A note from Andrew Amies.
Wanted - spare wheel for turbo training
I'm looking for a cheap second hand rear wheel that I can store at the club house and use for Tuesday turbo training sessions. It needs to be able to fit a 10 speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and a 700 x 23c tyre. If you have a spare rear wheel lying about that would fit the bill, please contact me at andrew.amies@mac.com.
We are sorry to announce that club member Bernard Mawson died on Thursday 15th January.
Bernard was President of Audax UK, and had been validation secretary for many years. He was the organiser of the inaugural London-Edinburgh-London 1400km, and continued as organiser for several years.
His funeral is at 2:20pm at Doncaster Crematorium on Thursday 29th January.
A quick note to say that subs are now due and your membership will expire if subs are not renewed by January the 30th.
The club runs list has now been updated in the calendar section of the website. If you would like us to add any more events, please e-mail us using the link above. Thanks.
Willesden CC were again invited to the New Years day parade and this year showed off the new kit. Gladys has provided some photo’s below.
Why not try a continental sportive that allows you to ride a distance to suit, view the Classic the following day in an area that has attractive scenery, excellent local beer and plenty to see and do for non-cycling friends and family.
The Amstel Gold Tour on Saturday 18thApril ticks all of those boxes. We can cross the channel Friday evening, ride the Saturday, watch the Amstel Gold race – numerous times as the route is crammed into a small area you can move around in by bike or car – on the Sunday and get home late Sunday night. The drive from the channel portsto the Limburg region where the race takes place takes around 3 hours.
The shortest route is 60km, the longest a tad short of 250km and apart from the race’s Maastricht city centre start and some short stretches of main road, you follow the route of the professional race. The landscape is not unlike the Chilterns: flat valleys, flat ridges and short, sharp hills in between. The 60km route would be fine for a fit child, the 250km is definitely a tough day day in the saddle. There are 100,125, 150, and 200km routes too. The finish closes at 7pm, which leaves plenty of time for completion, especially for the shorter routes. When I did it four years ago, I found that the en-route feeding stations were very basic – not much more than stops for sports drink , but you pass endless bar/cafes so getting food, drink and a rest is no problem. The organisation is excellent, starts are well staggered and I never felt the road was overwhelmed by the 15000 participants.
The website is here
Maastricht is one of the Netherlands most attractive cities and quite different from any other large Dutch town. The surrounding area has a lot to offer too, so it’s a great weekend break for non-cyclists too. Tourist office site
Costs: Entry is 25 Euros plus a 5 Euros deposit. A ferry return by car about £60-£70. I will arrange accommodation once we have numbers and we can share cars. You will need travel insurance cover and your European Health Insurance Card, but there is no need for medicals or racing licences.
Interested? Entry opens on January 15th and last year it filled up very quickly.I will put a Willesden team entry in on that day. If you want to ride, email me at before January 15thwith entrant names and planned distance (we don’t all need to do the same distance) and your phone number -I will acknowledge your email. Alternatively, call me on xxxxxxxx. I may be able to squeeze in people later, but there is no guarantee.
Email address isianonospam-amstel@yahoo.co.uk
…..and we’re not talking about the wheels here.
There was a noticable lack of green at Hillingdon circuit on Saturday afternoon after both Rich’s had too much to drink the night before. Normal service will resume shortly.
Willesden Cycling Club Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation, Saturday 24 January 2009 from 6.30 for 7.00 pm at the Uxbridge Golf Club, Harefield Place, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB10 8AQ. £25.00 per ticket. Please contact Jim and Wendy Mears for tickets ASAP: wendywearl@aol.com / jmearswcc@aol.com
After last weeks reasonable weather, this week was more interesting with freezing temperatures, wind and lots and lots of rain!
The Rich C and Rich J were both mad enough to turn up, along with the other 30 or so competitors. The race stayed together despite several attempts to split the race up. The weather started to take its toll on the riders and legs were starting to get tired and the break aways were starting to get bigger and bigger gaps. Eventually a group of 4 got away in a soft move which didn’t contain any of the series contenders.
Our guy’s were hanging in there in the bunch and did well to stay with it in terrible conditions, lots of riders were complaining that their hands were too cold to change gear.
The remaining bunch sprinted for the remaining places with Richard J managing to finish 11th. Rich C also took part in the sprint however results are to be confirmed and will be updated.
We are still waiting to hear back from Lance as to how he got on in the 4th cat race.
Traditional gathering: Xmas snacks and traditional beer!
Annual darts match with our friends from the Willesden
Westerley clubroom Weds 17th Dec 8:30 pm
Xmas lunch ride to the Red Lion, Whiteleaf (nr Princes Risborough)
Sunday, 21st December
Meet at Harefield (later time: 10am)
OR, meet at Great Missenden for a leisurely ride to the pub (only 6 miles of pleasant country lanes)
OR, drive all the way there. Wear you cycling clobber and you might even get away with it!
Lunch at 12:00. Roast dinners available for about £7 or £8. You won’t go hungry!
Please let me Wendy and Jim Mears know if you’re interested WENDYWEARL@aol.com (email preferably), so that Roly of the Westerley can book numbers who will be coordinating the ride from Gt Missenden.
The Willesden are taking part as usual and as many members as possible are needed to go to London on the 1st January to join in the fun. All need to be in the new kit but if they don’t have it, Gladys will be bringing a stock of clothing to loan out.
The Parade starts from the Houses of Parliament at 12.00 noon. We are number 81 in the parade and the meeting point is in Milbank. Folk need really to be there by 11.30 am but certainly before noon.
There will be a club celebration at the end of the parade near to Green Park Station. Julie May will be providing the refreshments which will include the Willesden official drink of hot chocolate and Bailies.
We really need as many folk there as possible to make our entry a great success. Bring friends and relatives if you like. The main thing is that we need folk in kit on bikes. It really is a great way to kick off the new year. Parking is no real problem on New Years day-no congestion charge either. Of course, people may like to ride into London to get the miles in as the roads are quite clear.
Cheers
Ray
Lance, Rich and Rich all took part in the winter series at Hillingdon circuit on Saturday.
Lance felt strong in the 4th cat race however a crash left Lance too far back to contest for top ten.
Rich Cooper was taking part in his first E/1/2/3 race and was strong and moved up the bunch througout the race. He finished comfortably in the bunch. Richard Jerome was well placed for the sprint however his legs cramped up coming across the line and he lost quite a few places. He thinks he may have just made it into the top 25 riders (result tbc).
The club hill climb and free wheeling competion will be held on Gore Hill tomorrow morning. People wishing to take part should meet at Denham nurseries and after the event there is also the AGM at the barn is Ruislip.
The new jackets and gillets have arrived, along with some other kit. However Ray Kelly is off to Brazil for a month but he has kindly passed the kit onto Gladys if anyone wants any.
The jackets are £65 and the gillets and long sleeve jersey’s are £35 (but don’t quote me on that).
The winter racing series starts this Saturday at Hillingdon circuit with a number of Willesden riders registered to take part.
If you would like to take part or watch then full details and registration are available on the Imperial racing team website.
Good luck!!
Harp Hilly 100 – Sunday 25th January
This first reliability trial is the well-known Harp Hilly Hundred starting and finishing also at the Hemel Hempstead CC clubroom, (location map). This starts off following a similar route as the Hemel event through to Chesham then it takes on its own character taking on the hilly bits of the northern Chilterns through Berkhamsted, Whipsnade (the infamous Bison Hill) then onto Aston Hill near Halton and tracking back through Tring, Ivinghoe Beacon, Whelpley Hill via White Hill to the clubroom for a well earned rest.
– 100km (Start 9:00)
– 50km
– HQ – With refreshments – Hemel Hempstead CC Clubroom, Nash Mills Lane, HP3 9TE
– For details contact Malcolm Putman : 01525 211590 malcolm.putman@talktalk.net
Team Quest – Sunday 1st February
The start and finish is from the Ickenham Guide Hut in Community Close in Ickenham and the route travels out towards High Wycombe; Paul Doel at The Bike Shop, North Harrow can explain.
– 100km (Start 9:00)
– HQ – Ickenham Guide Hut. Ickenham.
– For details contact Paul Doel : 0208 723 4221 questbikes@aol.com
Hemel Hempstead CC – Sunday 8th February
This fourth reliability trial of the series starts and finishes at the Hemel Hempstead CC clubhouse in Nash Mills recreation centre, near Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead. (location map) The route travels out through Chesham, Wendover and Chinnor returning through Speen, Gt. Missenden, Chesham, Kings Langley and back to the club house with refreshments. It is a hilly circuit climbing some of the well-known Chiltern Hills of Chinnor and the notorious 1 in 4, Small Dean Lane, a killer but mercifully short, also Frith Hill is included in the route. The 50 km route option turns short of Wendover returning through Chesham
– 100 & 50km (Start 9:00)
– HQ – With refreshments – Hemel Hempstead CC Clubroom, Nash Mills Lane, HP3 9TE
– For details contact Roger Manley : 01442 824271 roger.manley@hemelcycling.org.uk
Edgware RC – Sunday 15th February
A slight relief from the previous hilly weeks as you will be delighted with this attractive undulating route. This event starts at the Denham Country Club and travels out to the Thames valley and at Marlow goes south on a fast flattish section through Windsor returning to Denham.
– 100/50km (Start 9:00)
– HQ – Denham Country Park UB10 8RE
– For details contact Bob Spencer : 0208 866 9517 bobmol@btinternet.com
Willesden CC – Sunday 22nd February
The fifth event starts at the Ickenham Guide Hut and travels out to Bledlow Ridge & Cryers Hill.
– 100km & 60km (start 9.30)
– HQ at Ickenham Guide Hut in Community Close in Ickenham
– For details contact John Williams: 07880-501105 squadra.verde@googlemail.com
CC Luton – Sunday 2nd March
The route commences from the village hall in Edlesborough and travels through Slapton, Wing, Stewkley and out to Swanbourne (tea room open) where the route turns to meander through the attractive Buckinghamshire lanes past Cublington, Wingrave, Marsworth and onto Aldbury up the infamous but thankfully short Toms Hill and onto Nettleden towards Redbourn where the route turns again through some hilly bits to Flamstead, Studham, Gaddesden Row, Dagnell and back home to Edlesborough. The 40 miler is available and includes good ole Toms Hill; the route is 95% country lanes.
– 100km & 65km (start 9.30)
– HQ – Edlesborough Village Hall, LU6 2HX
– For details contact Phil Eaton: 01582-721250 philipeaton@btinternet.com
The 100km events have time bands of 3-3, 3 -4 , or 4 -5hrs.
Entry fee for each event is in the region of £4.00. Refreshments are available at the HQ for all events. Certificates awarded to riders completing within their selected time band.
The Willesden Annual Hill climb and freewheel event is being held on the 7th December in Amersham on the same day as the AGM. Please keep the date free…..more info will follow.
The Willesden AGM is on the lst Sunday in December. Officers reports to be sent to Mike Ellison or direct to Lindsey to be included on the Agenda.
Thanks Gladys.
The Westerley would love to see their Willesden friends join them at their club dinner
It is a great end-of-season social gathering to be held at the Uxbridge Golf Club (same place we hold our club dinner) on Saturday, 29th November. Ticket cost is £20.
Please let Roland Collitcott know how many tickets you want (and feel free to bring as many guests as you like). He needs to provide numbers to the catering manager by the end of this week, although that number can be tweaked slightly in the following two weeks, however, he needs to have a reasonable estimate now. Please call him (preferably by email) your order, even if it’s only an estimated number of tickets. Here’s Roland’s details:
Roland Collicott
(Social Sec)
+44 (0)1753 885997
+44 (0)7909 681661
rcollicott@chalpharm.com
