGE paint of the Trinity Zoomers.

I'm in the Netherlands, I am almost immune to orange, I don't need sunglasses for OH MY GOD MY EYES!!!!!

J
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 September, 2020, 07:59:07 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 03 September, 2020, 06:29:07 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 12:09:01 pm
Beware that you may need sunglasses for teh mitey ORANGE paint of the Trinity Zoomers.

I'm in the Netherlands, I am almost immune to orange, I don't need sunglasses for OH MY GOD MY EYES!!!!!

It was brighter in real life, the camera doesn't really do it justice.  Suspect that they could obtain useful propulsive force from it if they painted the front a different colour.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 September, 2020, 08:48:33 pm
Love the Pedersen.  :thumbsup: And some of the other offbeat machines. But I think the microlight is cheating by using an engine.  ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 September, 2020, 10:49:32 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 03 September, 2020, 08:48:33 pm
Love the Pedersen.  :thumbsup: And some of the other offbeat machines. But I think the microlight is cheating by using an engine.  ;)

The hang-glider was cheating too, by getting a tow.  (Although an alarmingly ineffective one given how close it got to the trees.)  I reckoned it was low enough that if it had had a timing tag Impinj would have seen it cross our finish line.

Anyway, watch this space for an announcement about Gravesend on the 19th/20th of September...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: grams on 03 September, 2020, 11:18:59 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).

Does no one turn up on upwrongs, or does no one bother to photograph them?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 12:20:50 am
Quote from: grams on 03 September, 2020, 11:18:59 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).

Does no one turn up on upwrongs, or does no one bother to photograph them?

There's an upright trike in the photos (we usually get a couple of those), and the Pedersen, which didn't race.  And one of our regulars was on a conventional road bike for Monday's racing (Jeff's photos are all from Sunday).

But, unsurprisingly, it's the unconventional HPV riders who are more inclined to  a) travel across the country  and  b) book in advance during a pandemic.  In normal times, we'd get more uprights (and spectators, which weren't allowed at this event under COVID-19 rules) at city venues when people can enter on the day. 

For obvious reasons, uprights tend to be well-represented among the Junior riders.  And we occasionally get a contingent on Lotus monocoque bikes, on account of the Mike Burrows connection.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 11:11:36 am
Quote from: Kim on 03 September, 2020, 10:49:32 pm
Anyway, watch this space for an announcement about Gravesend on the 19th/20th of September...

And we are now accepting on-line entries for Gravesend.

Saturday will be a 20min +1lap criterium on the oval track anticlockwise, and then 45min +1lap on the lower two circuits clockwise.

Sunday will be a 1-lap time trial on the lower two circuits clockwise, followed by a 90min +1lap criterium on the lower two circuits anticlockwise.

Spectators are permitted only if accompanying a rider.

All entries via the BHPC online shop, we will not be accepting sign-on on the day due to COVID-19: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on  As numbers are limited, we're opening registration to BHPC members first.

More details on the BHPC forum (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-events_forum84.html).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fimm on 04 September, 2020, 04:15:27 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 03 September, 2020, 06:29:07 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 12:09:01 pm
Beware that you may need sunglasses for teh mitey ORANGE paint of the Trinity Zoomers.

I'm in the Netherlands, I am almost immune to orange, I don't need sunglasses for OH MY GOD MY EYES!!!!!

J
;D ;D ;D ;D
I assume that was 173 and 174... they are interesting, er, things....
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 04:24:44 pm
Quote from: fimm on 04 September, 2020, 04:15:27 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 03 September, 2020, 06:29:07 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 September, 2020, 12:09:01 pm
Beware that you may need sunglasses for teh mitey ORANGE paint of the Trinity Zoomers.

I'm in the Netherlands, I am almost immune to orange, I don't need sunglasses for OH MY GOD MY EYES!!!!!

J
;D ;D ;D ;D
I assume that was 173 and 174... they are interesting, er, things....

Those are pedal cars (http://pedalcarracing.info/).  They have their own racing organisation, but since they meet the requirements to participate in BHPC events, they were taking the opportunity to get some track time.

The rules for pedal cars (http://pedalcarracing.info/information/rules-regulations/) are a bit interesting anyway, but these particular examples are firmly at the end of the spectrum where any speed they do manage to achieve is the result of youthful enthusiasm on the part of the driver, rather than lightweight, aerodynamic or particularly ergonomic engineering.   :D

(They were swapping drivers in a pedal car race style for the longer races, hence didn't get any BHPC championship points for those.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 September, 2020, 05:20:00 pm
Quote from: grams on 03 September, 2020, 11:18:59 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).

Does no one turn up on upwrongs, or does no one bother to photograph them?
In addition to the Pedersen and the trikie, there's a photo of a gnuprite, diamond framed, two-wheeled Carrera. Entrant 101.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: mzjo on 04 September, 2020, 10:31:42 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 04 September, 2020, 05:20:00 pm
Quote from: grams on 03 September, 2020, 11:18:59 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2020, 11:52:43 am
Jeff James, he say clicky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/yuj1YP6A4nrbD4Gu6).

Does no one turn up on upwrongs, or does no one bother to photograph them?
In addition to the Pedersen and the trikie, there's a photo of a gnuprite, diamond framed, two-wheeled Carrera. Entrant 101.

The Pedersen doesn't look right with a dérailleur gear and lo-loaders. I don't know what luggage carrying was on the original but it was a 3 speed (with very wide gears).
I didn't even notice the orange - do I have a vision problem (I was looking for bright orange!)

Question - do the streamers have launching and catching crews. There was one that I couldn't see how the rider got his feet down. Is he just very good at trackstanding?

All very inspiring. Makes me want to get my bit of scrap tube and the welder out! (Now where do they race in France - probably lightdays away from me  :-\  )
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 11:10:31 pm
Quote from: mzjo on 04 September, 2020, 10:31:42 pm
Question - do the streamers have launching and catching crews. There was one that I couldn't see how the rider got his feet down. Is he just very good at trackstanding?

Somewhere on the spectrum between fully retractable landing gear and a hole through which the rider may get feet down.  I think a couple have bomb-bay doors that can be released to stop but benefit from someone to hold them upright for an efficient doors-closed start.  Unlike the Battle Mountain machines, these have appropriate adequate gearing for a standing start, which helps.


Quote
All very inspiring. Makes me want to get my bit of scrap tube and the welder out! (Now where do they race in France - probably lightdays away from me  :-\  )

My French is atrocious bordering on non-existent, but I believe https://www.afvelocouche.fr/ is the place to look.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 05 September, 2020, 09:42:00 am
Quote from: Kim on 04 September, 2020, 11:11:36 am
Quote from: Kim on 03 September, 2020, 10:49:32 pm
Anyway, watch this space for an announcement about Gravesend on the 19th/20th of September...

And we are now accepting on-line entries for Gravesend.

Saturday will be a 20min +1lap criterium on the oval track anticlockwise, and then 45min +1lap on the lower two circuits clockwise.

Sunday will be a 1-lap time trial on the lower two circuits clockwise, followed by a 90min +1lap criterium on the lower two circuits anticlockwise.

Spectators are permitted only if accompanying a rider.

All entries via the BHPC online shop, we will not be accepting sign-on on the day due to COVID-19: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on  As numbers are limited, we're opening registration to BHPC members first.

More details on the BHPC forum (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-events_forum84.html).


Oooooo!! seeing as how project Leyton is now drawing to a close, looks like I will be able to make this, entering on 'Grunhilda'.  never done anything like it before,and I expect to be well behind the very last person. Will have to look on the BHPC website. when I get home.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 11:30:30 am
If you can maintain double-digits miles per hour, you will not be behind the last person.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Lightning Phil on 05 September, 2020, 11:36:00 am
As in 10 mph?

Mind you have to remind yourself that the length of these events means you would be able to work much harder than you do on a long ride. So speeds should be higher than the averages riders put out when on the road.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 11:40:56 am
Quote from: Lightning Phil on 05 September, 2020, 11:36:00 am
As in 10 mph?

Yes.

Remember some of the riders are as young as 10, some are arm-powered[1], and some are on Mildly Inappropriate Cycles™ or gas-pipe creations not designed for speed.  Sometimes more than one of the above.  Yes, things get serious at the sharp end of the fast race, but most people are participating as a social event or experimenting to see if their latest bit of fettling has improved performance.  It's mostly about Fun.

This year I'm riding a touring trike with a seat that doesn't fit properly, just to be different, which has absolutely ruined my performance, and is entirely in the spirit of the BHPC.


Quote
Mind you have to remind yourself that the length of these events means you would be able to work much harder than you do on a long ride. So speeds should be higher than the averages riders put out when on the road.

This.

Combined with the fact that it's a smooth tarmac track devoid of potholes, gravel, oncoming traffic, muppets in wankpanzers and so on.  You can corner as close to Vmax as you feel able to without flying off, which does wonders for your average speed.

It's also pretty flat (the lower loop has a Dutch Hill-Climb, the oval is flat) compared to real life, and since you're going round in circles, you tend not to get an omnidirectional headwind.



[1] Though a couple who came to Darley Moor were Paralympic standard, and therefore A Bit Quick.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 05 September, 2020, 01:19:08 pm
I enjoyed watching last year, so this year I might as well chip in, do I have to be a BHPC member or sign up as a guest?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 01:25:03 pm
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 05 September, 2020, 01:19:08 pm
I enjoyed watching last year, so this year I might as well chip in, do I have to be a BHPC member or sign up as a guest?

Yes :)

As numbers are limited (because COVID-19 rules) we've opened registration to members before opening it up to non-members.  So you can either pay £6 (or more if you want the paper magazine) to become a member (which gets you a £5 discount on race fees), or wait until Thursday and hope the event isn't full.  (We've currently got 18 for Saturday and 19 for Sunday, with a limit of 60, and expecting a mass-registration of all Rob's handcyclist friends at some point)

If you do join, pay for membership first, then come back and do the race sign-on as a separate transaction, otherwise the shop is too stupid to apply the member discount.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Wobbly John on 05 September, 2020, 01:33:50 pm
Has someone sent Rob a link to theose pictures that Mr L posted upthread?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 01:35:53 pm
Quote from: Wobbly John on 05 September, 2020, 01:33:50 pm
Has someone sent Rob a link to theose pictures that Mr L posted upthread?

They've been linked on the forum, and presumably on Friendface, so hopefully he'll have found them already.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: GavinC on 05 September, 2020, 06:13:45 pm
Interested to see the fellow racing an Orbit Crystal as I appear to have bought one of those myself in my first tentative steps to the dark side... :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 05 September, 2020, 08:10:14 pm
ok just joined , will book soon. What would Grunhilda be classed as, sports or street?  Or in this instance car free.?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 09:16:10 pm
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 05 September, 2020, 08:10:14 pm
ok just joined , will book soon. What would Grunhilda be classed as, sports or street?  Or in this instance car free.?

Street covers all bicycles that are practical (and legal) to ride on the road.  Sport is the same, but with restrictions on aerodynamic fairings (yes, I think this is excessively redundant).  So, in the absence of any fairings, you should qualify for both.

The webby SCIENCE will determine that you qualify for Sport (and indeed Part-faired and Unfaired) based on your answers to the Street and fairings questions.

Anyone who doesn't drive to the event qualifies for Carfree, even if your machine isn't road legal.  I recall a session at Derby where I passed David L'Hostis walking from the station with a carbon low-racer on his shoulder, and had that sort of creative scenario in mind (along with, say, towing a race machine on a bike trailer) when I proposed the class at last year's AGM.  It's a bit of gentle encouragement for people not to just drive to everything (which I've been awful at since I've been carting most of the timing kit around).

But yeah, the short answer is that a Streetmachine without any fairings qualifies for O/P/U/S/St, with the options for W/Wp/J and C depending on who you are and how you turn up.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 September, 2020, 10:19:22 pm
David L'H has been known to turn up at Hillingdon with his race bike on a trailer too :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 September, 2020, 10:23:23 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 05 September, 2020, 10:19:22 pm
David L'H has been known to turn up at Hillingdon with his race bike on a trailer too :thumbsup:

Of course he has.

But it's okay, because during lockdown I molished a ludicrously heavy trophy for him to ride home with   :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 06 September, 2020, 08:00:37 pm
entered Sat and Sun.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 07 September, 2020, 12:22:20 am
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 06 September, 2020, 08:00:37 pm
entered Sat and Sun.   :facepalm:

Confirmed.  I've also managed to recruit gerwinium OTP for the Saturday.  Onna upwrong.   :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 10 September, 2020, 01:42:49 pm
After a brief period of suspension while we made sense of the government's latest change to COVID-19 guidelines, Gravesend registration is now re-opened for members *and* non-members.

(It seems extremely unlikely that Hillingdon will go ahead.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 01:07:16 pm
Well that was fun...   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: quixoticgeek on 21 September, 2020, 01:09:59 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 01:07:16 pm
Well that was fun...   :thumbsup:

[citation needed]

J
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 21 September, 2020, 08:26:10 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 01:07:16 pm
Well that was fun...   :thumbsup:

Yes it was rather, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 10:25:23 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 21 September, 2020, 01:09:59 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 01:07:16 pm
Well that was fun...   :thumbsup:

[citation needed]

Better a couple of meets in August & September than no silly bike racing at all.  Or at least that's what we think P@nd3m1c+ Pr0duckt10nz™® would say if this wasn't a low-down non-UCI-compliant ripoff.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 September, 2020, 12:42:34 am
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 22 September, 2020, 07:47:15 am
 ;D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: McWheels on 22 September, 2020, 10:28:07 pm
love it
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2020, 04:59:10 pm
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2020, 05:17:38 pm
Second place for young Liam will doubtless make my grate frend Mr Woolrich very chuffed.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2020, 05:18:55 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2020, 05:17:38 pm
Second place for young Liam will doubtless make my grate frend Mr Woolrich very chuffed.

It did indeed.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Arellcat on 23 September, 2020, 10:35:56 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 10:25:23 pm
(click to show/hide)
(click to show/hide)

If Geoff doesn't put all that verbatim into the next magazine, he is WRONG.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2020, 10:58:15 pm
Quote from: Arellcat on 23 September, 2020, 10:35:56 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 September, 2020, 10:25:23 pm
(click to show/hide)
(click to show/hide)

If Geoff doesn't put all that verbatim into the next magazine, he is WRONG.

It's considerably less boring that what I already sent him...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2020, 07:04:27 pm
In case you ent seen it elsewhere, the next BHPC event is no longer at Hillingdon on the 25th inst, no, it is Stourport.  On the 24th (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2020-round-5-stourport-saturday-24th-october_topic7145.html).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2020, 08:52:36 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 07 October, 2020, 07:04:27 pm
In case you ent seen it elsewhere, the next BHPC event is no longer at Hillingdon on the 25th inst, no, it is Stourport.  On the 24th (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2020-round-5-stourport-saturday-24th-october_topic7145.html).

Indeed.  Online registrations for members open tomorrow at 12:00, with it being opened up to non-members the following week.

Hillingdon are having complicated elfin safe tea issues, vis an unclear combination of coronalurgi rules[1] and a recent cyclist vs dog-emptier incident, and are only permitting time trials until they've done an experimental race under the auspices of British Cycling on the 24th of October.  Which didn't bode well for the 25th.

Stourport was available, and is an easier site to manage from a social distancing perspective, so we're going there instead (lockdowns and so on permitting).  They appear to have one-way toilets and at-table service in the cafe.  Allegedly.


[1] The track's in a publicly accessible park, which makes it a public place rather than something that can be COVID-secure.  Or something.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 07 October, 2020, 09:15:04 pm
hmmm only 20 miles away, that's probably as close as things can get.
...
But last time I checked I still have many small children.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Ashaman42 on 07 October, 2020, 09:22:24 pm
All the more reason to escape no?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 07 October, 2020, 09:23:49 pm
If they're over the age of 10, the solution appears to be pedal cars...   :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 October, 2020, 12:29:30 pm
Circe, tag along, trailgater, sidecar... so many options! Perhaps they'll open up a multi-rider class for you, if there isn't one already?  ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 October, 2020, 12:54:23 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 08 October, 2020, 12:29:30 pm
Circe, tag along, trailgater, sidecar... so many options! Perhaps they'll open up a multi-rider class for you, if there isn't one already?  ;D

There isn't a specific class, but tandem riders (ie. anything with more than one person sharing a HPV) get the same finish time.

We've been contemplating a team class, for those who want to change riders mid-race.  We've been timing but not awarding points to the pedal cars ridden as teams this season.  That sort of thing needs to go through an AGM.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 October, 2020, 06:39:32 pm
And online registration for Stourport is now open:

https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 October, 2020, 07:11:22 pm
That was a little moist.  Results to be uploaded when I've dried them out.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 24 October, 2020, 08:38:18 pm
I would like to record my thanks to the organisers for even running the event.  Oddly enough, although rather wet it was one of the easiest days I've ridden that circuit.  Usually it is windy, and last year I was going up the hill faster than I came down.  Thanks again.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 October, 2020, 09:46:17 pm
Yeah, the wind seemed to be affecting the timing tent a lot more than the cyclists.  Bringing three wheels was the right decision, as I didn't find the hairpin scary at all, in spite of the wet.

I've just uploaded the results to http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 24 October, 2020, 10:06:08 pm
glad it went well.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:17:11 pm
Don’t forget, kids, that the BHPC-themed edition of Laidback Bike Report (https://www.laidbackbikereport.com/) goes out tomorrow, and note that it's at 6 pip emma on account of USAnia starting DST tonight.  I imagine it’ll be on YouThing subsequently.

HM Government Health Warning: programme will contain more than just trace quantities of Barney.  In mitigation there will likely be at least one still photo of Kim.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 01:27:50 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:17:11 pm
In mitigation there will likely be at least one still photo of Kim.

I'm betting that's either:
- Sucking John Lucian's wheel
- Squinting at the official BHPC jam-filled Babbage engine with the "ohdog what now" expression
- Looking suspiciously like I've just come last in a MTB race at dePreston
- Winning TEH FISH
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:58:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 01:27:50 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:17:11 pm
In mitigation there will likely be at least one still photo of Kim.

I'm betting that's either:
- Sucking John Lucian's wheel
- Squinting at the official BHPC jam-filled Babbage engine with the "ohdog what now" expression
- Looking suspiciously like I've just come last in a MTB race at dePreston
- Winning TEH FISH

The raw material does indeed contain “The Squinting at the Jam-Filled Babbage-Engine” and “Thee Clutching ov thee FISH” but also your good self riding Ye Red Baron with a grimly determined expression and no John Lucian.  Mr Comp. Sec. Hamilton will be extolling the virtues of the timing SCIENCE though, so join in the live chat and baffle him with Kimspeke :P
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 02:17:43 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:58:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 01:27:50 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 01:17:11 pm
In mitigation there will likely be at least one still photo of Kim.

I'm betting that's either:
- Sucking John Lucian's wheel
- Squinting at the official BHPC jam-filled Babbage engine with the "ohdog what now" expression
- Looking suspiciously like I've just come last in a MTB race at dePreston
- Winning TEH FISH

The raw material does indeed contain “The Squinting at the Jam-Filled Babbage-Engine” and “Thee Clutching ov thee FISH” but also your good self riding Ye Red Baron with a grimly determined expression and no John Lucian.  Mr Comp. Sec. Hamilton will be extolling the virtues of the timing SCIENCE though, so join in the live chat and baffle him with Kimspeke :P

It's okay, I've been building a clock all winter and have forgotten how the rest of the timing system works.  There's only room for so much compu-guff in my tiny BRANES.  Also, programming computers to tell time is a bit like being a machinist who doesn't trust any of their flat surfaces.  At one point I wasted a whole bike ride meditating on the correctness or otherwise of "-0 seconds" before concluding that while it made sense, it wasn't the right kind of sense...

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 March, 2021, 07:32:38 pm
Coming up on the next series of The Infinite Monkey Cage: Kim and floppy-haired cleverness syphon Professor B Cox debate -0 seconds in relation to the Big Bang and eddies* in the space-time continuum.

* and Eddie's sofa
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 13 March, 2021, 08:43:19 pm
The one thing we do know is that -0 seconds happened in January 1970.  Or was it December 1969?  I expect everyone was too drunk to tell.  [Especially Eddie - Ed.]
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 March, 2021, 10:20:20 pm
The water eddies 'round the rushes
And Eddie's round at my house, insane.

https://youtu.be/dl7c9eVHP8c
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 14 March, 2021, 06:05:50 pm
And the stream is now live:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oijf6afNwlo
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 March, 2021, 06:53:21 pm
My bit not as cringe-provoking as I feared ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 14 March, 2021, 07:12:47 pm
I am disappointed that you did the interview in a human suit.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 March, 2021, 07:39:04 pm
The avatar version only come out when I visit Fort Larrington, in Surrey :P
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 14 March, 2021, 08:37:41 pm
Nice cameo by 2D Thomas.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 March, 2021, 10:02:29 pm
That’s the replica 2D Thomas though; it is thought that the original is currently in Eureka CA in the custody of my grate frends Al'n'Alice.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 13 April, 2021, 05:53:17 pm
Thred bump as we've just opened online sign-on for our first race of the 2021 season on Sunday 16th of May.  As numbers are limited by COVID-19 restrictions, BHPC members get first dibs (you'll have to be logged in to the BHPC shop to see the booking page (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on)), and we'll be opening up sign-on to non-members from the beginning of May.

As with last year, the COVID-secure rules mean that we can't have non-participating spectators present (carers, adult guardians, and race organisers excepted), but we welcome anyone who wants to have a go, regardless of their ability or type of machine (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/how-to-race-with-bhpc.aspx).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 April, 2021, 06:05:22 pm
Anyone need a “team manager” ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 17 April, 2021, 06:50:49 am
Me go.   ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 01:05:57 pm
Quite a lot of people are, if my list is anything to go by (which it should be).  It seems entirely possible that we'll reach the limit before opening registrations to non-members.

Meanwhile, barakta was pleased to come 4th in Multitrack at Fantasy Stourport yesterday as I instructed the jam-filled babbage engine on the finer points of scoring tandem riders.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 April, 2021, 02:00:00 pm
Seems like Team BaraKim-ta are mopping up the medals. All that's left is... tandem!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 02:04:38 pm
We haven't really had enough riders to justify a tandem class.  What I have done, in anticipation of tandem antics in the 2021 season, is fettled the new scoring system to understand two riders with the same lap times.  Previously it's had them finish one after another, which is suboptimal as it may lead to disgruntled stokers, and The Stoker Is Always Right.

(I had a comedy bug where it was only allocating points to even-numbered places for a bit (I reckon this would be a fun event to run).  And I've jibbled it to throw enlighteningly sarcastic error messages if you forget to tell CrossMgr the length of the track, rather than barfing out with ArrayIndexOutOfBounds, which isn't the sort of thing you want to deal with in a tent in the pissing rain while a worrying puddle forms under the power supply[1].)

I will attempt to make barakta earn some real BHPC points in something eventually.  At this rate, it may have to be Arm-powered   :-\


[1] Disappointingly, this sort of thing isn't what the industry refers to as 'Extreme programming'.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 17 April, 2021, 07:47:33 pm
I'm in to (hopefully) give it a go. Got to sort out a chainring guard and better mirrors for the Trice. And look in the cupboard to see if I've got some better legs than the ones I've currently got fitted. And clear a (hopefully minor) lurgy that's kept me off the bike for the last couple of weeks until a gentle pootle yesterday.

No way I'm going to be competitive, but this one is fairly local to me - I used to commute pretty much past Hillingdon on a daily basis - so it seemed rude not to turn up and just have a bit of fun.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 08:05:31 pm
Quote from: MattH on 17 April, 2021, 07:47:33 pm
No way I'm going to be competitive, but this one is fairly local to me - I used to commute pretty much past Hillingdon on a daily basis - so it seemed rude not to turn up and just have a bit of fun.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 April, 2021, 06:09:42 pm
Cor, sold out already.  Hopefully we'll have some more racing in the North-West later in May. 
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 20 April, 2021, 07:44:56 am
Looking at kit, there is a suggestion on the BHPC website that elbow protectors are worn if on a non-hard shell faired bike. Is that also the case for trikes? I'll be on a Trice XL.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 20 April, 2021, 07:50:11 am
Quote from: MattH on 20 April, 2021, 07:44:56 am
Looking at kit, there is a suggestion on the BHPC website that elbow protectors are worn if on a non-hard shell faired bike. Is that also the case for trikes? I'll be on a Trice XL.
Only if you intend falling off/ out of , your trike.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 20 April, 2021, 07:52:36 am
Question is , do we all wear our YACF jerseys, and make it an ‘unofficial forum gathering/ team event’?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 April, 2021, 11:51:04 am
Quote from: MattH on 20 April, 2021, 07:44:56 am
Looking at kit, there is a suggestion on the BHPC website that elbow protectors are worn if on a non-hard shell faired bike. Is that also the case for trikes? I'll be on a Trice XL.

It's merely a suggestion.

Personally, I didn't bother when I raced[1] on barakta's ICE Sprint last season, but do use them on the Red Baron.  Combination of how likely I am to fall off, and relative speed through corners.

Elbows, hands and hip/arse are the classic falling-off-a-recumbent-bike injuries.  I reckon mitts are sensible on anything.  I recall one of our members endorsing goalkeeper's shorts as hip protection, though they're hardly aero and a potential bee hazard.


[1] I use the term loosely.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 20 April, 2021, 05:22:44 pm
No intention of falling from it  :) I'm also unlikely to be cornering fast enough to cause it to be unstable at the moment as I'm trying to fight my way back to basic fitness. I'll have to dig out my helmet though and check it is still OK - been quite a while since that has seen light of day.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 April, 2021, 05:40:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 20 April, 2021, 11:51:04 am
Quote from: MattH on 20 April, 2021, 07:44:56 am
Looking at kit, there is a suggestion on the BHPC website that elbow protectors are worn if on a non-hard shell faired bike. Is that also the case for trikes? I'll be on a Trice XL.

It's merely a suggestion.

Personally, I didn't bother when I raced[1] on barakta's ICE Sprint last season, but do use them on the Red Baron.  Combination of how likely I am to fall off, and relative speed through corners.

Elbows, hands and hip/arse are the classic falling-off-a-recumbent-bike injuries.  I reckon mitts are sensible on anything.  I recall one of our members endorsing goalkeeper's shorts as hip protection, though they're hardly aero and a potential bee hazard.


[1] I use the term loosely.
Goalkeeper's padded undershorts would not be a bee hazard and only marginally less aero than cycle shorts. They might look a bit weird, and possibly borderline indecent, but that's hardly a consideration while racing.
https://www.great-save.com/goalkeeper-clothing-goalkeeper-kit/lightweight-padded-goalkeeper-shorts/precision-neoprene-padded-goalkeeping-short.html
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 April, 2021, 09:09:41 pm
Seems I don’t need to pretend to be a Team Manager after all, just dust down my hi-viz weskit and pretend to be a marshal  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 April, 2021, 09:45:36 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 24 April, 2021, 09:09:41 pm
Seems I don’t need to pretend to be a Team Manager after all, just dust down my hi-viz weskit and pretend to be a marshal  :thumbsup:

Ah good, someone to scare away the dog-emptiers before Slash gets them.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 14 May, 2021, 08:14:07 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFzxI08dMBM


Whilst I'm in Video mode, here is the first race (my first ever race), at BHPC, Gravesend , 2020. Bit slow to start, but picks up towards the end. (20 min + 1 lap)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 14 May, 2021, 08:55:07 pm
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 14 May, 2021, 08:14:07 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFzxI08dMBM

Whilst I'm in Video mode, here is the first race (my first ever race), at BHPC, Gravesend , 2020. Bit slow to start, but picks up towards the end. (20 min + 1 lap)

Sneaky inside line on the finish there!  That mad woman on the tricycle didn't stand a chance.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 May, 2021, 10:01:03 am
And who's the uprighter in the yellow YACF jersey?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 May, 2021, 01:55:42 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 15 May, 2021, 10:01:03 am
And who's the uprighter in the yellow YACF jersey?

Gerwinium OTP
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 May, 2021, 04:26:59 pm
Grand day out.  Kim's Klever Klock awarded two (2) :thumbsup: from The Panel although how well it would have survived had Liam Goodman failed to keep the Notso upright when his attempt to wrest second place from Lee Wakefield was thwarted by traffic…. Photos to follow once I've prised them out of the camera and thrown away all the shots of empty tarmac.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 16 May, 2021, 04:39:25 pm
And said finish, with points for artistic merit

https://youtu.be/zGpvR6ow6pQ


Good day out, the weather was OK (mild showers whilst racing, but cooling rather than nasty). Nice to see some familiar faces too, and meet some new people.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 May, 2021, 05:17:26 pm
Me photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/sets/72157719198981226
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 16 May, 2021, 10:54:09 pm
Me numbers: http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 May, 2021, 02:37:33 pm
Next up: dePreston in a couple of weeks time.  Registrations open for members and selling fast: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-race-sign-on

*BUMP*  Registration now open to non-members.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 May, 2021, 11:47:08 pm
It's looking suspiciously like it might forget to rain at Preston  ???
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 June, 2021, 09:41:15 pm
All systems go (currently including the weather), and entries closed for dePreston.  Meanwhile, registrations for the York/Scunthorpe double-bill on the 19th/20th of June are now open to BHPC members (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 06 June, 2021, 11:02:28 pm
It forgot to rain at Preston!   :o

More later when I've had some sleep.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: aidan.f on 08 June, 2021, 05:36:37 am
Hi I'm planning to visit and spectate. Any advice on which venue to choose?  York is the most accessible, folder, train from Durham. 
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 June, 2021, 11:04:24 am
Quote from: aidan.f on 08 June, 2021, 05:36:37 am
Hi I'm planning to visit and spectate. Any advice on which venue to choose?  York is the most accessible, folder, train from Durham. 

Spectators are currently an issue due to Covid rules.  Preston was the first time a venue has allowed spectators since The Before Times, and we only found out the week before (with a couple of notable exceptions, the admin staff responsible for cycle tracks are poor at communication at the best of times, exacerbated by those where the cycling facilities are part of a larger sports venue that's furloughed most of its staff due to lack of sportsing).  I've asked the committee, let's see if Chris has heard anything from York or Scunthorpe...

(Non-racers who are accompanying juniors, assisting disabled riders or helping to organise the event are allowed.  We had a several of marshals at Hillingdon, which is a track that benefits from plenty of marshals due to wandering dog-emptiers.)

That said, if you've got something with wheels and a brake and can meet the magic hat requirement, you can always enter the race.  Numbers aren't usually a problem on the northern events, and a token trundle at the back of the slow race on a folding bike is entirely in the spirit of the BHPC.  Comedy Track Racing on Mildly Inappropriate Bikes, and all that.

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: aidan.f on 08 June, 2021, 08:00:27 pm
Thanks for the info Kim, had not thought about CV19. I have entered, considering riding my up wrong trike, from Durham that's 80 miles each way with no train home bail-out...
I guess Scarbourgh may entail some more serious racing (for some) as the track is oval without any wiggly bits
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 July, 2021, 11:20:03 pm
Today's racing at Stourport went about as well as can be expected.  The weather held off, the newbies had fun, none of the crashes were serious, and all the timing equipment was  a) present  and  b) worked.

Not on speaking terms with the muscles in my lower right leg, which seemed to have formed a union or something.   >:(

Tomorrow, Shrewsbury...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 31 July, 2021, 11:23:17 pm
See you there.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 01 August, 2021, 09:42:05 am
Those sound like the races closest to Mordor.  Maybe next year.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 18 October, 2021, 06:03:17 pm
Results for the completed 2021 season are now up at: http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx

I'm still accepting quibbles over Hillingdon at http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2021-round-12-hillingdon-sunday-17th-october_topic7295.html
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 October, 2021, 06:25:12 pm
#SlashWinsLOL
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 18 October, 2021, 07:01:39 pm
Never would have seen that one coming
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 18 October, 2021, 07:28:50 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBofe54FFfA

Slow race 1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSgppH4ni5M&t=650s

Slow race 2


Squueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 18 October, 2021, 07:37:32 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 18 October, 2021, 06:25:12 pm
#SlashWinsLOL

Quote from: fd3 on 18 October, 2021, 07:01:39 pm
Never would have seen that one coming

Stuart tried his best to give the trophy to someone else, but it didn't work.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 10:52:20 am

There's a gootube video from GCN at the BHPC racing. So far I've recognised a wild Kim going very quickly.

J
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 11:16:58 am
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 10:52:20 am

There's a gootube video from GCN at the BHPC racing. So far I've recognised a wild Kim going very quickly.

Well that was an amusing way to spend 12 minutes.

I do like that quattro velo. Some friends of mine have two of them in their household, and carry their 2 kids. In them. they used to carry all 3 kids, but the big one has got too big and how has his own recumbent. Interesting to see them racing.

Definitely better marketing for the dark side than some of the previous GCN attempts.

J
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 12:58:21 pm
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 10:52:20 am
There's a gootube video from GCN at the BHPC racing. So far I've recognised a wild Kim going very quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWM0CHJeYAI

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 01:05:56 pm
Tech followup video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjnqGmCZv5A
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 23 October, 2021, 01:31:15 pm
Quote from: Kim on 18 October, 2021, 06:03:17 pm
Results for the completed 2021 season are now up at: http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx

I'm still accepting quibbles over Hillingdon at http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2021-round-12-hillingdon-sunday-17th-october_topic7295.html

Impressive season, Kim  -  well done!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 October, 2021, 01:35:29 pm
My grate frend Mr Woolrich reckons that with a head bubble and a fin enclosing the rear wheel, young Liam in the Notso might be able to give Slash a harder time next year, and has the benefit of youth and therefore fearlessness.  I remain unconvinced.  Slash will still be winning when he gets his telegram from Missis Kwin Charlie Wills :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 23 October, 2021, 04:37:24 pm
If he retires before the sun turns red and swallows the earth/mass climate chaos kills us all (delete as appropriate) we should name the trophy after him.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 October, 2021, 06:38:49 pm
(Watches vid)

Professional race?

(Does a roffle)

I put in a brief appearance at 10:08 holding up the Twed in the yellow machine at the start.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 08:32:51 pm
Quote from: Peter on 23 October, 2021, 01:31:15 pm
Quote from: Kim on 18 October, 2021, 06:03:17 pm
Results for the completed 2021 season are now up at: http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx

I'm still accepting quibbles over Hillingdon at http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2021-round-12-hillingdon-sunday-17th-october_topic7295.html

Impressive season, Kim  -  well done!

Not really, given that I lost the women's turning-up championship.  (Now holding out for more money, in light of Mr Larrington's comment above.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 08:34:26 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 23 October, 2021, 04:37:24 pm
If he retires before the sun turns red and swallows the earth/mass climate chaos kills us all (delete as appropriate) we should name the trophy after him.

Slash would outrun the exploding sun.  He'd probably do a lap of the galaxy and rumble up on it from behind.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 23 October, 2021, 09:24:26 pm
So, I 2022 is there a race within walking distance of Mordor?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 09:34:06 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 23 October, 2021, 09:24:26 pm
So, I 2022 is there a race within walking distance of Mordor?

2022's season is still a work in progress (these things take time, as they inevitably involve chasing people who are less-than-prompt with email, and some won't take bookings this far in advance).

However, it's pretty safe to assume there won't be an event *in* Birmingham, due to the lack of a suitable venue.  Stourport and Curborough are the closest that we regularly use.  Derby Velodrome might happen at some point (there's budget and enthusiasm, but they're notoriously hard to pin down on dates, and there's always a risk of coronalurgi restrictions) - that's brilliant fun if you can reasonably manage about 18mph.

Watch this space.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2021, 10:39:27 am
Quote from: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 01:05:56 pm
Tech followup video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjnqGmCZv5A

Only just noticed that link.  50% of the machines prodded came out of the Sheds of my grate frend Mr Woolrich :thumbsup:  I had custody of the Velocino for a while when he was moving house and got some very strange looks when riding it up the Leytonstone High Road.

That Barney: #MediaTart :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 October, 2021, 11:23:32 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2021, 10:39:27 am
Quote from: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 01:05:56 pm
Tech followup video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjnqGmCZv5A

Only just noticed that link.  50% of the machines prodded came out of the Sheds of my grate frend Mr Woolrich :thumbsup:  I had custody of the Velocino for a while when he was moving house and got some very strange looks when riding it up the Leytonstone High Road.

I think they like the low-budget sheddi angle.  I know it's bad television but it's conspicuous how much they gloss over the boringly sensible road-going commercial machines that most people ride, even by way of comparison.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 24 October, 2021, 12:56:11 pm
It's slightly reminiscent of those Goodwood festivals of Edwardian racing automobiles.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 December, 2021, 12:13:30 pm
Quote from: Kim on 23 October, 2021, 09:34:06 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 23 October, 2021, 09:24:26 pm
So, I 2022 is there a race within walking distance of Mordor?

2022's season is still a work in progress (these things take time, as they inevitably involve chasing people who are less-than-prompt with email, and some won't take bookings this far in advance).

However, it's pretty safe to assume there won't be an event *in* Birmingham, due to the lack of a suitable venue.  Stourport and Curborough are the closest that we regularly use.  Derby Velodrome might happen at some point (there's budget and enthusiasm, but they're notoriously hard to pin down on dates, and there's always a risk of coronalurgi restrictions) - that's brilliant fun if you can reasonably manage about 18mph.

Watch this space.

Chairman Al reckons the calendar will be sorted before Missis Kwin appears on the nation's distascopes to wish us awl a vair heppy Christmess, with the likely kickoff being Colchester on the first weekend of April.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2021, 01:11:21 pm
And for Middle-Earthians, it looks like we'll be at Stourport in May.

Full calendar under embargo pending confirmation from some of the venues and rigorous elimination of CompSec's assorted typos.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Beardy on 15 December, 2021, 02:54:35 pm
Will they be going to Bentwater again, or was that a one off for the World Championships?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2021, 05:07:54 pm
Betteshanger (AKA Fowlmead)?

Not this season.  I believe there were Issues involving a change of ownership, and the facilities have been a work in progress for a while.  It's a shame, as it's an excellent track for the faster machines and anyone with a love of coal dust or a corner allergy.

Certain members of the committee are making noises about hosting the world championships in 2023 (and certain other members of the committee have made noises about only if we get a new Babbage-engine filled with fresh, less-viscous jam for the timing system), and it's a potential option, along with the excellent Gravesend Cyclopark.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 December, 2021, 06:09:46 pm
Quote from: Beardy on 15 December, 2021, 02:54:35 pm
Will they be going to Bentwater again, or was that a one off for the World Championships?

Bentwaters was a one-off.  I think they've dug some of it up or 5's Daddy has built overpriced starter homes on it or something.  As Kim notes, the next time we get the Worlds it’ll be at TBD, though Gravesend is looking like a distinct possibility.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2021, 06:17:57 pm
If we do it at Gravesend, I'm insisting on a freewheeling competition.  With strict rules about how all multi-track vehicles must be accompanied by a rider.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 December, 2021, 06:25:51 pm
Do you want the rider to ride the vehicle or to run alongside it?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2021, 06:30:58 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 15 December, 2021, 06:25:51 pm
Do you want the rider to ride the vehicle or to run alongside it?

Prior experience (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=113381.msg2540365#msg2540365) suggests that the latter is suboptimal for wheelchair users.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 22 December, 2021, 09:04:47 pm
And we have a 2022 race calendar:  http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-2022-race-calendar_topic7302_post68196.html#68196
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 December, 2021, 09:09:17 pm
Ninja'd by Kim :'(
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 23 December, 2021, 02:36:59 pm
So no opener in Hillingdon for a change. Colchester might be possible. I've renewed my membership.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 December, 2021, 03:35:08 pm
All being good, I might try my hand, or rather feet, at racing on Odd Down.  :o Though on second thoughts, too much chance of being seen by people who know me!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 04 January, 2022, 05:53:49 pm
Must renew my membership.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: giropaul on 13 January, 2022, 10:08:06 am
GCN have produces a feature on Recumbant/ Human Powered racing.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 18 March, 2022, 11:49:09 am
Registration for Colchester is now open to members, opens to non-members next week: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon

(No COVID-19 rules this time, but we're limiting numbers to 60 for safety reasons, as we only have the track for 4 hours.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 19 March, 2022, 03:05:10 pm
I'm going. I have timing tags from last year. Can they be checked before racing?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2022, 07:34:19 pm
Quote from: PaulM on 19 March, 2022, 03:05:10 pm
I'm going. I have timing tags from last year. Can they be checked before racing?

Yep, come and see us once we've got the timing kit set up.  Always easier to check that tags are working before the race than it is to deal with missed reads afterwards.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 March, 2022, 11:30:06 pm
In the absence of a Hillingdon start to the season I expect I'll turn up and point a camera at a few innocent victims, and Slash.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 March, 2022, 12:02:29 pm
Quote from: Kim on 18 March, 2022, 11:49:09 am
Registration for Colchester is now open to members, opens to non-members next week: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon

(No COVID-19 rules this time, but we're limiting numbers to 60 for safety reasons, as we only have the track for 4 hours.)

Now open to non-members.  Not a lot of places left!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2022, 02:16:20 pm
And closed at 54 riders.  Should be a good one.  If we don't all freeze to DETH.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 March, 2022, 06:17:47 pm
Does the venue have Useful Things, like a vendor of hot drinks, anyone ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2022, 06:24:17 pm
Looks like it ought to: https://colchestersportspark.co.uk/other-activities/award-winning-food-and-drink

We've already confirmed the use of the Little Hut with hot and cold running electrons for the timing system, which should reduce the likelihood of accidentally deleting all the race results by poking the Shiny! New! Babbage-engine[1] with numb fingers.


[1] Complete with low-viscosity jam for cold weather operation.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 March, 2022, 06:48:23 pm
We haz a New! SHINY!!1! Babbage-Engine :jurek:  w00t!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2022, 07:44:52 pm
Yep.  Not only does it have a working Ethernet port (RFID system, for the connection of) and a considerably brighter screen, it can even run teh BHPC spreadheet-ov-d00m at a reasonable speed.

I have high hopes for automagic finish line photos (which is quite RAM-intensive, as it maintains a ring buffer of uncompressed video for time-travel purposes, and was therefore beyond the capabilities of the old machine), but that's currently dependent on Logitech drivers not being an arse...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 April, 2022, 07:00:36 pm
Chairman Al informs us that:
Quote
Rob Womack has been talking to the folks at Colchester to clarify the parking situation:
On arrival we have to enter car registrations into a machine in the cafe.
However that only gives 4 hours free parking so we will need to remember to go back in and re-enter the reg again later in the day!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 April, 2022, 05:38:38 pm
Eeeh, that were a grand day out!  There will be Pictures At Eleven later when ICBA to pull them off the camera and throw away the out-of-focus ones, the ones featuring empty tarmac and the ones that only have half a bike.  In them.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 April, 2022, 12:02:30 pm
Photies!!1! Here!!eleven! Clicky... (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums/72177720297822051)

Results!!1! There!!eleven! Clicky... (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/01colchester/index.html).  Kudos to Teh Kim for processing/uploading them at Late o'clock last night :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 April, 2022, 10:14:05 pm
Now with points:  And what do points mean? (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/BHPC_2022.html)

I think that counts as a successful start to the season.  Nobody froze to DETH, unless you count my chain getting thoroughly jammed[1] on the first bend, leading to me playing catch-up for the remainder of the race.  And while the bottomless pit of doom claimed one victim, he still managed to finish.  Russel's Battle Mountain contraption demonstrated that it could, technically, go round corners.  Any my untested tubeless tyre stayed inflated for the duration.  AndrewS wins the fboab award for (literally) forgetting to bring gears, and Chairman Al wins the award for poorly-positioned flag-waving.

The time team were delighted by the indoor facilities with abundant electrons, comfy seats, a promising coax cable leading to The Wrong Kind Of Aerial molished into the track, and a bidon of suspicious yellow liquid lurking in the corner.  The lack of easy track access from the timing hut is a bit of an oversight, as I had to climb over the fence while wearing The Wrong Kind Of Shoes when troubleshooting an aerial problem in a hurry.  I reckon we should get Jon Woolrich to molish a miniature siege engine for the purpose.

All we need is for someone to make the track about half as expensive to hire, and move it to somewhere sensible like the East Midlands.[2]


[1] Behind the thinger that's supposed to stop the chain falling off.  You had one job...
[2] Travel rant beyond the scope of this post, but in brief:  a) Brexit bonus!  Fewer lorries on the A14!  b) The A12 is still horrid.  c) Got lost in ACME territory.  d) Range anxiety issues due to poor availability of motor-spirit dispensing stations on the right fuel card network that were both open and had working petril pumps.  e) Stupid substitute car club car lives on The Wrong Side of Mordor.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 03 April, 2022, 11:01:45 pm
Thanks, D, fascinating stuff!  Shame about the chain, Kim but a great recovery.  Promises well for the season.  Are there any meetings North of Mordor?  How well do you know your Aretha Franklin?  "Chain, chain, chain....." (Don Covay scripsit)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 April, 2022, 11:05:54 pm
Meetings north of Mordor?  There's webby SCIENCE for that! (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1iNgpdk7JsNrlwTULg-OwihmeDd6oAtzE&ll=52.729465431559156%2C-1.2969975499999908&z=8)

'Chain of fools'  is probably a fair description of the BHPC.   ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 03 April, 2022, 11:33:41 pm
 ;D

Thanks for the list.  Matlock and York look likeliest.  I'd love to see one of these!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 12:01:16 am
Summary:

K Wall:Onoz! CHAIN!!1!
Omnes:Snek! Snek!
K Wall:Fck! Off!

Peter: There’s also Lancaster, which might be too far north to show up on Thee Mappe if viewed on a small screen.  And Rhyl, though that’s in ABROAD ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 12:05:00 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 12:01:16 am
Peter: There’s also Lancaster, which might be too far north to show up on Thee Mappe if viewed on a small screen.  And Rhyl, though that’s in ABROAD ;)

Yeahbut it's legally required to rain at both of those.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 04 April, 2022, 12:10:37 am
Yes, D, I saw those and they are possibilities, just slightly trickier for train trips (always supposing that there are any trains by then!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 April, 2022, 08:30:36 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 03 April, 2022, 12:02:30 pm
Photies!!1! Here!!eleven! Clicky... (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums/72177720297822051)

Some good photos Mr L. This one has a Dan Dare, exciting past in the glorious future, air:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51978023397_82916cf17f_3k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nc7Xtc)P4020648 (https://flic.kr/p/2nc7Xtc) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 04 April, 2022, 10:08:47 am
Thanks to the organisers for making it an enjoyable day  :thumbsup:. Next one Stourport? I'll look into bringing the P-38. It occurs to me that if it might fit in the car upside down with the wheels off. Just have to sort out a chainring guard.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 12:28:30 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 04 April, 2022, 08:30:36 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 03 April, 2022, 12:02:30 pm
Photies!!1! Here!!eleven! Clicky... (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums/72177720297822051)

Some good photos Mr L. This one has a Dan Dare, exciting past in the glorious future, air:
<snip>

Shortly after that photo was taken the Notso (#36) passed the Yellowdonkey (#96) and nailed down second place by a considerable margin.  Now that Notso pilot Liam Goodman has started to adapt to the revised handling of the new-for-22 head-in bodywork it is hoped that the glorious future may include “being able to keep up with Steve Slade for more than half a lap”.  Future enhancements include a fin around the rear wheel, but this will include the building of a new and skinnier solid disc wheel so might take a while.  My grate frend Mr Woolrich assures me he has all the materials…
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fimm on 04 April, 2022, 02:04:55 pm
What is going on with number 139 (I think it is) and why does number 45 bring his own Sheffield stand with him?  ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 02:18:47 pm
Quote from: fimm on 04 April, 2022, 02:04:55 pm
What is going on with number 139 (I think it is) and why does number 45 bring his own Sheffield stand with him?  ;)

159 is Jemma on Festina, which was for whatever reason without its shed-fettled fairing.  The extra tubes normally support the correx.

45 is a rear-wheel-steering tilting trike.  Apparently it was finished the night before.  It made it round the track for several laps in the first race, though I'm not sure what happened after that.  Anyone know?

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Dibdib on 04 April, 2022, 02:34:42 pm
I may well be in Stourport that day anyway (I grew up there and Mother Dibdib still lives there). Is it open to gawking onlookers spectators?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 02:55:24 pm
I think the main reason for Jemma not using the fairing is coz she can't see out of it.  There are a couple of clear plastic panels in it but they seem to be remarkably ineffective.  Doubly so if it’s raining.

@Dibdib: spectators welcome, though we do ask you not to wear a lime-green mankini or a BEAR suit, or let off distress flares.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 04:00:05 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 02:55:24 pm
@Dibdib: spectators welcome, though we do ask you not to wear a lime-green mankini or a BEAR suit, or let off distress flares.

Except when chasing errant dog-emptiers off the track at Hillingdon.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fimm on 05 April, 2022, 01:11:26 pm
Quote from: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 02:18:47 pm
Quote from: fimm on 04 April, 2022, 02:04:55 pm
What is going on with number 139 (I think it is) and why does number 45 bring his own Sheffield stand with him?  ;)

159 is Jemma on Festina, which was for whatever reason without its shed-fettled fairing.  The extra tubes normally support the correx.

45 is a rear-wheel-steering tilting trike.  Apparently it was finished the night before.  It made it round the track for several laps in the first race, though I'm not sure what happened after that.  Anyone know?
Thank you!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 22 April, 2022, 03:12:30 pm
PSA: Registrations for Stourport on the 8th May are now open. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)  Lime-green mankinis optional.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 27 April, 2022, 09:44:37 pm
Meanwhile I see that LordHostis has upped his video production game yet again, with this video of Colchester:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgeHWzM4ocQ
https://youtu.be/AgeHWzM4ocQ
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 April, 2022, 12:56:38 am
Not sure how Jochen Farwer will react to be called “Urine” :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 28 April, 2022, 10:38:00 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 28 April, 2022, 12:56:38 am
Not sure how Jochen Farwer will react to be called “Urine” :demon:

I assume that's why he's done proper subtitles rather than relying on YouTube's craptions as in previous videos...   ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: ElyDave on 28 April, 2022, 10:33:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 27 April, 2022, 09:44:37 pm
Meanwhile I see that LordHostis has upped his video production game yet again, with this video of Colchester:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgeHWzM4ocQ
https://youtu.be/AgeHWzM4ocQ

How do they decide who goes in the quick race or the slow race?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 28 April, 2022, 11:06:30 pm
Quote from: ElyDave on 28 April, 2022, 10:33:55 pm
How do they decide who goes in the quick race or the slow race?

The current system is a highly scientific process whereby either Andrew or I:

a) Meticulously enter racer details into the Spreadsheet ov Doom, correcting people's errors on the sign-up form while trying not to introduce any new ones.  Then let it have a stab at race allocation[1].
b) Put all the handcyclists in the slow race (because most of them are quite slow, a few have impairments that mean they get quite cold while waiting around and they've specifically requested to race together).
c) Put all the new[2] people in the slow race.
d) Put all the known-fast regulars and anything fully-faired in the fast race.
e) Put the known-slow regulars in the slow race, even if they're in a velomobile.
f) For important events[3], optionally demote one half of the time team to the slow race so that there's always someone who knows what they're doing within reach of the Official Jam-Filled Babbage Engine.
g) Attempt to achieve a balance of numbers by promoting or demoting people based on age, gender, number of wheels, number of fairings and whether I recognise the name of the machine as a production model that's clearly performance or touring oriented.
h) Make last minute changes on the day based on people breaking their bikes, being stuck in traffic, being much quicker than I guestimated, etc.

Ultimately, it doesn't make that much difference, as the results are combined[4] and ranked by average speed before points allocation.  But obviously there are potential psychological/drafting advantages to being at the back of the fast race rather than the front of the slow race.


[1] There's some VBA witchcraft that I've been careful not to look at too closely that weights people according to HPV class and previous race performance.  Sometimes it even works.
[2] Which means people I've never heard of whose name isn't in the database for the last couple of years of racing.  As a relative newcomer to, well, everything, this means I occasionally miss that someone's an old timer who's been distracted by real life for a few years.  But this is generally the safer option where inexperienced riders are involved.
[3] Particularly the first and last meets of a season, venues where we're operating under significant time constraints, and after making substantial changes to the timing software.
[4] Using some VBA voodoo that I thought would be simple when I started writing it (in a language where my previous experience was a 3 line macro I wrote as part of my dissertation), and is now up to version 1517 on account of all the edge cases it has to handle.

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 April, 2022, 01:00:21 am
'ere, I thought we had a New! IMPROVED!!1! Babbage-Engine that was free from conserves, spreads and sandwich toppings ???
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 April, 2022, 11:52:51 am
The new Babbage-Engine runs on low-viscosity Jam With No Bits In.  No doubt it will coagulate over time.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 May, 2022, 01:33:13 pm
PSA: Registrations for Stourport are now closed.  Registrations for Lancaster on the 22nd of May are now open to BHPC members. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 May, 2022, 11:17:10 pm
Quote from: Kim on 05 May, 2022, 01:33:13 pm
PSA: Registrations for Stourport are now closed.

Well that was a grand day out, once the weather got its act together.  No doubt someone will have photographic evidence which isn't  a) unflattering  b) automated  c) full of timestamps and comedy rolling-shutter artefacts.

Speaking of artifacts, well done to barakta for being temporarily seconded to the Time Team (in the role of Carenza in Trench 3).


Results provisionally uploaded to the usual place (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-2-stourport-sunday-8th-may_topic7375_post68470.html#68470), quibble away...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Auntie Helen on 09 May, 2022, 06:33:21 am
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 11:16:58 am
Quote from: quixoticgeek on 23 October, 2021, 10:52:20 am

There's a gootube video from GCN at the BHPC racing. So far I've recognised a wild Kim going very quickly.

Well that was an amusing way to spend 12 minutes.

I do like that quattro velo. Some friends of mine have two of them in their household, and carry their 2 kids. In them. they used to carry all 3 kids, but the big one has got too big and how has his own recumbent. Interesting to see them racing.

Definitely better marketing for the dark side than some of the previous GCN attempts.

J
Post necromancy but I guess your friends are Gert B and Ingrid N… the world is small!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 May, 2022, 10:12:39 am
Quote from: Kim on 05 May, 2022, 01:33:13 pm
PSA: Registrations for Stourport are now closed.  Registrations for Lancaster on the 22nd of May are now open to BHPC members. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)

And now open to non-members.  Get 'em while they’re 'ot!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Lightning Phil on 12 May, 2022, 01:31:55 pm
Quote from: PaulM on 04 April, 2022, 10:08:47 am
Thanks to the organisers for making it an enjoyable day  :thumbsup:. Next one Stourport? I'll look into bringing the P-38. It occurs to me that if it might fit in the car upside down with the wheels off. Just have to sort out a chainring guard.

Get an estate car and roll your P38 in without any disassembly.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 12 May, 2022, 01:34:40 pm
Or ride to the event and get extra points...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 13 May, 2022, 02:06:29 pm
Quote from: Lightning Phil on 12 May, 2022, 01:31:55 pm
Quote from: PaulM on 04 April, 2022, 10:08:47 am
Thanks to the organisers for making it an enjoyable day  :thumbsup:. Next one Stourport? I'll look into bringing the P-38. It occurs to me that if it might fit in the car upside down with the wheels off. Just have to sort out a chainring guard.

Get an estate car and roll your P38 in without any disassembly.
It goes in upside down with the wheels off  :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 13 May, 2022, 02:13:31 pm
Our car was selected to carry a tandem or tandem trike inside without removing any wheels. It also takes two upright or recumbent trikes without disassembly. Effectively it is a shed on wheels.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 18 May, 2022, 10:17:27 am
It looks like HK might be joining the laidback crew at the next race on an appropriate machine (unlike me, who will be on my normal inappropriate machine, an upright trike). Her newly-acquired Trice Micro is nearly set up for her size and it is now just a case of ongoing tweaking to get the boom extension correct and starting her recumbent legs acclimation process.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 18 May, 2022, 11:13:52 am
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 May, 2022, 11:22:45 pm
Quote from: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 12:05:00 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 12:01:16 am
Peter: There’s also Lancaster, which might be too far north to show up on Thee Mappe if viewed on a small screen.  And Rhyl, though that’s in ABROAD ;)

Yeahbut it's legally required to rain at both of those.

Lancaster appears to be fully intent on fulfilling its legal obligations (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcw52qce5#?date=2022-05-22)...

Mental note: Know where your towel is.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: mzjo on 22 May, 2022, 07:31:20 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 May, 2022, 11:22:45 pm
Quote from: Kim on 04 April, 2022, 12:05:00 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 April, 2022, 12:01:16 am
Peter: There’s also Lancaster, which might be too far north to show up on Thee Mappe if viewed on a small screen.  And Rhyl, though that’s in ABROAD ;)

Yeahbut it's legally required to rain at both of those.

Lancaster appears to be fully intent on fulfilling its legal obligations (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcw52qce5#?date=2022-05-22)...

Mental note: Know where your towel is.
But all successful intergalactic hitch-hikers know where their towel is!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 May, 2022, 06:31:40 pm
Remarkably the weather held off, but the towel was needed anyway, as I attempted to spill barakta's not-tea into the Official Jam-Filled Babbage Engine mid-race.

Results are up in the usual place.  I expect there might be some photos and things once David has recovered his cameras from the track.


Come back on the 2nd of June to sign up for the York Rally velodrome extravaganza....
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 27 May, 2022, 07:13:10 pm
Very compelling video of the Stourport racing by David:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFCSAIhLHLg
https://youtu.be/eFCSAIhLHLg

Contains a handcyclist wearing a duck, a trike that sounds like a chicken, various demonstrations of wheels pointing in the same direction being old hat, a lesser-spotted barakta on time team duty, and some top-notch wacky races action.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: ElyDave on 28 May, 2022, 07:38:46 am
That looks like a very tricky track, several corners that could really catch you oot if you enter a bit quick or on the wrong line
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 28 May, 2022, 08:12:32 am
I found that there was a limit to how fast you could get round some corners. I was on the big red upright trike and there is a snippet in the second slow race with me holding a small gap to three chasing trikes. About five seconds later, I was running out of room on the exit from a hairpin with two wheels on the green stuff and three trikes immediately overtaking me.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 28 May, 2022, 11:47:58 am
Quote from: ElyDave on 28 May, 2022, 07:38:46 am
That looks like a very tricky track, several corners that could really catch you oot if you enter a bit quick or on the wrong line

Yes, bikes have a real advantage over anything multi-track in the corners, and there's sufficient climbing and braking that fairings are mostly just a weight penalty.  It's a great leveller in that respect.

The hairpin can get scary (particularly going anticlockwise) if you run out of room, or the track is wet.

I raced barakta's ICE Sprint there a couple of years ago, which was fantastic - it didn't go fast enough to be dodgy, and the corners were pure fun.  On the Baron I'm always wary of overcooking the hairpin.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 May, 2022, 11:53:58 am
Part of me is quite glad we didn’t go there in my racing days, because I would have fallen off and it would probably have hurt.

<== Managed to overcook the last corner of Castle Combe once :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 28 May, 2022, 12:03:00 pm
Best to leave the falling off to the professionals, IME.  And the juniors, who bounce: Last year Dougie T did a spectacular job of overcooking the final bend on an ICE trike, discovering he was on a collision course for a spectator or something and slamming on the anchors for the full ejector-seat effect.  Before picking himself up and getting back on.  I believe Jon Woolrich attempted a slow-motion version of the same due to insufficient steering lock on the Hocus Pocus, but it was much less impressive.

I'm not sure what happened to Jochen in the last race of the video.  I saw him off his bike on the entrance to the hairpin, so can only assume he got boxed in by other riders, or had a minor mechanical.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 28 May, 2022, 01:02:31 pm
Quote from: Kim on 28 May, 2022, 11:47:58 am
Yes, bikes have a real advantage over anything multi-track in the corners, and there's sufficient climbing and braking that fairings are mostly just a weight penalty.  It's a great leveller in that respect.

The hairpin can get scary (particularly going anticlockwise) if you run out of room, or the track is wet.
Upright trikes seem to have the advantage here.  I have ridden that circuit 5 times now and that top bend is great fun and one where we can "explore the limits".  In 2020 it rained properly which presented no problems to me , but I heard recumbent riders talking about sliding out.  This year I was slower for health reasons, but in the past I have certainly pushed the envelope on that bend.  With 50 plus years of tricycling experience a decent bend is hard to find and deserves to be enjoyed.

That particular circuit can be hard on the legs because of the frequent corners and subsequent acceleration (probably), plus cornering an upright trike is somewhat physical as you can see in the videos.  The small wheeled trikes are just a temporary madness amongst us and I am sure that big wheeled sanity will be restored in a year or so.

Thank you very much Kim, and all the other organisers, for giving me so much fun!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 01:12:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 27 May, 2022, 07:13:10 pm
Very compelling video of the Stourport racing by David:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFCSAIhLHLg
https://youtu.be/eFCSAIhLHLg
22:49, a trio of upright trikers drifting round the hairpin.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 02:32:17 pm
I am third in line in that shot. From the inside, it felt a little more edgy than just some blokes drifting gently round a bend.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Karla on 29 May, 2022, 02:59:02 pm
Did you nearly collect the rear left wheel of the guy in front of you?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 03:13:43 pm
Didn't look too bad to me, but with all those wheels there's plenty of scope for entanglement if someone stops paying attention.

It's great having the upright trikes at BHPC events.  Different dynamics to the recumbents, and you can really see the physicality of cornering.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 29 May, 2022, 03:32:40 pm
They are not drifting in the motor car sense.  It is possible, usually on a frosty road, or a tandem trike can be made to drift on a wet roundabout.  Extreme stuff.

All three are taking a conventional "racing line" on the exit, where I tend to exit somewhat tighter in order to get back in the saddle quicker.  A hang over from the 1970s when I would be in the company of bicyclists on club runs so did not want a gap to open up.  This year I was tighter because I was even slower than usual (number 76). 

Clashes - I have a photograph of two riders with arms overlapping as the outer rider cuts things a bit fine.  I don't do photo hosting sites so cannot show it here.  Many years ago, I remember getting home with fewer spokes than I set out with!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: ElyDave on 29 May, 2022, 03:47:07 pm
Quote from: tatanab on 28 May, 2022, 01:02:31 pm
Quote from: Kim on 28 May, 2022, 11:47:58 am
Yes, bikes have a real advantage over anything multi-track in the corners, and there's sufficient climbing and braking that fairings are mostly just a weight penalty.  It's a great leveller in that respect.

The hairpin can get scary (particularly going anticlockwise) if you run out of room, or the track is wet.
Upright trikes seem to have the advantage here.  I have ridden that circuit 5 times now and that top bend is great fun and one where we can "explore the limits".  In 2020 it rained properly which presented no problems to me , but I heard recumbent riders talking about sliding out.  This year I was slower for health reasons, but in the past I have certainly pushed the envelope on that bend.  With 50 plus years of tricycling experience a decent bend is hard to find and deserves to be enjoyed.

That particular circuit can be hard on the legs because of the frequent corners and subsequent acceleration (probably), plus cornering an upright trike is somewhat physical as you can see in the videos.  The small wheeled trikes are just a temporary madness amongst us and I am sure that big wheeled sanity will be restored in a year or so.

Thank you very much Kim, and all the other organisers, for giving me so much fun!

I was wondering about the logic of the small drive wheels on those trikes vs the large wheeled example
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 29 May, 2022, 04:01:28 pm
Quote from: ElyDave on 29 May, 2022, 03:47:07 pm
I was wondering about the logic of the small drive wheels on those trikes vs the large wheeled example
For our purposes, club riding folk, there is no logic.  Note that all those frames are the same design and not remotely like small wheeler shopping/utility trikes that are sold these days.  For a start, they are half the weight and a better designed axle.  My small wheeler (on loan to rider 25 in the video) is about a pound lighter than my modern large wheeler (76).  In the 1970s, the then lightweight trike builder (Ken Rogers - example ridden by LWaB in the video) won a design council award for his design of unisex/utility trikes.  Take away the steel chainset etc and that is what is being ridden here.  It is a temporary madness cause by one person rigging one up and then another follows.  All have big wheelers too and I am sure that the small wheelers will see little use once sanity returns.  Why did we do it?  Because we could and it is fun to try something different.  Some people say that the small wheels give a lower centre of gravity, but that is not significantly so since the machine weight is pretty much the same and the CofG is dominated by the bladder of lard in the saddle.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 04:32:34 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 02:32:17 pm
I am third in line in that shot. From the inside, it felt a little more edgy than just some blokes drifting gently round a bend.
I ever said “gently”!  I thought drifting was better than skidding, but a controlled skid would have described it too.  Whichever, far too edge for my liking, but then that’s the starting position with upright trikes.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 29 May, 2022, 05:51:51 pm
I loved that film on youtube.  The rider/cameraman (Lord Hostis) sounds from his accent to be Italian.  Does he appear on the results sheet?  Well done to the yacf-ers!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 07:11:06 pm
I thought French
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 29 May, 2022, 07:22:05 pm
You could be right.  If he's from the south-east, that might explain it NICEly!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 07:44:57 pm
David L'Hostis is indeed French.  He's rider no 18, and usually somewhere near the top of the Unfaired championship.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 07:57:04 pm
Quote from: Karla on 29 May, 2022, 02:59:02 pm
Did you nearly collect the rear left wheel of the guy in front of you?

Once you commit to a corner on a trike, any sort of braking is virtually impossible. I weigh more than Geoff, so tend to carry more speed. He slowed slightly in the corner (rolling resistance or wind resistance, who knows?) and my only option was to corner a shade tighter and slide up his inside.

Trikies are very familiar with riding at close quarters. They frequently draft by gently nudging the front tyre against the rear axle of the trike in front. I used to race on the velodrome quite a bit last century, so I am quite comfortable bumping shoulders or overlapping wheels with trustworthy riders. Newbies and squirrelly folk get given a wide berth but that is boring if applied to everybody.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 29 May, 2022, 08:01:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 07:44:57 pm
David L'Hostis is indeed French.  He's rider no 18, and usually somewhere near the top of the Unfaired championship.

Thanks, Kim.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 08:05:41 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 04:32:34 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 02:32:17 pm
I am third in line in that shot. From the inside, it felt a little more edgy than just some blokes drifting gently round a bend.
I ever said “gently”!  I thought drifting was better than skidding, but a controlled skid would have described it too.  Whichever, far too edge for my liking, but then that’s the starting position with upright trikes.

I think of drifting (like a car) requiring power while cornering. That isn't really possible with an upright trike cornering enthusiastically, so ‘drifting gently through’ was the fallback thought.

As mentioned above, it is almost impossible to slide a trike on good tarmac but it is pretty easy to lift the inside wheel. Unless you instantly react to skying a wheel, it isn’t much of a step to inverted trike flying.

I have managed to get my trike skittering through a fast downhill corner but that was mostly because of a rough surface and patchy gravel. It all turned out fine in the end, happily. Panicking is never a good idea when you are cornering close to the limit.

The small wheel trikes have higher rolling resistance than the big ones but possibly less wind resistance. I noticed that the lack of a top tube allowed small wheel trikies to lean out further and lower than I could. In the hairpin, I was basically cornering as hard as I could with little margin to turn tighter. The inside wheel gently lifted a few times, which is fun.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 29 May, 2022, 08:34:16 pm
It is easy to get the front wheel skittering across the road on a broken surface, I used to do it every day on a particular commuting route.  With your weight off the the side and back, the front is travelling a bit light.  Not good for the head tube joints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cornering - I tend to get lower rather than further out.  On the Trykit I have a 750mm axle and a sloping top tube which allows me to get my hips down inside the wheel, you can see this in the video of the second race and start/finish bend.  It is not long after you go through, so you can compare styles easily.  On my Longstaff I have the usual 700mm axle and flat top tube which means I cannot get inside the wheel, so on that I tend to hang out further and sit on the wheel more to compensate.  Riding my small wheeler I miss having a top tube to hook the knee over, but I have only ridden it on the road, so not with bends like at Stourport.  My next outing is likely to be Bath.  Which machine will I use, or will I use the Higgins?  Probably not the Higgins because it is 66 years old so should be treated gently(ish).

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 09:01:25 pm
Actual drifting is achievable on a tadpole recumbent with a lightly loaded rear wheel, but it's only likely to happen if the traction is worse than you'd get on normal wet tarmac.  (I'm wondering about those mossy corners at Preston, which I make a point of avoiding on two wheels...)  The pedal cars tend to be prone to this sort of thing too, as they usually drive both rear wheels without the benefit of a differential, which means something's got to slip.  Usually it's just the tyres that suffer.

Skittering front wheels on upright trikes sound terrifying!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 09:32:10 pm
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 07:44:57 pm
David L'Hostis is indeed French.  He's rider no 18, and usually somewhere near the top of the Unfaired championship.
His video suggests speeds of 25mph and over - which is definitely unfair.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 09:47:05 pm
That is why he is in the fast races while the upright trikes are in the slow races, which might be won with something somewhat above 20mph.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Karla on 29 May, 2022, 10:10:09 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 07:57:04 pm
I used to race on the velodrome quite a bit last century, so I am quite comfortable bumping shoulders or overlapping wheels with trustworthy riders.

Oh I realise.  No offence intended!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 10:21:48 pm
None taken.

Some people have a large personal space requirement on the bike. Some of us, smaller. As long as the first group let the second know their preference without panicking, it is easy to accommodate.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 10:48:55 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 29 May, 2022, 09:32:10 pm
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 07:44:57 pm
David L'Hostis is indeed French.  He's rider no 18, and usually somewhere near the top of the Unfaired championship.
His video suggests speeds of 25mph and over - which is definitely unfair.

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 29 May, 2022, 09:47:05 pm
That is why he is in the fast races while the upright trikes are in the slow races, which might be won with something somewhat above 20mph.

Indeed.  We try to minimise the speed and/or experience differential for safety reasons.  Though it's not an exact science (see above (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=113381.msg2718739#msg2718739)).

Typically the top of the fast race is in the 30mph+ range, with the top of the slow race somewhere around 20mph.  The bottom end of the slow race can often be in single digits.  Stourport is not a fast track, as there's a bit of a climb, and the faired machines never get to make proper use of their aerodynamic advantages.

Average lap speeds can be seen in the timing results:

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/02stourport/index.html
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 May, 2022, 01:06:53 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 09:01:25 pm
Actual drifting is achievable on a tadpole recumbent with a lightly loaded rear wheel, but it's only likely to happen if the traction is worse than you'd get on normal wet tarmac.  (I'm wondering about those mossy corners at Preston, which I make a point of avoiding on two wheels...)  The pedal cars tend to be prone to this sort of thing too, as they usually drive both rear wheels without the benefit of a differential, which means something's got to slip.  Usually it's just the tyres that suffer.

I remember a very wet day at Kimbolton when Glenn Thompson actually managed to spin an unfaired Windcheetah ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 30 May, 2022, 06:57:59 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 09:01:25 pm
The pedal cars tend to be prone to this sort of thing too, as they usually drive both rear wheels without the benefit of a differential, which means something's got to slip.  Usually it's just the tyres that suffer.
Upright tricycle drive systems in use at Stourport were of 3 types - single wheel drive (left side), differential, and double freewheel (we call it two wheel drive).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 30 May, 2022, 08:03:00 am
The third is the best. The Quattrovelo uses the double freewheel system developed for upright trikes and those QV parts are all manufactured by Geoff, who is in the race.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 30 May, 2022, 09:00:15 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 10:48:55 pm
Average lap speeds can be seen in the timing results:

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/02stourport/index.html
Good graphic! And clearly demonstrates huge range of speeds.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 30 May, 2022, 11:32:13 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 10:48:55 pm
Typically the top of the fast race is in the 30mph+ range
The sort of speeds that are barely sensible on a turbo trainer - even if I could manage that on the road, I think I'd be too scared to go that fast.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 May, 2022, 01:06:40 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 30 May, 2022, 09:00:15 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 10:48:55 pm
Average lap speeds can be seen in the timing results:

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/02stourport/index.html
Good graphic! And clearly demonstrates huge range of speeds.

Those CrossMgr animations are a thing of beauty and a joy forever.  I've been progressively replacing the GPX files they're derived from using 1-point-per-second tracklogs with speed data from an actual race, so the corners are smooth and it can show the dots slowing down and speeding up at the appropriate moments.

The software can show you the animation in realtime during the race - which can be handy for getting ready to wave bells and flags - and it's uncanny how accurate it can be, given that it's only using the times the rider passes the RFID system at the finish line.  (Obviously it does go wrong if there's an incident of some kind.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 May, 2022, 01:06:58 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 30 May, 2022, 11:32:13 am
Quote from: Kim on 29 May, 2022, 10:48:55 pm
Typically the top of the fast race is in the 30mph+ range
The sort of speeds that are barely sensible on a turbo trainer - even if I could manage that on the road, I think I'd be too scared to go that fast.

It's surprising how different a race track is from the road in that respect.  You can have a lot more confidence when it's mostly flat, you know the surface is decent and there's nothing lurking round the corner to run you over.

Not that I'm likely to reach 30 in anything other than kilometres per hour a flat out sprint, mind you.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 May, 2022, 01:25:22 pm
Shame Eastway was subsumed by the Great God Mammon chiz, coz you could get a good turn of speed up on the hill feeding into the back straight.  Also it was within easy riding distance of Larrington Towers.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 02 June, 2022, 01:43:38 pm
Sign-on for York (19th June - the rally weekend) is now open to BHPC members. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 June, 2022, 01:56:13 pm
Quote from: Kim on 02 June, 2022, 01:43:38 pm
Sign-on for York (19th June - the rally weekend) is now open to BHPC members. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)

And closes tomorrow.  Not many takers for this one, so potentially some easy championship points for those who turn up...

Non-members are welcome.  You merely need a magic hat and a brake that works.  Since it's a banked velodrome, multi-track vehicles need to be reasonably fast, but bicycles shouldn't have too much trouble, even if they're Mildly Inappropriate™.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 June, 2022, 12:36:51 am
David l'Hostis' Lancaster video now on YouBend (https://youtu.be/-MnTmGABMLo).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: aidan.f on 17 June, 2022, 07:03:18 am
Quote
Since it's a banked velodrome, multi-track vehicles need to be reasonably fast, but bicycles shouldn't have too much trouble, even if they're Mildly Inappropriate™.

From BHPC faceache page....
Quote
Note: We shall be using the ROAD CIRCUIT for this event, not the velodrome as previously advertised
https://www.facebook.com/events/187269299903671/ (https://www.facebook.com/events/187269299903671/)

Now trying to work out how to fit both a long barrow and up-wrong trike on the roof rack :-|
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 June, 2022, 07:44:29 am
If I’d have known the racing was on the road circuit, that might have increased the entry. When did that change?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: tatanab on 17 June, 2022, 08:19:54 am
Note that Facebook link is to last year.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 June, 2022, 10:04:24 am
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 June, 2022, 07:44:29 am
If I’d have known the racing was on the road circuit, that might have increased the entry. When did that change?

If it has, nobody told me.  We couldn't get use of the track this year (which is disappointing, for the reason LittleWheelsandBig states), but had arranged a standby booking if bad weather made the velodrome unusable and whoever had booked the track pulled out.

I assume it's just FriendFace churning up random old bollocks, as is its way.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: aidan.f on 17 June, 2022, 10:33:05 am
Oops, expectations lowered. I followed the FaceAche link from the bhpc website so did not check date...  stand down everyone!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: aidan.f on 20 June, 2022, 06:51:08 am
Had a lot of fun yesterday, big thank-you to those who obviously put a lot of time and effort into making the day happen.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 June, 2022, 08:54:58 pm
Well that was exciting: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-4-york-19th-june_topic7395_post68736.html#68736

Glad you enjoyed it, aidan.f.

The real hero was barakta, who we'd hoped would be able to do a couple of laps to christen the E-assist class before DNFing with leg pain, and keep enough in reserve for a decent go at the best-of-three-laps.  What she actually did was complete the 20 minute race; then do the best-of-three; then do the best-of-three again without electrons, before reinstalling the battery and finishing it off by completing another 20 minute race.  Oh, and she also babysat the Official BHPC Jam-Filled Babbage-Engine during the fast races.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 20 June, 2022, 09:29:11 pm
Terrific, Kim - she'll be entering handicap races next - in the non-handicapped sense of the word.  What a turn-up!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 June, 2022, 02:50:38 pm
She's feeling it a bit today.  Although walking round the rally field is also a contributor.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: ElyDave on 24 June, 2022, 08:44:12 pm
video?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 June, 2022, 08:51:36 pm
David was filming, but said it would be short because velodrome races are boring.  Usually takes him a while to finish editing.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 June, 2022, 12:10:34 am
Apropos velodromes, we* just done got back from the G Thomas National Velodrome in Welsh Wales where we was watching James Coxon do 202 204 laps in an hour and four seconds.  If ratified** this will be a new hour record for an unfaired recumbent trike.  We just have to do the sums to figure out how much of the last laps actually counts.  Chapeau, Sir!  Hopefully I'll get the official timing data from the track's system in electronic form tomorrow.

* my grate frend Mr Woolrich and I
** which it orter be on account of me being one of the three members of the committee wot ratifies these records ;D

Edited # of laps once I'd checked me photos...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 26 June, 2022, 12:15:12 am
Ah, I'd been sidetracked by audax and forgotten that was today.  Good stuff  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Lightning Phil on 26 June, 2022, 08:19:55 am
Is it 250m per lap in all velodromes?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 June, 2022, 09:52:03 am
The Man, he say: (https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6jGCKQEr7a5NTvzdo1mzzI/6f7c09e7e02135e84639ca42e692445f/3-PIS-E.pdf#page88)

Quote from: Teh You-See-Eye
The length of the track must lie between 133 metres and 500 metres inclusive.

The length of a track shall be such that a whole number of laps or half laps shall give a distance of precisely 1 kilometre, with a tolerance of + 5 centimetres.

For the World Championships and the Olympic Games the length must be 250 metres. In the interest of the development of track cycling, the UCI may grant a special dispensation for Velodromes already in use.

The old Saffron Lane track in Leicester was 333.33 m and the one built for the 1972 Olympics in Munich was 285.714 (3.5 laps = 1 km) – both have now been demolished.  Old-skool outdoor tracks are even more varied but I doubt anyone's building anything other than 250 m these days.  Newport was opened in 2004.

Edit: Now I have to sit down with the Clever Offishul WRRA Tape-Switch Controlled Stopwatch and manually enter lots of numbers into a spreadsheet so's we can make sure the figures from that match the ones from the velodrome's timing system which hopefully Newport's æxcellent timing bod Steve Miller will supply in electronic format today rather than me having to figure out a way to scan and OCR ten pages of printout.

And then post the Clever Offishul WRRA Tape-Switch Controlled Stopwatch back to USAnia because they want it back by the end of July, which scuppered my fiendish plan either to hand it over to Mike “Statto” Mowett in person or at least post it from Battle Mountain, which would be cheaper.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 June, 2022, 08:52:38 pm
Having been plugging numbers into spreadsheets all afternoon:

Old trike record: 49.508 km
James yesterday: 50.49[1|2] depending on which timer you believe :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 June, 2022, 03:09:08 pm
And now it's Offishul: 50.491 km/31.374 miles :thumbsup:

Minor discrepancies in original numbers due to stupid OCR program having trouble telling the difference between a "5" and a "6", but then we got the numbers in pukka electronic format straight outta the velodrome timing kit.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 July, 2022, 11:50:49 am
Chairman Al reports that online registration for the Rhyl event opens today for BHPC members (http://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon?fbclid=IwAR3YbSBtwssequH5JTQSA-nKeOxFkybuGQF17UIE39ansKULbsgPniDWU5o) and on le quatorze Juillet for everyone else.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: mzjo on 09 July, 2022, 10:38:49 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 26 June, 2022, 09:52:03 am
The Man, he say: (https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6jGCKQEr7a5NTvzdo1mzzI/6f7c09e7e02135e84639ca42e692445f/3-PIS-E.pdf#page88)

Quote from: Teh You-See-Eye
The length of the track must lie between 133 metres and 500 metres inclusive.

The length of a track shall be such that a whole number of laps or half laps shall give a distance of precisely 1 kilometre, with a tolerance of + 5 centimetres.

For the World Championships and the Olympic Games the length must be 250 metres. In the interest of the development of track cycling, the UCI may grant a special dispensation for Velodromes already in use.

The old Saffron Lane track in Leicester was 333.33 m and the one built for the 1972 Olympics in Munich was 285.714 (3.5 laps = 1 km) – both have now been demolished.  Old-skool outdoor tracks are even more varied but I doubt anyone's building anything other than 250 m these days.  Newport was opened in 2004.

Edit: Now I have to sit down with the Clever Offishul WRRA Tape-Switch Controlled Stopwatch and manually enter lots of numbers into a spreadsheet so's we can make sure the figures from that match the ones from the velodrome's timing system which hopefully Newport's æxcellent timing bod Steve Miller will supply in electronic format today rather than me having to figure out a way to scan and OCR ten pages of printout.

And then post the Clever Offishul WRRA Tape-Switch Controlled Stopwatch back to USAnia because they want it back by the end of July, which scuppered my fiendish plan either to hand it over to Mike “Statto” Mowett in person or at least post it from Battle Mountain, which would be cheaper.
The old standard distance for turn of the (19th) century tracks might have been 1/4 mile. From memory the Camarthen track was quoted as 405m (or something close) and the old Limoges track, which was built at about the same time and in concrete around a rugby field like Camarthen, was about 404m. I don't know the distances for Roubaix or Mulhouse. Herne Hill I see is 450m but it has been shortened.
Could we have records for indoor and outdoor tracks, like in athletics (and swimming?)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 02 August, 2022, 04:16:48 pm
[York (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-4-york-19th-june_topic7395_post68736.html#68736)]

Quote from: ElyDave on 24 June, 2022, 08:44:12 pm
video?

Is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6CgY84yTEY

Good use of the 360° camera there...

If anyone's wondering, the reason John was in the slow race, in spite of being significantly faster, was because:
a) I was in the fast race, to be available in case Natalya found herself in difficulty during the slow race
b) To keep the two Watson streamliners away from the slower riders
c) While balancing the numbers

And Jeff was on the shopping bike due to the untimely demise of his carbon fibre front (drive) wheel.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 02 August, 2022, 05:32:40 pm
Terrific stuff.  I love David's accent:  "Bermpy con-creet!"  Straight out of The Pink Panther
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2022, 12:11:25 pm
Meanwhile, there's still time to sign-up for Bath on Sunday.  We're reasonably sure they've actually booked us in this time.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 01:30:13 pm
The BHPC website doesn't exactly encourage entries, does it? Although for comparison, I looked at the Evening 10s of a local road club and their entry mechanism seems equally hidden, till you read that it's just enter on the line.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2022, 02:05:56 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 01:30:13 pm
The BHPC website doesn't exactly encourage entries, does it? Although for comparison, I looked at the Evening 10s of a local road club and their entry mechanism seems equally hidden, till you read that it's just enter on the line.

I can't do much about the slightly arcane use of the online shop to handle race entries as if they were craft items (some gymnastics is required to restrict their sale to BHPC members before opening up to non-members), but if you think it needs more prominence what would you suggest?

ETA: I've done battle with the CMS from hell (which is having a go-slow) and put a link to the shop at the top of the 2022 'events' page, added an image to the link on the home page and removed that notice about logins.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 02:36:48 pm
I would suggest not handling entries through the online shop! I was expecting either to click through from the relevant event in the list of races for the season, or to find a big, friendly 'Enter here' button on the 'How to race with BHPC' page. I see you've now got a clickable line about entry, which takes you to the shop, at the top of the events list – I think you've just added that, so that's an improvement already.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2022, 07:14:55 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 02:36:48 pm
I would suggest not handling entries through the online shop!

Well yes, but it's a feature that we already maintain and pay for, that allows us to take payments for things[1], so it was the obvious way to do it.


Quote
I was expecting either to click through from the relevant event in the list of races for the season

That would be a good idea, but for tedious technical reasons that would give us something to fail to update when the sign-on opens to non-members (they're different shop items so they can have their own open and close dates), and would therefore be a liability - broken links are worse than generic links.

We had hoped to use the RaceDB software from the CrossMgr suite to handle sign-ons in future, but I've banged my head against it extensively and it isn't capable of handling riders being in more than two classes.  I'm reluctant to start coding our own web apps when the shop does an adequate job, and the sign-on process requires a high degree of human checking to avoid silly mistakes being propagated into the race results.


Quote
a big, friendly 'Enter here' button on the 'How to race with BHPC' page.

I've made that link a bit less subtle.  An image would be good, but that takes a little more work...


Quote
I see you've now got a clickable line about entry, which takes you to the shop, at the top of the events list – I think you've just added that, so that's an improvement already.

Yep, and I've moved the stuff about points that was there to the bottom of the page.  We've been scoring that way for a couple of years now, so it's less important.


Thanks for the feedback, it's always useful to have some fresh eyes on things like this.


[1] The books and back-issues of magazines are surprisingly popular.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 07:22:01 pm
Quote from: Kim on 03 August, 2022, 07:14:55 pm
Quote
a big, friendly 'Enter here' button on the 'How to race with BHPC' page.

I've made that link a bit less subtle.  An image would be good, but that takes a little more work...
You've made it not just a bit less subtle, you've made it so it's one of the most obvious things on the page (to my eyes at least). Looks clear to me.

(I'm still, however, in two minds about actually entering; ungrateful upwronger! But I have until 12 tomorrow... )
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2022, 07:25:07 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 07:22:01 pm
I'm still, however, in two minds about actually entering; ungrateful upwronger! But I have until 12 tomorrow...

Looking at my list of entries, we've got two other upwrongs entered already.  And a decent number of slower darksiders.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: barakta on 03 August, 2022, 07:26:18 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 07:22:01 pm
(I'm still, however, in two minds about actually entering; ungrateful upwronger! But I have until 12 tomorrow... )

It would be nice to see you (even tho we saw you in June)! G'waaaan! It's right near you.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 August, 2022, 07:57:20 pm
Nice enough to see twice in three months, gosh! (I was intending to ride over and spectate enthusiastically, assist with something non-official, cause technical malfunctions, if I didn't enter.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 August, 2022, 12:26:51 am
Results now up at: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-7-bath-7th-august_topic7428_post68930.html#68930

A respectable first time at the Wacky Races by Cudzoziemiec.  I particularly like the way the flailing mudflap conveys a sense of speed:

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhpc_bath_2022/2022_08_07_15_11_32.sized.jpg)

Alas, none of those bottles contained petril, which we could have used to power the RFID voodoo and babbage-engine in the second race.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Auntie Helen on 08 August, 2022, 05:27:32 am
Whose was the white and yellow Milan SL in the background?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 August, 2022, 08:03:14 am
Quote from: Kim on 08 August, 2022, 12:26:51 am
Alas, none of those bottles contained petril, which we could have used to power the RFID voodoo and babbage-engine in the second race.
Only EPO and amphetamines.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 August, 2022, 11:04:01 am
Quote from: Auntie Helen on 08 August, 2022, 05:27:32 am
Whose was the white and yellow Milan SL in the background?

Tim MacDonald.  (Top tip: You can map race numbers to riders by looking at the timing results.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 August, 2022, 11:27:57 pm
An excellent weekend at Darley Moor, and not just because that tailbox I've been lugging around all season finally paid off...   :demon:

Results in the usual place (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx).

ETA: Now with photo finishes (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-darley-moor-28th-and-29th-august_topic7440_post69032.html#69032)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 06 September, 2022, 09:27:47 pm
Did I mention that entries are now open for Gravesend?  Entries are now open for Gravesend.  17th & 18th September double bill.  Be there or be ...in Battle Mountain, USAnia.

https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon


ETA: And the committee have officially decided that we won't be cancelling on account of the Queen, unless the venue decides they're going to close or something.  Anyone who doesn't want to come can - as usual - have a full refund as long as they let us know before the entry deadline.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 14 September, 2022, 02:23:50 pm
There appears to be a problem with the BHPC's webby SCIENCE.  This is unfortunate, as we're entering the traditional "Ohshit, I'd better actually enter the race" period for Gravesend.

This had better not be Her Majesty's fault...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 14 September, 2022, 02:57:50 pm
And it's back up.  Looks like WebWiz have been having notjbex problems as a result of planned maintenance going bad.

I'd strongly suggest anyone intending to come to Gravesend register as soon as possible, in case it goes down again:  https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/gravesend-2022-sat-17th-sun-18th-september
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 September, 2022, 01:23:14 pm
Results from Gravesend are up, thanks to a great sufficiency of petril, but no thanks to Impinj for crashing at the start of the 90 minute everyone-who-knows-how-to-work-the-jam-filled-babbage-engine-in-the-race race.

Barakta did well, in spit of most of her body conspiring against her.

I did reasonably well in the first 15 minute race, then progressively lost the plot due to bringing the wrong legs, the wrong gears and no cornering confidence.  I did manage to scoop up some E-points in the time trial, thobut.

An excellent turn-out from the arm-powered contingent, and a rubbish turnout from the faired-multitrack lot, who were presumably scared for their paintwork.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 19 September, 2022, 01:29:04 pm
Us unfaired multitrack types appreciate the chance to slide up the ranking a touch.

HK’s and my ‘House Championships’ continues apace with it all coming down to the wire at Hillingdon. Can the upright trike bridge the overall gap to the leading recumbent trike? Only time will tell!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 September, 2022, 01:37:25 pm
Yep, I rode the baraktacycle (minus electrickery) there in 2019 and thought it was great fun.  Fast enough to lift a wheel, but not much risk of really over-cooking it.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 20 September, 2022, 12:42:05 pm
A little video of the short race, from the 'hot seat'

https://youtu.be/NncsaUpaFY8
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2022, 12:46:09 pm
Great view of the barrows in action there...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 20 September, 2022, 04:09:41 pm
Quote from: Kim on 20 September, 2022, 12:46:09 pm
Great view of the barrows in action there...

In action around slow corners where you need to pedal. It is even more fun watching a trikie leaning out a mile round a fast downhill bend, doing everything physically possible to keep the inside wheel down, not even touching the outside handlebar.
http://www.oldvelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pic-11.jpg
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 06 October, 2022, 04:46:18 pm
And registrations for our final event of 2022: Hillingdon on the 16th of October are now open to non-memebrs (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon).  There are only 7 places left, so book quickly to avoid disappointment.

There will be an awards ceremony and the club AGM after the racing.  You don't have to race to attend.  The AGM could be quite exciting, on account of a potential major restructuring of the club (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-moving-forward-without-a-magazine_topic7468.html).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2022, 04:53:44 pm
Quote from: Kim on 06 October, 2022, 04:46:18 pm
[...]
The AGM could be quite exciting, on account of a potential major restructuring of the club (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-moving-forward-without-a-magazine_topic7468.html).

Or not, seeing as Ian Prince has volunteered to take on the task of Magazine Wrangler.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 06 October, 2022, 04:55:28 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2022, 04:53:44 pm
Quote from: Kim on 06 October, 2022, 04:46:18 pm
[...]
The AGM could be quite exciting, on account of a potential major restructuring of the club (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-moving-forward-without-a-magazine_topic7468.html).

Or not, seeing as Ian Prince has volunteered to take on the task of Magazine Wrangler.

Indeed.  I just recycled that half of the post from last week, to add excitement.  It certainly sounds like Ian is going to go ahead with the role.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2022, 06:58:02 pm
Well, that was a nice day out.  Not even a Mighty Rushing Wind up the straight.  Will do photos after I've et me tea.  Kudos to HK for winning Teh n00bs Award, Barakta for pwning the e-assist class and Kim for making off with quite a lot of awards (though not yet the mrs joyful prize for rafia work).

Edit: Here be piccies... (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums/72177720302933671/with/52432840789/)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Von Broad on 16 October, 2022, 09:39:29 pm
Nice photos Dave. Captures things.
I always enjoy getting over to Hillingdon, and was hoping to be present today, but life got in the way [in a way I would never happy to avoid either though]
Catch you next season hopefully.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 16 October, 2022, 09:57:07 pm
All great stuff, though disappointed not to see Grabber collect his award.  Recognise K and N ok but was that LWaB on the red trike?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2022, 10:04:35 pm
Dishonourable mention to cycleman, for coming third in the e-assist championship in spite of jettisoning assorted trike accessories mid-race, and to William T for growing a beard in time to collect the Junior trophy.

And respect to Team Northern Monkeys for causing the constructor contingent of the BHPC to mutter words to the effect of "gonna need a bigger shedde".
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 16 October, 2022, 10:20:55 pm
Yes, I managed to pip HK in a couple of overall HPV categories but ended up behind her in other categories. It was a pretty close-run thing between us but HK reckons that since she won a gong and I didn’t, that is worth a few more points and therefor she beat me in all categories.

http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/BHPC_2022.html
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 16 October, 2022, 10:46:49 pm
Spoken like a gentleman, D!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2022, 11:47:23 pm
Quote from: Peter on 16 October, 2022, 09:57:07 pm
All great stuff, though disappointed not to see Grabber collect his award.  Recognise K and N ok but was that LWaB on the red trike?

This one certainly is:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52433087443_98fe56112f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nTkha2)
PA160320 (https://flic.kr/p/2nTkha2) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 17 October, 2022, 07:27:59 am
The parts were jettisoned from the trice so nothing new there then  ::-) ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 October, 2022, 08:12:50 am
Were they jettisoned or did they jump?
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 17 October, 2022, 04:46:06 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2022, 04:53:44 pm
Quote from: Kim on 06 October, 2022, 04:46:18 pm
[...]
The AGM could be quite exciting, on account of a potential major restructuring of the club (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/bhpc-moving-forward-without-a-magazine_topic7468.html).

Or not, seeing as Ian Prince has volunteered to take on the task of Magazine Wrangler.
:thumbsup:
I shall have another year of digital absentee membership then.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 October, 2022, 05:04:45 pm
Peering at the timing results, it appears that cycleman is officially faster than barakta:
 http://www.bhpc.org.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/events/events22/12hillingdon/index.html

This is presumably due to strategic mid-race aerodynamic improvements, and nothing to do with differences in speed limiting behaviour between the two e-assist systems.   ;D

Barakta claims she wasn't trying, as she already had the coveted C13 trophy in the bag:

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhpc_hillingdon_2022/BHPC_Winners_2022_1199288.sized.jpg)


ETA: Achievement, as they say, unlocked:

Quote from: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 02:04:38 pm
I will attempt to make barakta earn some real BHPC points in something eventually.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 17 October, 2022, 07:45:07 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 17 October, 2022, 08:12:50 am
Were they jettisoned or did they jump?
Jumped, well flew actually
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 October, 2022, 12:01:38 pm
M. l'Hostis' video from the Rhyl event has just surfaced (https://youtu.be/Ze53whQGZ8U).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 October, 2022, 12:21:12 pm
Watched that the other night, having completely forgotten who won.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 30 October, 2022, 11:13:12 am
Bit of a fail with your l33t drafting John Lucian 5k1llz in the long race, Keem :demon:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 October, 2022, 12:01:08 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 30 October, 2022, 11:13:12 am
Bit of a fail with your l33t drafting John Lucian 5k1llz in the long race, Keem :demon:

Yes.  I lost a lot of speed after the evasive manoeuvres around Lee's crash (not pictured, unfortunately).  John then caught David's wheel for a bit (which doesn't normally work) leaving me utterly for dead.  I also failed to keep up with Gerry, on account of general knackeredness.

To be fair, my endurance racing tactics are based on a combination of bike reliability and bladder control, but that only gets you into the top 10 or so.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 09 January, 2023, 10:26:44 pm
Quote from: Kim on 08 August, 2022, 12:26:51 am
Results now up at: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-7-bath-7th-august_topic7428_post68930.html#68930

A respectable first time at the Wacky Races by Cudzoziemiec.  I particularly like the way the flailing mudflap conveys a sense of speed:

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhpc_bath_2022/2022_08_07_15_11_32.sized.jpg)

Alas, none of those bottles contained petril, which we could have used to power the RFID voodoo and babbage-engine in the second race.


More upwrong and mudflap action courtesy of LordHostis:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4-L5T1sw9s
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 09 January, 2023, 10:43:02 pm
I missed that photo of Cudzoziemiec first time around. I had to zoom in to figure out what that weird non-aero yellow attachment was on his bars, looking like maybe a GPS on some decidedly strange vertical tri-bar.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 10 January, 2023, 08:05:46 am
Quote from: Kim on 09 January, 2023, 10:26:44 pm
Quote from: Kim on 08 August, 2022, 12:26:51 am
Results now up at: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2022-round-7-bath-7th-august_topic7428_post68930.html#68930

A respectable first time at the Wacky Races by Cudzoziemiec.  I particularly like the way the flailing mudflap conveys a sense of speed:

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhpc_bath_2022/2022_08_07_15_11_32.sized.jpg)

Alas, none of those bottles contained petril, which we could have used to power the RFID voodoo and babbage-engine in the second race.


More upwrong and mudflap action courtesy of LordHostis:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4-L5T1sw9s

Ah! But him not got noe visible race number, innit.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 January, 2023, 03:03:00 pm
Quote from: MattH on 09 January, 2023, 10:43:02 pm
I missed that photo of Cudzoziemiec first time around. I had to zoom in to figure out what that weird non-aero yellow attachment was on his bars, looking like maybe a GPS on some decidedly strange vertical tri-bar.  :facepalm:
It was a fuel cell motor, powered by the hydrogen in those bottles.  :D

Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 10 January, 2023, 08:05:46 am
Ah! But him not got noe visible race number, innit.
Lack of paper and thick marker pen. Seemed to work well enough with the RFID on my helmet though. But I now seem to have lost the helmet in a house move  :facepalm: unless my son's taken it to Cornwall or just possibly it went to the Bike Project with a load of other stuff.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 03:13:02 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 21 January, 2023, 03:03:00 pm
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 10 January, 2023, 08:05:46 am
Ah! But him not got noe visible race number, innit.
Lack of paper and thick marker pen. Seemed to work well enough with the RFID on my helmet though.

Or, more critically, barakta knows who you are.

This isn't a scalable solution, as it depends on whoever's frantically banging numbers into the babbage-engine to know what people's numbers are when the tags don't work, which is easy enough when you discover that a specific individual has duff tags, but becomes a lot trickier when they whole system fails and you've got to try to keep track of everyone's laps on a Mk 1 piece of paper.

It also can't be relied on when you've got half a dozen interchangeable MAMILs in helmets and glasses on the same type of machine...


Quote
But I now seem to have lost the helmet in a house move  :facepalm: unless my son's taken it to Cornwall or just possibly it went to the Bike Project with a load of other stuff.

All you need is an Impinj-compatible RFID reader and you can track it down...

(While doing SCIENCE with the timing system the year before last, I discovered that it will pick up the read-only tags in various Decathlon products in and about your house, and if you turn the gain down and point the aerial around you can triangulate them.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 January, 2023, 03:35:03 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 03:13:02 pm
(While doing SCIENCE with the timing system the year before last, I discovered that it will pick up the read-only tags in various Decathlon products in and about your house, and if you turn the gain down and point the aerial around you can triangulate them.)

Is this actually Peak Kim?

 ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: barakta on 21 January, 2023, 07:32:13 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 21 January, 2023, 03:35:03 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 03:13:02 pm
(While doing SCIENCE with the timing system the year before last, I discovered that it will pick up the read-only tags in various Decathlon products in and about your house, and if you turn the gain down and point the aerial around you can triangulate them.)

Is this actually Peak Kim?

 ;D

Nah, she has potential fettling thread updates which are much more peak Kim.  ;D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 08:14:39 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 21 January, 2023, 03:35:03 pm
Quote from: Kim on 21 January, 2023, 03:13:02 pm
(While doing SCIENCE with the timing system the year before last, I discovered that it will pick up the read-only tags in various Decathlon products in and about your house, and if you turn the gain down and point the aerial around you can triangulate them.)

Is this actually Peak Kim?

I was trying to determine the exact thickness of dielectric padding required to make the tags work properly on an assortment of conductive materials, for the benefit of Roy's aerodynamics.  The results were being muddled by a couple of tags that weren't there.  After much head-scratching the stray tags were eventually determined to be the label on a bottle of electrolyte tablets and sewn into one of barakta's little-used physioterrorism weights.

This knowledge came in handy some time later, when we were having trouble changing the race number on someone's tags.  It turned out that we were addressing a SEEKRIT decoy tag buried inside their helmet, and not the BHPC-issue stick-on ones, which I happened to recognise on account of the unusual pattern of meaningless hex.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 January, 2023, 08:27:43 pm
If you google "Peak Kim" you find that she has been, as you'd expect, a multiple race winner, though she's past her (sorry) peak now.
Peak Kim (https://www.timeform.com/greyhound-racing/greyhound-form/mount-kim/11820)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 February, 2023, 03:30:35 pm
My grate frend Mr Sheen writes, on that Farcebok that they have now:

Quote
Just putting some feelers out here, but I’ve finally had to face the fact that I’m not going to get back into racing again, being at an age where getting out of a chair makes me creak like the Cutty Sark under full sail, and so I am wondering if there’d be any interest in my Mk6 faired Windcheetah.

I’ll be straight - it will need a COMPLETE overhaul. It’s been stood for about 20 years now, and although it’s all there, the transmission will need replacing, all the rubbers and bushes, tyres, tubes, cables etc. The fairing is intact but will need some proper renovation and reinforcing. My ex dumped it into a leaky shed some years back and it suffered. But underneath it all is a hand-built lightweight Burrows Speedy with 700c & 20” wheels which raced all over the UK and Europe. It’s less than half the weight of most modern faired trikes and will still hold its own on the  track.

I’ll dig some photos out later, past and present, but I’m located in south London (spits) so if anyone wants to see it, let me know. There’s a nice pic of it in its prime in the BHPC’s MB tribute magazine.

I have no idea what it’s worth but I don’t want to start a bidding war (he lied) and I’d much rather see it back out on the track than make a killing.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 04 February, 2023, 03:33:41 pm
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

How tall is your grate friend Mr Sheen?  And how many rubber bung are involved (coz transmission, brakes, tyre is moar doable).

Asking for a friend.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 February, 2023, 03:44:55 pm
Mr Sheen is a good deal shorter than this Unit (I'd guess about 5’8”) though there'll be some adjustability in the seat.  Rubbery doodahs are probably the seat mounts – which were, IIRC, the metal/rubber sandwich wossnames used for attaching exhaust pipes to Minis – plus the bungees that keep the sides closed when the rider ent leaning out for cornering and probably whatever is used to attach the fairing to the chassis.

Anyway, it looked like this:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52667894127_4611f07e68_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2of5J18)

in its heyday.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 04 February, 2023, 11:11:42 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 February, 2023, 03:44:55 pm
Mr Sheen is a good deal shorter than this Unit (I'd guess about 5’8”)
Thank fuck for that! I My Friend am taller than that and I My Friend have dental bills and no space for something this awesome, no matter that it is awesome and I My Friend Wantz it.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 February, 2023, 09:59:16 am
MOAR vids from David L'Hostis:

Darley Moor: https://youtu.be/RlsdIb84W3M

Gravesend: https://youtu.be/otYinmS-DKI
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 March, 2023, 04:17:34 pm
Did I put this here?  I should put this here...

(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/BHPC/BHPC_Races_1500x1200.jpeg) (https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/BHPC/BHPC_Races_1500x1200.jpeg)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 March, 2023, 11:29:27 pm
And 2022's final instalment from LordHostis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRvS3lsXeA

Featuring some proper racing, The Man With The Orange Flag, cycleman making mid-race aerodynamic improvements, and an ending montage.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 20 March, 2023, 09:09:25 am
Quote from: Kim on 19 March, 2023, 11:29:27 pm
And 2022's final instalment from LordHostis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRvS3lsXeA

Featuring some proper racing, The Man With The Orange Flag, cycleman making mid-race aerodynamic improvements, and an ending montage.

Haha, spent ages looking for moi, then realized I wasn’t there, I was on ‘oliday, silly moi.  Weather looked good.  ::-)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 20 March, 2023, 12:29:56 pm
Quote from: Blodwyn Pig on 20 March, 2023, 09:09:25 am
Quote from: Kim on 19 March, 2023, 11:29:27 pm
And 2022's final instalment from LordHostis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRvS3lsXeA

Featuring some proper racing, The Man With The Orange Flag, cycleman making mid-race aerodynamic improvements, and an ending montage.

Haha, spent ages looking for moi, then realized I wasn’t there, I was on ‘oliday, silly moi.  Weather looked good.  ::-)

The usual Hillingdon shower didn't happen, and the headwind down the straight was almost reasonable.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 20 March, 2023, 07:14:40 pm
I would like to have a go using the azub tricon but I am unlikely to be able to spare monies for such luxury. That was great fun to watch  :D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 March, 2023, 10:15:33 am
Politburo announces suspension of e-assist class for 2023: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/eassisted-race-class-suspended-for-now_topic7525_post69432.html#69432
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 March, 2023, 12:50:52 pm
Yes.  It's a pragmatic decision because in-sewer-ants.  Suffice to say that people taking the piss is why we can't have nice things.

Meanwhile, expect an announcement about the state (or lack thereof) of the magazine at some point soon.

We currently have 40 riders (of a maximum of 60) registered for Hillingdon, and registration opens to non-members tomorrow.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 March, 2023, 06:05:59 pm
The mag announce-o has already appeared in the forum and in Mr Zuckerberg’s Walled Garden: http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/magazine-2023_topic7518.html

Seems Mr Editor Knight has disappeared off the radar.

Edit: statement from Chairman Al:

Quote
STATEMENT FROM THE BHPC COMMITTEE

Hi All,

We held a Committee meeting this evening to discuss a few issues that have cropped up since the AGM in October.

I'm sure BHPC Members will have wondered why they haven't yet received a magazine this year, having paid for their membership. We are aware that for many of our members (especially those that don't race) the magazine is an important factor in them becoming and remaining members.

We had a volunteer to take over editing our magazine and we purchased software to enable him to do this. Some of you contributed articles (hang on to them, they may well still be needed!!). We believed that production of the first edition was underway and that it would have been published by now. Sadly it hasn't happened and all attempts to communicate with the new editor have been ignored.

We have concluded that unfortunately there will be no BHPC Magazine in its usual glossy glory this year (unless somebody leaps forward and offers to take it on...)

So we (the Committee) are going to produce a brief newsletter after Hillingdon and get it out to you. We'll aim to produce further newsletters throughout the year.

From tonight there will only be the £8 Standard Membership option available in the online shop. As always Membership will get you reduced fees for every race and will pay for itself if you do two or more races. You’ll also get that warm, fuzzy feeling of being a member of the friendliest cycle racing club in the world...

Of course we know that this isn't what you signed up for and so we will offer a full refund to anyone who requests it. We will also offer to refund the difference between full or concessionary membership and the £8 Standard Membership if you wish. You will be able to do this via the shop I believe.

I would like to apologise for the disappointment I know this will cause some of you.

Also at the meeting tonight we confirmed that we are planning to host the World Championships next year and we will be asking for volunteers to help us put on a fantastic event as we did in 2018.

There will be a further statement from our Competition Secretary on the status of the E-Assist class shortly.

Many thanks to all of our Committee Members who give up their time to keep our club running - we've got 12 events for you this year, starting on the 9th April at Hillingdon. See you there!!

Alan Goodman

Chairman - BHPC
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 12:10:33 pm
15 places left for Hillingdon and sign-on now open to non-members.  https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 30 March, 2023, 03:23:56 pm
I've bought entrance. Planning to bring the P-38 this time, assuming I can fit el-cheapo bashguard. Is this adeqaute?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991)

And hoping my race no. is still free, 217? Will need new tags though.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 30 March, 2023, 05:13:30 pm
HK and I are signed up but might not race. The Easter Arrow finishes about 24hrs before the race.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 05:15:34 pm
Quote from: PaulM on 30 March, 2023, 03:23:56 pm
I've bought entrance. Planning to bring the P-38 this time, assuming I can fit el-cheapo bashguard. Is this adeqaute?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991)

Yeah, looks like it should do the job.


Quote
And hoping my race no. is still free, 217? Will need new tags though.

I'll let you know when I fire up the jam-filled Babbage engine to do the race allocations after the registrations close, but I think you raced last year didn't you?  In which case you should get to keep it.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 30 March, 2023, 05:16:53 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 30 March, 2023, 05:13:30 pm
HK and I are signed up but might not race. The Easter Arrow finishes about 24hrs before the race.

So you'll be nicely warmed up and ready to race, is what I'm hearing  :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 30 March, 2023, 05:20:41 pm
Quote from: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 05:15:34 pm
I'll let you know when I fire up the jam-filled Babbage engine to do the race allocations after the registrations close, but I think you raced last year didn't you?  In which case you should get to keep it.

I raced two years ago. I put a note on my entry, would be nice to retain 214 as it means not printing new numbers, but I don't really care if the computer says no.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 05:52:26 pm
Quote from: MattH on 30 March, 2023, 05:20:41 pm
Quote from: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 05:15:34 pm
I'll let you know when I fire up the jam-filled Babbage engine to do the race allocations after the registrations close, but I think you raced last year didn't you?  In which case you should get to keep it.

I raced two years ago. I put a note on my entry, would be nice to retain 214 as it means not printing new numbers, but I don't really care if the computer says no.

In principle we guarantee you'll get the number you used last season.  In practice we try to keep them for a bit longer before re-allocating them (unless there's a specific reason like an old-timer coming out of the woodwork or "I've just bought a velomobile with #number painted on it", which we'll try to accomodate on a best-effort basis), so you'll probably get it again.

The program that manages race allocation is the only part of the Spreadsheet-ov-Doom that we're still using, so it's entirely possible that it'll gain sentience and run amok with the rage (TBAGO) number database.  It must be doing *something* with all those CPU cycles, after all.  It would be nice to replace it with some modern webby SCIENCE, but that's a non-trivial problem and so far our efforts at overhauling the timing workflow have concentrated on the bits that generate and present the actual results.  [Because it's easier to explain the BHPC class system to Canadian cyclocross software than it is to the average BHPC member - Ed.]

Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 30 March, 2023, 07:40:22 pm
To be honest, I'm a bit "whatever" about it; it'll take me a few minutes to redo numbers. I certainly don't want to cause pain by being awkward to the people who are making things happen for me to have fun.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 30 March, 2023, 07:42:35 pm
I'll come and watch  :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 07:50:31 pm
Quote from: cycleman on 30 March, 2023, 07:42:35 pm
I'll come and watch  :)

You can keep LittleWheelsandBig from dozing off   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 30 March, 2023, 08:04:55 pm
Quote from: Kim on 30 March, 2023, 05:15:34 pm
Quote from: PaulM on 30 March, 2023, 03:23:56 pm
I've bought entrance. Planning to bring the P-38 this time, assuming I can fit el-cheapo bashguard. Is this adeqaute?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392281233991)

Yeah, looks like it should do the job.


Quote
And hoping my race no. is still free, 217? Will need new tags though.

I'll let you know when I fire up the jam-filled Babbage engine to do the race allocations after the registrations close, but I think you raced last year didn't you?  In which case you should get to keep it.
I think my last race was the end of the 2021 season so 18 mths ago. It's not a big problem though, just let me know whenever. Thanks.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 01 April, 2023, 12:58:16 pm
Disappointing but very tricky situation with the e-assist class.  Hopefully this will get resolved - either through a member volunteer or insewerants moving wid da times.
Also disappointing RE magazine, but a timely reminder that I did not review my membership and have not read my e-copy of the magazine since ... I joined about 4 years ago.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 04 April, 2023, 10:49:09 am
Ah, I recall I also did the Colchester race at the start of last season so I should still be ok with my race number.

I had a go at putting the bashguard on the P-38 last night. It fits the BB ok but didn't extend far enought to the right to cover the outer ring of the triple. I've taken it off and will have a go at bending the steel support arms to the right. 8mm should do it.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 07 April, 2023, 07:49:58 pm
Taking a break from blatting bugs in the sign-on process to point out that registrations for Bath in a couple of weeks time opened to BHPC members yesterday.  No prizes for guessing how I spotted this.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 07 April, 2023, 07:52:49 pm
You may be pleased to know I'm not intending being at Bath, but you should be aware that this will give me more time to come up with new innovative ways of breaking your sign up scripts  :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 07 April, 2023, 09:01:29 pm
The whole sign-on and race allocation process could do with a rewrite, but it's been a low priority compared to the stuff that actually deals with race results (where we've made significant improvements that benefit everyone, rather than just the organisers).  It's also something I'm wary of over-automating, given the ability of the average BHPCer to forget their own race number or enter random nonsense in a web form.

Using the shop to process sign-on was something Andrew came up with together during the summer of 2020, and while the shop side of things works adequately (as long as people remember to click 'CONFIRM'), the emails it spits out to tell us to stick things in the post (or not, as the case may be) are deeply suboptimal for automated processing, because why would anyone want to do that.

Quirks aside, it's been a huge improvement on trying to do the whole thing - along with handling cash and writing timing tags - in the hour before the racing starts.  Just taking the time to check the race files are properly configured has made a big difference to the timing process, to say nothing of tags that actually work.  (Barakta deserves extra credit here, as she's been ruthless at tracking down people with dodgy tags in the gap between races while Andrew and I consolidate the data and faff with our bikes.)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 07 April, 2023, 09:10:29 pm
Plus, you just know that if you improve the process to be idiot proof, we'll just evolve into a better class of idiot...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 April, 2023, 10:14:47 pm
Which we've been doing for forty years now.  Some very sophisticated idiots around now :P
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 April, 2023, 08:02:22 pm
Eeee, that were a grand day out!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 09 April, 2023, 08:11:15 pm
Yes, it was. Pretty much perfect weather - not too cold for sitting around, not too hot to ride. Good chats, good racing. Waving at Beano as it whooshed past me twice a lap...

Many thanks to those who put time and effort into putting this on.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 April, 2023, 08:14:15 pm
When is the Bath event? After last year, I had intended to enter again this year – but if it's in a couple of weeks I'll barely be able to ride to Bath let alone race, I've become a blancmange over winter.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 April, 2023, 08:25:38 pm
Good fun today, thanks to all the worker bees.

I just wish I was 10 seconds a lap faster or had a decent sprint…

Bath in a fortnight.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: MattH on 09 April, 2023, 08:27:27 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 April, 2023, 08:25:38 pm
Bath in a fortnight.

You are going to stink. I'm heading for one now...   :)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 April, 2023, 08:44:18 pm
Okay! I've found the page and see sign on for non-members starts next Thursday. And the other week I found my helmet, which still has the RFID stickers on it. All I have to do is retrieve my "racing" bike from my sister's cellar, polish my shoes, find my legs, lose some lard, decide whether I can actually ride as far as Bath, etc...  :-\
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 April, 2023, 09:04:22 pm
Me photies:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums/72177720307365681

Distilled from about 500.  Thanks to the Mollycat for distracting me while trying to pick the ones to keep.  Not.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 April, 2023, 09:36:03 pm
"I'll note the date in my diary" thinks I. It's already in there!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 10 April, 2023, 12:18:22 pm
Quote from: MattH on 09 April, 2023, 08:27:27 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 April, 2023, 08:25:38 pm
Bath in a fortnight.

You are going to stink. I'm heading for one now...   :)

 ::-) :P ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 22 April, 2023, 10:37:32 am
Fingers crossed for the weather tomorrow. I daren't look at the forecast! Haven't been to Odd Down before.

I've adjusted the bearings in my rear hub, also added more grease, and changed the cassette to a slightly less gappy one.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 22 April, 2023, 12:41:48 pm
I think it's going to be moist.  I'm just hoping it happens during the race rather than when we're packing up.

I'm a bit underwhelmed by the track.  Enough of a gentle gradient to be needing to brake into the bottom bend and fighting gravity on the way back, while not as interesting for the unfaired riders as Stourport.  Relatively exposed, so wind could be an issue, especially on the hairpin.  Surface is decent and sight-lines are good, though.  And there's a dog-containment fence.

Decent facilities on site (with the exception of trackside power sockets, which in this case it has not got).
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 April, 2023, 01:55:20 pm
Is it tomorrow? I thought it was next week. Blx. Haven't entered, haven't got rideable bike. And probably need to work. Might kick myself to come over and pay a visit.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 22 April, 2023, 03:58:10 pm
Grumble, Stourport is suspiciously hard to get to from Brum.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 22 April, 2023, 04:05:31 pm
Quote from: fd3 on 22 April, 2023, 03:58:10 pm
Grumble, Stourport is suspiciously hard to get to from Brum.

Yes, it's a hilly bike ride via Bell End or train to Kidderminster (or perhaps Hartlebury).

We'll be using a CAR because timing kit.   :-[
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 22 April, 2023, 04:13:01 pm
No way I could take #1 son on that length ride*, and I really fancy the train with a non-folding trike.

There, that's my excuses for another year.  TBF I can't really afford the time for the whole thing.

*
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 April, 2023, 12:39:23 pm
Results for Bath now up at the usual place (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx).

The weather held off!

Registration for Stouport opens to members on Thursday.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: PaulM on 24 April, 2023, 06:05:52 pm
Quote from: Kim on 24 April, 2023, 12:39:23 pm
Results for Bath now up at the usual place (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/results.aspx).

The weather held off!

Registration for Stouport opens to members on Thursday.
Didn't make it. Was feeling really tired and the forecast I saw was for rain moving in from 2pm. Shame, but it was a long way for me to drive on my own. Hopefully next year.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 11 May, 2023, 10:07:18 pm
Breaking news:  Quibell Park velodrome is out of action pending funding for some new tarmac, so we're not going to Scunthorpe.  [And there was much rejoicing - Ed]

Instead, the race on the 10th of June will be on the cycle circuit at York Sports Village.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 25 May, 2023, 12:12:51 pm
Sign-ons for York and Hull are now open to BHPC members:  https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 June, 2023, 12:32:02 pm
Sign-ons for Rhyl are now open to members: https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon

This would also be a good time to plug the Shiny! New! Race Day page - your one-stop shop for live results and key factiods that someone asked two weeks ago on Facebook and now you can't find the post:  https://www.bhpc.org.uk/race-day/
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 July, 2023, 10:31:50 pm
Russell Bridge's dash-cam vid from the Rhyl 4-lap race: https://youtu.be/1xoasAoXAZ4
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 August, 2023, 12:16:47 am
From the department of breaking news:

Quote from: Chairman Al
ANNOUNCEMENT
The British Human Power Club will be hosting the Human Powered Vehicle World Championships in 2024!!
Folowing a meeting this afternoon we can confirm that the Venue will be Betteshanger Country Park near to Deal in Kent.
The dates to put in your diary are 16/17/18 August 2024.
We'll be running a varied program of events over the weekend and will have classes to accommodate a wide variety of machines and riders.
Facilites are excellent and camping will be available on site.
More details as we go along but I can also confirm the BHPC event at the venue on 23rd September this year, with camping available on site so that you can check out the track and the facilities!
We will be asking for people to help with organising, marshalling and running the event of course.

It's taken us ages to get to this point, but it's all looking quite promising now.  The facilities have been somewhat upgraded since 2018...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 August, 2023, 12:49:36 am
Bet you still need needle-pointed tent pegs and your biggest hammer to get set up though >:(
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 08 August, 2023, 12:51:52 am
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 08 August, 2023, 12:49:36 am
Bet you still need needle-pointed tent pegs and your biggest hammer to get set up though >:(

Seems likely, for geological reasons.

I can confirm that the camping will be up near the track, not on the thistle-infested hardcore of the overflow car park like last time.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 August, 2023, 12:53:59 am
Good thing I found the long-lost Dremel and grinding wheel wossname for my drill the other day :D
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 29 August, 2023, 06:56:32 pm
Darley Moor results are now up: https://www.bhpc.org.uk/events/2023-2/
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 September, 2023, 05:56:50 pm
I neglected to mention that registrations opened for Betteshanger/Gravesend next weekend.  Registrations are open for Betteshanger/Gravesend next weekend. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)

Prime opportunity to check out the Betteshanger track and facilities ahead of the Worlds next year.  Or to park in the bushes at Gravesend.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2023, 06:25:11 pm
...Now closed.  But we have an entry for a 6-person cycle at Betteshanger, if they can get it all to fit on the trailer.  Which should raise the Wacky Races factor by an order of magnitude.  Any similarity to the Sprocket Rocket is extremely unlikely.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 22 September, 2023, 07:57:44 pm
I won't be at either this year, just got back from the 'El Tandemista Social Club'  forrin bike and beer adventures in That France, Bit knackered, and things to do. Hope all goes well.  Hope to pop into Hillingdon.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 05 October, 2023, 10:08:20 pm
I forgot to mention that registrations for Hillingdon opened last week.  But they did. (https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon)  Which means that non-members can also join in the fun from today.

Being the last race meet of the season, this one comes with a bonus AGM and prizes, included the much-coveted award for ruining the most pairs of cycling shorts in a racing season, the one for best repair of a b0rked BHPC trophy and the one for Juniors DNSing due to excessive consumption of BEER the night before (which Twed assures us he would have won in 1976).  All are welcome to attend.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 October, 2023, 12:33:17 am
Twed is well-known for telling fibs.  He’s been on at me to write something for the mag about the foundation of the BHPC.  In 1983.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 06 October, 2023, 02:31:56 am
The cable-mismanagement award is where the real action is anyway:  Currently a score draw between Nigel Slee for managing to forget the RFID cables were in his garage before not coming to a race, and Jon Woolrich for mis-wiring some connectors and shorting out the sprint timer on the first test.  My attempt, in the form of a set of XLR-to-16A-Ceeform death-daptors has been disqualified on the basis that they weren't very deadly due to lack of a mains supply.  There's still the possibility of a late entry from barakta, if she manages to somehow lose the e-assist trophy between now and the AGM.  But the smart money's on Slash, for managing to b0rk the gear cable controlling his landing gear at speeds in excess of R17.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: cycleman on 15 October, 2023, 06:49:13 pm
Pedal cars and a red baron  at hillingdon 😀:D :)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/groV1QzB2jVjfD6k8
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 15 October, 2023, 06:52:11 pm
I don't know - overtaking on the inside!  Shouldn't be allowed.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 October, 2023, 08:04:28 pm
Got plenty of piccies too but le Rugby takes priority over faffing with cameras and cables.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 October, 2023, 08:39:26 pm
Due to assorted Issues, publication of full results will have to wait until I've had enough sleep to be allowed to do arithmetic without adult supervision...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 15 October, 2023, 11:54:43 pm
While doing non-arithmetic-based data-wrangling, in between lots of high-speed footage of  a) knees  b) crotches  and  c) flegs,  I appear to have unearthed a previously undiscovered Tarantino short, Reservoir Stopwatches featuring Mr Larrington and Chairman Al.  I will endeavour to export this cinematic masterpiece after the race results are fully reticulated.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2023, 02:45:15 pm
Splines now fully reticulated, and the results are now available at https://www.bhpc.org.uk/events/2023-2/
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 16 October, 2023, 03:26:34 pm
Quote from: Kim on 15 October, 2023, 11:54:43 pm
While doing non-arithmetic-based data-wrangling, in between lots of high-speed footage of  a) knees  b) crotches  and  c) flegs,  I appear to have unearthed a previously undiscovered Tarantino short, Reservoir Stopwatches featuring Mr Larrington and Chairman Al.  I will endeavour to export this cinematic masterpiece after the race results are fully reticulated.

Excellent build-up - can't wait!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2023, 04:06:13 pm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53262527786_4f9ed29aec_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2p9CnSA)
Snoopy sniffing Notso's bottom (https://flic.kr/p/2p9CnSA) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr.  Rest of me photies at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/sets/72177720311960662/with/53262527786/
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2023, 04:20:19 pm
Quote from: Peter on 16 October, 2023, 03:26:34 pm
Quote from: Kim on 15 October, 2023, 11:54:43 pm
While doing non-arithmetic-based data-wrangling, in between lots of high-speed footage of  a) knees  b) crotches  and  c) flegs,  I appear to have unearthed a previously undiscovered Tarantino short, Reservoir Stopwatches featuring Mr Larrington and Chairman Al.  I will endeavour to export this cinematic masterpiece after the race results are fully reticulated.

Excellent build-up - can't wait!

Here we go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I5srPIM0fU
https://youtu.be/8I5srPIM0fU
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2023, 05:56:17 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Von Broad on 16 October, 2023, 08:51:18 pm
Goodness me.......wouldn't want to come face to face with him up an alleyway on a dark foggy night, would you?
Dunno about a Tarantino out take, more like one of the lost CIA Roswell tapes!
Didn't Herman Munster used to walk like that?
 :D
Good to see you again yesterday Dave  ;)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Peter on 16 October, 2023, 09:11:50 pm
Leon Russell lives!
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2023, 10:56:21 pm
RussVision in-bike video of his tussle with Liam Goodman in the first fast race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPZ4YNoNED0

Race 2 to follow when Russ has edited it.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Von Broad on 17 October, 2023, 07:41:07 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 16 October, 2023, 10:56:21 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPZ4YNoNED0

I wouldn't normally sit through something like that, but I really quite got into it.......over lunch. I became really quite fascinated by it.
Some naive basic questions:

1. The have no mirrors, so does Liam have any idea that Russel is trying to slipstream him immediately after Liam overtakes on the first straight?
Can he hear that might be somebody on his tail? I guess shadows cast from the sunlight might be possible on occasions? BUt he has no way of knowing, right?

2. Given that these 'pods' are built for aerodynamic advantage, is that really much to be gained by getting into the slipstream of the person in front.
There must be some obviously.......but considering Liam wasn't at all bothered about tailing Russel for a lap or two when he easily could have done, I'm assuming not a great deal?

And so the bum-sniffing quest continued for a few laps. But then Steve S came whizzing past, Liam got inspired, jumped on the pedals and dropped Russel. Ok, so Liam has an extra gear. But then Russel ups his pace a tad [or Liam slows a tad] and eventually catches him. And it's all back on. So again, does Liam know he's there once again looking to do the bottom routine? Did he realize he'd dropped him in the first place?
So once more....Russel is content to sit on his wheel. So now what happens? I was waiting for Russel to attack. I sat there thinking, well surely he's going to have a go in a minute or two? Maybe on the penultimate lap? But no. Come the very last lap, Liam ups the pace and buries him good and proper.

I didn't take a great deal of notice on the day, but it's kind of interesting from the cockpit. You really get a sense of it. Made all the more interesting when there's a dual like that going on.

edit: Snoppy - really like the way Russel's made that with the panoramic 'windscreen'. Ideal for filming in too.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 October, 2023, 08:34:15 pm
I think Liam had a rear-facing camera in the bike, to avoid the aero drag of mirrors.

Streamliners have unusual aerodynamics. There is an argument that, in strong crosswinds, it can be worse to sit in a streamliner's slipstream than to ride in clean air. This is because the lead streamliner influences the apparent wind direction directly behind it, turning a crosswind into more of a headwind. In the low wind conditions on Sunday, there should be a small advantage in sitting behind another streamliner, not that I can feel it at the speeds I race at. You saw Snoopy lapping me many times during that race.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 October, 2023, 08:40:04 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 October, 2023, 08:34:15 pm
I think Liam had a rear-facing camera in the bike, to avoid the aero drag of mirrors.

Yep, if you look closely at Notso's tail you can spot a small, slightly darker square thing on the trailing edge of the bike, which is the window for the rear view camera.  I think it’s got mirrors inside too but they're not much use for seeing velomobiles tucked right under the tail.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 October, 2023, 08:44:02 pm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53261646332_9ac7e355bd_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2p9xRR7)PA150310 (https://flic.kr/p/2p9xRR7) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

Just spotted that Mr Larrington captured this moment, in which I can be seen with a massive grin, as Jemma (who I've been comfortably faster than all season) powers past the pelican of Usual Suspects on account of a Shiny! New! correx fairing that actually works.  I then gave chase, which didn't.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 17 October, 2023, 08:57:03 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 October, 2023, 08:34:15 pm
Streamliners have unusual aerodynamics. There is an argument that, in strong crosswinds, it can be worse to sit in a streamliner's slipstream than to ride in clean air. This is because the lead streamliner influences the apparent wind direction directly behind it, turning a crosswind into more of a headwind. In the low wind conditions on Sunday, there should be a small advantage in sitting behind another streamliner, not that I can feel it at the speeds I race at. You saw Snoopy lapping me many time during that race.

The speeds I race at are a smidge higher, and on the odd occasion I've found myself behind a streamliner of that calibre for more than a nanosecond, the effect has been about 0% of bugger all.

There's a useful hole in the air behind whichever of the Watson contraptions it is that goes slow enough for me to chase.  Some of the less aerodynamic velomobiles can also be drafted, but the effect is small compared to an unfaired machine, and it's not usually a good strategy for me as to do so would be sacrificing my acceleration advantage on a suitable track.

The thing I find really impressive is how little draft I can get from the high-performance handcycles (which go at about the same speed).  It would appear that being *really* low down is also an effective aerodynamic strategy.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Von Broad on 17 October, 2023, 09:18:42 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 17 October, 2023, 08:40:04 pm
Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 17 October, 2023, 08:34:15 pm
I think Liam had a rear-facing camera in the bike, to avoid the aero drag of mirrors.
Yep, if you look closely at Notso's tail you can spot a small, slightly darker square thing on the trailing edge of the bike,
Right. I see it.
Makes sense.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 October, 2023, 05:23:48 pm
Edited highlights of the second fast race from inside Snoopy: https://youtu.be/4lpZqhOtZU4
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Von Broad on 21 October, 2023, 07:38:44 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 21 October, 2023, 05:23:48 pm
Edited highlights of the second fast race from inside Snoopy: https://youtu.be/4lpZqhOtZU4
As demonstrated in the first race, Liam's got a very useful sprint to unleash on his competitors at the end there.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2023, 05:55:20 pm
GCN take on the Usual Suspects with a 50cc moped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st57tiKsstk 

(click to show/hide)

Mental note:  Snoopy needs some fresh timing tags.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: fd3 on 03 December, 2023, 06:49:08 pm
That did not need a spoiler
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2023, 07:08:39 pm
Warning: contains traces of Barney.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 03 December, 2023, 07:35:55 pm
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 03 December, 2023, 07:08:39 pm
Warning: contains traces of Barney.

He's not the same without audio...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 December, 2023, 07:33:44 pm
Mr Comp. Sec. announces the 2024 calendar:

Sat 27 Apr Enerdale (Hull) 11-4
Sat 28 Apr Enerdale (Hull) 10-3
Sun 19 May Bath 11-4
Sat 1 Jun Gravesend 12:30-5pm
Sun 2 Jun Gravesend  11-3
Sun 23 Jun York 12-5
Sat 27 Jul Redbridge 11-4
Sun 28 Jul Hillingdon 11-4
16-18 Aug World Championships Betteshanger, Kent
Sat 14 Sep Rhyl  12-5
Sun 15 Sep Rhyl  11-4
Sat 12 Oct Darley Moor
Sun 13 Oct Darley Moor

Still one or two to come, and the vexèd question of how, absent the first event being Hillingdon, how the box of assorted crap gets from Larrington Towers to Hull.  Doubly so since Mr Woolrich's car just failed its MOT and is basically beyond economic repair chiz.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 19 December, 2023, 07:48:43 pm
There's also the prospect of the AGM at Darley Moor in October, which could be rather bracing.  The provisional plan is to blag the use of the TurboNutterBastard motorcyclist training room on the Saturday evening, and award whatever trophies are not in contention.

I've added the dates to the YACF calendar.  If you're reading this in The Future, in case of changes the canonical list is at https://www.bhpc.org.uk/events/2024-races/
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 December, 2023, 07:55:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 03 December, 2023, 05:55:20 pm
GCN take on the Usual Suspects with a 50cc moped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st57tiKsstk 

(click to show/hide)

Mental note:  Snoopy needs some fresh timing tags.
That was silly, even by GCN standards. Pleasingly silly! Obviously at 20mph+ aero is king, so they should have removed the moped's mirrors. Proper racing motorcycles don't have them! Or a proper Vespa...
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Tim Hall on 19 December, 2023, 08:19:42 pm
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 19 December, 2023, 07:55:51 pm
Quote from: Kim on 03 December, 2023, 05:55:20 pm
GCN take on the Usual Suspects with a 50cc moped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st57tiKsstk 

(click to show/hide)

Mental note:  Snoopy needs some fresh timing tags.
That was silly, even by GCN standards. Pleasingly silly! Obviously at 20mph+ aero is king, so they should have removed the moped's mirrors. Proper racing motorcycles don't have them! Or a proper Vespa...
Ob cycling: One of my tandem club friends, who sadly died a few years ago, won prizes, proper prizes for racing Lambrettas BITD. 
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Mr Larrington on 19 December, 2023, 11:17:53 pm
Quote from: Kim on 19 December, 2023, 07:48:43 pm
There's also the prospect of the AGM at Darley Moor in October, which could be rather bracing.  The provisional plan is to blag the use of the TurboNutterBastard motorcyclist training room on the Saturday evening, and award whatever trophies are not in contention.

In which case it'll be the second AGM I've missed since 1983 chiz.  The first being 1996 when I was in ABROAD getting married.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 December, 2023, 10:09:27 am
Back to the video for a sec, I noted large amounts of solar panels on the infield, or whatever the term is for the island of land inside a race track. Seems a good place to site them on land that otherwise wouldn't be doing much.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 23 December, 2023, 08:59:21 pm
Looks like GCN have done a better edit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW1bjsOuk8s

(click to show/hide)

(I assume that's Barney cameo-crashing the trike?)
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Wobbly John on 23 December, 2023, 11:04:59 pm
Quote from: Kim on 23 December, 2023, 08:59:21 pm

(I assume that's Barney cameo-crashing the trike?)

That reminds me, Barney had a cameo role in one of my videos from about 20 years ago, riding the ‘Spincycle’.
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 24 January, 2024, 05:27:20 pm
Quote from: Kim on 19 December, 2023, 07:48:43 pm
I've added the dates to the YACF calendar.  If you're reading this in The Future, in case of changes the canonical list is at https://www.bhpc.org.uk/events/2024-races/

Greetings from only a little bit in The Future!  Exciting news: The race meet on the 19th of May will now be at Shrewsbury, where the bottom corner is much less of An Bastard, and there are power sockets and a bus shelter for the facilitation of TEH TIEM TEEM.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BHPC racing
Post by: Kim on 18 April, 2024, 12:38:02 pm
I've been distracted by the Worlds.  Registrations for the first event of the 2024 season, in Hull on the 27/28th of April, are open to members and non-members:

https://shop.bhpc.org.uk/race-signon

(Bring your own water.  The track is good, but there's a conspicuous absence of a tap.)