Willesden Cycling Club

Race Report from Australia.
The women’s crit at the Tennis Centre in Olympic Park Sydney on Saturday saw a good turnout. It was quite a hot humid day. The course was flat, narrow and wound pleasantly through a mixture of parkland and car park.

There were quite a few women new to racing and we were split into A’s and B’s. I was in the A’s. The A group had a couple of National Champions (Sue Forsythe and Amber something or other – 6 foot and most of it leg) – a hard core pair who work together, if you know what I mean. They and another girl set off a few seconds ahead of us and were given task of lapping us. The A’s were mixed ability but we all worked together to try to keep ahead of the ultra-A’s. We found a speed that kept you cool without getting any hotter and we all stuck at that.

I did quite a lot on the front, but it didn’t feel any harder than when I’m late for work. We were caught at 42mins, which was a nuisance as the race was 45mins + 2 laps. I was pleased to see ace sprinter and world record-holder, Lise Benjamin, drop out early to get to the cakes first. How I laughed because there weren’t any! On the final lap my mate, Trouty, whipped over the top for a long one with a good third of a lap to go, the the two Nat Champs were on her straight away, and I was on them. I couldn’t get past them at the finish, but I did manage to overhaul Trouty who took 4th. There were prizes (hard cash!! not a lamb chop in sight!) down to 4th, which was good because Trouty was giving me a lift home.

Lise and Trouty dropped in for a beer on the way home and we all agreed we had a very jolly day.

Jayne

The WCC Kids Christmas party at Hillingdon is being held on Thursday, 20th December at 6:30pm.
Kids are defined for this purpose as any member aged 0-125 who wishes to attend plus friends and family, but we can be flexible.

There will be no turbo on the evening, but training on the circuit will be taking place with lights as usual.

Please could everyone bring along a plate of food and/or some drink to add to the festivities.

John Wheatley
Club Captain

In mid November, Janice and Ray Kelly travelled to Tokyo to attend the wedding of Willesden member Akiko Kawachi to Kaoru Obata. The wedding took place on 29th November, in the Meiji -Jingu (Imperial Shrine). This is the most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo. It was a wonderful event, the bride looked absolutely beautiful in her white kimono. The groom was very regal in his traditional japanese attire.

On the 1st December a massive party took place at The Royal Garden Cafe for the bride and groom’s friends and relatives. 250 people attended. A fantastic evening with traditional Okinawan music, party games, great food and drink. Both Akiko and Kaoru are keen cyclists. Akiko rides long distance Audax events and Kao is an Elite road racer. We wish them great happiness in the coming years.

Here are a few photos of the event plus a photo of the Willesden CC National flag seen flying at The Tour of Okinawa cycle race. Even the wedding invitations showed the cartoon of Akiko in her Willesden Kit and Kao in his trade team strip.

Ray Kelly

Hippy writes regarding an event on the day of the WCC dinner and prize presentation:

Saturday 19th January

This is a reliability trial which hopes to recapture some of the spirit of traditional early season club riding. It has its roots in a ride that was done in 1959, but it is a continuation of January rides that have been done by Hounslow members and friends each year since 2009.

For 2013 the event routes will start from the Hounslow clubroom at Staines Sailing Club, the main ride will go to the Big H Café at Berinsfield (85 miles) and the cadet version will be to Marlow (45 miles). It is hoped that riders will form small groups (say six to eight), but anyone who wishes may ride alone. Please do not join groups together. There will be an entry fee of £5, payable at the start.

Although any type of machine is welcome, the HD in J has always been primarily a fixed gear ride, and to promote this aspect a modest trophy will be awarded to the club whose riders do the greatest mileage on fixed. A ‘club’ for this purpose is any group which declares itself to the organisers at the start. All riders finishing within the time limit (7 hours 45 minutes for the longer distance, 4 hours 30 minutes for the shorter) will be awarded a certificate. These times are roughly 12 mph plus an allowance for a 45 minute stop

Icy roads are an obvious danger in January and if conditions are clearly too difficult on the 19th the event will be postponed until the 26th. However the organisers cannot know the state of the roads for the whole distance, and it should be made clear that participants must use their own discretion. All those taking part do so at their own risk.

Contact: 0741 501 2067. (N.B. this is a new number)

I have reservations about charging any entry fee for something which previously was free to enter, but other people tell me that the amount is derisory compared with sportives, and I can only hope that the modest cost is justified by the new format.

The regular Westerley vs Willesden Quiz night had an impressive turnout of 35 . It was a close fought contest with the Westerley’s “Committee” team beating  Stuart’s (aka Hippy) team by the narrowest of margins – just one point! All eight teams did very well throughout the evening with shrewd use of the Joker card. Chapeau to Team Savage (Nici, Tony, Lauren and Kirsten) and the “Two Ronnies” (Newalls and Purdys) who played the joker on their highest scoring round.

There was also a marathon round to keep the work level high for everyone. This round challenged your recall of events from the mid-1960 onwards, with the added sting of having  to identify the Tour de France winner of each year. “The Three Cavelieros” (Mick Hill, Anne and Tippy)  emerged with the highest score for this round.

In a worthy display of interclub cooperation Liz and her son Richard teamed up with two from the Westerley. Obviously a good combination as they were the 2nd highest placed Willesden memebers, with a fourth place in the overall standings.

Thank you very much for all your support and we hope you throughly enjoyed the evening.

The following message has been received and is passed on for the benefit of any members who would like to participate. Any queries should be sent direct to Camille at cassaroca@west-telecom.com.

From : Cassaro Camille Cycloclub Fabrègues (France)
Subject : BCMF Caroux – Espinouse June 2013

Dear Sir,

We are putting together with Jean Joël Rudnicki a biking ride, in the  mountains of the “Haut Languedoc”. This event is planned starting from the  city of Bedarieux, on the 29 – 30 June 2013, for two days of biking tourism  in the superb landscape of the “Regional Parc du Haut Languedoc”. We would  like very much to have participants from UK. The FFCT monthly magazine will  put it under press next December or early next year. It’s basically a 226 km  distance and 3600m difference in height. I do not know how to contact  cyclotourism British associations in order to send them informations on this  project. Could you help, either by sending me a main head contact or a list  of organisations. I’ll send them our homework with all the usefull points on  this project.

Yours sincerely

Cassaro Camille
Cycloclub Fabregues

Last week we experimented with a two speed club run. Both rides ended up at the same cafe stop. The “Fitter and Faster” took a more scenic route, perhaps throwing in a few loops for added mileage. While the “Squadra Directissimo” made a bee-line for cafe with objective of being first in the queue.

This Sunday we are all going to a fairly new cafe for the Willesden, the Billingbear Golf Club. So we can all snigger at the golfers and their silly attire…..

Both groups meet at Denham at 9:30am. There will then follow a precision display of “milling-about” (of an interderminate duration) before setting off on the rides.

The aim is provide rides for all Willesden riders – so come along and enjoy a social ride that suits you best.

Rolly Callicott from our friends at the Westerley CC have invited us all to a range of their Winter Social events. See following –

Quiz Night
21th November, at the clubroom. 8:30pm. Fun for all, as always! Questions being set by the brains of the Willesden. Snacks and excellent beer (Rebellion) too.

Westerley Cycling Club Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation
Saturday evening, 24th November (Stanmore). 7:00 for 7:30pm. Tickets £28. Book now!

Brewery Trip
Tuesday, 4 December BREWERY TRIP (Marlow). By popular demand, a trip to the Rebellion Brewery, Marlow
· Tour starts at 7:30pm, all welcome.
· £10.00 Per head
· Due to recent changes in licensing law a limit of 5 pints per guest.
· 7 beers to sample and take your glass home as a souvenir.
We can ride there or go by public transport (about a mile walk from Marlow station).
Let me know if you are interested because I need to book if we have more than 12 people.
Non-drinking companions pay £5 for the tour and soft drinks.

Christmas Social and Race Night at the Clubroom, 19th December
Organised by Toastmaster Ian McNally
This will be a great evening so make sure it’s in your diary.

Rolly Callicot
Westerley CC

This Friday 2nd November, the Minet Ladies Cycling Club are dedicating a memorial tree to their much loved friend, founder and Head Coach, Brian Wright, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The club invites all members and friends to attend the Memorial Ceremony from 1.45 with the dedication of the tree taking place at 3pm at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. Pro Cyclist Tony Gibb will be joining us to help dedicate the tree to Brian’s memory.

A black cherry plum tree, Prunus Cerasifera ‘Niagra’, is being planted close to the cycle circuit where Brian spent many hours coaching and sharing his love of cycling. The tree has been chosen in part for its stunning blackish purple leaves, and the pink blossoms it will bring in springtime- Minet Ladies Cycling Club colours!

We hope you can join us for the ceremony, followed by refreshments. Please bring along food to share.

(Re-posted from Minet Ladies Cycling Club website)

2012 West London Combine Hill Climb – Windsor Hill (HCC011)

Another year and another horrid, rasping, coughing fit whilst trying to ascend a short, sharp hill as fast as gravity will let me. 2:05 as it turns out.

I’m pretty happy with 2:05.71 (I think) which puts me in 3rd or 4th overall and 1st Willesden CC rider. It’s only 4 seconds slower than last year on a bike that hasn’t been used all year other than as a spare. Although faster at all TT distances this year I thought the midfoot cleat position might hamper me more on the ‘all out’ hill climb. Actually, I don’t think it was the case at all. Motivation for this hill climb was low, having met all my goals and so I was a few kilos heavier this time around. Last year, can you believe, I actually stopped drinking for a while before this!
The coolest thing about hill climbs though is that people come to watch (you suffer) and cheer. I love that. So, thanks everyone who yelled or clapped and I will see you again next year, Windsor Hill. *shudders*

Reposted from Stuart Bernies web site (http://t.co/e9gLYafF)