GENERAL MEETING
Enclosed is the Agenda for the Club General Meeting at Tower
St on 6th September. Please come along if you can, when we will
decide upon our promotions and affiliations for next year as
well as have time for a chat and cup afterwards.
NEW MEMBERS
This month we are pleased to welcome two new members, Colling
Burton from Ashfield, a former Ely & Dist CC member and Karen
Eaton from Rushmere. We hope to see plenty of them in the future.
ICA LEAGUE
The Club had six members plus one day member featuring in the
final result table, although no rider completed the requisite
12 counting rides to qualify for awards. Dave Higgins was our
best placed in the Veteran category at 15th from 8 rides, followed
by Fergus Muir 19th (7), Colin Clarke 23rd (5), Andy Pearson
24th (4).
In the Ladies section, Karen Eaton was 3rd with 3 rides and Maureen
Nichols 10th (1)
MEMBER'S NEWS
A dull morning with a steady northwest breeze and occasional
light showers saw several hundred riders at Glemham Hall on 8th
August choosing between riding the 35 or 60 mile Bike Events
"Suffolk Coast Ride". New member Karen Eaton and Mick
Pepper chose the 60 mile version which took a clockwise circuit
via Peasenhall , Wrentham and Southwold to finish in warm sunshine
back at the Hall.
Between the 1st -10th August Jim Stow and a friend rode from
Lands End to John o'Groats on a self supported fund raising venture.
Riding an average of 94 miles a day with a maximum of 110, they
experienced eight days of rain but thankfully the winds were
light. The Charity to benefit from the ride is Wallace Cancer
Care which would welcome donations at www.justgiving.com/walllacecancercare.
Colin Kindred had better luck with the weather than Jim when
he rode the 500 mile Irish "South to North" ride. Riding
from Lizen Head to Mallen Head over eight days from 14th August,
Colin experienced one rain shower and went on to log over 660
miles with rides to and from the airport.
As part of the Mildenhall Rally Suffolk CTC offered 300, 200
and 100 km Audax rides when Karen, Colin K and Mick joined 120
plus riders in the 112 km (70 mile) event from Mildenhall. A
new route this year went southeast via Stradishall, Long Melford,
Thurston and Risby on probably the best day of the weekend with
just a cold start and stiff northwest wind to contend with.Maureen
and Ken Nichols were in attendance helping to start and clock
in riders for all three distances.
RACING NEWS
Just ten events ridden this month which shows the season is nearing
the end but the rides produced five individual awards and one
team win to add to our haul.
STOWMARKET & DCC 20 - (BS33) - 7TH AUGUST
It was a good day for a change on the Debenham, Pettaugh, Kenton
circuit with a mild west wind ensuring there were no long headwind
stretches. Roger Selmes led our trio, who were all in the hunt
for SPOCO points, with 1.1.23 followed by Colin Clarke 1.4.33
and John Tovell who had the bad luck to puncture 1.6.27. A trio
of 2nd claim members also rode with Barry Lee recording a very
solid 58.23, Ted Saunderson 1.2.05 which gained him the 70+ age
group award and Fergus Muir 1.10.07 on his trike.
EASTERN COUNTIES CA 10 - (E2/10) - 7TH AUGUST
It was the same wind on the A11 from Six Mile Bottom but it provided
a headwind to the turn in the event reserved for the slowest
entrants. Bob Quarton was back to form with 23.16 backed by Ged
Coles 24.36 and brother John 25.22.
LVRC NATIONAL ROAD RACE - 8TH AUGUST
After his warm up the previous afternoon Ged rode the League
of Veteran Racing Cyclists National Road Race Championship over
seven laps of a six mile circuit near Guildford. Riding in the
G and F age group event and with the finish approaching, Ged
fell victim to cramp and finished 7th in the G(70-74) age group.
KINGS LYNN CC 25 - (B25/33) - 14TH AUGUST
Although less than 40 miles north of the E2, course conditions
were quite different at Fincham for the trip to Mundford rab
with heavy rain and hail showers, sunny periods and roads awash.
This coincided with Roger, who was feeling out of sorts, recording
1.17.46 while Ted returned 1.13.55, but both were issued a dose
of SPOCO points for their efforts.
VTTA (EAST ANGLIAN GROUP) 10 - (E2/10/) - 14TH AUGUST
It was back to Six Mile Bottom where a rising north wind made
for an increasingly harder second half on the A11. Bob led us
again with 24.11 followed by John Parkes 24.27, Ged 25.11 which
won him 6th on Std medal and brother John 25.36. The event also
produced the season's first team win which in VTTA events is
based on Vet Std, with Ged +8.06, John P +6.33 and John C +5.54
for a 20.33 aggregate
ANGLIA VELO 10 - (B10/3) - 15TH AUGUST
The north wind was on the riders left shoulder for the trip to
the turn from Besthorpe which was favourable for the course.
Mark Pearce was our new leader with 24.13, backed by John C rejuvenated
from the previous afternoon 24.27 and John P 24.52. John T followed
with 25.08 which won him 1st in the 70-74 age group, while Ged
recorded 25.28 and Colin C 28.07 for his fastest ride of the
year.
TEAM SANJAN DESIGN 10 - (F2A/10) - 21ST AUGUST
An horrendously windy afternoon on the A428 from Hardwick, west
of Cambridge, made it difficult for riders to remain on their
tri-bars in the side wind. The difficult conditions saw John
C record 25.54 and John P 26.26.
VC BARACCHI 50 - (B50/17) - 22ND AUGUST
Early morning rain delayed the start for 30 minutes on the two
lap Waveney Valley course between Harleston and Stockton, resulting
in damp, warm conditions and eventual sunshine. Traversing the
roundabouts on the course that have to be crossed 15 times, Bob
put in a good ride recording 2.8.45 which gained him his first
ever vets prize with 3rd on Std. Andy Pearson feeling the effects
of his recent effort in the French Alps and holiday, recorded
2.17.25.
TTWEEKLY.COM 10 - (B10/34) - 28TH AUGUST
The windy afternoon on the A14 between Higham and Westley provided
a very fast run to the turn and a slog back, as well as sharp
heavy showers that caught some riders. Bob did a good ride on
the day recording 23.50, followed by John P 25.17 and Colin C
who was caught in one of the showers 29.40. Mildenhall Audax
riders on a road parallel to the course knew what the racers
were experiencing.
VC NORWICH 10 - (B10/3) - 30TH AUGUST
Conditions were very similar to Saturday's on the A11 north from
Besthorpe, with a cold start strong wind and heavy squally showers.
Bob retained his top spot with 24.27 but within reach was Ged
with a very good 24.52 which gained him 1st place in the 70 plus
age group. John T's 25.51 made it a Wolsey one two when he finished
2nd in the same age group. John P was unlucky to puncture at
seven miles and was let down by his spare and finished walking.
FASTEST OF THE YEAR (To 30/8/2010)
MEN
10 John Parkes 23.08 CC Breckland B10/3 30th June
25 Andy Pearson 1.00.43 Shaftesbury CC E2/25 8th May
50 John Coles 2.07.56 ECCA E2/50C 22nd May
100 Andy Pearson 4.49.13 Nth Middx &Herts CA F1/100 18th
June
WOMEN
10 Maureen Nichols 29.45 Norwich ABC B10/43 3rd July
25 Maureen Nichols 1.13.32 VTTA E2/25 12th June
50 Maureen Nichols 2..41.36 Godric CC B50/18 27th June
DIARY DATES
Sept 6th Wolsey RC General Meeting - Tower Street
12th St Elizabeth Hospice Peninsula Pedal 5.5. and 11.5 miles
starting 10.30 - £5 and Constable Country 50 mile starting
9.30 £15 - Royal Hospital School Holbrook Sarah Cawley
Tel: 01473 723600. www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk.
17th "Bobby on a Bike" Charity ride from Sproughton
to Boxford to watch Tour of Britain start 9.30 Morrisons, Sproughton
Road. Ipswich - £5 entry on day. Details PhilBarrett@tesco.net
Oct 2nd CTC Suffolk Audax 100km Blaxhall Paul Fenton 01473 311222
7th Wolsey RC Committee Meeting - Diamond Close.
Nov 7th CC Sudbury and District Championship Hill
Climb, Semer. This incorporates the Club Hill Climb Championship
entries as CTT handbook.
This is your last chance to win a Club Trophy this year.
15th Wolsey RC AGM. Tower Street, Ipswich
A French Trip - Andy Pearson
In December it all felt like a good idea. It would give us an
objective and incentive to train in all weathers, knowing that
there was a big challenge in front of us. Kesgrave Sports Tours
(Me) kicked into action just before Christmas and hastily arranged
Sportive entry, booking of accommodation, flights and hire cars.
Objective was clarified ride the Beaumes de Venise - Mont
Ventoux Sportive in early June and then return to France 3 weeks
later to ride the Vaujany, Prix des Grandes Rousses and then
the big one.. the Marmotte in the next trip (riding the Grimpee
de l'Alpe the day after the Marmotte would just be silly). Paul
decided to come on the first trip and Alistair the second.. I
would do both. I put my entry in for the four, Paul his one and
Alistair all four of the second week well, that is very
silly! But it did get him an early start number. Everything was
going well in Jan, honestly. My training diary (yes, I do keep
one although there appear to be some big gaps in it) says it
was icy most days however mountain bikes prevailed.. we even
arranged lunchtime training sessions from work. In Feb, I went
skiing and broke my arm/shoulder joint and things went downhill.
However, the turbo trainer came in use and did a bit on that.
By March I was back on the bike, one handed and putting some
miles in. April was highest mileage yet. Working in London I
rode home and we did the Headway ride.. It was here that Paul
and I started to admire Alistair's training regime. He managed
to keep up with us with minimal training.. riding 75 miles in
under 4 hours.. We thought there must be something in this and
started to major on this method. May came and went and suddenly
we were wondering how we were to get to Stansted airport. I hired
a car and Paul and I trundled off to Stansted. Dropped the hire
car a spit from the terminal and went straight through to drop
the bag.. only one to save Easyjet charges. The terminal was
virtually empty and we dropped the bikes at outsize luggage.
All set to go. Wasted around for a couple of hours and then onto
the flight. Soon we were at Lyon. They'd even moved the bus stop
for hire cars outside T3 so you no longer had to have a convoluted
journey through the terminal. Picked up the hire car slung the
bikes into the hire car and off we went. Paul wanted to save
some cash so we soon came off the autoroute to go through small
villages to get to Orange.. about 120 miles. It took forever.
We booked into our selective hotel F1.. look at their website
and went out for a meal. First real day there, we went up to
Chalet Reynard and rode to the top of Mont Ventoux.. thinking
this isn't hard much different from when I tried to ride
up in icy rain in the Etape du Tour in 2000. We then drove down
via Sault to sign on for the Sportive. Having signed on and got
our free bottle of Cotes du Ventoux we went back to Orange to
get our cyclists' feast at the nearby Campanile.. all you can
eat buffet for starters. A main course and then all you can eat
for dessert.. just what you need before the big event. We set
off for Beaumes de Venise arriving in plenty of time. Bikes assembled
and up to the start. It was already very hot, 26 degrees and
the sun had only just got up. Eventually we set off.. one foot
clipped in, one scooting along for the first hundred metres until
we were over the timing mat. Pace was gentle and some guys were
steaming past. Over some gently rolling countryside to Bedoin.
Up the steady slope for next few km until the sharp turn and
the climb really started. Paul rode slowly but surely away from
me as I struggled up on 34/25. He was muscling up on 39/28..
I eventually reached Chalet Reynard and got some bright green
liquid and a few bits of food. Then continued up to the summit
of Mont Ventoux.. hurrah some downhill at last. On first few
corners it was horrendous as we went through a seemingly endless
swarm of huge flies. Then getting onto the long straights taking
us down to Malaucene picking up huge speed and finding that SRAM
brakes are nowhere near as good as Shimano at high speed. Into
the valley it was fiercely hot. I skipped the next food stop
as this was only about an hour after the last. By this time I
was getting really sore hamstrings.. a combination of the climbing
and the fact that I'd had to change my saddle recently.. same
model but obviously slightly different. I got the allen key out
dropped the seat a few mm and went on up the newly gravelled
climb to Col de Veaux. At this point was the bi-furcation 70km
done - 109km to the left, 176km and uphill to the right. Of course
I turned right but after about 3km against an incessant headwind
and looking at the fiche that said this went on for 30km - before
a right turn to take you back up Mont Ventoux to Chalet Reynard
- my survival instincts kicked in. I rationalised that I was
doing other sportives later and could cane myself today and suffer
the consequences - not only tomorrow but later on as well. Paul
on the other hand, was about 15mins in front of me (we sussed
out later) and was in for a caning. I turned round and completed
the 109km ride - which rejoined the same course as the 176km
ride with about 15km to go. Unfortunately, a nice man with a
clipboard took my number where the courses joined.. you'll know
why later. As I climbed the last smaller climbs I was passed
by the leaders of the longer race. I was soon tapping out a decent
rhythm and managed to get to the final water stop.. then the
final descent and push all the way to the finish. Catching up
a tandem and passing many others. Then, suddenly man points left,
tandem dives left, sharp right and over the finish line. Thank
God for that. I get my breath back and phone Paul on his mobile..
"I've finished" I boldly say to him. A confused "You
what?" is all he can say in return. He's just arrived at
Sault and still has a near 1000m climb to do before the descent
and return over what he still thinks are mere bumps. I clarify
that I did the shorter route and he calms down ready for more
torture up to Chalet Reynard. I return to the car, which fortunately
is still in shade, and it is still 36 degrees. I have quick wash
and change and after a while decide to drive back up the course
to where the two rides come together. As usual there are many
Brits and I give each rider a 'courage' in my best French. After
a while, Paul appears dragging himself up the hill.. it lasts
for about 4km and is about 1 in 10. He stops and I give him some
extra food and bottles. Then push him back up the hill.. I pull
alongside and he pulls on the passenger door and gets a bit of
assistance a la the medic car in the Tour for a few hundred metres.
I then go up the rode and give him a cheer as he comes past.
I then have trouble keeping in front on the descent then it starts
going up again. I tell him a few times that it goes down after
the next corner- just like a tour team manager - before he starts
moaning at me.. then it truly is the last corner before the descent
to the finish.
Initially, I was posted as coming 21st in the longer event. Soon
after it was corrected and I was no longer on the finishing list.
However I was not the only one as the lady who was listed as
20th in the main event was promoted to 16th! The man with the
clipboard had been busy.
Paul finished in 8.57, 83rd in Category and 330 Overall