Willesden Cycling Club

Tim Wainwright has sent through his account of his first 200km ride since last summer.

Five WCC auks sneaked out of work on Wednesday to ride Tom Jackson’s Wye Wednesday 200. They were Mark Brooking, John Hopper, Bob Macdonald, Mark Green and yours truly.

The start was only a hour’s drive from my house, but within minutes we were in dense fog on the high ground and into torrential rain ten minutes later. Mark G was rather concerned and asked if we should continue, but the weather forecast had predicted a reasonable day by mid-morning, so we carried on.

There were at least 50 starters, many of the usual faces from this area, plus a few newcomers. I guess most were aiming for PBP qualifying. “Rainlegs” were quite evident on a few riders – well worth the investment for this time of year.Once we had cleared the few hills of the North Downs and well into Kent, the terrain was surprisingly flat, the sun was shining, there were some large puddles to dodge and there were punctures all along the route for some.First control was a garage at 37k, so not worth stopping there apart from filling a borrowed bidon as I’d left mine in the car. Even the windswept Romney Marsh looked attractive in the sunlight.

Next control at 107k was the well-used Hythe Light Railway cafe, bit of a greasy spoon but quite cheap prices. I arrived about midday and got away in about 20 minutes.

Bit of a nagging headwind on the way back turned some areas into a grovel, especially when you’re tired and it’s your first 200 since last August.Next control (167k) was a local store, so a much-needed coffee and a sit-down was out of the question. Had to do with a bottle of water and some flapjack, then drank down a gel (that seemed to get my legs working again).

Turned on the Schmidt about 5.30 and promptly blew the bulb, and after a tremendous fast descent to the M2 Medway crossing I replaced the bulb before it got dark and immediately missed the L over the cyclepath on the bridge. Climbed a long drag through the village of Borstal with Mark chasing me from afar. He didn’t catch me till I’d reached the summit – it it had been flat, he’d overhaul me in about 50 yds.

Most unusal info on the M2 bridge – name the restaurant seen from the view. There it was, a MacDonald’s shining through the murk about a km away.No more mistakes were made following the lanes in the dark and we finished with 217k on the computer at 6.40, making it 11hr 10 min – about an hour quicker than I had originally estimated.

Didn’t see Mark B or John H at the finish, so hope they made it OK.

Next two rides are the Denmead 200 and El Supremo’s from Hailsham (followed by a week in Italy at a super-sounding bike hotel, along with Mark Green and Dennis Falvey). Anyone fancy joining us? Flights from Stansted about £10, hire your carbon bike there.

Tim Wainwright

Recently Ian and Pauline Why together with Sean Bannister visited Simon in Hospital in Sheffield. Whilst it is encouraging news, Simon injuries are still very serious.

Here is Ian’s report

“Pauline, Sean Bannister and I went to see Simon on Sunday. We were pleasantly surprised to see him awake. He recognised us and looked up when I showed him my plaster.”

“Although he has no power of speech yet he nods when he understands a question. He even laughed when Pauline suggested he and I ride the next PBP on a tandem. He also smiled when we mentioned Rocco.”

“He gets very tired and closed his eyes a lot. Sean told him about his trip to Australia and he seamed to take some of it in.”

“Two of his neighbours turned up as we were getting ready to leave and they said he seems to have improved since just after Christmas. They had brought some flowers and he took one and was smelling it.”

“Pauline could not reach him to kiss him goodbye so kissed her fingers and went to touch his lips but he reached up and kissed her fingers.”

“He has obviously got a very, very long way to go but at least seeing him has given us some encouragement.”

Suzz Patel our new time trial Secretary has given me a list of Time Trials run by the West London Combine Time Trial over the coming year

Date: 4th March 07 – Start 08.01
Course: 10 miles – H10/2 0 – Knowl Hill
Organiser: Middlesex RC
Entries close: Tuesday 20th February

Date: 18th March 07 -Start 08:01
Course: 25 Miles – CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser: Hillingdon Tri-Stars
Entries close: Tuesday 6th March

Date: 8th April 07 – Start 07:31
Course: 25 Miles – CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser: High Wycombe CC
Entries close: Tuesday 28th March

Date: 6th May 07 – Start 07:31
Course: 25 Miles – CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser: Hemel Hempstead CC
Entries close: Tuesday 24th April

Date: 17th June – Start 08:01
Course: 25 Miles – CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser Hillingdon CC
Entries close: Tuesday 5th June

Date: 22nd July 07 – Start 07:31
Course: 50 Miles – CC128 – LopcationTBC
Organser Westerley RC
Entries close: Tuesday 10th July

Date: 2nd September 07 – Start 07:31
Course: 25 Miles – CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser: Bath Road Club
Closing date: Tuesday 21st August

Date: 16th September 07 – Start 08:01
Course: 25 Miles 2-UP CC113 – Amersham Road
Organiser: Harp RC
Closing date: Tuesday 4th September

Date: 21st October 07 – Start 09:31
Course: Hill Climb HCC011 – Location TBC
Organiser West Drayton MBC
Entries close: Tuesday 9th October

Derek Reynolds has also draws our attention to the following TT events in March

Sun 18th March 07 – Maidenhead Hilly 28 miles
Sun 25th March 07 – VTTA 10 miles Amersham Road (open to non-vets)
Sat 31st March 07 – Middx 10, Knowl Hill

Mark and Alison Brooking visited Simon in hospital last week. They have been able to give us a first hand report on Simon’s current condition and his longer term prospects.

“Simon is being cared for at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. He remains very ill in what is described as a ‘low response state’, which means: he is awake for short periods of time, but tires quickly; he is able to recognise people, follow conversation and respond by facial expression i.e. smiling, moving his eyelids.”

“Simon has a good range of movement in his left arm, limited movement in his right arm. His bodily injuries are sufficiently healed for physiotherapy to begin and therapy is ongoing to stimulate communication. The long term prognosis, at this point in time, is bleak in terms of him regaining physical independence, but it is really an unknown quantity as to how far Simon will progress.”

Final Reminder

This is a final reminder for your 2007 Willesden Subs.

If I have not received them with in the next week, then your membership will expire!

The rates are:
Single – £15
Couples – £18
Families – £20
Juniors – £3
School persons – £1

Please send the correct amount to –

Please send them to
Gladys Purdy, 55 Exeter Road, Rayners Lane, Middx, HA2 9PQ

The WCC’s first event of our SR series took place on Saturday. A very well attended run, with Steve Abrahams, turning it into a 700km ride by adding on a 500km commute to and from the start. Conditions were looking good for January with no sign of rain and little wind. However as the ride approached Pangbourne a narrow silver of black ice claimed a number of scalps. Organiser, Paul Stewart, takes up the story

“I think there was one only patch of ice in the Chilterns yesterday but we managed to find it, with several riders falling. Douglas Aspinall and Edmund Spurgeon had particularly hard falls.”

“Douglas fractured his hip and was extracted by air ambulance. Edmund feeling battered but mobile made his own way home via A&E where he was diagnosed with a cracked pelvis. Edmund tells me that as things go it’s quite minor and will mend itself over the next six weeks or so.”

“I’d like to thank everybody who took part yesterday for their support, with special thanks to Danny Fisher for acting quickly to warn oncoming riders of the ice, and Ray Kelly & John Wheatley who stayed with Douglas until the ambulance arrived. Most of all I’d like to wish Douglas and Edmund a speed recovery.”

John Wheatley also reported that a large horse with rider came close to sliding on the ice and taking out Doug’s entire rescue party! More excitement followed when the helicopter arrived, causing an out break of deadly plane spotter disease. The helicopter crew came under close questioning as to where the helicopter was based with many riders/spotters speculating it must have been from High Wycombe (it was actually Benson).

The accidents overshadowed what was a very well organised event by Paul. He even ensured that the helicopter turned out in Willesden colours!

Photo : John Wheatley

Mr. Pither, the cyclist, bobs up and down a few more times, then disappears from sight. There is a crash and clang of a bicycle in collision, mixed with the scream of a frightened hen, and stifled shout of alarm.

“August 18th. Fell off near Bovey Tracey. ” ……. “The pump caught in my trouser leg, and my sandwiches were badly crushed”

Afer a further accident (“rubber instep caught on the rear mudguard stanchion “), Mr Pither meets Gulliver. Whereupon the following cycling dialog takes place …

Gulliver
Really? And what happened to the corned beef rolls?

Pither
The corned beef rolls squashed out of all…here, how did you know about the corned beef rolls?

Gulliver
I noticed them – or what remained of them – in the road. I noticed also that the lemon curd tart had sustained some superficial damage.

Pither
That’s right. The curd had become…

Gulliver
Detached from the pastry base.

Pither
Absolutely right, yes.

Gulliver
Otherwise the contents of the sandwich box were relatively unharmed, although I detected small particles of bitumen in the chocolate kup kakes.

Pither
But they were wrapped in foil!

Gulliver
Not the hard chocolate top, I’m afraid.

Pither
Oh, that’s the bit I like.

Gulliver
The sausage roll, the crisps and ginger bisquit were unscathed.

Pither
Here, how do you know so much about cycling?

For the full 30 minute video click on each of the ten minutes postings below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Wre5zO4Ek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgrejCK_OIY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu_WyvghQbQ

With only 207 cycling nights left to the start of the PBP, sources with RUSA (Randonneurs USA) seem to confirm that ACP (Audax Club de Paris) will allow LED lights as a primary source of lighting on this year’s event.

“The front must be visible from 100 meters, and the rear from 150 meters. The rear light must be on steady mode, not blinking.”

Note of caution, this has yet to be confirmed by ACP.

Dear Miles,

Could I, through the blog, thank everyone for the help and good wishes especially Brian and Jenny for taking plenty of photos of my pothole before and after the tide went out! And washing my cycling gear. Please tell Jenny this week’s washing bag is on its way!

I’m home now fully pinned and screwed and plastered!!!

Cheers Ian

So pleased to hear your are back home. I hope those plates are titanium, nothing less will do for a bikie!

Ian came a cropper on yesterday’s club run, breaking his ankle in three places.

The accident happened in Bottrels Lane, between Chalfont St Giles and the Amerham road. He was riding with Jim and Wendy Mears and Brain Wright when he hit a puddle containing a deep pot hole. Fortunately Ian was going very slowly at the time or the ramifications would have been far worse.

I understand that he underwent surgery last night to insert plates around the broken bones. He is currently in Wexham Park Hospital and may be discharged later this week if all goes well.

Get well soon, Ian

Over the course of this week our Willesden club mates will be travelling to all corners of the world.

Karl is setting off on a tour of the Far East where he intends to notch up over 3,500km on his bike. He is starting in Bangkok where he and his bike will spend a few days recovering from the ordeal of the baggage handlers. He will then set out for a 500km ride to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, one of the world’s largest religious sites. The 12th century temples at Angkor Wat are spread out over an area of some 40 miles, so the bike will be dead handy.

The next 500km leg will take Karl to Phnom Pen and eventually into Vietnam. He is planning to stay five days in Ho Chi Minh (the only capital to be named after a chef, apparently) before embarking on a 800km tour up the coast and then inland to the hills at Da Lat. When he returns to Ho Chi Minh he will then take the ferry back up the mighty Mekong to rejoin his route at Phnom Pen. He should be back in Thailand by early March.

Karl is taking a few Audax brevet cards in his back pocket, so that he can rattle off a quick 200km DIY Permanent ride in each of the countries he will be visiting. That should puzzle the adjudicators back at Audax UK!

This weekend also sees Hilary head out to the frozen wastes of Sakhalin Island, just off the coast of Siberia, where she will be working for the next two years. Her trip out there is exhausting as Karl’s tour. It will involve several flights, a 12 hour train journey and a three hour jeep ride to the site. At her side will be the ever faithful Zippy and her turbo trainer, so she will continue to get the miles in during the minus 30c winter. However come the summer I can see Hiliary taking a page out of Karl’s book and doing a 200km Audax ride on Russian soil.

You never know she might even bump into Ivo.

The Westerley Cycling Club has invited the Willesden to their Annual Quiz Night. As we were well & truly thrashed last time, this is a chance to redeem our reputation!

Snacks will be provided and a full bar is available to help those brain cells grind into gear. Good company, a challenging quiz – all for a small fee of £2.00 per person – what more could one ask for?

The event takes place on Wednesday 7th March 2006 at 8.30pm at the Westerley Club Room in Perivale, Cayton Green Park, Cayton Road, Greenford, Middx, UB6 8BJ. (click on map below for detail)

Please let me, Hilary Pandya, know by email if you can come along and accept the challenge hxpandya@bechtel.com.

Last call for numbers 1st March – don’t miss out

Simon was recently transfered back to his home town of Sheffield. The following is the latest from Melita Luxton at Audax UK

Dear All

Simon has been undergoing various tests which will end next week. These will help give a clearer picture of his future progress and outcomes.

For the moment, Simon is re learning how to swallow, though he continues to be tube fed. He has shown a clear range of facial expressions including pain,smiles and tears. Simon does not as yet speak though there is some attemptby Simon at moving his lips. His attention span has improved to several minutes and his ability to hold eye contact is much improved.

Overall, Simon is continuing to improve, though this progress is very slow. I will update when there is further news.

Melita

Clearly many members are just arriving home after the excellent D&D on Saturday night, as the photos have started to arrive here at Blog HQ in deepest Willesden

Dipak gains his award for his MG – Ford convertible.

Hilary wins the Audax Ladies Trophy after gaining a hat full of points with some very fast 200km times.

Greetings all,

A short note to remind you all that the Willesden’s premier, well, first, anyway, Audax event of 2007 will be leaving Chalfont St Peter on 27th January @ 7:30am. Yes, it is the debut edition of the Willy Warmer which routes down to Lane End, Pangburne, Peasemore, Hungerford, Kingsclere, Bramley, Winnersh and home to Chalfont.

Originally billed as “Challenging if not Brutal”, you’ll be pleased to know that it has had a chevron-climb-ectomy and has been downgraded to “Quite Interesting”, tho if you slip me a couple of bob I can show you where the chevron climbs can be found for just a couple of extra kms.

As I write we have 65 entries in hand, including a dozen Willesden entries, so we look set for a good number of riders on the road. If your’e interested to ride just drop me an email or better still, an entry form.

Liz Creese and Martin Lucas have offered their services as helpers at Chalfont (many thanks) and as the route uses commercial controls (Jolly Good Food Co @ Pangbourne, and Tutti Pole @ Hungerford, Sainsburys Cafe @ Winnersh), so you’ll be well catered for during the day and back at Chalfont, tho if anybody fancies an early start to the day, an extra hand on the tea urn in the morning would be most welcome.

Anyway, I’m certainly looking forward to my first event as organiser and seeing you at Chalfont next week.

Best regards,
Paul Stewart