Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club

News Letter

Issue: 370June 1999

President: C. Byers; Chairman: D. Sullivan; Secretary: R. Crane; Treasurer: T. Sykes; Editor: D. Roberts e-mail DRobe10229@AOL.com

Contact Warwick Davies (Press Secretary) e-mail wad@warwickdavies.demon.co.uk

 

The Ed’s Bit

And so summer has arrived heralded by three hot days and a thunderstorm. The Time Trial season is well under way, and those of us daft enough to compete in such events are all showing improved times compared to last year. I think that there maybe several reasons for this, perhaps a proper training programme comes to mind. Some club members are being careful about carbo loading, while others are actively working to increase the difference between food in and energy expenditure; less of the first and more of the second. Some brave people are using their bikes on a daily basis: all good stuff.

One of the best things about being in a club, taking part in events and coming to social occasions is the support, encouragement, yes, and the ribbing we all get no matter how well or badly we have done.

 

Youth Training Programme

On Saturday 29th May there was the monthly get together of the youth to see how they are all faring. But someone forgot to tell the youth as only 2 under 21’s turned up, and goodness knows how many cyclists over 21 there were. The idea was to have a gentle ride round the 16-mile circuit as a preparation for the time trial the following day. But mentioning no names (Kevin Worsley), someone decided to up the pace with the result that we all did too much hard work and were fit for nothing the following morning, when time counted! We live and learn, I suppose.

The next youth ride is planned for Saturday 26th June. All are invited to join in.

 

 

Forthcoming Events

Freewheeling Competition

This event will be held on Friday 25th June at the top of Hillfoot. The rider who can freewheel the furthest is the winner. To prevent cheating (as if we would) cranks will be secured with a toe strap.

BRCC Mountain Bike Race

Friday 2nd July '99 - The Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club Mountain Bike Race - this is due to be held in the evening at Rowney Warren - near Shefford, Bedfordshire.

This will be the third time this events has been held here - the course usually takes in steep climbs and descents on sandy forest tracks - with a few fallen trees and holes to catch out the unwary riders.

1999 is the Sixth Beds. Road C.C. Mountain Bike Race - having been initiated in 1993 by Richard White - the events since 1997 have been organised by Giles Henday - for further details send an e-mail to dc@dcrane.freeserve.co.uk and I'll forward it on.

 

 

 

BBAR 50 Mile Time Trial

Sunday 4th July '99 - Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club 'Best British All Rounder' 50 Mile Time Trial - This is the third time the Club has promoted

This event - again it will be held on a course based at Tempsford Village Hall.

For details on entering please refer to the 1999 RTTC

 

Coffee Bar Rota

 

2nd. July John Howard

9th. July Peter and Mary Hartley

16th July Toby and David Pocock

23rd July Lorna Webb

 

30th July Warwick Davis

6th August Lyndon Lewis

13th August Bob Garrett

20th August Dot Crane & Chris Byers

27th August Terry Bush

 

HERE IS A LITTLE POSER FOR YOU

In a recent time trial held on the Club’s 18 mile circuit, Jim was off at 09.30 and finished at 10.24. Joe, who hadn’t entered the race decided to take some photos round the course and left the start at 09.40 to ride round the circuit in the opposite direction. He rode at a steady 15 mph, stopping for 2 minutes to photograph the church on the way. At 10.06 he crossed Jim.

When they met, how far had Jim travelled? And if Joe had started out at the same time as Jim, who would have been furthest from the finish?

I’ll give the answer next month

.

REPORTS AND RESULTS

REPORT FROM BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD CYCLING CLUB.

EVENING LEAGUE

10 MILE TIME TRIAL CARDINGTON

THURSDAY 6TH MAY1999.

Thursday's race was the first round of the Evening League series that will run through to August. 50 riders have signed up to the challenge, with new riders joining the club from De Montfort University. Weather conditions were dull and overcast with a slight headwind on the outward leg. Giles Henday's mountain bike competition riding proved very useful as it pushed him into contention with top riders Steve Maynard and Alan Crane, returning times of under 27 minutes for the 10 mile course. First place though went to a new guest rider Julie Mann in 25.38.

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B.R.C.C. Riders were in action as well on Saturday when they rode in the Team Chiltern 25-Mile Time Trial at Little Paxton. The afternoon race was run in very wet and cold conditions.

TREVOR MARSHALL 59.24

ALAN CRANE 1.01.35

PAUL GODSAFE 1.06.05

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Report from B.R.C.C. Mountain Bike Section.

Sunday Afternoon 9th MAY

Giles Henday took 11th place from a field of over 60 riders in the Masters Mountain bike race in woods near Windsor. Martyn Dunn also finished 11th in a Mountain Bike race at Thetford riding in the Masters category.

REPORT FROM BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD CYCLING CLUB.

EVENING LEAGUE

12 MILE TIME TRIAL CARDINGTON

THURSDAY 13TH MAY 1999.

Thursday's race was the second round of the Evening League series with over 40 riders taking part. Weather conditions were much better than last week, with a sunny and bright evening. A moderate crosswind on the outward leg aided the riders slightly from the top of the hill through to Old Warden, lckwell, Northill and Cople. Steve Maynard was back on form being one of only two riders to break 30 minutes for the 12-mile hilly course. Alan Crane, Paul Godsafe, Martin Searle and Giles Henday were in close contention.

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B.R.C.C. Rider Kevin Worsley was the only member of the club competing on Saturday when he rode in the 10-MILE Time Trial at Little Paxton run by Barnett Cycling Club. Weather conditions were good, with a slight headwind on the return leg from the Black Cat. Kevin achieved a personal best of 24.13, taking 19 seconds off his previous time.

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Report from B.R.C.C. Mountain Bike Section.

Sunday Afternoon 16th MAY:

Giles Henday and Martyn Dunn competed in the UK round of the Masters UCI Diesel Mountain Bike World Cup at Plymouth. Both riders rode strongly over the hilly, technical course, which involved five river crossings, every lap, to finish in 23rd and 29th positions respectively from a field of nearly 100 riders.

REPORT FROM BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD CYCLING CLUB.

EVENING LEAGUE

10 MILE TIME TRIAL CARDINGTON

THURSDAY 20TH MAY 1999.

 

 

Thursday's race was the third round of the Evening League series with 45 riders taking part. Weather conditions were near perfect, a warm, bright and sunny evening with only a slight wind. James Harrow and Richard Laidlow were the new contenders just ousting Julie Mann a winner from two weeks ago and top clubman Alan Crane.

 

 

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B.R.C.C. Other events.

North Notts Olympic `50'Saturday 22nd May 1999 Course - on Al - Sutton On Trent - Long Bennington – Cromwell. Windy conditions for a large race entry of about 130 riders Alan Crane was the sole rider from the BRCC - finishing in 2-06-15 Winner was Geoff Platts (Team Clean) in 1-46-49

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Report from B.R.C.C. Mountain Bike Section.

Friday 21st MAY:

 

Giles Henday competed in the first round of the Midlands Evening Series at Market Harborough and after being in 3rd place for the first lap he crashed and lost his chain and dropped to 10th place, but rode strongly back through the field to finish 4th overall.

 

 

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REPORT FROM BEDFORDSHIRE ROAD CYCLING CLUB.

EVENING LEAGUE

12 MILE TIME TRIAL CARDINGTON

THURSDAY 27TH MAY 1999.

Thursday's race was the fourth round of the Evening League Series. Over 50 riders took part. Weather conditions were near perfect, a warm, bright and sunny evening with only a slight wind. Newcomers James Harrow and Richard Laidlow putting in a fine effort to come first and second.

 

Interclub 16 mile Time Trial.

Cardington Hangars - Shefford - Ireland - Southill - Old Warden - Cardington village.

Sunday 3Oth May.

Sunday's race was part of the Interclub series. Conditions were very poor for the early morning start, being cold and drizzly at the start of the race by Cardington hangars. The slow rise along to the bottom of Hammer Hill and the climb up seemed easier than the usual ride up the hill to Old Warden. The riders then carried on descending past Rowney Warren woods to the new roundabout. The riders then turning sharp left and climbing hard up the hill to Ireland. With the mist breaking, but with a strong crosswind little advantage was gained except through the back lanes through Southill to Old Warden. Here the race continued left again on the evening league course till the turn home at Old Rowney farm. The run down the back lane and the final descent of the hill down from Old Warden kept the pressure on to maintain any gains made through the race. The race finished at the clubhouse in Cardington. Gary Halsey was a worthy winner for Icknield R.C. with Ian Markham second. Paul Godsafe, Kevin Armstrong and Alan Crane coming in close behind in less than 44 minutes.

Mole Heard That

Our senior club member, Frank Garrison, is the Oldest Yuppie in Town. Apparently, he was seen posing with a mobile phone at the club recently. He strongly denies any rumours that he was phoning his Stock Market Dealer mates, checking out his latest share prices. So my mole tells me, he was saying ‘Buy Consolidated Fudge, sell Killquick Distilleries’. The Ed is just about to go and see his own stockbroker.

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And Finally

 

Spilled diesel, for many years, was the peril of anyone who rode on two wheels. On just about every busy road junction, there would be a trail of the stuff going round the corner, just in the line that you, as a two wheel machine user, would want to take. 20 years ago, everyone knew someone who had fallen off a bike or motorcycle due to sloppy procedures at the filling station or poor maintenance of lorries. How many times did you see a rag stuffed into the filling port of an ageing truck’s fuel tank instead of the proper cap? After much lobbying and tightening up of procedures, with new legislation governing fuel caps did the problem of spilled diesel reduce to a level that was acceptable. However, this problem is rearing its ugly head again. There are a few theories for this; mini buses and foreign trucks that don’t comply with our legislation being two. But whatever the reason, something has to be done soon before somebody is seriously injured. So what has spurred me into writing this little missive? Well I came a cropper in Tavistock Street on Tuesday afternoon due to the very stuff that I am complaining about. I was not going fast, and when I realised that there was a trail of diesel on the road in front of me, I took avoiding action, only to be caught out by the diesel being absorbed into the tarmac and spreading further than I thought. I am on the mend now, but I am still off work, and worse than that, I still cannot ride my bike. All because of something that was not my fault, and something that was avoidable.

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Just when I thought things could not get any worse, I heard that Lyndon Lewis was involved in a serious accident, sustaining 2 broken wrists. We hope that you make a speedy recovery Lyndon, and you are able to get back on your bike soon.

 

Des Roberts

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