LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Kai · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 107 Location: London

Can any one clarify the difference between the Mittelrhein (Sat 28th May 2011) and Rhine-Ruhr (Sun 29th) that WoW mentions? They sound similar.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Only because they have rhein in them.

Mittelrhein is a point to point race along the Rhein from Oberwessel to Koblenz. It does not cross any bridges. It has 2 turns on the entire course and a 300m set of deadly cobbles at around 30-33km. It is usually downwind and is mostly completely flat and very fast. Not Engadin fast but fast. Many rubbish german skaters go there to get a PB and consequently it is quite dangerous with lots of falls, mainly in the first half, as many of these skaters are racing way above their ability.

Rhein-Ruhr is a race that starts and finishes in the same place, ie a loop. That place is in the City of Duisburg. The race crosses 3 bridges, one over the Ruhr and 2 over the Rhein. It has an industrial pack section and a country park section, a shopping centre cobbled section and it finishes inside a football stadium. It's not a particularly quick race so my target has always been to get <1:40. Things have conspired against me for that to happen but I am very close so I have unresolved issues....

They are about 1h15m apart by ICE train in very different places but I have done them both on the same weekend twice. It's a cheap way of getting in an extra race. If you take days to recover after a marathon then just do Mittelrhein if you want to go fast but think about pads.

Hope that helps.

Kai · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 107 Location: London

Thanks Rick. Great concise description.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

If anyone is doing Rhein-Ruhr then I'll see you there. I have booked myself into a Hotel near the start/finish this year. Flying out Saturday to Dusseldorf then S-Bahn to Duisburg-Schlenk. Walk to hotel and then skate to the sportpark to register. Dinner somewhere, then early night. Race next morning then early afternoon train from Duisburg to Amsterdam to meet up with Alan before we do the Ascension Skate from Wed to Sun. Fly home Sunday evening. Nice week off as final training for Le Mans.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Oops. I didn't cross the 7 in my birth year so I got classified in the M50s Smile

Did a 1:35:31 which is the first time I have been under 1:40 in this race. 5th attempt. No more unresolved issues. I probably won't be back as it's not the nicest course. I think I was in the top 20 from the recreational group.

First time racing in the Jets and they felt pretty good. Roger managed a 1:28:something and Kay a little over 1:51. Wind was blowing pretty hard in places but despite a few rain drops about an hour in, it remained dry and there was plenty of grip. Surfaces are variable from mostly excellent to awful with tree roots poking through in the "parkland" section trying to knock you off balance. If you are tight in a pack here, then you are going to get some surprises. It was one on the windiest bits too so it was a workout. Scenery is practically non-existent. However, it's an okay race with a fun finish. It's friendly and it's the closest one in Germany so despite not planning to do it again, I might if a bunch want to drive over. I found a cheap hotel near the start/finish.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Full results in I think I was well inside the top 10 in fitness! Yay. 5th on my line and we were the first line out of the start. The line split seems to have caught all the people that broke away and we caught that line back up. Not bad for the first race of the year in new boots in an old body. Feelin' good...watchout Le Mans!!! Laughing

Edit: and one of the 4 in front had a slower net time. I'll call that 4th! Very Happy