I've had a shot at downhill and cross country racing, but since I've been photographing a lot of road riding lately I thought it was right to know a bit more about what I'm shooting.

I bought a trek 1200 road bike 2nd hand a few weeks back and discovered there was a race 5 miles from where I live on a flat disused airfield, so after work I rode over to the race, registered, did a warmup lap, and off I went. At first it was pretty easy, relaxing almost, but the last half was just relentless. The moment you think you had your breath back a group would break away then the group I was in would try and chase them down, so many times I just wanted to give in. It was an amazing experience though, literally an inch or two from handlebars either side of you most of the time at aound 27mph, riders falling back through the field, single file sprint trains hammering down the side at over 30mph yelling out instructions as they go. I had nothing left in me for the final sprint (note to self, have a proper lunch next time), so I didn't do too well, but I hope I was the first rider in the field to finish wearing baggy shorts and a dirt t-shirt

At the end of the warmdown lap, I looked at the speedo; for 2 gentle laps and 11 race pace laps totalling 40 miles, the average speed was 24mph, needless to say I was pretty dead. The ride home was hard work and even now, the thought of doing one more lap of that bloody circuit makes me want to throw up  

I enjoyed the experience, but not the race, I don't think I'll do another! my legs will stay hairy I have a renewed respect for roadies, no wonder so many pro's use a road bike for training.

That is all

I used to do road time trials, and the odd race, and loved them.
I just love speed, so road was good fun, super low pinning it around roundabouts, running straight through reds, overtaking cars, mint!

Triggering speed cameras is an artform.

It is a good laugh, no not as much as downhill or dirt jumping is, but no one should think it's boring, if it was, why would so many people do it?

Results are up I was race number 19 and I came 19th? I could have done better though, I jumped on the pedals for the last sprint but the person in front didn't, so I had to brake and then re-try the sprint, but I had blown it, lost my momentum and had to just sit down head down and try to turn the cranks.

I tried not to do that, sitting at the back. Annoyingly when I was near the front of the pack, a breakaway group took off leaving me 3rd in the group I was in, the guy up front decided to chase them down, he peeled off after a while and the 2nd guy took over the chasing but pretty soon peeled off too so I found myself at the front for the first time and it was in the middle of a chase :'( :'( At least I managed to close the gap before someone else took over, I think we got them eventually

As for time trials I wouldn't mind trying one, a bit more like downhill...but your kit becomes a lot more important, what bike did you do it on Trail_Rat? was it set up for it, i.e. extra time trail bar things or just a standard road bike?