Old Gore 16/6/11 The Windy One

What a night if you like wind. I was sure we were going to get a good push home from the turn, but for once (and only the once) in my life I was wrong! What we really had was a Maelstrom out, with a gale force 10 on the way back.

Cookie just held Turbo Will off, this week opening the gap up a little. Cookie looked very fast at the cross over point, getting to the turn in 9 minutes which is 33mph average. Will was flying up the final climb, I heard a faint little scream, “coming by on your left” to which he went screaming by still on the tri bars. Me personally, I would have taken the shortest route passing me on the right…….

Dave H. who had to get back for baby sitting duties and job app writings wanted a early start put in a cracking ride considering he had no one to chase.

The Destroyer suffering from over indulgence failed to punish Dave instead retreating in to my grasp. Oh how I wish I’d put the 11 sprocket on for the outward leg. I have known the wind on the return a lot harder than that. Terry Gray was first rider on a road bike again, I think he likes the hills too so should be good in the road bike 10 next week.

Aaron was my target on the outward leg only losing out on top end speed to me. The Headwind home made him suffer bad, but once he got on the climb up to the finish he went mad. He spotted a moment of weakness in my hill climbing passing me 2/3rds of the way up. I thought to myself, I can’t have this so went into stealth mode sprinting up to the finish. He heard my laboured breathing and accelerated away from me with ease. This told me he was not trying hard enough up the climb. One should have ones lungs on the handlebars as you go over the line.

James "The Spinner" I’m going to assume suffered into the wind as conditions should have suited his high Spin cadence. Vorest rider Steve "Snake Hips" Williams looked stunned after the event just a gibbering wreck muttering something along the lines of “I can’t believe that wind” He certainly did not look impressed. Max crossed the line on the big ring moving quite well, just ahead of “Tail End Tony”. Once again Tony had had a puncture but on a more positive note, he’d not had too run to far this time to change it. Was it one of Cookie’s cast offs ? Postie Mike was chuffed to bits with his ride only seconds behind his best time for the last couple of seasons. Mary Munchkin was first out of the blocks, why does she always smile when racing? It was nice to see how well she came up the finish, alas the flatland in the wind doing the damage.

We thank this week Paul Fallon for the push at the start, John & Audrey for doing the turn With the 2 Julies at the finish.

Rider of the night this week was decided very quickly for a change, going to Harwood. (above shot)

Next week we will need a turn Marshal. General Will will be in charge with Julie giving him the orders. There will be a few faces missing.

The event is the Road Bike 10. Most of you know what that means. The rules

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.(Tony – this is your night!)
You may have Shaven eyebrows after the controversy surrounding last year when someone used stuck on eye brows in scrutineering

Will & myself have managed to secure some prize funding (big numbers!) for the opens next month. What we’re lacking are a few volunteers. Please let us know if you can help out for the 10 or 25, which is including the south Wales Vets championship

Will, I’ll let you do the Blog as well, do you have access?

1	Alan cook	22:56
2	Will Bevan	24:14
3	Dave Harwood	25:01
4	Graham Carter	26:18
5	Paul Stephens	26:48
6	Terry Gray	27:44	C-o-B’s
7	Aaron Preece	27:46	RDFCC
8	James Wilson	28:13
9	Steve Williams	29:21
10	Max Suff	30:32
11	Tony Price	30:58
12	Mike Druce	32:02
13	Mary Middleton	39:15

Walford 9/5/11

This weeks (or should I say last weeks ) event was another Walford 10 with a good breeze blowing, but not making to much of a nuisance of itself, apart from blowing a hoolie around The Kerne Bridge. The Ginger one once again stamped a wee bit of his authority on the event, with Turbo Will attempting to chase him hard, but it must be noted “PR Captain Harwood” was in the same minute, with all this Gardening leave helping with the training plan. The Destroyer was a happy chappie having taken King Jerry’s scalp (which I must assume was a first time), with Jerry muttering something about being borrowed.

The next wave of riders had me happier with the ride hopefully keeping an ever improving Mr. Pearce just behind me…

Taff found the right toys in the bag on the night having his best ride of the year, and last year checking the records. Performance Cycles top rider Marko Raddenbury just managed to miss the sub 25 bracket, possibly overtraining that week. Ian Smith just held off a improving Aaron Preece, with Happy Taylor Tarmac Inspector not firing on all cylinders after choosing to ride another event instead of ours last week, oh and inspecting the tarmac. Did I mention that?

What did I say last week about The Spinner? He’s stuck in the 27:30 bracket. If you pass him this week give him a big shout to speed up, same if he passes you. I know there’s a 26:30 easy in his legs. Not only is he going to be disappointed if he fails to do a 26, but so will I be!

Wobbly Bob appeared to have been on the space dust. Chilled out man! I got the impression he had enjoyed the ride on his road bike, but the road bike event is a few weeks away yet. The Vorests 4^th best rider tied with The Animal, game on next week on the lumpy Old Gore. Tomo Knight put in a large effort, so should start thinking about playing with the 2 in front of him, both suffer on the climbs…..

What’s happened here? Max took “Tony the Trotters” scalp. Tony had a really good warm up as well having had a puncture, running with his bike 2 miles back home in cleats before racing back for the start, then having the audacity to complain about needing to warm up. Is he thinking about switching to Duathlons just to see if he can beat Max at his own game of running.

Can’t believe it, 2 weeks in a row and "Clive the Happy Chappey” was smiling. He partially liked the bit about the sundial from the blog the week before. The Ziggymeister seemed to think the breeze was a little stronger for him than everyone else, reducing the frontal area may help with that one. I intend to give him a good beasting across Europe in the near future.

Bill "The Chair" expressed some discord with Young Matt tying with him, it was only a matter of time, with Matt doing a PB by a country mile. Postie Mike looked serious this week, having taken the saddle bag off, not only that but he also removed his winter jacket, a first this year.

Julie’s first ride after a slight lay off was not totally comfortable but it was only 13 second off her PB. I think she will be about 30 seconds quicker next time on Walford. Jon spent far too much time looking at everyone coming in the other direction. We want to see him coughing blood with the effort. I think he too will be about 35 seconds quicker on the next outing; otherwise Gerald will be taking his scalp. Mary had her quickest ride of the season, which only beat her ride at Old Gore by 4 seconds. More work required. Might do a Ladies ride this weekend if you’re lucky (ladies not gents! (Well apart from me)).

The marshals this week were Audrey Hall operating the release mechanism device known as Steve Millard who catapulted the riders to Sam Phillips at the turn who very kindly pointed the direction back to finish around the area where Julie Stephens stood timing you all.

Rider of the night this week was close, but after another long post-mortem at the Rowing club, goes to Matt Fallon for another large chunk shaved off his time.

Next week (this week, blame the F1 coverage and Will & myself securing some big prize monies for the open Monday night, more to tell another time) is a Old Gore 10 7:30 start. A Volunteer for the turn would be good….

In the Welsh Champs 50 Sunday, yes the day it rained in biblical amounts, The Destroyer covered the distance in 2:08:10 with Fallon only just behind in 2:08:36 and me a little further behind in 2:14:29. It must have been hard as the top boyz only managed a 1:55.

Opens We need you or your entries. It’s going to be a case of all hands on deck as we are running a 10 (16/7/11) & 25 (17/7/11) on the same weekend. Both myself and Will need volunteers, the 25 needs a few more as there are more junction to be marshalled.

Ledbury & Back

At last, good conditions for an event. We’ve suffered 6 weeks of wind (yes, I already know what you’re thinking!) so it was good to get some warm air back into the systems. There was a very slight headwind out which helped just a tad back home. I gave “Turbo Will” the brief of what he had to do, if he was to remove Cookie’s ginger barnet. Having seen him going in the opposite direction, he was doing as told, but alas Cookie had different ideas, working very hard for the last 1 ½ miles to almost catch “Turbo Will” up the final climb. Turns out Cookie was only 3 seconds off the course record!

As I predicted earlier in the year, the positions for next best was going to be close. This week it was made even more exciting by Mr. Fallon turning the heat right up to join in the fun. A mere 2 seconds split Dave H & Fallon with "The Destroyer" only another 6 seconds behind. On the cross over Dave H was up on "The Destroyer", as I expected, but the return was definitely more to "The Destroyer’s" strengths. Paul F started more sedately than normal only really starting to work hard from Marcle on the way out, which surprised Cookie who had passed him at Marcle only to find him still very close to him at Ledbury.

I must say the warmer air suited me putting in a time only a second different to last year. I still maintain if I could climb hills the group in front of me would be behind me! It was also good to take Mr. Pearce’s Scalp who looked a little surprised by the fact. We all decided Wobbly Bob had had a good ride but could not find a trace of a previous ride so must assume it was the first go at the event. James The Spinner apparently had the ride of his cycling career so far knocking a whole 4 minutes off his previous which I suspect he would be very happy about.

Dave & Paul are twins, but you’d never tell by looking at them. Paul made a fast start, possibly a bit too fast, but put in a really good time not losing too much speed coming back. Max’s virgin attempt made quite an impression on everyone for a first attempt especially as he was on a road bike. We know he goes well on the hills but we all felt it was a good effort. This course has never been one of Clive’s favourites but he turns up to ride it every year, this year he was actually smiling over the line!

Once again “Tired Tony” (he looked tired after this one!) knocked a chunk off his PB, to the point Cookie’s starting to really worry about his position as top dog being threatened.

As said last week, “Bill The Chair” has some latent fitness, showing some of the younger Team Ross Squad, the way to the finish. “Mike The post” was very pleased to have had a friendly Battle Royale with Young Ollie, showing the hills are his natural habitat, but at the same time was disappointed Bill The Chair had scalped him by so much. Ollie’s diet of burgers and no training paid off dividends going slower than I predicted he would do, this in turn cheered Mr. Airey up to have someone almost within reach. We almost had to buy a special sun dial to time them with the sun getting ready to sink below the horizon. Only kidding!

The times were actually very good this year; Taff was quoted as saying “Super” when he checked the results out.

Thanks this week go to Mary Munchkin Middleton chief Marshal, at Ledbury, Julie Suff, chief Marshal at Preston’s Cross roundabout & Julie Stephens Timing them out them timing them back!

Rider of the night was (we had a lot of nominations this week all for different reasons, all of which had merit) a joint thing in the end as both had the same number of votes goes to Max Suff & Paul Fallon. As stated earlier, Max's ride was a really good first attempt; Fallon’s puts him back to where we know he should be. It should be mentioned “James the Spinner” had a stormer taking 4 minutes of his PB, as did “Turbo Will” taking 6 minutes off his, Oh and Cookie was only 3 seconds off his course record! So as you can see, we were spoilt with the choices.

Next event is a Walford 10. Don’t forget, if you can marshal let me know, at present we have no turn person or second timer should we have a large turn out.

Walford 10 26/5/11

Strong chilly wind made the evening’s event a little tougher than normal, where’s the nice warm air?

Well, he couldn’t stay away; I personally take the credit for firing Cookies MOJO up when I dragged him around the 2 up last week. In an impressive return (“I’m not fit”) as he white washed the field with a very respectable ride. Visitor Dave E. just held off his young protégé Turbo William, who was far happier with his ride this week. Harwwod used his speed advantage to streatch away from The Destroyer a little.

Dave P. looks like a man on a mission this year; it’s only a matter of time before he to is in the 24’s. The Wobbly One must have been happy with his ride; Julie asked if we could use his warm up energy on the roller to make her a hot coffee.

First of the road bikes was Adam T, this must have helped finishing 3rd in the Solo Male 12 Hour at http://www.erlestoketwelve.com/ 17 laps of the 7 mile course. I personally thought it was a good night but the result was just not there!

James appears to be stuck in a 27:30 rut having done this time for the last 3 events. Nigel or Nige to his friends may be what James needs to give him a push and give Nige a target at the same time. Kerry’s going to get faster I’m sure, and it won’t be long before he has Wobbly Bob as a target. “Roaring Tony’s” improving every week, it won’t be long before he’s worrying Cookie with the chucks he’s shaving off his times every week. Max found the wind not to his liking this week commenting it felt much harder than the previous ride. Clive C. was another who found it hard out there, are all the birthdays catching up or is more training required?

Not to sure about Wayne’s ride (picture checking the alignment of his forks whilst moving), he appears to be a long way off his own pace, may just have been a bad night. Young Matt has gone faster on every outing out so far, racing home afterward to celebrate with a tin of fizzy lemonade having taken Bills scalp and passing riders on the road. Heard through the grape vine he’s got Roaring Tony’s scalp as a target for this season before The Destroyer gets targeted next season.

Darren did his first TT, riding with the right attitude of enjoying the ride with out killing himself. Next Walford he said he was going for it. This was Bills first outing of the year, but I see from past results he’s started a tad slower, but he is a little fitter in my opinion which will show soon. Gerald was worried last year about Mary catching him, but this year it has not happened yet. Someone suggested Mary may have done a PW, but I can assure you it is not the case. With a treasurers eye she’s working out how to win the Blue category in the 753 table. Be warned all you blue's!

Thanks this week goes to Julie Suff, your starting timekeeper, Taff for launching, Tim Bunting at the turn and hassling Cookie on the way back & Julie Stephens finishing timekeeper.

Rider of the night this week is Cookie, almost like he’s not been away.

This week’s event is the Ledbury & back, meeting 7:30 at Old Gore Cross roads. Still Wanted a second turn Marshal. If coming out and not riding let me know!