Coast to Coast

Mariana, along with Maggie, Mandy, Wombat and Barbara, rode the C2C from Whitehaven to Tynemouth this weekend. Terrible weather forecasts proved wrong and both days were dry though overcast. Friday took them 80 miles across the Lake District and then to Alston in the Pennines, with a 5 mile climb to almost 2000 feet to end the day. The following day was a 70 mile trip over the Durham moors and then gradually down to the east coast.

The route is a mixture of main roads, quiet lanes and offroad tracks across some of the best scenery in the country. Tea stops at Greystokes and Stanhope are highly recommended. Saturday night was celebrated in style at a classy hotel in Jesmond, the hen party and stag night centre of Newcastle; the give away was the sign prohibiting urinating and vomiting in the rooms!

The A group provide the footnote this week - a 100+ mile trip to Liss and a much improved cafe since our last visit there 3 years ago. Last long ride before the Marmotte - it doesn't feel like anywhere enough training but it's too late to do any more now.

Mountain Mayhem

Paul Facer and myself joined Julie, Jim and Gareth to make up team "Skid marks" at Mountain Mayhem 24hr relay event last weekend. It starts with a member of each team and all solo riders doing a 5 minute run before getting on their bikes. We competed in the mixed category and managed 21 laps x 8.5 mile laps to finish 20th of 148 mixed teams or 90th of all 485 teams competing.
Results here



A full report can be read at the British cycling site

BDCA '100' (Heaven knows I'm miserable now!)

Not such a great day for the SWRC in the BDCA '100' last Saturday, this has been the fastest Hundred mile Time Trial of the year for the past few seasons so always heavily subscribed and eagerly looked forward to. Paul Alderson and myself both had high hopes for the event based on a 25 mile section of the A50 near Uttoxeter cover twice, the course traverses the Midlands from East to West so the wind can be unusual and on the day seemed to vary quite a bit throughout the course of the event which starts mid afternoon and the last rider home after Eight O'clock in the evening which gives the event a unique feel when most time triallists are used to getting up at four in the morning to fit in a Hundred mile race before the roads get busy.


My preparation had been impeccable, not the usual dash to the line at Six in the morning, tapering my riding in the week, a ride and stretching session in the morning, I felt ready to do a good ride. I'd managed to be a record (for me) 16 minutes late for a mid week 10 mile TT at Darley Dale caught up in early evening traffic around Derby. It was a 'Medium Gear' event (72" Fixed) and ignoring my L.S. I managed 24.13 a shade under 25 mph after having to wait 40 minutes (on a chill summer evening) to find a gap in the field to start, there's never a DNS when you need one! Winner managed 23.58


There was quite a bit of wind for the '100' but this course has a reputation and you can never tell until you get going if it's going to be a good one, you have to start fast in these situations, no margin for an easy start it's a calculation that you can never judge until you get into the race. Before I had a chance to make any assessment of how it was shaping up my chain broke in half when I un-shipped my chain going over a rumble strip into one of the roundabouts, a brief scan of the road for the parts and my race slipped away there and then, a bike without a chain is no use to anybody (not even a fish). Fiona was a mere mile up the road oblivious to my plight, I started walking to where I knew she would be, I gave a shout to the eight remaining riders (No 120 Kevin Dawson a DNS) behind me plus Clair Lee of SIS who I'd caught for two minutes at eight miles. (She was 2 minutes in front of me in the API '50' a few weeks ago)
Once I'd located Fi after carefully removing my 'new' overshoes for the trudge along the carriageway, I managed to fix my chain and get going again, it was into the wind but I was determined to get something out of my day. On the return I got an in cling to how hard the day was becoming, my speed was up over 40 mph but I was 25 minutes behind last man and the marshall's a little perplexed and un-prepared, it's a good thing I knew the course.
After the exhilaration of the downwind section the realisation of another ascent of the concrete hill to Blyth Bridge and my enthusiasm for the ride rapidly evaporated, It's difficult to hurt yourself when you know there is nothing at stake and this is not an evening 10 and the second half of a hundred mile is in the mind more than the legs, I rolled up to finish at 60 miles with Fi a bottle in hand. Ten minutes later Paul came along to finish his ride, he was very disappointed with his 4.04.05 a handful of seconds faster than he had gone in the Houndslow event on a slower course a month ago, not the sort of result you want from a 300 mile car journey in these petrol inflated times. To be fair Paul's ride was OK and several other fancied riders had problems realising their potential on this difficult day, one rider who had no problem was the winner Nik Bowdler who used his 77 chain ring (118" bottom!) to 3.37.52 and must now be one of the favourites for the BBAR with a 1.39.05 '50' Second was evergreen Ian Cammish in 3.41.56 and third Carl Ruebotham 3.43.39 Fastest lady Lynn Hamel TheGreenRoomGroup.com did an excellent 4.00.14

Track league at Reading Velodrome

"What's it all about ?" I hear you say. Well you can't beat an evening's racing when the sun stays out and it's lovely and warm as it has been the last couple of Mondays.
The racing starts with a 10 lap events for all the seniors which usually ends in a gallop, but I never get anywhere as I usually haven't had long enough to warm up.
This is what I look like hanging around in the middle of the bunch.
In between the senior events the Juveniles have some races so it gives you time to warm up on the rollers, ride round the running track that is inside the cycle track or just catch up with what other riders have been riding that weekend.


Then it's time for a specialist type event like a pursuit, sprint or like this week a Keiren. Here you get paced round by the derny motorbike which pulls off with 300m to go and it becomes a 4-up sprint. This is me leading out but came no-where in this event either.

Then there might be an Elimination event (the new name for a Devil take the hindmost) where it is more luck than speed that gets you to the final sprint after all the others have been pulled out. Usually the riders can never hear their numbers being called out by the commentator so it can turn into a farce but that's how it's always been.

The evening ends with a 20km / 44 lap scratch race. Here the B category seniors try to keep with The A cats as small groups try to escape and the whole field splits and re forms, spitting out the odd tired rider who then chucks it in for the day. The B's got dropped by the A's last week but we didn't give up and continued to ride through and off even though we were 200m down. This paid off when the A's started to muck about and we managed to catch them at the bell as this photo shows.

All the riders inside me are the A group which I managed to pass at the bell but they all overtook my down the back straight, although I did hang on for 2nd B cat.

Brecon Beacon Biking

It was a day trip to the Brecon Beacons on Sunday for me, Trevor and A group guest rider Matthias. Trev had a 200km route mapped out to take us the length and breadth of the National Park and over plenty of hills. Starting just north of Merthyr Tydfil, we crossed the moors to Hirwaun to do the big climb over to the Rhondda Valley, out via the Bwlch road and down to Neath. Super climbs, long but not too steep, and fast descents where you hardly need touch the brakes. We passed hundreds of cyclists going in the opposite direction on the Dragon Ride, including an unknown SWRC rider at the Neath feed station - if you're reading, let us know who you are and how you got on. From here we were alone to Black Mountain, encountering en route a hill so steep we had to walk rather than ride down it. The 8km climb over the western flank was followed by a lumpy 20 miles across the foothills, where we were chased by farm dogs at one point, to a much needed stop at Trecastle. 80 miles down, 45 to go; but time was getting on and I was having a bad day so we decided to shorten the route and go for the direct 20 miles back to the car. Trev and Matthias were leaving me way behind by now and as they rushed up the final climb of the day beneath Corn Du, I slogged up wondering how on earth I'm going to manage the Marmotte in 3 weeks time.

How about a photo of the TT-ers in the new kit?

Hearing that the Saturday morning riders managed to meet for a group photo in Wiggenholt on Saturday, how about something similar for the TT group? I think it would be appropriate to have such a photo on the website since attendance at the Interclubs has reached a good level. One might say that TT's are booming again after so long. In terms of a date and venue, how about the next 10mile Interclub in July? What do the other riders think?

Highclere sportive

Another hot sunny Sunday and another cyclosportive, this time the Highclere Castle event running through the Hampshire hills and the South Downs. I rode the 200km event while Mariana, Bob and Maggie all did the 120km. After an early stiff climb over Inkpen Beacon (where a gibbet still stands though it is some time since it was put to use) it was a long fast sprint down the Test Valley, passing through chocolate-box villages in a 50-strong group. This broke up as we started climbing out of Stockbridge and from thereon it was up and down all the way. Winchester, the South Downs to Harting, then north again along quiet lanes and the occasional sleepy village like Froxfield, Preston Candover and Dummer. Eventually up to the high point at Hannington where there was an unofficial water stop manned by the local pub owners (as a result the official one a couple of miles later had no takers at all) and then a steep descent off (the) Watership Down for a hard draggy few miles back to the castle. A silver medal was my reward, bronzes for the others - good going for Maggie and Mariana's first event and Bob's first post-broken hip.

'Bunk-up' in Bedford

A busy twelve hours over the weekend, I rode the Headnor Clarion '10' at 6.45 on the A50 near Uttoxeter on Saturday evening and then the Finsbury '50' at 6.40 the next morning. I did the same last year and managed two P.B's but times have moved on and I was 30 seconds slower in both events, 21.42 was good enough for 6th not such a good evening, I made a big effort but I came up a little short on speed, I think that 105 miles ride out to watch the LVRC Road racing at Shipton on Stour last Sunday on a 72" fixed after the API '50' did not help.
The '50' went better after a few hours sleep at a friends in Bedford near the start at Tempsford on the A1, getting down from the top bunk of the spare room at 5 O'clock in the morning while half asleep was good stretching for my stiff legs. It took 25 minutes for me to get going in the race on a cool but not too windy day, there were several riders who had ridden the API '50' last week so I was interested to see what our comparative times were like. After a fast start to Sandy we had a long pull to the turn at Buckden into a North wind, this was tough going and by the time I finished the first circuit of 25 miles in 56.44. More of the same followed and I ended up with eventual 5th place in 1.53.51, I dropped a place on Dave Green (RAF CC) who I beat last week by 20 seconds but this week he turned the tables, I had been 30 sec up on at half way. Like me the leading two Cammish and Platts were both 5 minutes slower than last week so no change there.
Most of the leading time trialists were riding the National '25' just up the A1 at Sawtry, so after a large breakfast a brief sleep on the sofa plus earning my keep by trimming my friends out of control front hedge I took a nip up to watch the final thirty riders complete their Championship rides. The wind had got up a bit but on form and eventual champion Michael Hutchinson (In Gear RT) still managed a respectable 50.49 from Charles McCulloch (Shorter RT) 51.50 and Ben Instone (scientific coaching) 52.05 It's always good to go and watch the fast men and appreciate their effort and style, some of the fastest can hardly negotiate a roundabout while having terrific straight out power and speed. Jonathon Thomas said he had been inspired before his recent fast '50' after watching the recent Championship '10' on the A3 lets hope some of the magic rubs off on me, I have a 'head to head' with Paul Alderson in the BDCA '100' next Saturday. This along with the following weeks National '50' up in Yorkshire marks the end of the beginning of this season for me , Fiona and I then have a week off in Portugal by the pool (Oh! I might take my bicycle)


Andy Jackson 12th 54.29 (watch that deep front wheel in the wind!)



Consumate Stylist Richard Bradley 10th 54.21



3rd Place 'Big' Ben Instone (get a load of those funky ergonomic aero bars


Eventual 11th Richard Prebble 54.25 (You can see he does more practice than most, going around the roundabout on his aero bars)


Champion 'Hutch' Hutchinson (Bad posture and cornering are no bar to winning a title)

Smithfield Nocturne

Smithfield meatmarket was turned into London's only city centre criterium with the promotion of the Nocturne by Rapha / Condor last night. I went up to watch and met up with old friend Antonius Wubben who was competing in the folding bike event. The Brompton seemed to be the bike of choice for this event together with shirt & tie and the occasional braces a la City gent. There was a le Mans running start, combined with unfolding your bike, to this 5 lap race which had to have heats earlier in the afternoon to find the fastest riders.

The main event of the evening was the Elite riders and although there where big teams from Rapha and Plowman Craven it was Geraint Thomas who took the win from a break that had escaped early in the 1hr race. For a while it looked like a repeat of last years race when the heavens opened, but this time it was a light shower that accompanied the race, where thankfully all riders stayed upright while tearing round this tight circuit. Geraint, riding for his Barloworld team, had just returned from finishing the Tour of Italy
It was great to see so many people watching and the bars and cafes that boardered the circuit were all doing a roaring trade.

Duddleswell clubrun

There was only 4 riders out on the A group clubrun from Betchworth to Duddlesworth tearoom yesterday. Weather predictions were for rain but it stayed dry and warm as we cycled through the lanes and up onto the Ashdown forest.
Here are the riders who joined me, John, Sabin & Mark all resplendent in their new club kit. As we had all ridden out we covered 100miles by the time we arrived home.

Monthly time trial at hungry hill

Following our second monthly TT around the hungry hill course here are the results for the first 2 events.

7th May

Name Position Lap 1 Lap 2
Guy Selwood 6 20’25 40’33’’
Simon Neave 18’51’’ DNF
Bill McCoombe 3 19’10 38’34’’
Roger Jackaman 5 19’36’’ 39’45’’
Dudley Samuels 4 19’24’’ 39’30’’
Paul Gadd 2 17’57’’ 36’25’’
Jonathon Thomas 1 17’50’’ 35’49’’

Ann Marshall & Paul Hart 20’40’’ 41’35’’


4th June


Name Position Lap 1 Lap 2
Simon Neave 3 18'20'' 36’19’’
Bob French 4 20’47’’ 41’38’’
Paul Gadd 2 18’01’’ 36’17’’
Keith Garbutt 1 17’13’’ 34’25’’

Roger Jackaman & Guy Selwood 2 18’40’’ 37’57’’
Dudley Samuel & Bill McCoombe 1 18’38’’ 37’24’’

(sorry about the spacing, I'm sure you can work it out)

Last night was just about as good as you could ask for, nice and warm and not too much wind. Paul beat his previous months effort by 8'' and going on my lap times it looks like I was probably up on last month by about 30'' (didn't finish last month as I punctured).
Working together Bill and Dudley have taken over a minute off Bills time from last month.
Congratulations to Keith who set a very fast time to win the singles event on his first attempt.

There were two 2-up teams and Bill and Dudley have taken over the lead from Ann and Paul and have a resounding lead in the two up competition. (standard plus time to follow, when I get around to working it all out)

Remember that there are only two more evenings left to try to beat them, the first wednesday in July and August, the time trial in september being our hill climb.

A good weekend all round

With Paul Alderson saying that a 10 the day before is a good warm up for a 25, I entered the Sotonia 10 near Andover on Saturday and the South Eastern 25 on Sunday morning on the Horsham roads.
The Tuesday before Jonathon had adjusted my set-up and a test run on Thursday indicated that I was in a much better position, as most of you know I tend to sit quite high on my bikes, now I am a lot flatter and I feel as if i can push harder with my legs.
Turned up on Saturday to find I had a flat which caused my stress levels to rise as this meant that I used up my spare tube leaving no replacements in the event of a puncture during the ride.- just goes to show you learn something every day- take lots of spares of everything, one rider turned up without her shoes! Luckily Gary Smith was also riding and kindly offered to collect me if need be.
On Tuesday Jonathon told me to go flat out for 6 and suffer for 4, which is exactly what I did. At one point my heart rate was 200, thought I'd better peg it back a bit, however by the end I managed 22'40 which was a new PB by 1 minute.
Getting up Sunday morning was a bit of an effort and I made sure that I had a longer than normal warm up to get the legs turning.
I wanted to try out not going off so fast on this event as I feel that I keep 'losing it' mid way. I set of relatively carefully and managed a consistent effort all the way around for a 1'2'22 and a new pb by 36''.
Unknown to me Paul was also racing and achieved a 55'12 and 5th place! A new pb for him as well on that course.

Shorts Poll

I find this hard to believe but WHITE came out on top in "This seasons must be seen in" shorts colour, with a massive 56%. second was RED with 20%, then Black with only 12%, just pipping BLUE with 10%.
I'm not sure if white will match with my new club jersey!

'Super' form in fast '50'

Jonathon Thomas and I rode the API '50' on Saturday afternoon on the E2/50 course up on the A11/A14 near Newmarket, the same course I did a P.B. 10 mile not three weeks before. Again it was a super fast event in near perfect windless conditions and we came away satisfied with two P.B's and a new club record for me. Jon was a rider transformed from the one who could not break 23 minutes in the Inter club a couple of weeks ago and 'back to back' 56 minute '25' rides (the first more like 55 minutes) shows that he is returning to the form of before his knee operation.
Any sporting performance requires a great deal of self belief and crucially confidence, cycling is an individual sport and time trialling doubly so, no team to carry you along or mask a bad performance, no bunch to hide in only you and the elements and the open road stretching out ahead. Illness and injury are the achilles heel of belief and since coming back from his convalescence even with all his experience I felt Jon has just lacked that little with his confidence
You do all the exercises after the injury in the belief that you can come back as strong, you commit time and effort to getting up to fitness but still it does not seem to be working. Your belief in yourself is severely tested and you can begin to wane and you tell yourself its the best you can do.


Jonathon shows how pleased he is with a new best time at 50 miles of 1.53.45

We are all looking for that elusive quality of form that will transform our riding from the mere ordinary to 'super' form, experience plays it's part in keeping our expectations grounded and we are constantly looking for that one thing which will move us up that extra level. A new pair of shoes, a slight change of position or diet, there does not seem to be one factor that works for everybody, it is a constant search but it's a relief when it 'clicks' and great when all the elements that you have worked on for so long come together
Jonathon has shown great determination and fortitude to come back from his injury and this is his reward, a personal best and a vindication of all those hours and months of training, Jon has won his battle and I think we can look forward to some exceptional rides from him in the rest of the season. Well done Jonathon
For myself this was the first opportunity to pit myself against some of the best in the country at one of the BBAR distances, after the gruelling Anfield '100' only 5 days before I had a complete rest (although I may not have fully recovered)I went out on the morning of the race and could barely raise a gallop, until I realised my front brake was rubbing on my front wheel.
The race itself was fairly controlled, I went through the first 10 miles (out and home) at over 29mph or 20.40 which showed the speed of the day only a couple of seconds off my ride 3 weeks ago. I held a little back as I could not believe the return was going to be so easy but after a 'bumpy' dog leg at the turn I was trying to peg back the little I had given up, my dad always said "you never gain time in a time trial only loose it" and so it proved no matter how hard I tried (and my speed was above 30mph alot of the way) my average speed did not improve and then in the last 10 miles I began to suffer. I had held off my flying 4 minute man the 56 year old 'supervet' Ken Platts (Cambridge CC) until 40 miles when he passed me but I could not 'lift it', the finish is the usually the strongest part of my ride but not this time, he took 2 minutes out of me to the finish. I finished with 1.48.39 or 27.6mph
Who cannot be pleased with a 3 minute improvement and a Club Record 'to boot' the biggest improvement I have managed thus far in the '50' but there were some rides done that day, The winner Nik Bowler (Farnborough & Camb) recorded 1.39.03 the 4th fastest of all time a mere second off Graeme Obree's (Competition Record at the time), Ian Cammish (Planet X) who I felt had not done himself justice in terms of times over the last couple of seasons, sure we expect these guys to win events but he almost managed a personnel best(admittedly his P.B. was done without disc or tri bars!) just 26 seconds off 30mph, not bad for a 50 year old so there's something to aim at