24\01\17 - Lee Valley Velodrome

What started out as me going to the LV Velo on my tod as a xmas present to myself ended up with eight of us making the journey together (sorry nine, we took a spectator).  On Tuesday I set off from Hertford East on the train, picking up the others en route.  We arrived with plenty of time to spare (intentionally).  This gave us the chance to watch a couple of the sessions before our hour began at 13:00.  This wasn't necessarily the best thing to do as despite being on an almost empty circuit people were crashing and making some of us onlookers more nervous than we already were.  Eventually it was our turn to take on the Velo with its 42 degree banking.  It looks steeper when you're there!  Starting off tentatively we did a few laps on the safety bit inside the wooden boards and then it was up onto the boards.  For me it was "fear" over "speed" equals "try not to fall off".  I suspect I may not have been the only scaredy-cat there.  After a few laps the confidence grew and no-one took a tumble.  For the last 15 mins it was each for themselves as the speeds increased and most of us took on the banking.  The day must have been successful as none of us stopped talking about it either as we rested afterwards or on the train back home.  We were all tired and exhilarated and full of ourselves.
Although the taster session accommodates 16, there were only 14 on the track.  Time passed by very quickly and it was soon all over although some of us were "finished" long before the finish.  Thanks to PeterB, PeterM, Tony, Paul, Barry, Valdis, Gareth & Bri for making it a great day out.  PW.