Willesden Cycling Club

On Saturday 31st May the West Drayton MBC are promoting a series of youth races and a novice adult race at Black Park Country Park, which is situated between Slough and Uxbridge. The plan is to give each rider the chance to take part in two races which will be time based dependent on age, we are planning on running separate races for each age band from under 8s to under 16s in 2 year increments. The course is all off road but has been designed with the youngsters in mind and there will be two courses on the day so that the older riders can have a more challenging route.

I hope that the event will appeal to your youth riders so that we can make the event an annual occurrence.  If you could spread the word amongst your members that would be great. Full details of race timings/distances are –

Saturday 31st May – Youth race timings/distances

13:00:00 U/8’s 10 mins

13:15:00 U/10’s 15

13:35:00 U/12’s 15

13:55:00 U/8’s 10

14:10:00 U/10’s 15

14:30:00 U/12’s 20

14:55:00 U/14&16 20

15:20:00 Beginners 16+ 30

15:55:00 U/14&16 20.

On the following Sunday June 1st the West Drayton MBC are running a full programme of adult races along with Juvenile and youth races around the full 3.5 mile circuit an event which includes both the Central BC youth and juvenile championships as well as the Emergency Services MTB championship. Once again full details are on the BC website or the club website www.blackparkraces.co.uk

For any of your members that are more into Sportives on May 11th the club promote the long established Bucks Off road Sportive a mixture of bridleways and country lanes suitable for MTBs or Cross bikes and which features 4 distances, 35km, 70km, 100 km and the mega 132km full details on the event website at www.bucks ofroadsportive.co.uk

Many thanks, Chris Denman

On Monday 14th April Tom Zittel (below)  and Kye Lewis (above) rode the first Reading track League of the year.  Kye had a great evening coming first in the Hare and Hounds, Third in the 500m Sprint and First in the Scratch race all in the under 12 category. Tom rode well getting a fine third place in the Scratch race. Continue reading →

Mick Hill’s Boulters Bash Audax from Maidenhead Riverside is being run on Wednesday at 10.00am. Flat nearly to Pangbourne and then scenic back through the Chilterns back.

The weather forecast is for warm and staying dry until about the time you’d finish, with a chance of light showers late afternoon, so on yer bike and give it a go.

Details here. Entry is possible on the line, but best to drop Mick an email ahead of time to let him have an idea of numbers.

Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Hayes, Middlesex. UB4 0LP

Individual time trial –  9.3 miles (10 laps) Continue reading →

“Seeing as it’s Good Friday, many of us are at Stratford* and the ladies club are having their charity bash that afternoon. I have decided to cancel our session this Friday.” Ray Kelly

*For the Good Friday track racing meeting.

I’m emailing to ask whether I can get assistance from the club:

I became a statistic a few weeks ago (although I’m not sure if anyone is keeping stats ), when I shot over the handlebars of me bike, while cycling through Hemel Hempstead industrial area. It was in Three Cherry Trees Lane, but I don’t suppose you’ll be that familiar with this little stretch. I suffered the usual cuts and bruises and was off the bike for 6 weeks and on painkillers for about 3 weeks. Luckily, I broke my fall with my forearm, elbow, shoulder and chest and didn’t hit my face or head.

I’ve been laising with solicitors via the CTC and they’ve said I might have a good case (we’ll see) against Hertfordshire Council, but if I can get other people to confirm what I say about the hazard, it could make quite a difference.

It happened on the 16th February and the hole came at the end of some wonderful newly laid tarmac, which I was marvelling at until I came to a crashing halt. The contractors, for reasons best known to themselves didn’t complete the job and left a section without tarmac, but thoughtfully left a lump at the edge of the hole (see attached photo) that was/is stuck fast to the road. This is what I hit and the combination of the hole, plus the lump of tarmac wrenched the handlebars from my grasp and that was that. The solicitor told me to measure the hole as it didn’t look that deep, so I got the spirit level out to show him.

Would you or anyone else be willing to make some kind of statement about the hazard? I’ve been checking it every now and again and by the 30th March, it still hadn’t been repaired. I’m going to ride past there tomorrow to see if they’ve finished the job yet.

All the best,

Dan Duncan-Jones