Willesden Cycling Club

Ian Why has just sent me some more information on Simon, which he has received from Janet.

He has recently moved to a long term term care home in Surbiton, Surrey. He is still in the process of settling in and the staff are also having to learn of his needs. Janet would greatly appreciate knowing that someone would visit and give him something to laugh about. She says bad and politically incorrect jokes are a particular favourite of his.

He is getting quite good at simple general knowledge quizs and crosswords, if the clues are read to him. He also likes to be read simple adventure stories. As well as amusing him, these will also provide good stimulation.

He is at –

Blenheim Lodge
1-3 Adelaide Road
Surbiton
Surrey
KT 6 4TA

It might be an idea to call ahead to let them know you are coming.
Their number is 020 8408 8751.



John Davies

Organiser Mark Brooking reflects upon the nature of the beast.

Mark Green corners the suppy of orange segments

Ian Oliver, wondering how the date was tatooed on his right arm..

Time Wainwright

Peter Turbull dressed for the rain some hours before its arrival

That was painful

Paul Stewart looking relaxed and unruffled….

Andrew Deaner, fortunately his professional services were not needed atop Streatley Hill

Mike being Mike

Clifford French

Martin Lucas

Steve Ayers

Darlene “What Hills?” Rini

Tracey Horsman and master chef at the controls

Dappled sunlight scene at Streatley, how little did we know

Mark and Diane Horman perpare for the hungry hoards

With my bike (and nerves) back in one piece, I set off on the first of four planned cyclosportives yesterday, in wonderful sunshine; the countryside was full of people doing ‘normal’ Sunday things along with the 120 or so of us deciding to thrash ourselves round some of the toughest hills the Chilterns could throw at us. The Verulam CC’s Chiltern 100 starts of with some deceptively comfortable fast bits, before settling down into hill after hill after hill. Managed to get round in 6 hours and 2 minutes, just missing out on the sub 6 hour ‘gold standard’, but it’s not supposed to be a race and I ‘enjoyed’ myself (apart from on Kingston Blount). For more ramblings see http://omcoc.blogspot.com/2007/06/chiltern-100.html

My apologies for the late posting of Glad’s report from last weekend. I’m living up/down to my name. Miles Back

Just to keep you up-to-date with the other events this week on Wednesday Tony Woodford finished in 2nd place in the LVRC race at Hillingdon with Chris James coming in with the bunch. They are looking for some more 40+ riders to join them in these events. Ed rode in the Maidenhead 10 on Wednesday and recorded 23.53 and then disaster struck and his handlebars broke when he was returning home(Read all the details on his blog.) Gill wasn’t able to ride as Derek is in Harefield hospital recovering from what was meant to be a one day visit.

The final round of the Willesden SR series started this morning at 6am from Waltham Abbey. The fearsome 600km route known as the “Beast from the East” will take the 62 starters down to Taunton via Princes Risborough, Hungerford and Warminster.

Tracey and Diane Horsman will be waiting at the top of Streetley hill to provide the riders with a breakfast boost. Sleeping and feeding facilities have been laid on at Yeovil and will be manned by the crack Willesden Catering Corp.

The riders have until 10pm Sunday night to finish the course. So think of them as you go to your cosy bed this evening.

John Davies

Organiser Mark Brooking briefing the riders at the start

Willesden Riders, Mike, Steve, Cliff and Tim elect to let the rest have a head start.

L to R. Mike, Paul Stuart, Steve and Darlene Rini just before the 6am start

Mark Brooking and Ray Kelly have booked their places for Paris having bagged their 600km PBP qualifier over the weekend. This makes them the first in the Willesden to attain this for the 2007 event. They rode the “Beast from the East” course a week in advance of the actual event in order to reccy the out the route for the 80+ riders already entered for this event.

Conditions on the 300km outward leg from Waltham Forest to Taunton Dean were very windy. With the section across Salisbury Plain being particularly gruelling. The night time sections were very cold, with temperatures plummeting to 4C. Mark was prepared for this and was carrying some form of high-tech self heating coffee system to whip a nocturnal expresso. Just the job to warm the cockles and keep you wide awake during the night section.

Mark is finalising changes to the route sheet this week, principally caused by an unexpected road closure at 30km in to the ride. So allow a little extra time to pick up new directions when you report to the start this Saturday morning. There is a healthy entry from Willesden riders, all eager to book their place with Ray and Mark on the start line in Paris.

A. Badger

The time trialists have been out and about this week. Ed Packard, who had a fall from his bike on the wet cobbles whilst riding through Hyde Park, teamed up with Richard Jerome to ride the Bicester Millenium C.C. 2up 10 on Tuesday evening over a 2.5 mile circuit at an RAF base and finished with a time of 24.14.

Wednesday afternoon saw Brian Moon in action in the London Vets 10 at Billington and recording his fastest 10 of the year with 26.25. On Saturday Ron Purdy rode in the Lampard 10 and finished in 30.36 on a very windy day when most people were indoors watching the cup final.

Sunday- Chris James rode in the High Wycombe 25 at Maidenhead and returned 1.07.42 to record his fastest time of the season. Gill Reynolds rode in the National Championship 10 in Cambridgeshire and did 26.13 and Ed Packard who was visiting his sister, a nurse, who was home on leave from Iraq, rode in the Stowmarket and District 10 and again finished in the top third of the field with 24.27.

Hope the weather cheers up for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Cheers Gladys

Another windy afternoon at Hillingdon, this race featured a few Primes and for once I decided it would be best not to contest these and save myself for the overall sprint. Several small groups threatened to get away and one group looked to have succeeded up until the main bunch caught them right in the last corner.
Luckily I was near the front when this happened and managed to sprint into 9th place.

Richard Jerome

Results
1 Joe Skelton Brixton Cycles
2 Roger Woodford AW Cycles s/t
3 Harry Bolstrode N/A
4 Mark Matthews AW Cycles
5 Russ Turner London Dynamo/Cyclefit.co.uk
6 Alan Sherman Kingston Whlrs
7 David Farrow Eagle RC
8 Stuart Jackson Team Quest
9 Richard Jerome Willesden CC
10 Russell Painter Norwood Paragon CC
11 Richard Stannard Sigma Sport
12 Adan Cutterell Addiscombe CC
13 Gavin Spiers Reading CC
14 Chris Jones Bynea CC

1st woman – Janet Brkmyre Planet X/SheCycles.com

As a warm-up to the BBQ season, the Westerley & Willesden Cycling Clubs are organising a visit to the Rebellion Brewery at Bencombe Farm, Marlow Bottom, Bucks.

Here is Richard’s exciting report from Tuesday night’s racing , his writing style really makes you feel as though you were there. Miles B.


I got a new frame at the weekend and was really keen to give it a good thrashing round Hillingdon. I left work in Slough at 6:00pm and with the wind behind me I managed to get to Hillingdon for 6:45 to sign on and warmup, the bike was handling really well and was much faster than my last frame.

I knew it would be a hard night, but then I saw the blue and pink Volvo’s of PCA and realised I was in for a kicking! I was relived to find a new team mate (who’s name I have now forgotten -sorry) we had a chat about possible team tactics but I think the main objective was to survive.

The race went off pretty hard and we both tried to stay near the front. This worked quite well as due to the tough conditions lots of riders were struggling at the back and leaving gaps open. It wasn’t long until a few gaps opened up and a break formed including PCA, Colin Roshier, ex- Willesden member Gavin Smith and Joel Stewart. The wind was really tough making it impossible to get away but I really wanted to push myself tonight and test out the new bike so I took a chance and had a go at the front and got away for about half a lap, I came round the corner into the wind and it was like riding into a brick wall and I was quickly swallowed up by the bunch.

I was really starting to suffer from several efforts I had put in during the race. I began to notice the field had got smaller and some of the usual riders were watching the race from the sides, so I was pleased to still be in the race at this point. Although there were about 12 riders away in the break I wanted to put in a good sprint and with 2 laps to go Des Gaylor really put the hammer down and strung out the remaining riders in the bunch. However I was placed about 8 riders back at this point and in a good position for the sprint. We came back round and the lap board still said 2 laps!!! There had been a mistake with the lap board and we had to do another lap and by this point I was shattered and did not have anything left in me to contest the sprint. I finished at the back of the bunch.

Really pleased with the bike and the race was excellent training, no Hillingdon next Tuesday as I am getting a kicking from Ed Packard in a2-up!

Top ten placings – E/1/2/3
1. James Millard Plowman Craven RT 1:01:57 28 laps/42km
2. Tony Gibb Plowman Craven RT st
3. Gordon McCauley Plowman Craven RT st
4. Joel Stewart Agiskoviner +0.15
5. Walter Sybrandy Agiskoviner +0.25
6. John McLelland Agiskoviner +0.30
7. Vincent Halpern AWCycles st
8. Colin Roshier Team Quest st
9. Mark Bruce Agiskoviner st
10. Bill Butterworth Team Quest st

Richard Jerome

Last Saturday saw the Willesden host the 400km round of our Audax Super Randonneur series. Chris Beynon did an exemplary job of organising the event and producing a very clear and accurate route sheet. The entry card was full and Chris was obliged to close off entries several weeks prior to the start. The popularity of this event meant that the reserve list grew longer with each day.

In total 70 riders took part and among them were 14 Willesden members. The ride started in Chalfont St. Peter and went via controls at Woodstock, Tewesbury, Chepstow, with a final stop Membury Services on the M4. Along theway it takes in the legend/leg-end that is Yat Rock (20% average gradient).

Yat Rock – the camera lies it is steep (Photo John Williams)

Conditions on the event proved cold. As the day wore on (and I wore out) it seemed to get much colder, with a northerly wind causing much of the damage. Over post-ride tea and cake Mike Ellison told us that he began to suffer from hypothermia during the night section. John Williams who was riding with Mike takes up the story

“ It was after midnight and the temperature had plummeted. We were both suffering badly from the cold, compounded by fatigue. Our lack of warm clothing was a real handicap although the fact that I am naturally more insulated than Mike gave me an advantage. Mike was definitely getting hypothermic and we were both starting to worry as the next possible place to warm up was in Henley. “

“So, with great presence of mind, Mike spotted a pub that was having a lock-in and bowled in begging for old newspapers to stuff down his jersey. Not only did he get newspaper, the landlady also gave him one of her husbands old jumpers that she didn’t like any more! “

“Meanwhile, I had to explain to the assembled drinkers what Audax was all about. Bemused sums up their reaction. Just how do you explain that you’d prefer to sit on a bike for 23 hours in the freezing cold rather than stay in a cozy pub that locks you in?”

The time limit for the event is 27 hours, however Mel Kirkland must have spotted something good on the telly as he arrived back first, despite being over 30 minutes late at the start. Mel covered 250 mile course with 3,800 metres of climbing in around 17 hours.

At the other end of the scale were the trio of Kelly, Brooking and Davies, who were combining the Audax with an in-depth survey of coffee and bun offerings from all the cafes and service stations along the route. They rolled in with about 10 minutes to spare, with the excess caffeine proving particularly helpful in covering a largish distance in the last minutes of the event.

The Willesden Youth Development Squad (Jack and Karl) were last seen at Woodstock. It turned out that they had to pack due to mechanical reasons and took the train home instead.

John Davies

Grandfather’s Cafe, Tewsbury. The occupants suit the name!
(Photo: John Williams)