thetford rnd 4

Jane was lying second overall after the last three rounds, so she just had to turn up today to take third overall.

It had been raining up until the day of the race, but it was a lovely clear day. The course was shockingly wet in places, but began to dry out after a few laps of hundreds of wheelspassing over it. Just as it was getting dry and fast, there was a huge hailstorm that lasted a good 15 minutes! Suddenly, the course was covered in rapidly melting balls of ice. And in a trice was as wet and muddy as the start!

Jane rolled in fifth, which was enough to give 2nd overall.

now then young man

With Trevor riding an audax with Paul and Simon ( and we all look forward to hearing what a relaxed ride day he will have had ) we had to rely on old fashioned route finding today for the ride down to Petworth.Fortunately we had Mark ( IDNAG) Packman who after a couple of seconds had worked out our route down to the tea shop in the middle of Petworth.

Andy and Niall made the pace up to the top of Coombe Bottom and then once we were through Bramley Sabin and Andy Mackay left us to return home. That it was an enjoyable day out in good weather -at that stage at least-can be seen in the photo of us waiting at some temporary traffic lights in Kirdford.

I include this -bad-picture of the Sun Inn in Kirdford as a reminder for Simon Jordan and Ralph as we managed a couple of swift halves in here while marshalling this junction on the club organised league race last autumn.
We then followed the pleasant and quiet lanes down to Marys Tea shop -I think it is -in the middle of Petworth. Andy was particularly pleased to stop as he could take off 4 of his layers -leaving him with only 3 on for lunch -his Lobster winter gloves happily steaming away in a corner like a mobile kettle during our stay.

Mark wondering here how on earth he was going to manage one slice of each of the cakes on offer.

An uneventful trip home ,with Mark,Niall and me taking the unusual ,for us at least, route home over half of Pitch Hill, down to Peaslake and over White Down,after the others had gone their seperate ways home . No punctures all day and despite getting soaked after a heavy shower in Kingston when almost home ,a particularly pleasant day out on quiet and pretty roads.

I had done 98 miles -exactly the same as a week before.

The return of our Presidential film maker to spice up the ride blogs is keenly awaited.

Nick A

interesting but scary

this is a match between 10 year olds .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Ju8-AzH6I

Mattias

http://ultimatesportive.blogspot.com/

For those of us who had the pleasure to ride with Mattias Meul in the summer of 2008 you might be interested to have a look at his blog -which although primarily is about his preparation for this summer's Cent Cols Challenge in the Pyrenees ( my fault I am afraid after he met the CCC group and organiser at the Tour of Wessex in 2009) has links to some of his other rides over the last few years.

Nick

All's well with Awang

UCI World Cup 2011 - Awang's Splinter Update from British Cycling on Vimeo.

Ouch, That looks painful.

C Group Sunday 20th February 11- Horsham

The C group gathered on Sunday at an Effingham meeting point when the weather promised to be better than what Saturday had to offer. About twelve riders set off past Effingham Golf Club on the steady rise up Beech Avenue to the top of the North Downs. Those riders who bravely turned their backs on the Sunday Roast and a lazy afternoon on the sofa included leaders Paul and Lin, David Jordan, Gordon, Bob & Maggie, Mariana, Stevie Mac, Brendon, John Major, Steve and myself. The destination was Horsham and while the rain kept off our jerseys a cold dampness and misty gloom hung around the Surrey lanes. However – and the good new is - the snowdrops were out and a few daffs were spotted.


Waiting for riders to re-gather at Holmbury St Mary.

The café in Horsham park was full of cyclists and included B group riders such Alan Brunsden and Veronique. A steady ride back – Maggie picked up a puncture just outside Horsham - and Mark Packman dropped by in passing on his bike. Soon after Newdigate, Stevie Mac, Brendon and myself formed an Autobus triumvirate and successfully completed the final hard yards (miles) back to base (total from a Cobham start - 50 miles).

Round about Horley

The forecast did not disappoint and it was accurate. So,the heaviest rain of the day fell on my way to Cobham.Alone today as Alan had chosen a good weekend to go to Manchester and Sabin could not face his bike getting dirty again-and he had been out for a ride 4 days during the week ,having sought out one group or cycling pensioners after another ,and Mark Williams has gone into hibernation.

There were about 20 all told at Cobham and we went off in about 4 groups,the smallest only having 3 riders.

We were 6,Andy,Paul ,Simon,Richard ,Trevor and me. Not good,Paul -ok.Simon-ok. Paul AND Simon -not so good.And so off we went into the drizzle and Paul riding his brand new Planet X bike bought for racing was trying to break the speed limit before we had even left Cobham.

As he usually does ,Trevor had kindly worked out a route and so took us an unusual way to Polesden Lacey and then as another first time diversion down Cudmore Lane outside Newdigate."Lane" is rather generous as it consisted of a mile length hole with a bit of tarmac here and there. How pleased Paul was as his very fine looking bike bounced from one scintilla of tarmac to another.

We then had a scenic tour of the Gatwick long term car parks before arriving in Horley.After enjoying the glories for the first time of Redhill last week ,little did I know that the delights of Horley awaited me a week later.Perhaps it looks better when not draped in mist and drizzle.

And maybe not......

At Turners Hill we split up since Richard had to get back and as Paul and Andy were feeling rather tired they went to the tea room at Balcombe while Simon,Trev and I stuck to Trev's route going round to Ardingly and then past the reservoir and along the stunning valley taking in the Balcombe Viaduct . Even in the rain we were again struck by how stunning it is ,built in 1840,it is 500 metres long and 96 feet heigh and contains 11 million bricks. A long way from Horley.

When we got back to Balcombe I met up with Andy and Paul just finishing their feast while Trev and Simon went westwards and home. Paul then proceeded to rip my legs off ( if not Andy"s) on the way home and it was with utter relief that at Newdigate Paul went straight on with Andy.The joy of being alone and sitting up with no one to see .

98.5 miles by the time I got back ,feet frozen ,damp but not soaked and another good day.

Has Richard had beans for breakfast or is Simon just worried about being recognised?

The slackers in the tea room.

World Cup track cycling.

Manchester velodrome is hosting the UCI world cup this weekend for the forth successive year. 48 countries are taking place aiming to gain important points that will allow them to compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Watch it all this weekend on the BBC red button.

Agony

This is agonising

Just a usual club run

Everyone at my office found this funny, for me it just reminded me of every time I go out on my bike. Enjoy

Redhill Beach Trip

Some of the A's group had decided to ride an Audax event this week, perhaps after reading about Paul and my earlier ride a few weeks ago. Me, Simon Howard, Trevor Lenthall, Colin Parkinson, Nick Allen & Howard Lowe met rather late at the church hall in Redhill to sign in and collect our brevet cards, setting off 20 minutes behind the other entrants.

Colin was down for the weekend so had tagged along and was to have the only punctures of the day even though there was lots of debris on the roads after 2 days of continuous rain. Wiston tearoom was the first control but as we had only ridden 30 miles we signed in and left pretty pronto.

Heading eastwards along the the foot of the South Downs we passed some unfamiliar villages such as Westmeston, Ifold, Rodmell and onto Seaford where we get the first sights of the White Cliffs. After climbing up Friston hill past the Seven Sisters Country Park, it was a fast decent to East Dean and then the loop around to Beachy Head and the furthest point of today's ride.

After a quick photocall (Oh, how did Sabin get in the photo! Ah yes he came along for the ride) and another control point it was everyone for themselves on the next leg which was dead into a headwind. I had eaten all the sandwiches I had brought along for the ride and it was down to gels and energy bars from here on in. Here the group split in half with the Wandsworth crew chasing the rest. Colin had his second puncture and Nick stayed to help while I rode on alone as I felt I was the weakest link today. We all met up again in Uckfield petrol station where we were all stocking up on various types of drinks and quick energy bars. Then we headed off in our 2 groups again for the last leg to reach Redhill just as the light was fading and our legs were aching. A tough day for all of us I think apart from Simon who seemed to be the only one with more in the tank.

Olympic Time Trial course

From this weeks Surrey Advertiser

Olympic road race route

I goes past the end of my road!!! Yay!! And a few ascents of Boxhill thrown in too.

Mega Woosh

Time of flight from video (time he leaves the ramp and becomes a projectile) is 3 seconds – see timing on video.

Assume he lands at same height as takeoff point – looks like it on the video:

h = u_Vt -½gt² when he lands h = 0 so u_V = 14.7ms^-1

Assume take off angle of 45° (gives best range ignoring air resistance).

\ Horizontal velocity, u_H is also 14.7ms^-1 so he would go about 44m in 3 seconds.

u_V = u sin 45° so initial velocity leaving the ramp would be about 20.7ms^-1 which is 46mph!!!!

This would also be the speed at which he hit the water when he landed.

To reach 20.7ms^-1 by the end of the ramp, ignoring friction he would have to start

his slide about at least 22m above the height of the end of the ramp.

Conservation of energy: mgDh = ½mv²

I am dubious that anyone would look so well landing in a paddling pool at 46mph, is there a switch going on in the non visible part of the ramp?

Is it a dummy lying at the end of the ramp or someone having a sleep?

Comments Please:

Saturday hike

Saturday hike in Wales
No biking today so we hiked up Pen Cerrig in Crug Hywel. It has been windy the last few days and we were forecast 70 kph winds and rain.




On the climb up, the winds hit us on the west side of the Table mountain and at one point we were pinned down by the strong gusts :) Jane's hat flew off to the other side and she risked slippery wet rocks to rescue it. We walked to the other side of the Table were it was completely becalmed :)




On the push to the summit we entered the clouds where once again we were battered by the wind, this time accompanied by icy rain. Visibility was poor, but it's a fairly easy navigation to the trig point.


We huddled down in the hollow cairn a bit further on, where we got into the Bothy bag and had some coca cola and sweets. The walk back down became a bit of trot as the wind carried us. Lco squealed a few times as the wind was easily able to push around her new light weight self :) Jane fell once when as seh walked her unweighted leg was blown into the other :)

We had tea and toast in the café in Crug Hywel.... lovely!