Willesden Cycling Club

More Racing Good news!

Richard Jerome snatched 4th place in last nights Surrey league 3/4 cat race at Eelmore. The winner went off the front with a lap to go and the bunch did not react. Richard said he might try that trick next time.

Miles Back

Both John Williams and Darlene Rini were successful in the 4th cat race at Hillingdon on Tuesday night.

John got his first placing, finishing in 10th place. Whilst Darlene finished in 4th in her very first race at Hillingdon! John is still claiming the lead-out.

Great results for both of them and hopefully they can repeat their success at the club event next week (17/6).

Richard Cooper and myself did not take part last night, Richard is feeling the effects on a mid-season two week holiday and I was saving myself for a race tonight.

Well done to both of you!!!

Richard Jerome

The Willesden CC are holding a track training session at Calshot Velodrome on Saturday 19th July 2008 from 13.00hrs until 16.00hrs.

This is open to all riders (not just Willesden members) of all abilities. All the coaches are British Cycling qualified for track.

The cost of the session will be £10.00 for adults and £5.00 for youths (15 and under). Riders must have a well maintained bike and helmets and gloves must be worn.

Recommended gearing for a training session at Calshot is 81″ maximum. Hire bikes are available from Calshot at a cost of £6.30 for adults and £2.80 for youths.

Places may be limited, so please contact Keith Wilmot to book your place on

WillesdenCyclingClub@Yahoo.co.uk, with “KW Track” in the subject box.

Keith Wilmot

On Tuesday 17th June the Willesden CC are promoting the races at Minet Park, Springfield Lane, Hayes UB4 0LT.

Race program is as follows –

18:45 Youth races for U16/U14/U12/U10/U8

19:15 4th Cats – 45kms

19:15 Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd -70kms

Please be there to support your club and cheer on your clubmates. Wear your Willesden Kit with pride and passion, Forza squadra verde!

Yours in sport, Jumbo James

The Vets have been in action this week.

On Wednesday in the London and Home Counties 10 at Fifield Gill Reynolds was the fastest lady in 27.22 and with Ron Purdy recording 32.59 they were the 2nd team on Standard. On Saturday they were joined by Brian Moon and rode the Spirit Racing Team 10 at Leighton Buzzard returning in 25.51(Gill) 27.17(Brian) and 31.18.(Ron). Gill took the 2nd fastest lady award and was also the 3rd fastest vet on Standard in a field of 90 riders.

Gill continued racing on Sunday and went down to Petersfield to ride the Hantspol.C.C. 25 mile and with a time of 1.07.26 was the 3rd fastest lady.

Ed Packard seems to be riding in local events. During the week he rode the Polesgate Club 15 miles in which he recorded 37.07 and the ICA Crowfield 10 retuning in 25.05. I think as a student he finds getting to events in this area either costly or involving too many miles on the bike.

Cheers Gladys.

P.S. I don’t know if you understand how the Age Standard works but you are given an allowance which increases as you get older. Gill’s in a 10 mile event is 31.30 and Ron’s 34.06. So if Gill records 26.00 her plus on Age standard will be 5.30.

Twickenham Cycling Club are pleased to promote the inaugural Twickenham CC Womens Team Series Race to be held under British Cycling technical regulations

Womens National Team Series – Round 3

Sunday 22nd June 2008, 11:00am, 53 Miles (85Km)

Windlesham, Surrey

Race Headquarters: Valley End C. of E. School

Highams Lane, Valley End, Chobham, Surrey . GU24 8TB

Even though it’s a team event, we can put individual riders in the Twickenham Team or in the Impsport Composite team.

Entries normally close on Sunday 1st, however contact Graham Macnamee at gmacnameewcs@aol.com ASAP

It’s not often we get a local girls only race – so it’s an opportunity not to be missed!

A race for all levels of ability.

Ray Kelly

Saturday! Cold, grey, damp and windy. Not a day you would choose to go and watch a cycle race at Hillingdon. However Richard Jerome’s performance in the Cat 3/4 Support race to the prestigious Hillingdon GP made the trip worthwhile.

I joined a knot of Willesden supporters to witness Richard ride a mature and calculated race, where he was constantly near the front of the group looking lean, keen and mean. The new squadra kit looks really fresh and sharp in the peloton, which must give any Willesden rider a psychological boost. To me Richard looked to really dominate the race and he was looking a very real threat.

At the bell Richard was in a good position as the peloton swished past and disappeared from our view. We waited expectantly for them to round the final bend. As they did we spotted Richard, still in a winning position. It was a long slog up to the finish line, directly into the teeth of a nagging headwind.

Still Richard was looking good; could this be a podium position? Suddenly Richard disappears from the outside edge of the track. Had he blown? Where was he? A few seconds later he reappeared on the inside of the track with good space all around him. He had a clear line to the chequered flag. “Push Richard, push, push, push” we all urged. In the last 100 metres his opponents just had that ounce or two more of energy and our man finished just a second or so behind the winners. It was close and a highly creditable 6th place.

Well done Richard. It going to be even more exciting when you have a few more Willesden team mates to join you. What a great summer of Willesden racing it is going to be.

Forza Squadra Verde!!

Miles Back

Ian Oliver has sent in this story of inappropriate bike usage from Sweden (contains mildly adult themes). See http://tinyurl.com/5d5sf6

Mark Brooking is keen for some company on this years Dunwich Dynamo. The 16th running of this 120 mile/192km event will take place on Saturday, 19th July 2008.

The ride is free to enter and you have to make your own way back from Dunwich. The FAQ for the 2007 event tells you all you need to know about this marvellous event. See http://tinyurl.com/5raxvv

Email Mark Brooking at WillesdenCyclingClub@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to be part of the WCC team.

Ian Why has volunteered to be a Marshall on the Smithfield Nocturne to be held in central London on Saturday the 7th June.

Ian says volunteers assisting on the night as marshalls and support staff will receive £10 cash for travel expenses, a goody bag to include a ‘T’shirt, free food and refreshments.

If you would like to volunteer then contact Tony Cosstick ( his details are t.cosstick at blueyonder dot co dot uk)

See http://tinyurl.com/5d7u5c for more details on this event.

Having spent hours training and perfecting their bike set up, cyclists don’t like to admit that their personal best times often have much to do with course choice and the weather. Yesterday, PBs fell up and down the country on a still, sunny day which was ideal for riding bikes. The Shaftesbury CC 10, held on the E2/10 near Cambridge, attracted a superfast field of 120 riders, half of whom ended the day going faster than they had done in the previous 3 years.

I didn’t quite know what to expect, having not ridden this course before, but I did make sure I was well-hydrated and warmed up before starting. Once onto the dual carriageway, it was straight into a 26.5-28.5mph cruising speed. Even on the few uphill bits, I didn’t go below 23.5mph. I’ve never known 10 miles to pass so quickly and this was one of the most comfortable races I’ve done, despite the heat. As I approached the finish I checked the clock: I was well on for a new personal best, the question was by how much. Knuckled down, and crossed the line in 21:50, knocking 51 seconds off my previous best effort. Afterwards was fairly shocked that this constitutes an average speed of 27.4mph! My mum’s Clio doesn’t go that fast. Had a bacon sandwich to celebrate, then, as ever, went to catch the train home.

It’s been a while since I last recorded a personal best – last August in fact – and I was beginning to think I was going backwards rather than forwards (which, I guess, would be an impressive feat on a bicycle). The quality of the field meant I finished 56th out of 120, the event was won by Michael Hutchinson who did an incredible 18:26, the fifth fastest 10 time since 1998, and a new course record. Though that is a superhuman effort, I was left wondering what I could’ve done with a proper TT set up. Can’t be many months away now!

Ed Packard

An email exchange between John Williams and my self about the Primavera cycling race next weekend ended with the immortal quote from “Breaking Away”. It’s exclaimed by the character Dave on leaning that Team Cinzano are coming to his home….

“Mama, the Italians are coming, the Italians are coming!”

This quote is followed by the most wonderful five minutes of cycling film. So to celebrate the film and the start of the Giro d’Italia this weekend, here it is.

Miles Back

The current club runs list ends on the last Sunday in May. We have a number of regular venues that we use, but it would be good to explore some new destinations, or possible link up with an event such as a road race, or meet up with the South London WCC contingent.

Also would anyone like to lead a run?

If you have any suggestions, then either add them as a comment to this posting or email the WCC at WillesdenCyclingClub@yahoo.co.uk, with “Club Run” in the title

John Wheatley
Club Captain