The final Club Run of 2013. Winter has arrived. Three intrepid riders, one challenge – to get to Dorney unscathed. Well, readers, we managed it but it was no easy task I can tell you. We had to main road it all the way, apart from a DESCENT of WASH HILL in conditions that might make people think twice on the Willesden Reliability (see press for details, forthcoming event, February 2014).
“A Boy a Girl and a Bike ” is Yorkshire’s answer to Americia’s “Breaking Away”. Filmed in what looks like the Dales and Malham Tarn, the film has some similarities in the plot line to the much later American film. The story is about the Wakefield Wheelers and contains careless motorists, bike theft, cycle racing, cycling club committee meetings and illegal gambling.
The film stars Honor Blackman, Diana Dors and Anthony Newly, all of whom were very young and yet to reach their later stardom. The cast is also peppered with many other familiar British actors, well to anyone over 55 that is!
If you have an hour or so to spare over the Christmas break, then press on the link above and enjoy the film, even though it is a bit flimsy compared to today’s megabudget blockbuster.
Warning: Contains Northern accents and was made in a county containing Whippets.
An artists impression of the new Velodrome and surrounding park at Saint Quentin sur Yvelines
Enthusiasts of the Paris-Brest-Paris may like to note that the new velodrome at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (on the outskirts of Paris, near Versailles) is now open and ready to host its first competition. The velodrome is close to the start/finish that the Paris-Brest-Paris has used for the past few occasions. Perhaps in the future the start will be from the Velodrome? Who knows…. but it would be handy for those who fancy a bit of track racing after a 1200km ride!!!
The velodrome will accommodate 5,000 spectators with 4,800 seats around the track and room for a further 200 seats in the central area at the heart of the track. The dimensions of the track are 250 meters long and 8 meters wide with a corner radius of 23 meters.
Miles Back
19 Dec 13
On Saturday 21 December I will be riding down to Dinton Pasture to meet up with Tony Willard and the excellent Oakley Pedalers. Tony has invited any Willesden member to meet up for a coffee and, for heaven’s sake, maybe even a mince pie or twelve. This is a great opportunity to avoid any last minute Xmas shopping.
Depart from Denham 09:30 sharp.
This week Tom and Charlotte Zittel (with the improbable help of Mixte the Cat) opened the doors of their brand new virtual cycle store. Currently available as an on-line cycling shop on a tablet, laptop, smartphone or PC near you, a range of very swish looking cycling apparel is ready for you to make your own, or a prezzy for a very lucky cyclist.
Though this is a ultra modern, high tech, digital retail shopping environment, Triangle Cyclery has its roots firmly in the history of West London’s cycling. Triangle Cycles was originally based in Ickenham and belonged to Bert Rayner who is also Charlotte’s grandfather. The shop will be familiar to anyone over a certain age…… so that’s most of the Willesden CC membership then!
Please have a look at their web site at – http://trianglecyclery.com/shop/ and while you are at it give them a big, sloppy electronic hug by “liking” them on Facebook too – https://www.facebook.com/TriangleCyclery
Triangle Cycles – Release 1.0
Miles Back
15 December 2013
REMINDER
The Westerley Cycling Club have invited us to their Christmas Social evening at their Clubroom in Greenford on Wednesday 18 December to start at 8.30 p.m. The address is: Cayton Rd, Greenford UB6 8BJ. Here’s a link for directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en-GB&q=Northolt%20Rugby%20Club%20
Please let Wendy Mears know if you intend to join them so that Roly can gauge numbers for catering.
2014 WILLESDEN CC COACHING PROGRAMME
10:00am, Thursday 2nd January 2014
Hillingdon Circuit, Springfield Road, London UB4 0LP
The Willesden CC coaching squad will be applying their vast array of skills, knowledge and humourous banter to help realise your true potential for the coming 2014 season.
January 2nd 2014 will be the first of a series of coaching sessions aimed at developing your performance, skills and ambitions for the 2014 season. Racer, Trackie, Tester, Audaxer, Sunday club run rider or even fixie hipsters (well perhaps not fixie hipsters!), you will all gain from these sessions that are geared to your own individual needs and coaching requirements.
These sessions are definitely NOT “one-size-fits-all”, as the Willesden coaching team will be working closely with you to define and focus upon the specific skills and techniques that you have personally identified as requiring further development.
There is no requirement for any prior racing or group riding experience and you will be coached at a comfortable pace in a fun and low pressure environment. The sessions will be run at the traffic-free Hillingdon circuit by the Willlesden CC’s team of fully qualified British Cycling coaches.
The cost for Willesden CC members is £1.00 for Under-18s, £3.000 for Over-18s.
To help our Coaches plan for the day please mail them your coaching requirements and development points to either –
Tony Woodford – woodford831 {at} live {dot} co {dot} uk
Or
Ray Kelly – raymondkelly211 {at} btinternet {dot} com
On the day please bring a bike, warm cycling clothing, helmet, your training objectives and a spiffing sense of humour.
Miles Back
![MC900410675[2]](http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MC9004106752.jpg)
Willesden Cycling Club Children’s Christmas party is being held at Minet Park Club House on Friday 20 December 2013 at 6.30 p.m.
As usual, contributions of food and drink will be much appreciated, and as in previous years if you wish to bring a small gift for your children or anyone else of your choice, Santa will be coming along to hand out the gifts. Please show the recipient’s name on the parcel.
If you want to wish any club folk a Merry Christmas then also bring your Christmas cards, this will save you dosh on postage.
Friends and family of club members are welcome to join in on the fun, games, and frivolity of this party.
A lady who is registered blind has approached the club as she would like someone to pilot her tandem. As many of you know I already pilot Angus, which I enjoy, as it’s cycling in company and you get a different perspective on things: I’m sure someone else could find piloting as personally rewarding.
She is based in Ladbroke Grove.
If you are interested please contact me directly at ianoli2010-audax at yahoo dot co dot uk and I will put you in touch with her
We are looking at running a training day at Hillingdon Circuit on the 2nd January 2014 for our under 18 riders. However any Club member who wishes to come along is more than welcome. Cost £3.00 for over 18s and £1.00 for under 18s. Please let me know if you are interested as we will only run this event if we have sufficient numbers.
Tony Woodford woodford831@live.co.uk
Ray Kelly’s relentless internet trawling for obscure parts of arcane bikes has uncovered some suitable apres-velo attire for style conscious Willesden fashionistas.
So as Equipment Officer he is urging all of us to check out Prendas Ciclismo’s “Corsa Retro” Polo shirt which sports a splendid Willesden CC livery.
Available in all sizes at £39.95 a shot…. or just ask Santa.
Don’t forget to attend the AGM this Sunday 1st December at 2.00 p.m. at Minet Park Club House.
PS
Don’t forget it’s the most prestigous club competition of the year on Sunday. The Fryathlon. Meet at Denham at 9:30 as usual or for the spectators it’s on Gore Hill in Amersham. Get there early because the place will be rammed!! Maybe.
The South East Women’s Time Trial Series (SEWTTS) is a new time trial series for women. It consists of 11 events and has been designed to promote competition in a friendly and encouraging environment. SEWTTS is the work of Rebecca Slack, who has been the National 100 mile champion twice, and finished on the podium in the national 10, 25, 50 and National Hill Climb. Rebecca’s aim is to create a friendly and unintimidating environment for women of all abilities.
Those taking part in the series will be categorised by their personal bests, ranging from Elite class riders through to Novice categories for first-timers with no PB. This categorisation has been included so that women can compete against others at the same level, this means that the focus will be on competition rather than on gaining fast times on fast courses.
Joining the SEWTTS costs £10, if you are interested in finding out more then please go to www.sewtts.co.uk.
Adam Huddle reported on Facebook “I thought this might be of interest. I was at Brooklands the other week (volunteer steward) and spotted this ,I took a photo of it. 100 miles works out to be about 36.5 laps of the track.”
Ian Why added ” The machine examiner F. Greenaway is presumably Frank Greenaway who I remember when I first joined The Willesden. And no it wasn’t in 1939 before you lot start!!”
This is the calendar version of the Audax UK Perm, The Boat Trip which has been pressed into service to fill the gap left by Terry Lister’s legendary South Bucks Winter Warmer. Terry is having a year off this year; be sure to email him to make sure he comes back next year!.
The Winter Boat Trip starts from The Wonder Cafe in Hillindon and has a pub finish at The Tichenham Inn, a Wetherspoons Pub in Ickenham, so there is a chance for a bite to eat and a pint after the ride.
The route itself is mostly “rolling flat” on good roads, just right for a winter’s day. There will be some lanes later on though so bring your lights if youre feeling tardy. We head out of town via Chalfont St Giles and Great Kingshill to Quainton Memorial Hall for 2nd breakfast served by the Quainton Hall voluntary group, then it’s off to Stoke Bruerne for lunch at the canalside Boat Inn. The afternoon stop is another canelside cafe, The Bluebell Cafe at Marsworth nr Tring and then we rolling down to The Tichenham Inn for a pint to end the day. Excellent
Routesheet with rider notes and GPX, as well as entry forms are now on line on the Audax UK Website Clicky. Note that the GPS download contains two GPX files, the main route and an alternate which routes home via Chesham. The Chesham option is a bit busy for my tastes but if the weather turns then it may prove the better route.
The start and finish locations are about 2km apart, literally at opposite ends of a Long Lane. For those driving, a free car park is available near the finish point, so park there and ride down to the start. See the rider notes on the routesheet for details.
Paul Stewart
Due to ongoing work and wizard commitments Lance is hanging up his racing wheels for the time being. So he is offering up for sale a range of bikes and wheels for a Willesden bargain hunter to gleefully scoop up. Lance can be contacted at lancewoodman92 (at) gmail (dot) com, or through his blog page
His road bike is a 56cm Focus Cayo, carbon frame, for which he is looking for £500 ono
The track bike is Keith Elliot’s (and then Jumbo’s) old Cougar. It has a 56cm frame with quite a short top tube. The frame is steel and comes with sprint wheels and spare chainrings etc. The asking price is £150 (or £120 to someone in the club who needs a starter bike).
Here is Lance’s full spec for his Planet X Stealth Time Trial bike and wheels –
This is the original May 2008 order and spec from Planet X. Please excuse it being shown as a graphic. My PC crashed and the recovery software on the old emails doesn’t have a copy and paste option.
Invoice from PlanetX
Here you can see the FFWD disc (it’s unbadged and was sold by Planet X as one of theirs. You can see the FFWD label in the valve hole – shown below). It’s a carbon disc with aluminium clincher rim. It has a veloflex tyre on (as does the front). It’s been in dry and cool storage a long time. The wheel cost £500 new.
The front wheel (below) is a beauty – a Xentis Mark 1. It has a DT Swiss hub. Again it’s carbon with an alu clincher rim and veloflex shod. The skewers for the disc and the front are titanium.
There’s a double wheel bag as well:
The stem is longer than the one in the order.
The base bars have been replaced. They are aluminium with a wing section.
The extensions are new carbon ones by Profile. They cost £150+.
I have replaced the saddle with a broader nosed tri saddle – Selle Italia SLR Ti (Titanium bars)
The group set is Shimano 105 throughout.
I am thinking about £500 for the bike + £450 for the carbon wheels, skewers and tyres. I’ll throw in the wheel bag.
If you have any questions, please do get in touch.
Regards,
Lance
Whilst John was not a Willesden member he will be known to our senior members. One of John’s defining moments came in 1952 when he won a stage in the Tour of Britain. See a Pathe News video of his win here
John joined us on one of the Willesden CC’s early Christmas expeditions to the Isle of Wight in the 1990’s. Whilst queuing for the ferry over to to the island John remarked on the upgrades to the ferries – the last time he visited the island they were served by venerable fleet of steam driven paddle steamers!
Please visit Ray Green’s blog site, Green Jersey, for a warm and touching tribute to John and his palmares. John’s funeral will take place at 1.00pm on 6th December at the Breakspear Crematorium, Breakspear Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 7SJ
Wokingham Farm Cafe. An interesting ride? Yes we can.
Not an actual picture
Two groups set off, but only one made it. An incident in the main peloton brought three riders down outside the Fat Duck in Bray. Fortunately it is believed that no-one sustained serious injury. Less fortunately no-one rushed out of the restaurant to invite riders in for the tasting menu. I did not see what happened, but I am sure there are lessons to be learned.
The medium-paced group (with a few new and prospective members, led by the club runs captain) played tortoise and hare with the main peloton, and reached the Stables first. En route, in a week of news about terrible cycling incidents, it was a shame to happen upon an ambulance and a rider down in the road on the way. The larger group was last heard of lost somewhere in Bracknell, but they all and ended up back at Dorney with plenty of miles in their legs.
