Forthcoming events 2009/10

I’ve listed a short selection of events some of the club members may want to make a note of

Club run 31/10/09

Dave, Just a quick thank you for todays route Good to see a big turn out and a good presence from the Climb on boys !

 Bit unfortunate mechanical / puncture wise but a different route which unfortunately due to time lost we had to have a dash back to Tenbury along the main road and whether it was the warm weather or the end of ride cake calling, the pace rose and not one to miss the cake it would of been rude not to keep up

Good fun and look forward to our next ride

End of an era ?

Just a quick post to congratulate Phil and Anna together with all those involved in the organisation of the Autumn Epic sportive After so many years of promoting events  both are taking a very well deserved break !

Yesterdays events is receiving rave reviews from the punters on both cyclosport and bikeradar Well done to you both, perhaps other events will attempt to come up to the very high standards you have set over the years

Oh and most importantly, is there any cake left over from yesterday ha ha

Massive Win LVRC

Congratulations to Giles on his series win in the season long LVRC Percy Stallard If my informant is correct then also congratulations to Matt and Pete on joint 3rd Come on gents give us all the confirmation and headlines

Rounding off 2009 ?

As we started the season with a big turn out at the Sundorne Circuit races back in March, any of you up for the Shrewsbury circuit race at Sundorne on Saturday 19th September 2009 to see off the RR season ?

We have over 4 weeks to sort out passes etc and those bikes are not really ready to sit and gather dust for the winter, even if we are !  :-)

Don’t get cross, get ‘cross

Ok, after a July on the bike, in France that saw me cooked better than most things we all eat off a barbeque, plus it is hard to get motivated to plan any RR’s or sportives following the life experiences that were La Marmotte and Etape, I’ve decided to give cyclocross a go this winter !!  Ok so it will be cold, wet and muddy but hopefully fun

The question is, anyone else going to give it a go ??

Marmotte – 3 weeks to go !!!

Ok 3 weeks to go, gulp !! TopbikeTV have posted some videos on youtube, in last 2 weeks, that may be worth a view, if like me you haven’t done before. Titles ‘Marmotte 07′ and ‘Post Marmotte 2006′ give an idea of a few different aspects and a bit of ‘pee’ taking of a few of the participants

Can I suggest, subject to approval from Phil and Chris that the participants for this year meet at Epic shop for a viewing of the ‘cyclefilm’ DVD, so Simon can give us an idea of what to expect at various points on course. A proposed time could be 6pm Saturday 20th June 2009. How would that fit with everyone ??

Did I say 3 weeks, Oh Dear me !!!!!!!

LVRC Broadheath RR

Take a bow Mr Nick Yarworth. Another fine win for the Epic (just for fun) Team The LVRC, Wyre Forest club organised RR’s at Broadheath was the scene of the latest victory. Nick was riding in the C&D class, disappointed by the slow start of the race, after half a lap he attacked and the race winning break was formed as 4 riders pulled away and were not seen again by the bunch until everyone returned to the race HQ for a post race cuppa.

Starting just before Nick in the A&B race I stayed near the front and a half lap in, I saw Conor O’Brien, Solihull CC attack. He was the rider that broke away with Peter Georgi at the Tour of the Abbs last week Trapped on the inside I then see ex Pro Ian Fagan move up and go. I too attacked as Fagan rides straight past Conor, I reach Conor and thought, in for a penny in for a £1, past I go and have only 2 bike lengths to close, I call Conor through but the bunch had been shocked into life and Mr Fagan just kept on going faster and away Like a bully taking candy from the younger kids he was gone with such ease !! He solo’ed to a 2.5 min win A bunch sprint arrived and I managed 6th or 7th overall, pleased but I know it could of been a little better

No time to dwell as Nick comes to the finish in a now 3 up break and his commanding figure powers away, not knowing the impressive gap he had opened up, he manages a one handed victory salute Over heard comments from the 4th member of that break that got shelled, everyone was left with the impression that the pace had been hard and fast,  CHAPEAU Nick

Again some nice comments about our club which was nice to hear

Going up on the downs

Grah and I did the White Horse Challenge on Sunday, crossing the Marlborough and Lambourn Downs, which we found an excellent event If anyone would like to do it as their 1st sportive it is an excellent intro, not too hilly but a very frendly atmosphere. We got in a great group early on and everyone seemed to be working well. The first of the hills at the Broad Town White Horse saw a sort out and by the time we were approx half way round there was just Piers,(Irish bloke) Grah and myself.

The brothers grim ha ha

Our average ride time was a ‘miggies dangley bits’ short of an average of 21mph for the 95 miles
If you have trouble getting to sleep, my full blog is on the front page of www.cyclosport.org

Ewen (aka Boowen) I saw somewhere you got 8th on one of the stages at the weekend but results seem to have disappeared

Congratulations to Nick Yarworth for his win at the weekend

Breaching the Castle !!

Ok Castle Coombe today with Epic well represented. Slight mystery, as Matt wasn’t there for the start. The weather forecast was dyer if the truth be told and the wind was always to be a feature The 4th cat race lined up and goodness me there were well over 100 riders eagarly awaiting the start flag dropping. As our pre race discussion all of us would stay near the front. See photo below as Epic retain a consistant top 20 presence.

At least the weather for us held apart from a little drizzle. Despite all our riders staying very close to the front, on the finishing straight about half way through the race and with a cross/headwind riders jostled and the inevitable contact was made with the resulting scrapping still ringing in my ears, when Charler pulls alongside to inform us that Dave (Greek) had come off, over the bars and face planted What followed was the longest lap of the race to see if he was up ! Thankfully he was walking wounded, talking to he medics.

We commenced the final laps, ready for the sprint and as the charge started, Graham was well placed, I was acting as wing man and Charler was near the front but more exposed to the wind. How no-one came down I’ll never know but out of all that Grah, was actually, Grahon1, grabbing himself 9th and a point on the score board . Charler and myself both managed top 20 but we were more relieved to see Greek in good spirits dispite his drama, although the road rash on his head looked harsh !!! That’ll teach him to be so damn good looking ha ha (only joking Dave) All wishing you a swift recovery

Simon and Pete rode very well in their own races, finishing in the pack on each event. I’m sure Pete and Si will expand, they certainly had the pooey weather !

Well done Grah, I know you felt you could have got more but now you’ve started ……..