Bernard Hinault Sportive. Saint-Brieuc.Brittany

Over the mid summer weekend, five intrepid B group riders set out to ride the Bernard Hinalt sportive. This is their story......in pictures.




The Audi all togged up with the club logo's outside Cafe Shore,Sandbanks. 3 riders looking happy after a huge breakfast despite missing the Portsmouth Ferry,due to a slight oversight on the owners behalf !!! Next stop after a 120mph drive....Brittany!




The "signing on" and we meet the great man himself Bernard Hinault having won 5 Tours de France he is about to take on the cream (pensioners section) of the South Western Road Club in his own Sportive the next day. He patted Porkys stomach knowingly...whatever can he mean????






Martine Hinault poses with Bernard after taking charge of the signing on,she was much in evidence both days helping the event run smoothly.



Sorry Bernard, I have cut half your head of while focusing on your mechanic making last minute adjustments to your saddle. Note the frame bears his name...and why not! The Sportive route BH rode (120km) was the same as us. There the comparison ends!! He went round in 3.31 !!! We managed 4.15!!








Ted,Bob,Dave and Tony wait in the " pen" to start with 2,000 riders








Bob and Tony after the ride in the HQ...searching for food...any food!


What they were looking for... trestle tables ... pasta .. wine .. beer !!! etc










It wouldn't be France without an accordianist to accompany the meal.





The motor cycles line up after shepherding us around the course.




Bernard Hinaults picture on the side of a house in his village.

The South Western "Likely lads" line up the morning after...all well chuffed with their ride...and with the wonderful dinner the previous evening!!

Montelimar to Mont Ventoux etape 2009

Not much to say that has not already been said. However, my target again this year was to stay ahead of the broom wagon. Everything went fairly smoothly from the start, taking the first three climbs more or less in my stride. I arrived in Bedoin after 148kms at the foot of the Ventoux 1hr 47mins ahead of my schedule. I was no longer feeling quite so perky and in the heat was worried about water supplies. In the event, pedaling up the final mountain drained my water and my time schedule and including stopping in the shade about fifteen times, I needed over four hours to reach the summit. I was now over the time limit but beat the broom waggoneer, as I believe he had a great deal of business to complete on the 23km climb.

Elmet CRC 12 - Storming ride and stage win

A week of frustration and illness was turned to a hard earned personnel best & club record in the Elmet CRC 12 Hour Time Trial at the weekend, missing last weeks races because of a head cold was probably a blessing in disguise as they were plagued with fiercely windy conditions and I was able to rest up from the travel and stress of competition for this weeks event which I had targeted for a big mileage for my BBAR challenge. The event consisted of two laps 30 and 14 miles around covered numerous times in the flat lands just South East of York. This is the first time I repeated a 12 Hour course but I reasoned that in an event where so much can go wrong the more predictable the conditions and the more 'knowns' the better

Calm before the Storm


Fiona enjoyed her weekend of rest, it's as hard work for the helpers, early mornings forign beds, driving and food to be prepared and delivered without a hitch. But we are a good team, Adrian had taken a day off from his holiday in the Lakes to treck across country and repete his sterling efforts of last year when the conditions and unfolding events served to frustrate and hamper our efforts. We stayed Adrian's mum Jean in York and she regaled us with drug testing stories as she was a BC Commissar but now works for UK sport anti doping agency. Un-beknown to me she had been at the recent National '50' where she had been fulfilling professional duties on the Ladies event although she did say she would have to state a conflict of interest If I was called (No chance then!) I had an almost peaceful night although there are always too many variables in your head to call it restful, the alarm at 5.00am announces the day which will take all the resources of mental & physical strength you can muster.
The HQ in Melbourn was in the middle of the two loops and there was an easy and friendly air about the place as the early starters got away in the still morning that promised much. Rain was forecast so I put a good layer of leg (& arm) rub just in case. I was called to the line before I had a chance to get my gloves on so spent the first minute fiddling with 'Velcro' and getting my computer started, so much to do so little time

Paul Holdsworth in close attendance

I was 'given the off' at 6.58am two minutes in front of 'last man' Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift) and I wondered how long? it would take him to catch me, so I set off at a brisk pace no need to hang around. Although I have only ridden three 12 Hrs. before I was looking for the best performance which I hoped would garner a reward of a big mileage so tardiness was not an option, on the first two big laps I was able to re-familiarise myself with the course, its various bends and road surface the same as two years before when I covered these roads between half a dozen and ten times, In a Time trial you often only pass once or twice but I wanted the comfort that comes from familiarity, there were too many things that could happen and go wrong so give me 'boring predictability, all I wanted to focus on was to ride my bike as far as possible. No distraction, just get 'In the Zone' you and the pedals, revolutions that will be my mantra for the day, the progress of the credit crunch and war zone and Paris Hilton would just have to wait for a day while I committed myself to the road and leaving a microscopic trail of rubber on this surface this would be my testament.
I went through the first 100 miles in 4:06:00 (59:30/1:02:00/1:02:30/1:2:00) and caught Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist) for 3 min at 80m but he was shadowing me as he did last year but I was determined not to let this be a bad omen and put me off. The wind got up after an hour of grace and there was a long section on the big circuit into the wind which was going to be the crucial battle ground of the day, if I let the wind dominate my ride I would suffer so I reasoned to make this the one section where I would not let my form alter and I hunkered down to make myself as aero as possible and did not get out the saddle or ease up until it was over

We had already been on the small circuit for 3 laps after 55m and this was a bit more sheltered and I had a bit of solid food to supplement the Carbohydrate drink and gels but your appetite gets suppressed and it was difficult getting the mouthful of chocolate spread and hot cross bun down the crucifixion metaphor not lost on me here, the banana went down more easily. It started to rain, showers, enough to wet the roads and make them greasy, I did a bit of cyclo cross on one corner where I misjudged the road surface and my speed but when the rain stopped after an hour and dried up I jettisoned my crash hat as my ears had gone numb and the fast part out of the way I would have to take my chances in a spill or accident!

Getting from 100 to 200 miles is the crucial mental trick that you have to perform to finish a 12 Hr. a wise man once said that to do a good 'Twelve' "The ability to race over the second half", there are many ways to approach the event, pace yourself throughout the ride or start fast and hang on, this is the most common approach with many events doing the first 100 miles on Dual Carriageway roads before turning onto circuits but here on mainly B roads a 'Third way'. I chose this event because there is a price to pay in 'speed drop' from DC to slower roads that can see your Average speed go into free fall and this can demoralise, but I chose this event which I had broken the Club Record 2 years ago and I think it suits my style of riding, you still have to go out hard and post a good marker but so long as you maintain your 'form' then the MPH speed slips away at an easy and (psychological) manageable rate. Many packed at this point as the wind was relentless and the half way point not yet reached, you break the laps down into smaller target sections, you concentrate on your pedal revs (90 to this point and 85 overall) and your pedalling, keeping your style smooth, every ounce of effort saved here will be needed in the final miles. Carl caught me at 125m and I was surprised it had taken so long but he only drew out another 30 seconds on the next 30m lap and I reasoned this must be correct, I was able to use Carl's speed to break myself away from Holdsworth's orbit and then just after 150m I caught Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) for 10m another of my rivals and I knew I was doing well.

Of course you know when you cannot break the elastic bond that keeps two competitors in the same orbit because the helpers cars keep passing and re-passing you in an effort to keep in contact with their rider, and this is the only contact you have on a circuit course as you never see (or get a time check) apart from what your helpers tell you and when you have 12 hours to fill and all those questions to ask you never have enough information and you feel you are in a desert (or a coma) unable to communicate with the outside world and all these questions. Andy Jackson's helper gave me a sponge of cooling water infused with cologne and as I cleared the salt from my face I considered the tardiness of my own helpers 170 m and not a sponge in sight, thank you Mr Jackson's helper

Shouted instruction "How about a sponge"


200 miles came up in 8:29 (1:03:30/1:06:15/1:06:00/1:8:45) and I knew I had 3 1/2 Hrs. to go as far as my condition would allow, I was only averaging 22.5mph at this stage and I knew I needed to sustain 23mph to reach the major milestone of 280m, a much wished for lull in the wind was greeted with another bout of stormy weather followed by rain. Andy Jackson re-passed me and I clung to his momentum but I could not raise my game even .2mph that was necessary, I let him go reasoning that even at that speed he would only take 6 or 7 minutes to the finish. All the corners were tricky now and the ragged surface and the rumble strips on the A 1079 were bone jarring and my right foot which had been hurting for 80m was now numb (and still is as I type this)

The weather and the event close in

With an hour to go the rain which had been a constant drizzle became a downpour and I was getting a 'graunching' from my rear wheel, my freewheel would not do so freely as one of the bearings disintegrated so I was literally on a 'fixed' or risk my chain wrapping around if I stopped pedalling. Adrian & Fiona were close by at this stage so I asked for a bike change which went smoothly but in all the excitement I needed to relive myself but I had no option but to do it as I rode along in the rain, I thought I might get an update on how Cav and the boys were doing in Paris not quite the glamour of the Tour
I only had 40 minutes to go, enough for one final lap of the finishing circuit, bike felt so different after being 11 hours on the 'Sigma' it was just a case of survival, I was getting hungry and ate my final gel and another hot cross bun, damp from the rain it had been inside my skin suit for the best part of 100 miles, how's that for an instant meal Jamie, even Hugh Fernley might find this a bit too adventurous for his pallate. My final 75m (1:07:15/1:08:00/1:10:00) and 4 min 30 seconds to run out with 276.50 miles just over a nine mile improvement, Ruebotham was the winner with 285.08 and Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 281.61 2nd Myself 3rd just ahead of the 'pack'

The pain and the pleasure of finishing (on the spare)

I was the third last to finish just before 7.00pm, handily by the timekeeper outside the HQ, I gave him a wave through the fogged up window in appreciation of his effort and token response to all those helpers who had been out all day to see the race pass off successfully. The HQ looked like a refugee camp with an assortment of riders in blankets and helpers in all weather gear. I was soon shaking with the cold, for the last hour I had only just generated enough heat in my body to stave off the cold in the wet conditions. There was congratulations from those I knew and those that had seen me on the road, at times it felt like a lonely road and a long way, sure you can go further (or slow down less) but I hadn't been beaten by the conditions today and as the result began to sink in I knew I had won my stage of the Tour

Etape du Tour 2009

L’Etape du Tour 2009
Friday evening before the Etape found me driving around the M25 dropping off my bike (+Julie Riley’s) at one of Sports Tours designated drop-off points so that we could avoid getting them left behind by the airlines. The evening started poorly with Hywel phoning me asking for advice on what to do about the fact that he was well on his way, driving down to the Channel Tunnel heading for Montelimar, without his critical Etape registration form. It didn’t get any better when I realised that the drop-off point – Clackett Lane Services was on BOTH sides of the M25, and I had no way to work out which side I was supposed to meet the “man with a van”. To cut a long story short, the bikes did eventually get dropped off, and when I finally got home, I was so stressed out that my week of alcohol abstinence had to be cancelled in favour of a large beer!
While I was the only person dropped off from the flight from Avignon into my chosen hotel, it turned out that evening, that I had a dozen other Etaper’s, including the legendary James Cracknell, OBE, double gold Olympic rower. Everybody was incredibly friendly and the hotel was great. Sunday was “bike construction” day and registration. We arrived at the gym that Sports Tours had hired to find we were the last people to be getting our bikes out of their boxes. I met up with Julie Riley and Paul Hart there, so a good SWRC contingent already. There must have been upwards of 600 bikes already assembled. I got mine quickly assembled, and set off for a quick spin to check it was working. 200 metres later, I was on the side of the road with the chain split. I very nearly cried with frustration! How could the chain break now? Fortunately it turned out that the new chain that had been fitted 2 weeks earlier had a Shimano “powerlink” which had split, and it was a 1 minute job to fix.
As you can probably imagine, Saturday evening was a very sober dinner, no alcohol, and early to bed. With our hotel, a 75 minute drive to the start, we had a 3.45 am start. But despite going to bed at 10pm, I was of course still counting sheep at well past midnight - still panicking about the chain falling off.
The start in Montelimar was monumental – 9,000 or so riders. My number was 3643, so we started moving around 7.15am, and were through the start gate at 7.20am.
Thousands of cyclists riding out through town, certainly not as shoulder-to-shoulder as I had imagined, but within a mile I was being overtaken left, right and centre! I couldn’t believe the pace that many were riding at - it was exactly as I had been warned – in theory I would be overtaking them later when they burned out.
The weather was fine, clear, and cool. The forecast was for much hotter later, so I just enjoyed the fantastic countryside as we cycled out to the 1st hill, Col de Citelle. This was a gentle 4% for 3 miles, zig-zagging up. This was fun – a longer but lighter gradient than Box Hill. The ride down the other side was very fast, until we were slowed up by police motorcyclists attending to a cyclist flat out on the side of the road looking in a very bad way. Another cyclist on the side of the road on his mobile phone. That was a strong reminder to be very careful on these fast descents.
The 2nd hill, Col d’Eye was similar to Citelle, but with ever more stunning scenery. Olive groves either side as we cycled up. The descent was wonderful; I had never enjoyed a ride as much: fast, technical, plenty of space between riders.
As we continued across country, all the junctions onto our road, and the villages were thronged with spectators, cheering us on, clapping, “Allez, Allez” rang in our ears. It really spurred me on. I had a plan with the Etape broken into 5 sections, each about 75 – 120 minutes, I got through the 1st two sections with 10 and 20 minutes ahead of schedule respectively. I was eating up the miles and really enjoying it. I concentrated on making sure I was always in a group going at a good pace, letting the French take the lead at the front!
After the 3rd hill, Col de Fantaube, the food & water stop was a welcome sight. Dumped my bike 100 yards back from the tables, and quickly got there to pick up more water and bananas, while others struggled with their bikes to the tables. Straight back on the bike and onto Col de Notre Dame des Abeilles. Along the way I met up with Graham Collins, from SWRC, and had a brief chat. Then further along, just going around a corner, was greeted with shouting from supporters at a junction “Come on the South Western!” I was so happy – I just waved back as I sped by.
It was now about midday and getting much hotter. There was little shade and this was a much longer climb. I knew there were a couple of “false tops” to this from watching Mike Cotty’s excellent recce DVD. I just didn’t realise how long and far we had to drop to cycle up the other side of these rollers. Punishing. The reward was a wide, fast open descent. I could only glance at the bike computer to see my speed at well over 40mph – but I was more concerned at how much altitude I was losing. These were all metres I was going to have to ascend shortly. As the descent ended, I had hoped we would be in Bedouin, the start of the Ventoux ascent. But it was a further 6 miles or so, largely uphill, and I began to flag a bit. But I hadn’t over-cooked it. I felt that I still had a lot left for Ventoux. Finally got to Bedouin. My time was now about 6 ½ hours - roughly on plan. The food stop was bedlam, but quickly picked up more water, made up more energy drink, and had my 1st gel. The village was absolutely packed with spectators – families were out cheering us on - each group had a track pump with them in case they could help out a cyclist.
I had read somewhere that a “good club cyclist” could get up to the summit of Ventoux at 1,912 metres in about 2 hours. So that was my target. 300 yards after I went over the timing strip just outside Bedouin, I got a puncture. That took about 10 minutes to fix – being very careful to make sure I didn’t mess it up and wreck this tube putting it on. It was so frustrating to see hundreds of cyclists passing by whilst I fixed this. 1st 3 miles of the 15 mile ascent was a 4-5% gradient, but the temperature was now up to 35C and with 90 miles already in the legs it wasn’t a walk in the park. Then around a corner, and it pitched up to 10% as we went into the forest. It wasn’t how I imagined it; there was less than a foot of shade on one side of the road as the sun burned overhead. It was airless, not a breath of wind. There was no chatter amongst the cyclists, just heaving breaths. Within about 20 minutes, many people – including myself – were alternating walking or resting with cycling. I mentally thanked the bike mechanic who had noted 2 weeks previously that my cassette was well worn, which had resulted in me changing from a 12-25 to a 12-27. I needed that “bail-out” gear the whole way. I watched the gradient on my Garmin, it rarely dropped below 9%. I had never seen carnage like this. Cyclists were dropping like flies. Many pushed their bikes under the trees and tried to cool off in the shade, others were being sick. I heard the ambulance repeatedly coming up the mountain collecting those who must have collapsed from fatigue and heat-exhaustion. At various points, when I looked around me, only one in five of the cyclists around were actually on their bikes. I couldn’t believe that I had come this far to find myself pushing my bike, and I repeatedly climbed back on to get another few hundred yards before my legs packed in.
Then a sign on the roadside, 2km to Chalet Reynard. “Everyone who gets to Ch. Reynard gets to the top”. I had heard that saying before, so back on the bike and willed myself to the mountain restaurant. It was now about 4.30pm. No water bottles left. An enterprising barman was filling up cyclist’s bidons from a garden hose. I now had an hour to complete the last 4 miles in the famous limestone lunar landscape that is Mt. Ventoux. There was now zero shade, but it was a little cooler, there was a breath of wind. I knew that if I resorted to pushing my bike I seriously risked missing the cut off time at 5.30pm. Somehow I cycled pretty much the whole way to the top, although as I went round a right hand turn to be confronted with yet more ascending, my will was truly tested. Round the last corner with a tight hairpin and over the timing line, it was 5pm exactly. My time was 9 hours 47 minutes and I had completed my 1st Etape.
I met up with other SWRC riders: Julie Riley and Paul Hart in Malaucene at the bottom of Ventoux to exchange stories, and I’m sure we’ll be recounting those over tea and cakes on Saturday morning rides for the next 12 months!
On top of that, I had set up a fund-raising page for the Rainbow Trust. This is a small local charity based in Leatherhead that runs a number of special homes for gravelly ill children and provides respite for their parents. Friends, families and work colleagues have generously donated over £2,500 to the Rainbow Trust through that page, and my employer, the Royal Bank of Canada will add a further £1,500 to make it over £4,000. That, in itself, has made all the pain worthwhile.
Postscript
James Cracknell completed L’Etape in 5 hours 56 minutes for a “Gold” award, over 2 hours ahead of Chris Boardman!

TdF survey

Well it was no surprise that Alberto Contrador won this years Tour de France. What was more of a surprise was that Cav actually won all his exspected stages and finished off with win stage 6 in Paris. Give yourself a pat on the back if you guessed that result at the start of the Tour
Best ride of the tour must go to Wiggo who finished 4th O/A and has suddenly transformed himself into a Grand Tour contender.

Barns Green, C Group, 25th July 09

Eight of the C group set off for the ride to Barns Green in East Sussex, probably one of the longest rides in its current repertoire of routes. But the journey is worth if only to drink from the giant tea pot at Barns Green. Actually there should have been nine of us, but unfortunately Mandy took a tumble on her way to Downside Cobham and could not join us. We wish her a rapid recovery and hope to see her soon. The eight comprised of John, Peter, Sadie, Aubrey, Mariana, myself, and lead by the “Lord of the Lanes” Paul and his faithful stoker Linda.

C group, the start at Cobham.

Having missed the last two club runs and with no cycling in the past week I was wondering how I would cope on the day and was pleased to know that the return route would not include Coombe Bottom. Instead, there would be the escape route through the North Downs - the Mole Gap at Dorking.

The journey south to Barns Green was pleasantly uneventful, just the steady grunt up to White Down and over the hills around Holmbury St Mary followed by meandering lanes into East Sussex by way of villages such as Forest Green. Once at our lakeside cafe stop Mariana ordered the giant tea pot and food orders were placed which ranged from John’s full English breakfast to the more modest requests for cakes and sausage rolls. At this point we heard about Mariana’s epic ride in the Devil sportive, how Coombe Bottom compares to Mont Ventoux (apparently it doesn’t) and also heard about Aubrey riding with Olympic Gold medallist Paul Manning in a recent local charity ride.

Note the giant tea pot

The return journey could also have been described as uneventful however John managed to get two punctures in fairly rapid succession which was beginning to impact on our plans to get back in time to watch Wiggo do battle with the Shlecks on Mont Ventoux in the afternoon. Finally we were back in the Dorking area. Peter went for the hard way back via Box Hill, Mariana went for the uphill route back via Polsden Lacey, Linda and Paul turned off for Bookham, Aubrey headed for Ashsted, leaving John, Sadie and myself to head towards Cobham by way of Leatherhead. At last back home, 76 miles on the Cateye and just in time to see Wiggo defend his 4th place in the Tour – great stuff.

Wiston

Back to the lanes of Surrey and Sussex after last weekend's outing to Wales and it was a fast run to Wiston and back. Without Parky and Sabin who are driving down to Biarritz to start the Pyrenean Raid on Monday, but with Andy for the first time in ages, as well as Trev, Dave, Simon, Matt and John, we were the last group to leave the car park. Everyone was going in the same direction and it took us a while to pass the B group, because of the sheer size of the bunch, then the Cs, after which we had a clear road ahead. Over White Down (passing a berk riding uphill on the wrong side of the road) and Leith Hill the pace was high and despite the strong wind it stayed like that pretty much the whole way down to Wiston. Good cafe there, nice garden, cheap but decent food, and we made the most of it. I tried out my new camera phone and got these pics - camera is ok but the operator might need more practice.

The return journey continued at the same pace and effort, thanks mainly to Dave and Simon, and we were all starting to feel the effects by the top of Rudgwick. We split at Ewhurst to take different routes home, four of us going over Pitch Hill, trying to avoid the plentiful naughty gravels on the fast descent. Then Coombe Bottom and a fast finale back to Cobham and Esher. Everyone is riding well, the result of lots of racing and sportives.

Devil ride sportive

Seven SWRC members headed along the M4 last weekend destination South Wales, to take part in the Devil cyclosportive. Suitably named because half way round you get to climb the very steep climb called the Devil’s staircase deep within the Brecon beacons.
Marianna had come down with Mark and was riding her first event, the shorter little devil route that was 50 miles long and missed the staircase. The rest of us were down for the full distance event at 107miles long. Dave was accompanying Vero on what was her longest ride of the year, which left the 4 remaining Alphas to battle it out for the fastest round the course.
The start, finish, and campsite were within the very beautiful grounds of the Glanusk Estate and it was here at 8.30am that we all line up with most of the other 300 entries in the light drizzle. Just as I approached the starting time mat the rain subsided and I took my rain cape off and it stayed in my back pocket for the rest of the day.
The 107 mile route was split into 3 equal legs with feet stations at 35 & 70 miles. On the first leg we all rode together and looked very smart in our club kit, and this encouraged us to fly along the lanes especially as we were the ones doing all the overtaking. Some riders tagged on behind us but for most of this leg it was full gas. Sabin lost touch with us just before the feed station but we all joined up and started on the second leg together. Not long after here we had the hard climb of the devil’s staircase, which we had all ridden before when Trevor had organised a training weekend in the spring of last year. We were the first riders up the climb of the group we had been riding with, and then set about getting some more miles in. What we didn’t realise was that the next 15 miles was into a head wind and that the climbs had really only just started. Up, down, up, down, they carried on mercilessly. We had all been pulling the group of riders along that we were riding with but not for much longer. By the time I had reached the second feed station, we were riding at our own paces and had split up.

Feeding the monkeys at the second stop.

Gathering and leaving the final feed station I thought we might be able to stay together but it wasn’t to be as both Trevor and then Mark rode away from me down the country lanes. My legs were cramping & I still had 30 miles to go. It felt like I was just finishing the Dave Lloyd mega challenge & wondered whether I had fully recovered from that tough event.
I persevered on not able to push too hard on the pedals, just trying to get over any remaining hills. The route was now heading back to Crickhowell and the wind was on our backs, which helped me keep my speed up. I knew the Gold time for my age group was 7:38 and with 2 hrs remaining I had 32 mile to go. I rode most of the next section by myself until with only a few miles to go I spotted that familiar red jersey just ahead of me. It was Mark who was not best pleased to see me, I can’t think why not, and we raced each other to the finish with me coming in a minute in front of Mark.
Meanwhile back out on the road were Veronique and David, who were battling the elements to finish the course. And it wasn't too long before they both turned up. In fact Vero had done the best ride of the day being first lady home. Sabin was only 2nd in his age category.

So this is what Vero had to say about the event:

The longest and toughest ride I have ever done on my “Vélo”! Taking part in this event has wide-opened my mind and eyes; cycling is a very different discipline from running and I still have much to learn to adapt to it physically and mentally. A rollercoaster of a ride but “once ridden forever smitten”!

The whole circuit was beautifully riddled with hills, bends, sheep…and now and then, naughty slippery gravel to test you even more. This challenge really hit me at around 15 miles left to go although that at this stage of the course it felt like gliding on the road compared to the miles previously conquered. “Merci” David for sticking with me the whole way.

On a social note, I have enjoyed the venture:- Trevor and Alan camping in a wet field, happy like two peas in a pod in their little tent. Sabin first up at the B&B, on his bike before he even got dressed!…and a very French thing: David and I saw “Bruno” the really fat dog (character in “The Triplettes de Belleville” cartoon). He lives at the B&B in Tretower.



All worth this devilish ride!

Lucky enough to be on hols while the Tour was nearby, so managed to ride out and see the 2nd stage:Monaco-Brignoles, the first stage win for Mark Cavendish. Managed to get a spot on one of the classified climbs, the Col de l'Ange just near Draguignan. A lot of waiting, a lot of people, a lot of free gifts worth not a lot, a lot of noise and a lot of heat...enjoyed it a lot. Here's a pic from the local paper, the 'Var Matin' and I'm arrowed at the back.

National '100' (Yorkshire Cycling Federation)

I sampled the delights of the Holiday inn again this week (with Fiona this time) in Wakefield in preparation for the National '100' Championship the next morning on the V275 course (A168-19 and around x 2 laps)on the edge of the North York Moors South of Middlesborough. So as we snuggled down with a bowl of pasta to watch crap telly the sounds of two weddings and a Silver anniversary reverberated around our hollow room.


Contemplating the off

A relatively late start of 7.30 (No 90) but we still had to be up at 5.30 in the dampness of an unpromising day, there was a noticeable lack of riders from the 130 men & women at the HQ with most opting to get ready elsewhere so me and another chap used the facilities, put my bike together in the drizzle and headed off to the start
The first 60 miles on Dual Carriageway so a chance to ease yourself into the ride I was scheduled for a 3.45 which meant going out hard but as I went through 25 miles in 56 minutes (10m in 22.30) and I had my three minute man just infront.

I was feeling the pace so eased a little after the first lap (30m) but I could not get comfortable on the faster northern journey and un-willing to get entangled in a 'race' with No 87 I just followed along at 1-200 metres. I went through 50m in 1.55.30 so I knew a sub 3.50 ride was out and I took the decision to use the ride as preparation for the 12 hour in a couple of weeks keeping my gears down and cadence at 90 RPM as from 60m we turned onto B roads and a bit more lumpy so a good test for the sort of conditions in the half day event.


Riders return down the A19 to Thirsk

I had a bottle of warm coffee to stave off the cold and the constant waves of showers but nothing too difficult, once on the second circuit I felt more comfortable varying my gears on the climbs to keep my revs constant my body felt better, 75 m came up in 2.54.30 and I knew I could pick the pace up and my No 87 was having a bad time after pulling away initially I quickly caught and passed him with 20m to go. Unfortunately I could not shed him and he turned the last part into a bit of a 'race' which is what I had tried hard to avoid, he pulled up to my shoulder on numerous occasions but did not have the strength to pass when out of my slipstream, I was a bit annoyed with has riding as he undertook me on a couple of occasions as we had to pick our way through the grit strewn and puddle roads (once when Fi was handing me a bottle!) not very good behaviour but he was very young (19) and while I was annoyed with this I had to say to him that what he was doing was very dangerous on roads where it was difficult for cars to pass.

Come in No 87 your time is up!


I managed 58.0 minutes for my last 25m and felt good at the finish, a shame that my concentration ruined by a bit of youthful competition but I did say to him at the end that I thought his behaviour was a danger to himself and left it at that.
My final time 3.52.23 good enough for 13th place and 2nd in my age category - Winner was Stephen Whitick (Utag Yahama) 3.48.45 been a bit of a nemesis all season but I do seem to be getting closer. Winner overall once again in impressive fashion Michael Hutchinson (In Gear) 3.27.26 from defending champion Kevin Dawson (Sportscover) 3.33.25 and in third place 20 year old Triathlete Philip Graves from a club with a good TT'ing pedigree (Clifton CC) 3.37.41 finding top level racing not quite the breeze that he thought it would be! Women's race won by Julia Shaw (Utag) 3.52.12 in a new Competition Record eclipsing the time set by Twickenham rider Jenny Derham in 1996 (3.53.04) somebody said they saw Charlie Burton at the finish and this was the heartland of his wife Beryl's record making (and breaking) roads but of course without all the 'aero' complications, I wonder what he thought of it all?

Dissecting a difficult race





Men's Result Here

Women's Result

Event Report





Hutch hogs the podium once again

STOP PRESS - OldSkool Win!

My recent OldSkool trevails are disected in the most recent (July) edition of Testing Times, Happy to add my disqualification in the a3crg.. '25' has been reversed and I was awarded the win.

Masters Track Champoinship - Newport

Been trying out my fixed wheel bike in the local Hinckley RCC '10' (check C P under rider history) on the Wolvey course (K41/10) trying out a variety of gears and positions but we have had some lovely evenings so far and a minute up on last year at this time.
Apart from the LVRC Track last November the BC Masters would be my first 'Open' track since 1992 when I fell off the week before the Nationals and broke my collar bone in an ill advised return to the wooden bowl of my past notable victories. At the LVRC I came away with a Gold(Pursuit) and Silver(Points) but although the same events here a step up in quality, some of the same names but a chance to win a National title always a draw for the showmen that take on the Track Circus.
I was with Adrian (and Dan - not competing) of the Shaftsbury CC and he had persuaded me to enter the old arena (we go all the way back to school days)
Riding a fixed on the road not the same as in a bunch on a banked track, the cut and thrust of tactics and sprinting for the line but the one thing that got me almost immediately how nervous I was. I could hear my heart beating out of my chest in the cauldron that is the track centre, I needed to get out for a ride to calm down and compose myself.


Following the GB men

So we trotted out on road bikes for a spin on the flat lands that make up the marsh around Newport Velodrome. We bumped into some of the GB squad doing the same pushed off the track for the weekend by a load of Old Duffers and Hasbeens we tried to recognise them but they all had Sky outfits and impressively tanned calf's, we dare not get too close
Back in the Velodrome all we had on the Saturday was the 15Km scratch race, a one off sprint after 60 laps, in a way I was glad, get some of the nerves out the way before the main event 'The Pursuit' what I'd come here to do, less chance, more of a test of the riders form all alone on the track. A fast pace race, one rider got 3/4 lap before getting pulled back, I attacked with 15 to go taking Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC) and ex runner Steve Clayton (Litchfield City) Clayton jumped at the bell and I could not come over him my speed blunted by my time trialling but a good effort none the less, in the end I missed the Gold by half a bike length.

15Km Scratch Podium


Sunday was much like the day before, apart from my Pursuit ride in the morning, we still had time for a 20 mile spin and then a build up to the 3000 m pain fest that is individual Pursuiting 3 and 3/4 minutes of acute stress for legs and lungs but only the one ride to get it all out (no time for rounds), winner takes it all. A fault with my rear wheel means I have to use my disc with a heavy (road going) 'tempo' and it hardly matters that I put new bars on the night before and with no chance to get on the track a spin back to the hotel is all that they get by way of preparation. In the event its my pedals that let me down (set at their highest tension) I pull my foot out at the start and It takes an age to get it back in again, I manage a 24 second first lap 3 down on my schedule it is the worst possible beginning, I press on, no going back and get into my rhythm, Adrian tells me I'm "5 down" on my 3.38 I think it will take to get a medal 125 RPM too fast on my 94" gear and I slow at the risk of overcooking it, 110-15 more like it and the laps (12) are disappearing rapidly.

It all goes wrong!


An all out effort in the last Km as my opponent (on the other side of the track) is in view and I make the last lap a fast one as I pass him on the line 3.43.275 the 2nd fastest to date but not enough I fear. In the next heat Clayton and Alistair Taylor (Musselborough RC) go faster 3.41.251 and 3.40.396 and in the final heat Peter Ettles (Forres CC) breaks the European Record 3.33.491 to win and Greenstreet 3.41.050 good enough for 3rd
The disappointment is a bit overwhelming, only 6th, only 2 seconds off a bronze medal and 3 of silver, Ettles the champion in another class but that opening mistake cost me dear.
No time to dwell the Points Race is in a couple of hours 20Km and ten sprints to sort out 16 riders from 16 clubs, this is more my game. We know who to watch and the opening laps are cagey and tense, I put in a bit of an attack I do not have the speed but If I can get in a break I can gain a lap (20 Points) but I need the race to fracture. I get up in a few of the sprints (3 x 2nd) but not enough, the bunch is still together, it is not slow, but it is not tough enough either.
In one of the lulls two riders collide just above me, the inside one takes a tumble the long way down the track, he clips me and my back wheel, my BBAR ambitions (all that training) flash before my eyes but I hold my nerve and I manage not to come down as he takes the two behind me into the acrylic fence at the bottom of the track. Only one thing to do, attack! It's the one rule of track racing
I attack between the sprints to break it up but I am a marked man and my efforts are chased down, on the penultimate sprint I am too tired to contest but Ettles attacks soon after and nobody chases, there is a fatal delay but I attack anyway and get the gap, I hunt him down 30 then 20 and then 10 meters we have half a lap and together we work, its too late to gain a lap so I sprint away to take the final

It takes ages to sort out the result, apparently a rider took a lap (Taylor) he tried it in the Scratch and only got 3/4 before giving up but this time his effort has paid off Clayton (the best sprinter with 3 x 1st) and I get the bronze on count back with the same points as Ettles because I beat him on the final lap
Of the three races nine medals are split between five riders, the same ones getting on the podium, I come away with a Silver and Bronze not bad for such an extended break from the boards, I came here to test the water and found it much to my likening

Report Here
Photos Here (Stylish rostrum picture of me! - Points)

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

After a bit of a disaster last week, ECCA '100' cancelled because of fog, so an overnight stay in Bedford and getting up at 4.30am all went to waste as riders from all over the country were left frustrated in the Essex village of Fowlmere hall car park with nothing to do but the long drive home. The right decision as visibility was only 100 meters and no event is worth an accident, Ohh! but it was a perfect morning, cool and still (a little close perhaps) but riders have to keep their powder dry for another week and another chance to record a BBAR time, I already have a fair '100' time from the BDCA 2 weeks before and was ready to ride on a 100" fixed so a bit of an experiment as I have the National in 2 weeks and expecting a good ride there.
But my weekend extended to the Monday night as I had the a3crg... '25' on the next evening and I stayed with Alan and did a few laps of Richmond Park at 23mph to get rid of the tension built up earlier in the day.

This was my final 'OldSkool' event on my trusty 'Lloydy' bike but this did not go to plan and left me feeling not a little exasperated the organiser disqualified my ride for not being in the 'OldSkool' field laid out on his start sheet presently the result is in the lap of the gods (Sir Ian Cammish) but for the record I did a time of 55.51 well ahead of the next rider from the promoting club P Brennan 58.13 a time that would have been a PB this time last year. Unfortunately I passed up the opportunity of participating in one of the fastest '25' events of the year with the winner Steve Wakling (Velocity) recording a 30mph+ 49.24 to beat the course record.
I had a miserable 3 hour drive back to Leicester getting home at midnight with a slightly enlarged spleen, Strangeways here we come indeed

Pics Here (Pg. 1-6-7)
Result Here

Barnsgate & Oriana

Report by Mark Packman:
Another beautiful sunny morning and a Betchworth start this week. The C group were present for their third run from there, the B groups looked a little depleted, certainly down by one because John opted to return to the A group. Of whom Alan turned up with his race number for next week’s Devil Ride already affixed to his handlebars, also Nick fresh from successive weekly appearances in Cycling Weekly. We set off for Barnsgate Manor in Ashdown Forest taking a beautiful route through Dormansland, Ashurst Wood, Forest Row, Coleman’s Hatch and then the climb of the “Wall” to the top of the Forest. Alan was in front but stopped near the top to video the rest of us, Trevor first,

then me,
Dave,

John

Richard

and Sabin

From there the hammer went down again till we got to the café.

It looked like rain but we sat outside, Alan telling us how Colin was denied the win in an Old Skool time trial on Monday, despite having the fastest time, because he hadn’t written on the sign-in form that he was riding Old Skool. Nice to know that the revamped CTT are still sticklers for the rules. As we were paying up, the waitress asked us if we were going to watch the Tour, saying that her brother used to ride it. It turned out her brother is Sean yates and we had a nice chat about him, took this photo of us with Oriana, and all felt nearly as much a celebrity as Nick Allen.
Colin recalled that Sean Yates dad bought Oriana, when she was only a baby, to the 1980 National track championship where Sean was showing the promise to be a future Tour rider.

The return journey saw us descend the Wall, then go across to Wych Cross, Sharpthorne, Turner’s Hill, Smallfield, South Nutfield and Chipstead. Lots of sprints for the signs today, Trevor I think taking the green jersey from Alan and Dave. Although I was riding strongly today, my route finding was very poor as I sent us the wrong way at least four times; I need to redo “The Knowledge” of the lanes of Surrey and Sussex. At Tadworth we started splitting up, John first off after successful rehabilitation into the group, Sabin making his umpteenth visit to Dauphin Cycles, and the rest of us going our ways for another ton-up ride.

C Group Ride - 4th July

No phone call from my directeur sportif summoning me to Monaco for the start of the TdF so I was free to join the rest of the SWRC riders at Betchworth and the C Group’s journey into Sussex and to Camelia Botnar, led by Barbara. The other members of the group comprised of Mariana, Maggie, Steve, John, Lawrie and Erick.

We saw the A and B groups disappear off towards the South Downs and possibly beyond. Along the way a group of Addiscombe CC riders swished past – a blur of yellow tops, however the C group, as tradition dictates, maintained a more sedate pace along switch-back lanes with some short but steep climbs up through woodland areas. In fact one or two were suggested to be deserving of a Stannah stairlift to help us up them.

We arrived at the Garden Centre at around 11.30 just as a brief shower was developing. Inside we met Raymond and Jane who had been out and about on their mountain bikes.



Waiting to be refuelled at Camelia Botnar, picture taken by Raymond, wizard iphone supplied by Erick.

Once back on the road Raymond and Jane briefly stayed with us for the first part of the return. They were soon leading at the front despite riding mountain bikes with knobbly tyres which shows the importance of core fitness. Eventually they slipped away homeward and the rest of the ‘Cs’ headed back towards Dorking and home after another great ride in Summer sunshine.