Club Runs – update

Posted on 17/May/2011 by John Wheatley

Club Runs

MAY

22 –  Waddesdon – Plant Centre 

29 –  Tring  – Time for Tea

JUNE

05 – Wokingham – Farm Cafe

12 – Wendover Woods

19 – Marsworth + SPECIAL OFF ROAD 50k from Denham

26 – Fairoaks Airport

 

 

Posted in Club Runs, Events, Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

19 June – 50km off road from Denham

Posted on 17/May/2011 by John Wheatley

On Sunday 19 June there will be a Special off road ride from Denham, led by Brian Moon. The route will follow the Chiltern off road 50k route, and is approx 50:50 road and no road. If its dry you might get away with using a road bike but who am I to offer advice.

All Welcome!  09:30 at Denham.

I have made a change to the club runs list as a result, swapping the dates for Marsworth  – now  19 June & Fairoaks  – now 26 June.

Club Kapitan

Posted in Club Runs, Events | Leave a comment

PBP Support

Posted on 11/May/2011 by Ian Oliver

 

Lord Kitchener recruiting Willesden Helpers

Yes, it’s that time every four years when the Willesden makes a foray to France called Paris-Brest-Paris. This year it runs August 21st-25th.

Are you a potential PBP rider, a potential helper wanting a trip to France, or a  former helper who wants to pass on their wisdom and knowledge?

If you’re any of the above, we’ll be having a meeting at 7pm on Thursday May 26th at Hillingdon Circuit (same night as the coaching session) to see what the riders would like and what resources are on offer. We can repair to the bar at the soccer place next door afterwards.

What level of support can be offered depends upon the number of helpers. The changes in start time and loss of  the campsite at St Quentin may affect how we do things, but the meeting will look at:

  • Bag drops,
  • Storing stuff during the ride,
  • Sleeping en-route,
  • Feeding en-route,
  • Accomodation at start/finish.

Interested but can’t make it? Email me at ianoli2010-audax@yahoo.co.uk

Posted in Audax, Events | Leave a comment

Age is just a number.

Posted on 10/May/2011 by Gladys Purdy

Ron Purdy decided that at 80 he really ought to try a triathalon. He took part with 250 entrants in the HatchEnd/Harrow Jet Stream triathalon on Sunday. He swam the 400m in 11.16, rode the 17Kms in 44.18 and finished the run in 22.38. His time of 1.23.52 gained him the age category award for 80-84 year olds.      His nearest contestant was only 64. He can’t wait for next year to improve his times!!!

Posted in Triathlon | 6 Comments

Boris meets Brian

Posted on 04/May/2011 by Gladys Purdy

Photos by Ron Purdy

Boris Johnson rode into Field  End School this morning to see the circuit that has been laid out for the children to ride. He met with Brian Wright, who has been one of our members who help to design the course and who coaches the children in cycling skills each week. Boris rode round the circuit several times accompanied by the school children and Ray Kelly and Mike Ellison all wearing their Willesden kit.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Jayne at Reading behind the Dernys

Posted on 03/May/2011 by Tony Woodford

I did the Paris-Bordeaux track competition at Reading on Sunday.

It was a bright and sunny but very windy day.
My sole competition in the women’s events was Lydia Boylan, racing for
Look Mum No Hands (the Mothers). As she had had me over at Herne Hill
a couple of weeks back I was very keen to redress the balance (beat
her to a pulp).
There were a couple of senior scratch races I did quite well in, but
the main event – the qualifier for the Derny Race, both Lydia and I
nearly missed. We were racing against the under-16s, and it just
didn’t compute to join the line-up of children. Anyway, fortunately
for us we were allowed to finish our cake and sneak in after a couple
of laps and we were amongst the 8 qualifiers.

I thought I had the Derny race in the bag. I don’t think Lydia had
done it before and the nippers were on tiny little gears. George
Gilbert paced me pretty smartly to the front. Our dastardly plan was
to stay there til the end of the race, some 22 laps later. The first
half of the race went to plan, however the second half did not. I
sensed all was not right when five, FIVE, five of the little critters
sped past me, legs whirring like fans in a power surge. Occasionally,
I would manage to tear my anxious eyes from George’s bumper, and look
for signs of the nippers blowing up. No such luck – they were
streaking away from me with every laboured breath.

I must say, when we were lined up at the podium, that some of these
‘under-16s’ were not that little. Three of the boys must have been
clocking on for 6′ and the Team Terminator one had whopping muscles,
well he would, wouldn’t he? Are they specially bred? AND I had ridden
at speed in to a tree on Wednesday.

Sean Bannister gave us all lots of dosh, my lungs turned inside out
and waved to the crowds and A-leaguer, Matt Gittings (AW Cycles)
embarrassed everybody, lapping the field and doing circus tricks.

Jayne

Posted in Miscellaneous, Track | Tagged | Leave a comment

track training Sunday 8th May

Posted on 30/Apr/2011 by Tony Woodford

PC-WelwynFlyer-May2011

See attached flyer for track training on Sunday 8th May 10 to 12 noon.

Posted in Coaching, Events, Miscellaneous, Track | Leave a comment

Jayne’s own account of Easter Saturday at Portsmouth track.

Posted on 26/Apr/2011 by Tony Woodford

Saturday I had a spectacular win in the women’s omnium at the track in Portsmouth. This had absolutely nothing to do with the recovery drinks I’d had the night before or the fact I was the only woman. I was made to race against some of the finest young racers this side of the Solent and John McLelland. They were all there to race for the Kingsbury Cup, part of the National Endurance League. Mainly through fear of being mown down I tried ever so hard and was not completely humiliated even though lunch came up a couple of times.

In the morning at the same track I raced a circuit race. There were 10 women in with 35 3rd Cat men which was the maximum allowed on the rather narrow track. Fortunately I had remembered my road bike if not my helmet. I had to wear the emergency spare helmet that had been found in the back of an abandoned vehicle and given to me by compulsive trainer and ex-Gregario, Mike Diggins. Vile pink and enormous it sat on my head like a 60’s blobby lampshade. Conscious of my unsightly headwear, I nipped off the front and managed to chase down a break of 5 men, so my rivals only had to look at the back of it. The break went along at a bit of a clip and I would have done more on the front had I found breathing easy. No. 62 chivvied us along and we lapped the field in an eyeballs-out effort. The final sprint didn’t go quite to plan. I’d appointed the AW boys to be my lead-out train and I’m sure if they had been aware of this honour they would have tried harder. Anyway it was mayhem.
Anyway, it was mayhem. How nobody ended up straddling the metal railings instead of their carbon, deep rimmed lovely, shows the skill involved. I kept my eyes closed like when you go between buses. It works for me.
So I came top out of the women and, at worst, 6th out of the men.

I copped my winnings and went off for a recovery drink and the cheese baguette I was to taste, on and off, for the rest of the afternoon. During the point-to-point point’s race, it was every lap.

It was a great day of racing. The weather was hot and sunny, we all died of heat exhaustion and my protein shake grew in to a new life form.

Posted in Miscellaneous, Track, Website News | 2 Comments

Race Report 19th & 20th April – Jayne gets 2nd!

Posted on 21/Apr/2011 by John Williams

After week two’s failed attempt at teamwork in the Tuesday night 3/4’s the mighty squadra verde became embroiled in a seemingly endless email conversation about which tactics we should use in week three to avoid humiliation. A brilliant plan was hatched. We’d go to Richmond Park instead.

Genius.

As always someone didn’t actually listen to the game plan and actually turned up at the track. In fact two of Willesden’s finest turned up, John Williams and Harmeet Dhiraj. Unfortunately so did three members of the Norwood Paragon. The Paragon’s book of tactics is obviously a bit better than Jerome’s as theirs actually worked. A flurry of attacks and counter attacks saw all three away with another rider and a lack of organisation in the bunch meant we were doomed never to see them again.

Williams played his own part in this by chasing down a few of the attacks, even dragging eventual winner Ralph de Kanter across to a break only for him to immediately counter on the junction. How rude! After missing the final move and a failed attempt to bridge, Williams sat back for the rest of the race and did not contest the sprint. Harmeet rode determinedly but found the pace a little hot. She kept going and got back into the group after being dropped.

Wednesday night was coffin dodgers and ladies night. Jayne continued her run of form by finishing second in the ladies race. Another fine result.In the old fellas race Peter Dixon looked very strong at the pointy end and John Williams looked shocked at the speed of the race at the blunt end. Both finished in the bunch.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Westerley 3/4 race Hillingdon Circuit 16/4 – Roger 2nd place!

Posted on 18/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

Saturday saw Tom, London, Richard Jerome, Harmeet Dhiraj and Roger Woodford at Hillingdon circuit.

The race was pretty steady to start with but after about 15 mins things started to speed up a bit. Richard Jerome got in a move but there weren’t enough riders involved, this move was countered by another group including Roger Woodford. This group stayed away for around 3 laps but unfortunately for Roger, they were caught.

The race stayed together until the sprint, Roger and Richard were both near the front near the end but Richard was hit in the rear by another rider with half a lap to go. He stayed upright but his chances were over.

Roger was very well placed in the bunch and sprinted to 2nd place, a fantastic result!

Posted in Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Road Racing | Leave a comment

Marshals needed

Posted on 14/Apr/2011 by Gladys Purdy

I have received a request for marshals for the Archer Road Races on Sunday morning and afternoon.   If you are able to help please ring Stuart Benstead on 07757266318. It appears they are 8 marshals short for each event.   I don’t think they had any trouble when it was sponsored by Pernod! Happy memories and Cheers from Gladys

Posted in Road Racing | Leave a comment

Jayne back on track

Posted on 13/Apr/2011 by Tony Woodford

Jayne returned to the track at Reading on Monday with some good results.
Ladies
Devil
1 Harriet OWEN Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
2 Sarra BOYD Clan Cycles
3 Jayne PAINE Willseden CC

Sprint
1 Harriet OWEN Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
2 Jayne PAINE Willesden CC
3 Sarra BOYD Clan Cycles

Unknown Distance
1 Harriet OWEN Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta
2 Jayne PAINE Willesden CC
3 Sarra BOYD Clan Cycles

AW Cycles 20K Endurance
1 Jayne PAINE Willesden CC
2 Sarra BOYD Clan Cycles

Posted in Miscellaneous, Track | Tagged | Leave a comment

Willesden Road Race

Posted on 13/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

Just a short update to let you know, there will be a road race this year and Richard Jerome is ‘organising’ as he likes to call it.

He is currently in discussions with British Cycling to get a suitable course, the race will be held at the end of the season as last year.

 

Posted in Events, Road Racing | Leave a comment

Hillingdon Circuit – week 2

Posted on 13/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

After last weeks antics, our green team were out in force for the second race of the series. Appearances from John (poseur) Williams, Tom (too fast) London, Rich (I’ve been training) Cooper and Richard (I’ve not been training) Jerome gave the team confidence in numbers.

There had been some mention of maybe using a team lead out to launch Tom to the win, this was the first time this had been tried by the team but they were still (over) confident.

There was a much larger field than last week and the average speed was 26mph so this week was a much bigger challenge. After a few attacks the race seemed to be coming down to a sprint…

With 3 laps to go Rich Cooper was in a break away from the bunch but it looked likely to be caught. The look on Rich’s face as the bunch caught him gave everyone the impression he wouldn’t be taking part in the sprint.

Then with 1 and a half laps to go Richard Jerome overcame a wardrobe malfunction to get on the front and take control of the race. Richard tried his best and John and Tom were both on his wheel, things were looking good, until…..disaster, Richard had gone way too early and without the 4th man (Rich Cooper) the pairing on John Williams and Tom London were left on the front of the race with 1 lap to go!

John and Tom tried their best to hold off the field but were swamped up by the race in the sprint with Tom possibly holding on to a top ten place.

UPDATE – full results.

Posted in Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Road Racing | Leave a comment

Ed’s back!

Posted on 11/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

Ed Packard rode the Lea Valley 25 mile TT on Saturday, he recorded his 4th ever best time at the distance on his new Cervelo TT bike…

Ed is making a bit of a come back to cycling and this is his second time trial since 2008. If you would like to see what else Ed is up to you can read his blog ‘One more cup of coffee’.

Posted in Time trials | 1 Comment

Today’s TT results and pics

Posted on 10/Apr/2011 by Rich Cooper

Very cold and early start for the Willesden riders this morning, but those that showed up were blessed with ideal riding conditions, calm and dry and sunny (just bloody freezing!).

Results

11 Mick Paddington Willesden CC DNS  
12 Harmmet Dhiraj Willesden CC 1:25:45  
13 Balneet Dhiraj Willesden CC DNS  
14 Brian Moon Willesden CC 1:17:02  
15 Chris James Willesden CC 1:13:16  
16 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 58:32 1st place
17 Gill Reynolds Willesden CC 1:12:58  
18 Pete Cookson Willesden CC 1:09:09  
19 Joanna Austin Willesden CC 1:11:47  
20 Bruce Metheringham Willesden CC DNF  
21 Rich Cooper Willesden CC 1:07:07 (PB) 2nd handicap
22 Russell O’Malley Willesden CC 1:04:53 2nd place
23 Tony Savage Willesden CC 1:12:55 (PB) 1st handicap
24 Halil Mehmed Willesden CC DNS  

Pictures

Thanks to Derek Reynolds for these.

Posted in Events, Time trials | 1 Comment

Inverse racing series

Posted on 07/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

Inverse racing are promoting a series of events across summer at Hillingdon circuit.

Details can be found in the posted below.

Posted in Events, Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Road Racing | Leave a comment

Hillingdon Circuit – week 1

Posted on 07/Apr/2011 by Richard Jerome

Rich Cooper and Richard Jerome both took the brave steps of entering the first of the Hillingdon Circuit summer races on Tuesday.

A change in the format meant that as 3rd cat riders, they had a choice of races to enter, so without a moments thought they both entered the easier race with the 4th cat riders. There were several other 3rd cat riders taking part in the event but this race was seen as more of a fun race rather than the more serious e/1/2/3 race.

Richard Jerome was particularly nervous as he’d spent the winter getting fat and doing more stressful things like getting married.

The race started quickly with several early attacks, both Richard’s forgot their nerves and were both involved early on chasing breaks. After 30 mins the race was looking to end in a bunch sprint but one rider cleverly attacked off the front and took the win.

Rich Cooper was boxed in but Richard Jerome was lucky to get on the wheel of a fast rider and took 5th place.

Full results are available on the British Cycling website.

Posted in Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, Road Racing | Leave a comment

Lots more website headers

Posted on 07/Apr/2011 by Rich Cooper

Thanks to Dereck Reynolds for the fantastic photos – we now have a large number of new website header photographs.

A couple of them are shown below:


If you have any other good shots, please send them over to willesden@coopa.net and we’ll load them up for you.

All the best.

Rich Cooper

Posted in Miscellaneous, Website News | Leave a comment

Here are the details this Sunday’s (April 10th) 25-mile TT

Posted on 07/Apr/2011 by Rich Cooper

Registration and facilities

Is at Great Missenden just off the A413. There is a carpark and toilets just off the A413 at the A4128 junction. Turn left (if you are coming from Chalfont) off the A413 onto the A4128 and you’ll see the Car park. Registration will be there.
Remember to give yourself plenty of time to register and set yourself up. The start is just a few yards from this area.

The course :

HCC114.
Bascially for those of you unfamiliar with the course, it’s not quite a straight out and back course. You’ll actually pass the finish line on the opposite side of the road, before making your final turn back to the finish. Apart from a few yards at the start, the whole race takes place on the A413. Remember although this is an early start, there are plenty of roundabouts so keep your wits about you when crossing these, especially at the turns. Again keep your head up to watch out for those pot holes

Here is the course description, unfortunately after scouring the Internet I was unable to find a map. Mileage is given after each description.

  • Start on Aylesbury road Great Missenden opposite a drain, approx 80 yards from the junction with the A413 at the northern end of the Great Missenden by-pass.
  • Proceed to A413 where turn left (CARE) (MI) to the roundabout at the southern end of the Wendover by-pass. 3.11 miles
  • Take the second exit (N12). still on A413 to the roundabout at the junction of A413 and A4010. 4.77 miles
  • Circle roundabout (M3.4.5) and retrace on A413 to the roundabout at the southern end of the Wendover by-pass. 6.46 miles
  • Take the second exit (M6) on A413 and continue to the roundabout at the junction with the Link Road at Great Missenden 10.14 miles
  • Continue on A413 through the double roundabout (M7,8) to the roundabout at Shardeloes. 14.2 miles
  • Circle roundabout (M9,10) and retrace on A413 to the roundabout at the junction of A413 and  18.2 miles
  • Continue through double roundabouts (M 11,12) still on A4I3 to the roundabout at the southern end of the Wendover by-pass. 21.98 miles
  • Circle roundabout (13,14) and retrace on A413 to FINISH on A413 at a point 3 yards beyond the triangular right turn sign into Aylesbury road Great Missenden and 18yds before a sign A4128 closed to vehicles over 25 Tonnes. 25 miles

Weather

Forecast to be 19 C that day but with a chilly start of around 6c , although the sun is forecast to be out, hopefully will warm up by the time we set off.

I will be there Sunday, not sure if I will be riding as am carrying a bit of an injury. But at the very least will be there to cheer you all on.

Any questions feel free to contact me. Good luck.

Regards

Mick Paddington

Willesden TT Sec

Posted in Events, Time trials | 2 Comments