Willesden Cycling Club

Willesden CC Coach Ray Kelly is organising a series of three Go-ride races for under-16 novices riders with no previous racing experience.

Saturday 06 March 2010

at

Minet Country Park,

Hayes

In the frozen Gloom at 07:02 & -4 degrees C Wendy Mears, Lynn Corr & Mark Brooking set off from Great Dunmow to enjoy a permanent Audax ride known as Dick Turpins day out. It was January 31st – the last chance for a Round the year Randonneur ride for this month.

Wendy’s chauffeur Jim and Digger-the-Dog were there to see us off before early morning walkies and a planned rendezvous at Wally’s café. A couple of miles up the road water main repairs had left the road covered in ice – we decided that if walkies was good enough for Digger we would have some to get to some terra nonslippia. After that we made good progress to the Cash Point at Saffron Walden whilst being treated to an awesome blood red sunrise over the frosty white fields of Essex.

There was a wonderful wind assisted blast past Dick Turpin’s birth place and the main objective for the day was in sight – to make it to Wally’s for a Full English before the Frying pan was put away at 10:30. We got there in time for the works with tea & toast £4.00 a head.

Wendy was having trouble drinking – it turned out that the water in her bottle had frozen!!! By now it was a beautiful sunny day but the next leg had some seriously frozen stretches of tarmac which were crossed Gingerly without mishap.

Wendy’s WCC ice-lolly

The pub we used at Walsham Le Willows was not that good – no food available . So it was Jim & Wendy’s sandwiches with a round of Shandies before the next stage to Debenham. We used the Co-Op as a control as there was nothing else open on a Sunday afternoon. Then we had to turn back into the biting NNW wind that had helped a bit on the way out.

Mark and Lynn’s Transport

Progress was slow and got slower as it got dark – we were ever mindful that there might be ice so the pace was cautious. We finally found Jim by an oasis in the darkness – Ok it was only a McDonalds – but at the time it was just what we could have done with 2 hours previously. The hot food and drink cured the shakes that I had developed. The staff were brilliant an wished us well for the last 25 miles back to the finish

I led us off in the wrong direction – funnily enough it was towards Wally’s at Acton long since closed for the day. Retraced back up the hill (!) and back on course.

There is a monstrous climb out of Sudbury – and by now it was really dark. Ever wary that the time limit was fast approaching we made steady progress as the temperature dropped again. Wendy punctured 8 miles from the finish. With a bit of an Adrenaline rush and the end nearly in sight we upped the snails pace to a brisk limp along the last B road to get back to Great Dunmow and the final cash point.

207 +km in 14hrs 13min.

A full day of fun and by now the temperature was a sweltering -2 degrees C.

Now its February & another rides calls……………………….

Wendy and Lynn – Doing what Audaxers do best!

Many thanks to Lynn and Wendy for their company and to Jim for keeping a watchful eye on us when the conditions were at their worst

Only another 11 months of 200km rides to go so that Lynn can get another badge!

Mark Brooking

7 Marlow Sports Centre

14 Edgware CC Reliability 09:00 Denham country park

Well, it was a bright but chilly day, a bit of a westerly but nothing me and Betty the Bike couldn’t handle. So that’s the Met Office report out of the way.

It was carnage, absolute carnage! The ambulance arrived, got a pay-and-display, and stayed for the day.

Lance Woodman raced with the 4th Cats . He had a good race and managed to miss the pile-up of young aspirants as they went for the sprint. Nasty broken collar-bone for my coach’s son, Gavin Percy. John Percy is also currently nursing a broken collar-bone from skidding on the ice a couple of weeks back. It’s Mrs Percy I feel sorry for, now as much as ever.

I was in the 3rd Cat men with Peter Dixon. Richard Jerome is currently a victim of a particularly beastly cold ( full reports on the hour via Facebook) and Richard Cooper is doing up his kitchen ( full reports on the hour via Facebook). None of the breaks succeeded, and we went round mostly in a rather cosy, tight bunch, probably for warmth. I saw Peter darting about, usually very well placed, and sometimes driving the pace up on the front. I got on his tail for a few laps until I got bored and dropped to the back. He was right up there in 5th for the final sprint, but was had by a few horrid sprinter-types and came in 13th.
I decided not to contest the final sprint and throw myself on to the track instead. A couple of chaps lay down with me, in a platonic kind of way.

Then it was time for the E123 race. I didn’t watch much of it as Lovely Alison was coming at me with tweezers, hunting for gravel. Luckily, after only about 5 laps there was another crash which left 3 riders motionless on the track. This distracted her and I made a swift getaway up the Uxbridge Road.

Bad news to report I’m afraid, not willing to be out done by Simon, Jayne had a nasty fall at Hillingdon in the 4th cats and womens race.

Details are yet to follow buy Jayne was quite concerned about her tooth however it turns out there isn’t any major damage.

All the best Jayne!!

It that time of year!

If you are one of the rare members who have paid their subs on time – then you can relax. The rest of us need to take action immediately. Your Club subscription for 2010 is due on 31st January 2010. Failure to pay by this date will incur a rejoining fee.

It a hard job collecting the annual club subscriptions so please make the process easier and get your payments over to Gladys by Sunday 31st January. You have three days left before the dead line

The 2010 rates are the same as in previous years –

• Single – £15
• Couples – £18
• Families – £20
• Juniors – £3
• Schoolpersons – £1

The address to post your cheques to is –

Gladys Purdy
Willesden CC
55 Exeter Road
Harrow
Middx
HA2 9PQ

Miles Back
28 Jan 2010

My thanks to Ron Purdy for the following photos from the excellent Dinner and Dance last Saturday. It was an evening filled with bizzare toasts, raffles, after dinner speeches, prize giving, disco and the odd gate crashing drunk – all for 25 quid.Not bad!

Miles Back

Sue Doel presents the trophy to the WCC’s Veterans Road Race Champion, Tony Woodford

Sportif Award – Stuart Birnie

Peter Dixon seen here receiving something that I have forgotten

The President’s Cup for the longest ride completed in Italy is awarded to Paul Doel for his ride in, ahem, Majorca….

Paul mid-flight in his excellent after dinner speech. Starting off with a homage to Tommy Cooper he moved on to a very interesting account of his adventures in last years Majorca stage race.

Sash of Honour – Mike “The Bike” Ellison

Life Membership Award to Mick Paddington

Audax Merit Award – Mel Kirkland

Kirsten wins the School Girls Road Race Trophy and the School Track Trophy

Chris James wins the Vets Time Trial Championship

Ron and Gladys Joy Purdy win the Marshalling Trophy

Jim’s van driving skills on the LEL made him a clear winner for the mug of the year award.

Jayne keeps her track mits on the Ladies Road Race Trophy and the Ladies Track Trophy

Club Track Champion – Ray George

The Ladies Time Trial Championship and Erica Spring Cup (Ladies 10 mile TT) both go to Gill Reynolds.

Dan continues his excellent season – a worthy winner of the Schoolboys Road Race Championship and setting the standard for those who follow.

and now, a word from our Captain

Hi Club mates,

I have compiled a full list of all known WCC events in a calendar.

It is available here – http://bit.ly/WCC_Calendar_2009_Jan

You can either view it or if you wish down load to your PC.
if you wish to make any changes or alteration to the calendar then email at Willesdencyclingclub@yahoo.co.uk

Regards,
Miles Back
27 Jan 2010

Photo and report from Stuart Birnie – 2009 Willesden Cycling Club Hill Climb and Sportive Champion. See Stuart’s web site for more detail – http://bit.ly/8CDslR

17th April Willesden track training 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30.
24th April Prime track training 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30
22nd May Prime track training 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30
19th June Prime track training 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30
3rd July Prime track training 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30
21st August Willesden track championship 2pm to 4pm Welwyn arrive at track by 1.30

Region track championships all at reading entry details on http://www.readingvelodromeracing.co.uk/
7th June Monday 7.30 500m Sprint
29th June Tuesday 8.30 team Pursuit
5th July Monday 7.30 team sprint
6th July Tuesday 8.30 Individual Pursuit
16th August Monday 8.00 20k Scratch
27th September 7.30 Women’s Omnium.

Note we are looking for riders for the team events and want a Ladies, vets and senior team please let me know if you are interested.

Tony Woodford
07951191620

On the 11th April there’s a 40.8km TT at Almere in The Netherlands. An invite to riders has been posted at the Time Trialling forum. There are more details here.

I’m thinking of popping over there for a ride. Would anyone else be interested?

Lance Woodman (email: lance (at) lancewoodman (dot) co (dot) uk)

Not really Willesden club news but there is a great picture of the Team Sky “Road Train” in action in Australia. See http://bit.ly/7HOKXp

Tim Wainwright has sent me a selection of great photos he took on this year’s NYDP in central London.

A lull in the parade and time for a chat and a quick snooze.

The lean-green-racing-machine with a sprinkling of slipstreamer.

Seán appears to have worked on his upper body and arms .
Is he trying to impress the cheer leaders?

How the Gregarios normally see the WCC racing team?

“I want a wee” pose.

Did Jan selected her wardrobe to tone with Scottish flavour of the day?

Available for panto?

Peter Turnbull sniggers at my double chins!

Despite the cold the riders enjoyed the day.

Miles Back
14 Jan 2010

Seán Bannister reports that former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin has revealed her love for the bike. She is coming over here and will be riding and racing with Watford’s finest cycling club – the Gregarios Superclub Ciclista.

Miles Back
Jan 2010

The West London Combine time trial events for next season have been published. They are:

Course descriptions are available at the CTT London West District Web site.

I will email riders to solicit entries about two weeks before each event. If you are interested in riding any of the races, make sure that I have your email address.

Willesden CC riders compete for club handicap awards in these events. To allocate these Gladys Purdy will need your personal bests (current and last three seasons – i.e. since 1/1/2007) at the appropriate distance. I’d be interested to know these as well!

The CTT handbook containing details of all open events should be here any day now. If you can’t wait for it to plan your season out (I know I can’t), a provisional list of events is on the CTT Web site.

The season is approaching fast. Don’t be despondent if your training has been curtailed by the recent snow. Use the time to brush up on other essential racing skills. I have been working on eating cake and moaning about the weather.

Lance Woodman

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For those intending to the the Paris-Brest in 2011 you will need to do a pre-qualifier 400km ride in 2010 to BRM rules. According to some seasoned riders there are not too many BRMs to chose from this year. So I suggest all interested WCC riders get their applications in for Chris Beynon Severn Across in April.

Miles Back
11 Jan 2010