Rockhill thread for Masters Nats 2015
02-03-15, 08:10 AM
#4
Senior Member
I plan to race Giordonna a few times starting in early April, so I'll post reports. I also hope to be there for the Masters Nats, so maybe I'll see some of you there.
02-03-15, 08:56 AM
#5
aka mattio
I was there in August for Elite Nats.
Yeah. August. It was very hot. And very humid. Good god, it was awful. There were morning and evening sessions because the midday would just not have been surviveable. Personally I can't believe that USAC ran elite nats at an outdoor velodrome in south carolina in august. but whatever.
It's a somewhat bowl-shaped velodrome - wide-radius corners and shortish straights (compared to the NSC, anyway). The surface is very grippy. This means two things. One is that people who bring their cotton tires, well they shred their cotton tires. I couldn't believe that people didn't glue up tougher tires. The other is that people who crash don't slide - they kind of bounce once and then stick.
It's also not particularly smooth, although I guess this is all relative based on what you're used to. My buddy who had been there the previous year said that it was smoother the previous year - maybe the concrete was settling? I dunno.
Marymoor is faster.
The facility is really nice - there are stands, there is an audience, the announcer has an elevated, air conditioned booth that he can ride to in an elevator. There's a tunnel under the track, there are infield portapotties. The promoters/hosts knew what they were doing and provided a ton of snacks and water to the racers. Absolutely necessary in August South Carolina heat (ugh).
Yeah. August. It was very hot. And very humid. Good god, it was awful. There were morning and evening sessions because the midday would just not have been surviveable. Personally I can't believe that USAC ran elite nats at an outdoor velodrome in south carolina in august. but whatever.
It's a somewhat bowl-shaped velodrome - wide-radius corners and shortish straights (compared to the NSC, anyway). The surface is very grippy. This means two things. One is that people who bring their cotton tires, well they shred their cotton tires. I couldn't believe that people didn't glue up tougher tires. The other is that people who crash don't slide - they kind of bounce once and then stick.
It's also not particularly smooth, although I guess this is all relative based on what you're used to. My buddy who had been there the previous year said that it was smoother the previous year - maybe the concrete was settling? I dunno.
Marymoor is faster.
The facility is really nice - there are stands, there is an audience, the announcer has an elevated, air conditioned booth that he can ride to in an elevator. There's a tunnel under the track, there are infield portapotties. The promoters/hosts knew what they were doing and provided a ton of snacks and water to the racers. Absolutely necessary in August South Carolina heat (ugh).
02-03-15, 09:37 AM
#6
Senior Member
Not to be a bummer, but I heard it's slow there.
02-03-15, 02:15 PM
#7
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The curves are really nice. The blue band actually comes up on-to the track. This means there is no edge at juncture between "on" and "off" the track. So, it's easy and mentally comforting to ride under the black line.
The bike tracks very well at high speeds. No need to fight the bike in the turns.
Riding up along the boards can be taxing, but that's on any 250M.
The people are really friendly and helpful.
The bike tracks very well at high speeds. No need to fight the bike in the turns.
Riding up along the boards can be taxing, but that's on any 250M.
The people are really friendly and helpful.
02-03-15, 03:40 PM
#8
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Does anyone know if there are any good RV parks close to the track? With the cost of diesel fuel it may be more economical to drive than to fly and pay a hotel.
02-03-15, 03:42 PM
#9
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Does anyone know if there are any good RV parks close to the track. If the cost of diesel fuel stays low, it will be cheaper to drive the RV than pay airfare, bikefare, and hotel.
02-03-15, 07:07 PM
#10
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Can't be hotter the the Superdrome in August. Or as humid as Alkek.
Which is like saying a 20 gauge shotgun doesn't hurt as much as a 12 gauge when you get gut-shot.
Which is like saying a 20 gauge shotgun doesn't hurt as much as a 12 gauge when you get gut-shot.
Last edited by Racer Ex; 02-03-15 at 07:11 PM.
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