Wednesday 30 June 2010

Social Rides to replace the TT

As a chance to do something different with the event cancelled there is going to be MTB ride at 7pm from the top of Roman way (next to the playground) thanks to James Wilson. The group is aiming to be back in Ross for 8:30pm taking in the local Chase/Penyard woods.

To cater for those who don’t have a MTB and want to get a ride in as well, we also have a second ride planned.

A ‘winter’ social ride on the road bikes as well at the same time (7pm till 8:30pm). Normal meeting at the rowing club. Pace suitable for all that turn up.

I expect that this will be followed by a beer at the Kings head after a short interval for all to return home and freshen up.

Thanks

Will

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Event Cancelled : Much Marcle 3 Laps

After riding the course this AM there is a section of the road that is weather damaged and poses a risk to all riders.

The road is damanged both sides through rolling sections including at brows of hills and through bends. This could potentially force both cyclists and oncoming traffic into the middle of the road.

There is a risk that this would cause an incident from either a collision or by forcing a cyclist into a pot hole or damanged portion of the road potentially causing an off.

I hope all understand this cancellation is for the safety of all riders.

Monday 28 June 2010

Walford 24/06/2010

Another great turn out for our beloved Walford course with 26 riders putting themselves through the paces on what Ross riders will tell you is flat.

Many thanks to Earl and Mat P for the turn and pushing off it was much appreciated.

Rider of the night was taken by Alan Matthews for his great improvement from his last visit to Walford. 25:21 to a 24:02!

Other awards of the night at Mr Thag's discretion:

Tim Bunting - Entertainment
Mary - Most Angry
Simon - Ate too many pies as Andy P just beat him this week

Anyway onto the results:





Next weeks event is the challenging but enjoyable Much Marcle 3 lap, details can be found on Facebook here:

19:15 sign on for a 19:30 Ross time start!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=132807963406406&ref=mf

Please do not park in the villeage hall.

Sunday 20 June 2010

Road bike 10

Wow, another record turn out, this time at Old Gore for The Road Bike 10. In what several others and I thought were perfect conditions, a few others thought it was a tad bit breezy. Yer wrong!

Being on the road bike should show up who's got the perfect aero package and who's got horsepower. Most of the results were to plan, but there were a few anomalies in the equation. I will attempt to solve who's done what with what...

On the top of the trophies podium was Cookie. On the cross over point he looked to be on the money and has produced what I consider one of his better rides. If only I could have pushed him more up the finish I think I could have made him spew (aero working on TT bike).

Vorest Andy had a steady ride out on the flats till he got to the hills. This was his territory and made it work for him (needs to work on Aero kit). Jerry another good all rounder made the ride work for him. Investment in some good kit would pay some big dividends (needs to work on Aero kit).

In his first appearance at a Ross event, Gareth put in exactly the sort of performance I was expecting. Still in his learning years he has the ability to do anything cycling wise well at all levels (needs to work on Aero kit as position is good).

Dave H always has good horsepower, but the weakness is the time it lasts. Not quite long enough on a hilly course (aero working on TT bike). One of the Flies in the ointment this week was Martin Green. He managed to punch well above his weight making a few people check their results and his a second and third time. He himself feels that maybe he should race on the road bike as opposed to the TT by now (TT bike position must need some work).

The madding crowds were expecting bigger things from Will but sadly they were not to be (aero working on TT bike). “The Terminator” Matthews was one of the strongest people I’ve ever seen on a bike in the past, put in a performance about where I would have expected (need to work on aero kit or position). Fallon and I were both satisfied with our rides apart from wanting a faster time (both maybe needing to look at our position).

Hmmm, “The Destroyer” looked destroyed by the end, “I’d got Carter”, sorry to gloat but it had taken all season to do that, may have punched slightly below his weight or did it mean see summary (Aero working brilliantly). Another stopped dead in his tracks “The Sam Missile” was expected to do a tad better (the aero you’re using good, but room for improvement) with Wobbly Bob still only seconds behind you (aero working on TT bike).

Have I been unfair to this group was my question digesting what I had just wrote? Initially yes I thought, but then one of the candidates for rider of the night was just a handful of seconds behind them! Taff the “The Surface to air Missile” (he enjoys the name change every week) put in a really good ride that he was Super happy with (Aero not right at all, I think it’s position or mental). Aaron from Gloucester was spot on where I would have expected. Pretty sure he does not us any aero aids. If funds are there, may help drop your times further in future. “The Animal” again has done the bizz in his category (aero working, more investment bigger returns).

Tom, I think found conditions hard and was spotted using a 40mm front wheel. Naughty boy! (Review of Aero kit may be required). Sorry Dave P, have no past data of you so cannot say how your ride was except you averaged 21mph on a hilly 10.

“Simon the Pie man”, one of the bigger surprises of the night. I thought you would have pushed a little harder further up the field (aero working on TT bike very effectively). Clive C gotta make an apology, missed him out last weeks in the 50 (2:16:20) result and I got his time wrong in the event mixing the second up doing a 27:24 not a 27:42. Sorry! If you spot a mistake like Clive did, let me know. I’m not perfect, but hey, I sure am close tho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (aero working).

“James The Spin dryer”, no current aero kit. This was the event to make you shine. “I have a cunning plan” said just like Baldric off Blackadder. Remove all the front chain rings off your bike. Put just one back on that has 56 teeth. Rear block should be 18 down. This should slow the rate of revs converting into more forward speed. We really need you to push a slightly bigger gear (aero none applicable). Andy H, if that’s your first ride then you should be happy chappie with that.

Wayne definitely looked the part, almost making the pros on world tour look like amateurs. Lack of miles though show on a hillier courses (not sure what Aero you have been using, if at all).

Bright eyed and bushy tailed, fresh back from the good ol USA, Tim made his first outing of the year. Not bad for a first time out(no aero kit, none planned). A slight surprise was Fletch lurking down the bottom end of the field. His lack of miles showing. Riding to work should have big gains. He was very quick in places but lost time in others during the ride, but could not put a finger on where though (not sure what Aero kit being used). Dennis used his TT bike and asked beforehand if I was going to disqualify him. How could I, as he has been a stalwart of the club for so many years? (aero working) The honours for the final spot was a close fought thing between Mary & Gerald, with Gerald coming out just on top. (neither use Aero). Thanks this week to

Rider of the night in the end went to Mary for the vast improvement though we should say it was very close with Martin and Taff who knocked last year’s performance into the weeds.
Next week is a Walford 10 starting very promptly. It’s the day before I disappear for a quick dash to the Med. I’m sure Will will do the Blog in my absence if you all suck up to him. The week after is Marcle 3 circuits. If driving find somewhere sensible to park. Only use the pub if using the pub, same with the village hall. Will and Sam and Julie will be there in Charge. Give them no grief. We need a marshal on the first turn to run the event & signs out. I trust there will be a volunteer in my absence.

Offers of help are coming in, as are the entries for the Don Woodman. Still need more of both

See you all soon

Edwin Hargraves wants helpers for the 12 hour. He needs whatever you can offer. I will be there helping and at the same time supporting Dennis (our 80 years young and only individual in the 12 this year), if you can help out give me a ring

Sunday 13 June 2010

10/6 Walford 10


A wet and wild Walford greeted 23 riders this week. OK, so I’m lying about the wet, but it sure was windy, to the point of not bringing the bling wheels out. I have learnt for next time, as the breeze died down a little before the start.

Cookie surprised everybody by winning again. Will put in a really good ride, but the question remains, did he take pace off that lorry doing 15.993 MPH or was he held up? I’m pleased to say Paul Fallon found the conditions hard, with both of us left looking at each other later trying to figure out what went wrong. Had we both had bad rides or did everyone normally around us put in some stormers…. I use “The destroyer” as a marker of performance, which looking at the facts, suggest he has slowed down slightly.
What a fine figure of a man that Race sec is

This must have been one of the closest battles with so many people for years, with Sam “The Missile” attempting to destroy “The Destroyer”. Only 3 seconds in it. Wobbly Bob found 24 seconds of speed to have both of them in his sights. Anther 5 seconds later Martin Green is hunting them all down, with his last season’s form appearing to be returning.

Simon Burke continues to be hammering chunks off his times. I reckon this must have been a PB for him. Bus pass Taylor looked very pleased (as did a lot of other people) to have taken The Racing Sec’s scalp, not that he gloated about it. Taff managed to be the only person in the 26’s this week. “The Animal” put in a very fine performance, especially when considering he was held up by the same lorry that held Will up, but also stopped to have words with the driver who had been acting like a idiot on the road.

Clive Chappe had a steady ride also finding conditions not quite to his liking. Another upset by the lorry was Wayne, who thought he had lost about a minutes worth of time. The Spin Dryer’s legs must have been suffering this week, as he lost 44 seconds off his best time this year, possibly having been out training with “The Animal”. Tony P looked happy to have only lost 2 seconds from his PB in the conditions.

Paul Cooper looked really happy after his ride having knocked ½ a minute off his best this year. “The Silver Fox” was very happy with his result, but the flobber hanging from his face after was not to everyone’s liking till someone plucked the nerve to tell him about it. Mike “The Post” ended up tying with Dennis, pointing out there was only 35 years between them. New lass Penny was delighted to have improved, starting an impromptu dance with delight. I must point out the dance was not as good as Mary’s when she made her big improvement.

Gerald brought up the rear end having been studying the 753 table, not knowing he was leading the blue group. Last this week was Vivien, who found it very hard going, although she managed to improve on her previous time by 27 seconds. You can tell when someone’s really tried, and Vivien looked absolutely shattered by the finish.

Thanks this week go to Earl for pushing off, and Steve at the turn who was rather worried about it raining having an open top sports car.
Rider of the night this week had a few names crop up. But after much soul searching and a couple of beers, “The Animal” took the honours.

Next week is the Road Bike 10 at Old Gore. Park sensibly if driving out. The race is for none aero kit, on road bikes.

This means

No TT bikes.
No Aero helmets.
No Aero bars.
No Deep section Wheels.
You may have a baldhead though!
No Shaven legs- carpet or similar must be stuck on legs if you lack leg foliage.
You may have Shaven eyebrows after the controversy surrounding last year when someone used stuck on eye brows in scrutineering

Help wanted now for the Don Woodman 25. Any offers would be most welcome, contact Paul S





Monday 7 June 2010

Ledbury & Back

Aha, what a busy weekend! A little later than usual, the results of the Ledbury & Back.

With a slightly cooler evening we again drew a good crowd, for what is a tough return leg requiring a little more effort than other courses, as some of the times show, and not mentioning any names..

Mr Master Blaster Cookie used the training power tap wheel, to establish he wasn’t feeling at full strength, which incidentally was echoed throughout most of the field of riders. Were these pre race excuses coming out early? Anyways, power was down and so was his time, almost 2 (give or take a minute) minutes away from his course record, but just enough to hold young Andrew off the top spot.


Jerry made his 1st appearance of the year, who was very happy to have robbed Dave H of what little head of hair he had left. Dave really can’t complain as it was his PB. Just checked the record book and it appears I too have done a PB, but worryingly, Sam “The Missile” is still hanging onto my shirttails.


Simon with his bought speed found the undulations a little tough having what can only be described as an oasis of sweat pouring from his head afterwards. All the females thought this was a really sexy appealing look! Taff also set a new PB, and must be eyeing up Simon’s Scalp next time out. Young Aaron by contrast is eyeing both of them up. Will be interesting to see if he can stay with Taff & Simon on the flatter courses. Clive’s face at the finish showed how he really likes the Ledbury & Back, or was it really dislikes, looking like he’d put a lot of effort in. James alas freewheeled down Woodredding. This cost him a fair chunk of time, which with his climbing skills would have resulted in being at least a minute quicker by the finish. Alan’s fitness appears to be returning, but he too looked like the course had taken its toll on spirit and energy levels. Tony looked like he was cruising on the crossover point, but his time says he must have been trying somewhere. The Bill & Mike battle took a twist this week. Bill’s extra flat line speed was wiped out by the hills with Mike doing the unthinkable of passing Bill on the last climb. Apologies to Paul, accidentally gave him a later start than planned, which meant he ended up last man on the road, but he looked to have enjoyed the course. Thanks this week to Mary at Ledbury, with John & Audrey. Also Dennis at Preston’s Cross roundabout and Julie timing with Peb and Will pushing off. Rider of the night this week was “The Missile” for just getting faster.

Next week or this week, however you look at it is a Walford 10. Any volunteers for doing the turn?

At the weekend Ross had riders doing the 25 at Neath, and at the Evesham 10.

Cookie ended up 2nd overall with a 50:10PB, I did a 56:55PB, Will 57:14PB, Alan Taylor 57:56, Wobbly Bob 58:16PB and Clive Chappe 1:03:14


Over at Evesham Jerry managed a 21:56 which made him very happy and Paul Fallon a 22:45 that too made him very happy.