Author Archive
Planned trip to the Velodrome - Postponed
20/09/2010 by Alastair.
Dear All,
Having been inundated with six replies to my latest post regarding track availability - the planned trip will now be postponed until further notice. The Velodrome’s 2011 schedule will be out shortly where it is hoped that there will be a free weekend that we can all attend, together, as a club.
Manchester Velodrome - URGENT RESPONSE REQUIRED
15/09/2010 by Alastair.
Boys and Girls,
The next available two hour slots are as follows:-
Friday 5th November - 8am - 10am
Friday 12th November - 8am - 10am
Monday 22nd November 12pm - 14:00
Friday 3rd December - 8am - 10am
Thursday 30th December - 20:00 - 22:00
The last two hour weekend slot was snapped up literally as I was typing the post.
Can EVERYONE who wants to attend please respond on here, urgently, confirming which of the proposed dates are OK. I suspect some of you may have difficulty in booking time off work. However, I’m aiming to complete the booking on Friday so a response at your earliest convenience would be appreciated.
Costs again are as follows:-
£88 per hr Track Hire
£28 1st hr Coaching - £21 every hr thereafter
£9.90 bike hour (up to 2 hours)
Thanks in advance.
British Time Trial Championships
06/09/2010 by Alastair.
Well, I don’t really know where to start.
As some of you may be aware, I’m relatively new to TTing. I will have shortly completed my second year of TTing. Although I’ve been racing a short time, It’s quite easy to get a little bored of going up and down the DC courses all year long so I thought I would try something different with a bit more skill involved, so for some reason I decided to enter the BTTC. I was, on paper, one of the slowest entrants and my seeding reflected that.
My aim was not to come last which I successfully completed. In fact, I managed to beat quite a few fast men, most notably Simon Smart of Drag2Zero and Sam Hayes of Lutterworth Cycles, both consistent low 20 minute men. Given I have never achieved a sub 21 minute ride, I was elated to beat them and finish 34th out of the 40 starters.
The course suited me pretty well as I am a pretty good climber and can generally maintain a good speed on the flat sections. The hardest part was the climb into Llandeilo which is approx 1.5km long at around 9%. This section was lined with people shouting and cheering your name which, for a rank amateur like me, was simply amazing! We had to complete 2 2/3 laps. The course was 19km long. I started the first lap way too hard, with the adrenaline rushing and with all the spectators, I got caught up in the moment. I eventually settled down into a nice rhtym and caught my minute man, then 2 minute man, then 3 minute man and for a split second I was thinking ”jesus, I could win this”!! Then my minute man caught me at about 11km and the dream died. The first lap flew by, by the second lap I was starting to pay for the way I had set off in the first lap and had a few cramping issues. After a bit of freewheel stretching, the cramping eased and I was able to get back into a good rhtym. My lap splits were quite even, much to my surprise. On the third lap, we complete 2/3 of the course and miss out the hard climb into Llandeilo, which I was quite pleased about. My third lap was noticeably slower than the first two and I eventually completed the race in 1h 19:00. Only 14 minutes down on Brad Wiggins. I’ll have him next year.
Team Sky got 1, 2 3. (Wiggins, Froome, Thomas).
Full race report here - http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20100903-2010-British-Time-Trial-Championships-0
It was an absolutely superb event and despite all the Pro cyclists, I didn’t feel TOO out of place. Seeing Brad in full flight was unbelievable. The fast section on the A40 was where Lyndsey was parked so when I had finished I went to meet her and we watched all the top seeds absolutely fly past us, the speed was astonishing! Oh how I wish I was pro cyclist!
Anyhow, the season will shortly be at an end and I hope to join you on some club runs in the winter months.
Al
Velodrome Taster Session
20/08/2010 by Alastair.
Speaking with a few guys on the club run a few weeks ago, it was agreed that we should try a track session at the Velodrome. It’s good fun and a great way to get into track racing. I’ve never done it before but would love to give it a whirl.
I’ve spoken with Mancheter Velodrome and they are booked up for the next six weeks. The testing season does not finish until October anyway (for me at least) so I was looking at booking something in November. The maximum number of riders allowed on the track at one time is sixteen. If we could get 16 club members involved then it would be awesome. I propose to make the booking for the weekend of 13 November. If someone really wants to attend but cannot because of the date I have proposed then we can look at the other weekends available in November.
Saturday’s Taster Session runs every week at 18:00 for one hour. We can look at doing another session afterwards whereby we hire the track for a further one hour at a cost of £87.50 to be split evenly between those members who are attending. The taster session is £9.90 pp and bike hire for two hours is £15.00. If we get a lot of interest then we could just hire the track for two hours.
If you are genuinly interested, please let me know by either replying on here, or you can email me at ajmwareham@aim.com.
I will leave this open for three weeks to generate as much interest as possible. After the three weeks I will then make the booking (provided we have sufficient interest). I consider it would appropriate to hire a Mini-Bus to take us to the Velodrome which would be an additional cost and this would obviously be split evenly between those attending. If there are only a few people attending then we would either travel on the train or by car.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Al
Club run to Askern - 08 August 2010
08/08/2010 by Alastair.
Sunday saw my first appearance since February and Mr Matt Wainwright’s first appearance in approximately two years (correct me if I’m wrong dude).
Also present were Mr Philip Rounding, Mr Andrew Callaghan, Mr Sky John, Mr Phil Johnson and his tandem partner (sorry, dude; I don’t know your name - awesome tandem, though!).
Yep, that’s right, I did write ‘Tandem’. Phil and his friend turned up on a pretty cool looking tandem with the intention of cycling to Tadcaster.
We set off to Askern via Casvegas. It’s a pretty flat route with only a few minor inclines to tackle. Phil and friend followed us most of the way to Cas but turned off somewhere, never to be seen again. I trust you had an eventful day, guys?! We stopped off in Castleford for a cup of tea and slice of cake. We then headed off to Askern for a spot of lunch which was enjoyed outside the cafe to take advantage of the lovely weather the day had provided us.
Once lunch had been consumed we headed back home via Pontefract and Wakefield. Mr C was dropped off right on his doorstep and I took the hilly route home up past the National Coal Mining Museum whilst El Presidente, Matt and Sky John headed back to Mirfield.
Really enjoyed myself today. Good to catch up with old friends and great to see the classy Mr Wainwright out again. It was nice not to have my legs ripped off by him for once as he eases his way back into the saddle again. I have no doubt he’ll soon be ripping everyone’s legs off once again!
Stats for the day.
78 miles
1100 metres of climbing
17.8 average.
National Team Time Trial
02/07/2010 by Alastair.
Good luck to Andy, Steve and John on Sunday for the TTT. I understand it is the first time Ravensthorpe have been represented at the above event!
I am sure you will do both the club and yourselves proud.
Featherstone Evening Time Trial - 19/04/2010
20/04/2010 by Alastair.
Three Green and White Machines were in attendance for Alastair’s last race as a Thorper.
The course over at Pollington is 8.2 miles long, undulating, and the road surface can only be described as crap. We rode the course at the same time last year and dominated the leaders board so we set out with very similar intentions.
The evening drew a very cool breeze with temperatures hovering around 6 degrees. The wind wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t in a favourable direction. It was bloody freezing, though!
There were approximately 25 riders in total, quite a few more than last year. And the scores on the doors were:-
1st and the overall winner on the evening - Al - 18.55
2nd and joint third on the evening - Andy Cal - 19.24
3rd and 7th (?) on the evening and coming back into form - Steve McCall - 20:03
It’s been a pleasure riding with you, gents, and an honour to represent Ravensthorpe Cycling Club. It’s now time for you to breed some new blood so that Andy and Steve can continue to act as Father figures (or Grandfather figures 
)
Keep it real.
Al
North Midlands Cycling Federation 25 Mile Time Trial
29/03/2010 by Alastair.
The weather forecasters predicted wind speeds of 15 mph and gusts of 25 mph. I had considered being a non-starter but having pulled a similar trick at the same event last year, I was determined to give this one a go.
It’s certainly not the fastest course you’ll ride, nor is the surface particularly favourable. However; 2 Thorpers were in attendance for an early season test of their fitness. Despite John Lancaster trying to put me off riding with a disc wheel, I rode one anyway. The disc was a good idea, the 65mm front wheel was not such a good idea and I was blown all over the place! The first 7.5 miles to Crowle were very fast indeed due to the vicious tail wind - I must have averaged 31 mph to the first RB. Once around the first turn the wind ensured that the speed would dip well below 25 mph and I struggled to control the bike for the next 12.5 miles!
At the second RB and approaching 20 miles the average speed was not great so I had to have a storming last 5 miles to try and go under the hour. The last 5 miles was more of a side wind and therefore I was unable to generate the kind of speed that I had maintained for the first 7.5 miles. However, I just managed to duck under the hour. The event was won by Julian ”Rambo” Ramsbotton who knocked out a 54:37! Results as follows:-
Alastair Wareham - 59:54
John Lancaster - 1:04:42
Full results here:- http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=43880
Doncaster Wheelers 10 Mile TT - 20 March 2010
15/03/2010 by Alastair.
It’s great to see six Thorpers enter the above event.
Six in one race; is that a record? (I suppose it is 5 and a half as Paul is a second claim rider).
The start sheet is here :-
http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=35354
See you Saturday.
TT Weekly Magazine
24/02/2010 by Alastair.
For those that like to test, like to read about testers or just like looking out for testing results, this magazine is for you. For those that don’t like testers, reading about testers or seeing testing results, look away now.
http://www.tt-weekly.com/page2.htm
It’s a new venture and the first issue was released last week. I’ve subscribed for an initial 8 week period and consider you wanabe testers or current testers should do too!
Peace out.
