Chain Gang

I'm not sure anyone understands what a 'chaingang' is and the training benefit of doing it. But riding round a circuit has its place too

Justin wrote:

I'm not sure anyone understands what a 'chaingang' is and the training benefit of doing it. But riding round a circuit has its place too

Hi there J..the idea is to improve weakness in various abilities, but a "gung ho" balls out thrash by a couple of guys leaving the guys WHO need to improve off the back, achieves the opposite,.You need discipline to use a small circuit, and a guy who will keep order so all can improve, unfortunately it usually ends up with a ego trip for the strongest rider (s) there....but what do i know...Geoff,,, ,,

Yesterday we had 5 riders out, would have been 6, but one had a mechanical on the way out, and I had one on the 3rd circuit.

We started off as 3, two more joined at various stages. One rider was clearly having an off night compared to the rest of us and was dropped quickly. Otherwise the rest of us were all of fairly equal ability and I think (mechanicals aside) would have kept together and shared the work well (one remark I hear from the B645 run is that it is often one rider dragging the rest along). As far as I'm concerned, getting people to ride as a disciplined group is one very desirable outcome from training. If a circuit helps that better than a long out and back, so much the better.

Gung-ho balls out isn't the point and let's face it, you don't need a corner to drop someone, a bit of breeze or a gradient work just as well.

Finally, not saying it's right or wrong, but local clubs who do a chain gang ride use a short circuit.

Richard, thanks for the positive and encouraging point of view but I wouldn't say I was having an "off night" but rather I am the weakest link. On a good night (i.e. not fighting a 15mph northerly) I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to hold your wheel at the pace you were going.

rostlr wrote:

Yesterday we had 5 riders out, would have been 6, but one had a mechanical on the way out, and I had one on the 3rd circuit.

We started off as 3, two more joined at various stages. One rider was clearly having an off night compared to the rest of us and was dropped quickly. Otherwise the rest of us were all of fairly equal ability and I think (mechanicals aside) would have kept together and shared the work well (one remark I hear from the B645 run is that it is often one rider dragging the rest along). As far as I'm concerned, getting people to ride as a disciplined group is one very desirable outcome from training. If a circuit helps that better than a long out and back, so much the better.

Gung-ho balls out isn't the point and let's face it, you don't need a corner to drop someone, a bit of breeze or a gradient work just as well.

Finally, not saying it's right or wrong, but local clubs who do a chain gang ride use a short circuit.

Hi RO last word from me,, so you all kept together and rode at a sensible fast pace so all the 5 of you achieved what you set out to do.? Geoff.......... ....

GarethS wrote:

Richard, thanks for the positive and encouraging point of view but I wouldn't say I was having an "off night" but rather I am the weakest link. On a good night (i.e. not fighting a 15mph northerly) I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to hold your wheel at the pace you were going.

You were there, that is what counts!

I like the look of this training setup, hope to come next week.

Ditto....sounds like good training.

I'm in, see you next week!

Hi

Is anyone out tonight, if so what time to meet and where

I will be out - but not until 7.30ish

Either meet at the start of the circuit route early, or just start a lap and join up with others on a flying lap.

Hi Martin,
I think a there might be half a dozen of us tonight, at a guess. I will be at the Bushmead crossroads at about 7pm with Mark Bottomley - we are doing a brick session so will be dipping in and out of the chaingang on various different laps. If you aim to be there for about 6.45 you should be fine.
See you later.