Willesden Cycling Club

Peter Eason who is Jack Eason’s son contacted us with the sad news news that Jack passed away at the end of May. Jack was a grand old character of Audax who continued riding well into his eighties. There are no shortage of Jack Eason stories to be told and I am sure we will be recounting them in his memory.

I’m writing to inform Willesden CC that Jack Eason passed away on Friday 24 th May. Even though he had been suffering from dementia and confined to a care home in Potters Bar for the last 2 years, he spent every Sunday at his daughters home tinkering with his numerous bikes, happily preparing them for a last ride that was never to be. His time with the club was, for him, the happiest of years and as his son who was in constant admiration of what he achieved with you, I can only offer a huge thank you.
Peter Eason

To find out a little more about Jack and his straightforward and modest manner look here

Following is Stuart Birnie’s summary of his first sub 4 hour 100. An excellent performance Stuart and thank you for letting me copy your article on to the Willesden Blog.  Miles Back

Whilst “Stuart Birnie Willesden CC” might be a bit fuzzy on the time sheet, his PB is quite clear

Oof.. 4am alarm in order to get out there in time to start. Everyone I’d spoken to had said the F1/100 was going to be pretty fast so I’d decided to drive out and try for a sub-4hr time and then tack on some training afterwards to keep El Coacho happy. I’m glad I did because it was a nice course and I finally went under the 4hr mark, knocking another 5 minutes of my PB set the previous week. I was pretty close to setting a PB for 50 mile as well with a 1:57:15 split – that will have to wait.

With pre-race faffing I almost didn’t make my start slot, having to go back to the HQ for another pin for my number (thanks to the woman who helped in there – your pinning was lucky!). I ummed and arred about adding more air to my tyres and chose not to with another rider saying “it’s all about the comfort”. I would have to agree with him as I hauled butt over to the start line, arriving just as the starter called out 20 seconds to go for my number! Not quite the smooth warmup I had at the Hounslow. Out of the blocks I rolled, trying to calm my pace down, knowing pacing is crucial.

Once again the faithful Foreigner team were out cheering and replacing my bottles as needed. I’d made some small adjustments to my bike and position before this race and was trying very hard to maintain my aero position. It seemed to be working as I was on pace for a sub-4hr ride from the start. The same thing happened at Hounslow though so I knew not to get too excited as the final hour would be critical. My glasses took a little bit longer to be covered in sweat and salt – presumably due to the 3.5hr earlier start compared to Hounslow – still I found myself throwing them at Scherrit preferring to be able to actually see where I was going.

There were some bad patches during the race but nothing too critical. The key thing was, there was now about an hour to race and still a good chance for a sub-4hr time. Perhaps the difference this race was that I really wanted it – coming close to a goal is a great motivator to actually achieve it and to be honest I was getting tired of 100s and my poor team mates were getting tired of the early starts!

Looking at my power data for the final hour there’s definitely a sharp ramp up in power. Over the course of the whole race it’s lower than Hounslow but the final hour is much stronger. Maybe I could’ve given more, earlier but whatever, now it’s time to put the hurt on. I remember #75 coming past me on the A421 ‘finishing circuit’ so I knew there were faster riders than me but all I wanted was the sub-4hr. This time the finish line was etched into my brain the first time past it. Not long to go now.. what the? Temporary traffic lights in the distance! Argh, they were green and I KNEW they would change to red before I got there. Sure as, the lights changed to red. I was still rolling towards them but had slowed substantially. It was totally clear so I could’ve just busted through them but couldn’t face being DQ’d for it. I was almost on the lights and they changed. GO GO GO! I accelerated away from them and was soon up to the Black Cat RAB where I got some cheers from the team again.
No let up now. I know I’m going to go under 4 hours but how much?
“Just get over this long rise and then there’s a fast downhill. Tuck in and pedal fat boy”
“Rider ahead, lift it, catch them, pass them, go go go”
“RAB is clear, fast through it, short rise, where’s the bloody finish?”
Team yelling at me as I try a bit harder, desperate to spot anything on the roadside that might be the line. There! Final effort and done.

I’m never quite sure what time I do as I stop my computer soon after the finish. Ditch my lid and ride easy back to the HQ.

3:56:09. Sweet.

Thanks to Tim Davies for letting through my late entry. Thanks to Scherrit for enthusiastically helping out once again and big thanks to my poor girlfriend who hates early starts and driving but did both to allow me to race and ride home.

See this and more of Hippy’s cycling blogs on http://thehippy.net/nucleus/?itemid=1730&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

It has been a cracking weekend for the Willesden CC.  Hippy (AKA Stuart Bernie) did another PB, this time on the the Icknield 100 and broke the 4 hour barrier with a 3.56.09.

Our youngsters also rode on the track. Kye at Herne Hill finishing 2nd in the National Youth Omnium and Connor at Welwyn on Friday winning the U16’s handicap race and finishing 4th in the Elimination.

Mark Brooking was there to see Jane Swain of the Willesden CC become a World Champion. I’m sure we will get a fuller report during the week, but I understand she had a brief fall on one of the turns but recovered from it to secure her championship. In the meantime here are Mark’s photos of Jane and her trophy.

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Mark Brooking has relayed on the information that Jane Swain has gained a PB riding her trike on the TA Bruce Kingsford 50 last weekend. Mark believes this must also be a best club performance for ladies solo trike.

Jane is also planning to ride a 50 later this month aboard an all-female tandem trike. However this Sunday she will be concentrating on the Tricycle World Championships being held in Kent. So come the prize presentation at 4:30pm  Sunday evening, the Willesden could have a World Champion! Good luck Jane!!

Following are a few pictures of Jane in the process of gaining her PB.

Here’s the link folks to the report https://willesdencyclingclub.co.uk/about/time-trials/race-reports-2013-2/

Thanks to all the Willesden volunteers who helped to , marshal, push off riders, time, make tea, sell cakes  and organise this event.

Mick

Hippy bags a 4:01:07 in his latest 100 miles TT,  knocking a mere 17 minutes off his PB. Here is a copy of a posting on his blog (http://bit.ly/11t9d6M )

2013 Hounslow & District Wheelers 100 – 100mi TT on the A31

Vyv and Mark took part in the Brompton Urban Challenge yesterday afternoon. They were part of 100+ strong force of  Bromptoneers tasked with getting answers to questions and getting photos of their steeds taken in specific and unusual places.

The event HQ was in the Look Mum No Hands cafe in Old Street. From there they scuttled across to the South Bank, up to Hackney, down to Earls Court, across to Knightsbridge and back to Look Mum’s. There was plenty of practice in curling and uncurling these well thought out machines, and I was pleased to see all returned with their fingers in place.

Jayne Paine’s competitor and friend in Australia, Joanne Troutman, has penned the following poem about Jayne on her return to Blighty.

Joanne (or “Trouty” as Jayne calls her) said “She does talk of the club a lot and I love hearing about your annual Fryathalon races. We are so sad to lose her, especially me, but we are hoping she might be back.”
“Anyway – I thought it would show her fun and ever competitive spirit and how much us Aussies will miss her.”

Thanks for that Joanne – you’ve got a place on the Willesden CC’s 2013 running of our internationally famous Fryathlon.

“Ode to Jayne” to the tune of “I’m A Believer”.

I thought “Old Girls” were only fast in fairly tales
Speed for other girls, but not for me
Jayne was out to get me (do do do do),that’s the way it seems (do do do do)
Her win’s disappointed all my dreams

Because I saw her race, and she’s an achiever
She’s got some pace, she’ll leave you behind
She’s so fast, ooooo, she’s an achiever, you couldn’t catch her if you tried (guitar riff )

I thought 2nd was more or less a given thing
It seemed the more I raced her, the more I lost
What’s the use in trying (do do do do), cos even when you train (do do do do)
It’s hard to get a victory over Jayne

Because I saw her race, and she’s an achiever
She’s got some pace, she’ll leave you behind
She’s so fast, ooooo, she’s an achiever, you couldn’t catch her if you tried (guitar riff )

Now she leaves us yet again the 3rd time around
Another farewell dinner so it seems
We will all be crying (do do do do), we will all be in pain (do do do do)
As there will be no sunshine without Jayne

We’ll never see her face, now she’s gonna leave us
Not a trace, of the Pom in our minds
She’ll be gone…ooooo, were gonna miss her, she’s gonna leave us far behind
She’s an achiever yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
She’s an achiever

Joanne Troutman

The 400K Severn Across is a ride that takes you to Chepstow and back.

Crossing some of the finest scenery in Southern England the ride is mainly flat – but with a couple of decent hills to keep it interesting. The outward route takes in Blenheim, Tewkesbury , Newent and Yats Rock before hitting Chepstow. Then it’s over the Severn Bridge to return via Inglestone Common (check the map contours!), Malmesbury and Membury before heading towards Henley and then home.

Riders will travel through the night and many will see the dawn before they get home.

A 400k ride is a bit of a rite of passage for ultra-long distance riders. There isn’t normally a night stop for most participants but it does test your will power and mental stamina. Even a simple route like Severn Across throws up challenges – most of which are in the head rather than in the legs.

Go to the Audax UK site here to enter or drop Liam an email at lfitzpatrick at agendacomms.com if you want to know more or if you’re an insomniac with a talent for making tea