TdF - Yorkshire

Comic Relief 50 Miler

I set off with the Wandsworth ladies (and one from Sussex and one from Ruislip with her hubby) from Stratford Velodrome early on Sunday morning.  It was sunny but chilly morning so winter clothing was appropriate, although we did see some in shorts and jerseys only!  Once out of the streets of east London we hit the rolling Essex hills.  It was good to see a different part of the countryside and for most of the day it was sunny although there were times when we had some rain and it did get a bit windy.  The ladies are training for a long ride in France this summer so all in all a good days riding/training (ride time 4.51) and all for a good cause, Comic Relief.  From left to Right Marc, Anne, Judith, Kate, Helen, Fran, Marian and the Domestique!

Shock horror tea stop after just 13 miles...

Cold fingers and frankly a lack of SWRC mettle and backbone forces one member to bag a cuppa to warm up the hands. Alan will be pleased he wasn't in club kit...

Tuesday mtb

Today's ride was a nice steady out and back to Blackheath, where we sampled a new singletrack that Jane had discovered recently. Roger returned after his 'off' a few weeks ago, as good as ever. Hurrah! I picked up my first KOM on strava for an age too :) 

Roger returns

St Martha's

Mark does a fabulous Ood impression(Dr Who -series 6)

JLT signs up Ed Clancy

As an employee I'd have signed for a bit less, also I wasn't asked, and I suspect my palmares is not quite as stellar...

Tuesday mtb

Fabulously dry trails today. A nice fast and furious singletrack fest. I couldn't resist a pic of this nice little notice from a concerned local.

Wiggonholt

The Alphas enjoying some much needed chow, and a fine view at Wiggonholt after a pacey fifty mile route from Cobham, kindly provided by stand-in route-master, Dave. This was the first proper, dry club run of the year, and after a winter like this, it was just what we needed. For Hersham starters it amounted to a ninety-five mile round trip, well over the century for the Wandsworth / Hackney crew. It was good to see the A group WAGS cycling team putting in some quality miles, and I look forward to selling them all club kit in due course.

Niall

Twelve climbs to ride before you die

4 more to go to bag the dozen - http://roadcyclinguk.com/sportive/twelve-climbs-to-ride-before-you-die.html

Round the world

Currently, because of the World Cycle Race and The Transcontinental Race (that I'm racing in August), I'm slightly obsessed with people cycling around the world as fast as they can.
http://worldcyclerace.com/
http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/

Both of these events are races and are meant to be completed as fast as possible, but I've also come across various people who are happy to take their time. I met Joff Summerfield last Friday night at the World Cycle Race launch party - he cycled round the world on a Penny Farthing. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=1451

Another journey I've been following is that of Rob Lutter, a great blog, lots of detail and lovely pics. http://thelifecycle.roblutter.com/

Definitely cycling round the world is something I'd like to try in a few years time, the only thing I can't decide on is whether to do it quickly or take my time...

Can the club invest in one of these next winter?

http://cyclr.com/journal/2014/02/26/qbike-is-it-a-bike-cleaning-system-to-far/

Club quiz

The Champions for 2014 were team Alpha! Mainly Mark Packman but Barry , Dan and myself played a small part in the 2 point victory over the easy B's.
Thanks must go to Dudley for setting the questions and to Dan for organising the fish and chips.

Ibiza riding

Me and Jane managed to sneak off for a week in Ibiza to do some riding. The weather was a bit cooler than usual and we even had a some hail (granizo) on one evening ride. Generally though the sun shone and we had some blue skies. We did a mix of solo rides, club rides with C.C.Santa Eulalia and with local friends.



We took some road wheels for our mountain bikes and spent a couple of days on the road. The rest of the time was off road with lots of fun technical climbing and scary technical descending :)

Puncheur sportive

Niall and Mark by the Ditchling ice cream van

Although I kept my head up in the age range etc I was 25 mins slower than last year!!  We went round together (me Niall and Lawrie) and I had a puncture in Hurstpierpoint and Lawrie had broken spokes, otherwise we would have been gold!!!  I did however catch the people who passed us finishing the puncture going up Dichling and passed them!

Photo to come.

Cheers

Mark

PS All 5 SWRC results below. 

	Name	Club	Gender/Age	Time	Award				East Grinstead	Finish
Details	Mick Barry		M55	05:26:27	Merit				-----	05:26:27
Details	Dave Morrison		M55	04:26:00	Silver				-----	04:26:00
Details	Andrew Hull	San Fairy Ann CC	M55	04:32:44	Bronze				-----	04:32:44
Details	Ashley Knowles	Sussex Nomads	M55	dnf					02:16:17	-----
Details	Mark Williams	SWRC	M55	04:12:29	Silver				-----	04:12:29

Constant Busch	SWRC	M48	04:24:58	Silver				02:07:03	04:24:58
Details	Lawrence Clark	SWRC	M54	dnf					-----	-----
Details	Niall Clutton	SWRC	M49	04:14:56	Silver				-----	04:14:56
Details	Ben Crossland	SWRC	M36	04:36:04	Bronze				02:09:40	04:36:04
Details	Mark Williams	SWRC	M55	04:12:29	Silver				-----	04:12:29

Niall and Lawrie tuck into a bowl of pasta at the finish

Belgium classics

If you've got a spare weekend in april and fancy a bit of Belgium hospitality, plus some classic cycling.
http://www.sport.be/classicchallenge/1314/

Sharpethorne Roubaix

First Saturday of the month meant the club was meeting at Betchworth. I rode out with Mark W and Sabin from Wandsworth with temperatures just above freezing. The forecast was for a dry day so I wasn't too bothered about taking a jacket after weeks of rain. We were last to leave the carpark as Andy was trying to find a route on his Garmin, Trevor deciding to leave it to the rest of us to organise ourselves this week. I had downloaded a route, from when we had ridden there a couple of years ago, just before leaving home.
We headed out towards Smallfield then Crawley were the group split into 2 groups of 5 for some serious training as more members wanted to ride on the front. We all had agreeded to meet at Sharpethorne tea room where as per usual there was a band to entertain us. After a leisurely lunch and a few coffees we all headed home. My route took us along a lane that turn into a muddy track. It seems we do this every year and it makes for a bike cleaning Sunday for all of us. Still it did give Mark Browne a chance to practice his skills for his up coming ride in the Paris Roubaix sportive.

Mark B training for Paris Roubaix

Barry

John in 2014

John in 2012