LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

kim · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 143 Location: London

I notice that you guys are very keen on doing marathons all over Europe. You may want to consider doing some Dutch races next year? All you would have to do is join the Dutch skate bond and all of the races are free (In you register in advance, otherwise there is a euro 5 charge typically). If you choose the right week you can usually do several races in a week. You would also receive a monthly inline skating magazine (In dutch of course Smile

). Many of the large organised marathons are quite costly, but Dutch races are a lot of fun and a lot cheaper. After you have raced, you can watch the other categories race, such as B's and A's, and the races are laps of only a km or two so you get to see a lot of action and technique.

A typical C class race is usually 30 minutes + 3 rounds. This means that you all race for 30 minutes, then everyone that has been lapped by the lead peleton has to leave the track. The remainder then race like hell for an additional 3 rounds. Some of the races are city to city. Some of the races are 40 minutes.

It's just something to consider, as in a busy week you could take part in many races for a very reasonable price.

Note, they are typically very fast. I think on an average C or veteran race the average speed would be around 34km/hr for the main peletons. A's of course, are up around the 38-40km/hr Smile

I think that there is no restriction with foreigner's joining the skate bond, but if any one is interested I'll check it out. Their website is:

http://www.skatebond.nl/

From this year, every racer must have an ankle transponder, so the race results are handled by computer.

kim · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 143 Location: London

Confirmed. Anyone can join the the Dutch skatebond. However, people who are a member of firs can race in the Netherlands for a euro 5 day charge, which covers insurance.

kim · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 143 Location: London

Sorry, I mean those that are a member of the British bond.

Gav · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:51 pm Subject:

I'm defn interested in adding a few of these to my calendar for next year. I like that format of races, its quite interesting.

I didn't find the 2005 calendar, so I presume its not up yet?

Kim, whats the standard A + B times/distances?

kim · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 143 Location: London

They don't tend to do distances. Sometimes they do. But mostly the A skaters would do something like 60 minutes and then 5 rounds and the B skaters something like 45 minutes and 5 rounds (Approximately). The loops are sized so that the spectators would see the peleton every few minutes. i.e. a couple of kilometers or less. By doing loops it means that if you fall off one peleton you can potentially jump on the back of one that laps you later Smile

That's not the intention of course, but it's an advantage if you fall off a peleton quickly.

olivier · Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:39 am Subject:

probably a humbling experience but very tempting nontheless. If there are enough interested people we could do a long week end of races in spring no ?

kim · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 143 Location: London

It's usually a very humbling experience, but the advantage of these races is that they are classified. i.e. you can race in a class that is closer to your level (A,B,C, Ladies, or veteran), and as such you can actually strive to achieve a position. Something that is not likely for me in an international marathon where you race against all classes.

One needs to check a calendar carefully when it's available. At the height of summer they race a few races during the week as well. Normally you don't get both Saturday and Sunday races, but maybe there is one week where you have both. Another advantage is that when you are done you can stop and watch the B and A races and check out their technique. First you would get the B racers, then the As.