Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club

News Letter

Issue: 367 Date: March 1999

President: C. Byers ... Chairman: D. Sullivan ... Secretary: R. Crane ... Treasurer: T. Sykes

Editor: D. Roberts e-mail: DRobe10229@AOL.com

The Ed’s Bit

Hello again, and welcome to this months news letter. Do you know what your articles for this journal and your local busses have in common? You wait for ages for one to arrive, then three come at once!!! Yes I know it’s an old joke, but let’s face it, they are the best.

I take it that you have all been down to the Club House to see Andy Maddox for your 1999 RTTC Handbook. While thumbing through the section of banned or controlled substances, I was surprised, shocked and amazed to see that under RTTC rules, except for downhillers, Marijuana is not prohibited. (Check it out on page 101). Now forgive my innocence, but why? Under UK law Marijuana is a controlled substance. As far as I’m aware, you can still go down for possession, and those who deal stand to lose a lot more than their freedom for a few months. Yet, if you are feeling under the weather with a cold and you take some ‘over the counter’ remedies, you could find your self over the limit for some of the items listed. So what if you have had a social evening the night before a race and you have had a cup of coffee for the road? I suppose one could find one’s self over the caffeine limit. Yet, my interpretation of the rules is that it is all right to smoke a spliff, or eat some space cake before an event.

There is a ban on testing this type of drug in the UK, but maybe it’s about time this ban was lifted. I feel quite sure that some of the myths surrounding it’s use would be exploded. It is now widely accepted that Marijuana is addictive, contrary to the popular beliefs held by the pro Marijuana lobby. So why, under RTTC rules is it deemed to be all right to use it? I’d like some of your views on this subject. And in case you are wondering, the Ed does not condone or encourage the use of Marijuana.

On the Social Scene

Ten pin Bowling

The first organised social event for the junior section of the Club was held at the Mega Bowl, Aspects Leisure Park, Bedford, on January 24th. 9 juniors and 4 adults took part, and were organised into 3 teams; so after shoes were exchanged, the fun began. Dave and Scott, it seems, had been playing with their chemistry sets, and created the same stuff that the Invisible Man uses, as they could not be seen all day. Their goes were taken by other members of their teams, but the funny thing was that every time it was Dave or Scotts turn, the person bowling scored more for them than they did for themselves!!!!!

Included in the price was a very healthy, low calorie, low fat (not) meal of burger, chips and coke DRINK. No bowling performance enhancing substances were allowed. It was Gary’s birthday, so an announcement was made, with a plug for Beds Road Cycling Club, and the celebrations continued with a birthday cake provided by the Lewis family. Afterwards, there were games of air hockey while the youth waited patiently for their lifts home. Special thanks must go to Lorna Webb for coming to support, and for the organisers for arranging this successful event. This was the first social happening specifically designed for the youth, and hopefully there will be more during the year.

Sarah Lewis

Saturday 20th. March.

Video night. Resist the temptation to go to the pub, and come down to the Club House to revisit last years club and open events. Come and have a look at your finest hours, or examine your riding position so you can make fine tweaks for this year. The event will be hosted by Dave Crane. Price, including jacket potato supper will be £3:00

Dave Crane

Mole heard that.....................

While ensuring that all members of the Beds Road Cycling Club received the last issue of the News Letter, the Ed, with his diligence and devotion to duty, even posted one to his own address!!!! The Ed formally apologises for this great waste and extravagance of BRCC funds, and will return the 26p that was used to purchase the extra 2nd. class postage stamp.

RON WILLETT

In January this year, Ron Willett passed away. Ron had been a member of the Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club for well over twenty years. In the early days he would often try his hand at Time Trailing but, like the majority of us, he was nearly always to be found near the "Lantern Rouge" end of the results board. In 1978 whilst cycling. he was tragically the victim of a "Hit and Run' accident from which he sustained injuries that were to remain with him for the rest of his life. However, undaunted, he managed to surmount his disabilities and made a valuable contribution to the Bedford area "Meals on Wheels" service as a helper and driver. Like most of us, Ron had his own interests and experiences. He was in his day, an active swimmer on the one hand, and on the other, was also greatly interested in natural history and in particular, birds and animals.

He had his origins in West Ham, North London and in his time had been a Fireman on real steam trains in the days of British Railways. The magic of shovelling coal into the firebox of a moving locomotive being sadly, now a thing of a forgotten age. He had also worked in his time at Vauxhall's Luton.

In recent years, Ron was frequently to be seen at both the Club's Evening League and annual Red Cross events at Temnpsford where always he took an interest in helping the proceedings. Ron was a character in his own right and possessed a well intentioned heart toward his fellow man. It is a pity that more of us did not get to know him better, for he was of that very ‘stuff ’ that makes Clubs such as ours what they are. Ron Willett will be missed.

At the request of the family, no flowers were sent to his funeral, but as a token of our respect, your Club Committee has made a Donation to Bedford Hospital.

For the year 1998-99 the BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD CYCLING is affiliated to the following organisations

Northampton & District Cycling Association (N.D.C.A.).

The Club has been a member of the NDCA for many years. The Association is made up of cycling clubs mainly from Northamptonshire Each member club may promote any number of Time Trials in a season, with events only being open to those riders who’s club is a member of the NDCA. A member club is expected to promote an Association event each year, and when required, to provide marshals for an event that is promoted by another club within the Association. NDCA are events generally held on roads east of Northampton or within north Bedfordshire

North Mids & Herts Cycling Association (North Middlesex & Hertfordshire Cycling Association).

Club is a member of this Association with participating clubs promoting Time Trials north of London and up to the Al in Bedfordshire. Participating clubs enjoy and are expected to meet requirement similar to those of the NDCA

Norlond Combine (North London Combine).

This combine is an Association that consists of north London based clubs who promote Time Trials in the northern Home Counties and often on the AI at Tempsford. For the 1998/9 season the Club is not a member of this Association

Road Records Association (R.R.A.)

The RRA promotes national record attempts on the fastest time taken by a rider to travel from one place to another within the UK. For example London to Edinburgh, Cambridge to Oxford, Rugby to Peterborough. Ipswich to London, etc. Rides may be made on solo bicycle, tandem or tricycle. They are open to male and female competitors. Record attempts are un-paced and carried out under the scrutiny of observers throughout the route. A copy of the RRA Handbook is held by the Club

Northwest & Home Counties Road Records Association (N.H.C.R.R.A.)

The aims of the NHCRRA are identical to those of the RRA except that the place to place record attempts are bounded within the Home Counties, through to north Oxfordshire and across to East Anglia. Many of this Associations records have lapsed and are therefore open to fresh attempts. Anyone can make an attempt on a record of their own choice and provided that they finish the stated route within a reasonable time then their ride will be recognised as a record and noted accordingly. As with the RRA, there is an attempt fee; generally this is only of a few pounds. Timing of any attempt is by general agreement between rider and the Association. A Handbook is available in the Clubroom.

British Cycling Federation (B.C.F.)

The BCF is the national body governing road racing in England and Wales. Any Club rider who wishes to compete in a road race must apply for a Licence which is available only from the BCF via the Clubs BCF secretary. Details of all road races are published in the association’s annual handbook. The BCF also manages most aspects of Mountain Bike racing at national level. For more information again contact the Club's BCF secretary

Road Time-Trials Council (R.T.T.C.)

This long established body governs most organised Time Trial events held in England and Wales. Provided that a club is a member of the RTTC then any member of that club can enter a Time Trial event held under the council rules. Events are only promoted by a club, not the RTTC. Events may be classed as Open, Association or Championship. Any person may enter and ride such events provided that they as an individual comply with the promoting club's event requirements as detailed in the current RTTC Handbook. Please contact our Club’s Open Events Secretary if you need further information.

British Cyclo-Cross Association (B.C.C.A.)

Cyclo-Cross events are normally held during winter months on enclosed grass circuits. For further details, please contact a member of your Club's committee.

And Finally

The Ed would like to thank all who contributed to this edition of the News Letter. Please keep your articles coming in, because without them there would be no News letter (that means I am running out of stuff for the next one). So if you have anything to say, please drop me a line and I will do my best to print it. If you fancy being a Page 3 Model, please send me your photo and vital statistics (this refers to your bike of course), or if you want to buy or sell anything, you can advertise free in this journal. Do you have any controversial points of view? The Ed would love to hear them. So until the next time, keep warm, safe and upright.

Des Roberts