Tuesday 17 June 2014

Ledbury & Back & rules for road bike 10




Ledbury & Back

apologies for a quick one, used the rag report as time is tight at present
Sensei (先生) Bill in training for the road Bike 10
There was a sigh of relief this week, a different course! Because of the poor state of the roads locally and traffic lights, Ross-on-Wye & District Cycling Club has only been able to use their Old Gore 10 course so far, but with the lighter nights the 16 mile Ledbury & back course came out of retirement. 

Earl Smith of Climb on Bikes race team was the fastest rider on the night completing the course in 39 minutes and 7 seconds. 

Fastest Ross rider of the evening was Matt Huming Bird Legs Fallon, this being his first event of the year having been concentrating on his exams which finished this week, in a time of 41:15. Mark Lavington was next home in 41:34, as predicted the week earlier the course suiting his style, just edging race secretary into 4th spot with time of 41:45. 

Another old face from the past Jerry Roberts put in a really respectable time of 42:03 for his return to the racing scene. Max Suff was the only other rider in the sub 43 minute section in a time of 42:58. 

The rest of the times were Robin Hill 43:42, Nigel Skyrme 44:44, Mark Raddenbury 45:03,Clive Chappe 47:32, Tom The Power Knight 48:39, Jon Airey 48:41, and our own television celebrity Richard Harington came in last in a time of 49:17.

 All I can say is Tom The Power Knight, Jon The Mashers coming to get you

Thanks to  dawn for timing, Bill & Steve at Ledbury. Tim & Sam at Prestons cross, Will pushing (I think...) and Mike volunteering and having nothing to do, sorry Mike. Don't forget to log into https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ar8wVTWUZuHzdFd2S052NERxd3FkSkJWVzZkLWFKaXc&usp=sharing#gid=0 to volunteer, means others can ride if there's volunteers meaning they don't feel duty bound to turn up marshaling.



Rider of the night this week  went to Matty Fallon, a great return

Next week is a Road Bike 10 at Old Gore. This is an event where all the aero kit is abandoned leaving just a good old fashioned road bike. It will show whose aero packages work best and spent the wisest on kit. First rider off will be at 7:30 with signing on completed by 7:15pm. Not sure who's going to be out as England play that night.

No aero helmets
No aero wheel 
No tri bars
No shaved eye brows
No oiling the front of the bike to slip through the air
No oiling the top of the head either



1
Earl Smith
39:07
C-on-B’s
2
Matt Fallon
41:15

3
Mark Lavington
41:35

4
Paul Stephens
41:45

5
Jerry Roberts
42:03

6
Max Suff
42:58

7
Robin Hill
43:42

8
Nigel Skyrme
44:44

9
Mark Raddenbury
45:03
Shutt VR
10
Clive Chappe
47:32

11
Tom Knight
48:39

12
Jon Airey
48:41

13
Richard Harrington
49:17

Saturday 7 June 2014

The Flood that was the Old Gortex 2 up 10 aaand Old Gore 10 5th June




The only dry place to stand before the race



The Flood that was the Old Gortex 10 2 up

Dry when I left home, Julie in tow. Couple of spots and she said I’m going home ….. I said it’s clear in the direction we’re heading.  It wasn’t. Minutes after getting to the signing on, the heavens opened. Did actually for a couple of seconds feel bad for her. 

Hardest job of the evening seemed to be keeping the paperwork dry. Will only turned up to pass the signs etc.  but ended up stopping and getting as wet as the rest of the fools happy to ride in the wet. At least it was warm wet! 

Checking conditions over the valley below, although raining hard, visibility was clearing. Poor Tim Newland ended up with the short straw failing to have a partner, but undeterred went off first on the road, the rest of the field chasing him down. 


Not happy about the rain expression, or just cold?

 The rain was so hard, it made the eyes sting and water, so speed had to be eased, there were biblical floods across the road, and cars were going slower than we were.

First pairing home and winning were Jared and Adam who had a good warm up riding over. I’m pretty sure judging by the crossover they’d gone very steady out, blitzing the return leg. 

I’d have lost money on the next pairing Earl & Steve riding in the rain, was sure they would bail out, but they seemed to really have enjoyed the ride afterwards.

 
Dry for a couple of seconds- Sunshine on the return leg!
Poor Gary! Possibly squeezed more out of him than he wanted to give. How he stayed on my wheel so well down the hill  I’ll never know, and yes it was us stuck behind a car for almost a mile. 

Wobbly Bob & The Spinner had what I would call a steady ride, whether they’d say it was steady I’m not sure.  Next up was the “The Power &  Cat weasel. I don’t think they know what went wrong, I would have expected at least 2 minutes off their time. Looking forward to hearing their explanation one day soon.

Tony “The Tiger” & Richie Rich were next. Before the start Rich was telling Julie all about his adventure around Lake Geneva, when Julie said what number are you? Ahhh I’ve missed our start slot….. Tony was all revved up waiting patiently at the start for him. Late start required then!

Gary did a full power take off







 Last pairing on this occasion was Jenifer & Adam.  It was pleasing  to see Adam beasting, I mean encouraging Jen up the final climb whispering gentle encouragement in her ear to get the last bit of effort.

Thanks to Angie for her first go doing the turn and making friends with the general public, Will for being there and Steve timing. He brought the Caterham , having been offered the wifes car which he turned down. Got the feeling it would have been an uncomfortable drive home.

Normally I’d  do a team of the night, Gary having had a great ride but looking more closely at the results I’m giving Tim honour of rider of the night for a great solo effort.



1
Jared Linden
Adam Taylor
26:22
RDFCC
2
Earl Smith
Steve Williams
27:12
C-o-B’s
RDFCC
3
Paul Stephens
Gary Downs
27:52

4
Robin Hill
James Wilson
28:40

5
Mark Raddenbury
Tom Knight
30:05
C-o-B’s
6
Tony Price
Richard Harrington
31:35

7
Jenifer Hill
Adam Spector
34:59


Tim Newland
28:20









Old Gore 10 5th June

A splendid turnout for this week’s Old Gore 10. The water sports adventure of the previous week must have spread, everyone wanting a bit, and the pleasure of riding a section of the Paris Roubaix through the woods. 

The favourite did not disappoint, Earl just sneaking a win by a close margin from me who’d earlier in the week had the worst 10 miler in recent history and was making amends from the pesky Forest boys. 
Max at max
 Adam’s improving every time he rides stood on the 3rd spot of the podium for a change, something he’s not used to in these regions. Taff had a good un, and it won’t be long before his full speed starts to show, possibly as early as next week. 

It’s about time Doctor John bought the boy (Jared ) a TT machine. He’d be seriously fast with some quality kit under him instead of an old road bike. Maybe someone could loan him a good machine for a couple of races, its definitely the flat where he’s leaching bucketfuls of time. 

Mr Williams didn’t look so sharp this week, and at the end did nothing but complain about the wind (he wasn’t the only one to notice it).

Max was very quick in places, but unusually seemed to be struggling up the climbs. Think he was thinking about what to buy Julie for their 16th wedding anniversary. Wobbly Bob has improved every ride this season, appearing to have his mojo back again. Nigel was very happy, very close to his PB and scalping The Spinner at the same time who’d struggled into the wind home. Tim also had a good ride but I have noted he’s 2 seconds slower than last week in the rain. Was the wind that bad (I really didn’t notice it till the last section)?
 

Gary once again did a sub 30, but by a good margin this week, I think it’s his fastest so far this year. Jon Airey was a happy Chappy, his Pb for the course and getting the better of the Tony “The Tiger” and Tom “The Power” Knight, who had a shocker.  Thomas, think I’m going to have to tow you for 10 miles to get you used to speed again.

Thanks this week to  “Turbo” Will timing, Dawn and the new guy (can’t remember his name-sorry!) pushing off. I could see Dawn fancied having a go but was in denial with Bill and Adam at the turn.

Rider of the night this week was Jon Airey, he’s making it happen and enjoying it as well.

The evening lemonade after the event last week was well attended, great to see some old faces pop down for a quickie, hope to see more of all of you.

Next week is the Ledbury & back. Meet at Old Gore cross roads. Race all the way to the pitcher roundabout and back, 16 miles of pleasure. Rumour mill has suggested “Humming Bird Legs” Fallon could be out to resume where he left off last year. We require at least 2 turn marshals 1 for each roundabout .  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ar8wVTWUZuHzdFd2S052NERxd3FkSkJWVzZkLWFKaXc&usp=sharing#gid=0 , we do have some volunteers, but don’t be frightened to add your name on the list for upcoming events.

Also we have 2 opens coming up. Both me and Will need people on the day (both days). 19th /20th July needs to be put in your diaries, as help is expected, we can’t run without it.



1
Earl Smith
23:46
C-o-B’s
2
Paul Stephens
25:31

3
Adam Taylor
25:46
RDFCC
4
Mark Lavington
25:57

5
Jared Linden
26:02
RDFCC
6
Steve Williams
26:50
RDFCC
7
Max Suff
27:07

8
Robin Hill
27:33

9
Nigel Skyrme
27:79

10
James Wilson
28:19

11
Tim Newland
28:22

12
Gary Downs
29:00

13
Jon Airey
30:32

14
Tony Price
30:44

15
Tom Knight
30:46