NHRC Invitation

Hello Northanters

As I am sure you all know one of the first Olympic Medals to be completed for will be the mens road race on Saturday 28 July.

It was suggested at a recent committee meeting that it might be a good idea for the club to get together on that day and watch the race as a club group, (no, I haven't acquired 50 dodgy tickets on the internet). What we have done is that Maggie has used her influence at the Ex-services Club in New Road, where we will be able to have the use of a room with a large drop-down TV screen on which to watch the race. THE BAR will be open and we are also planning to have refreshments available.

The time of start is 10.00 with the finish scheduled for around 16.00. I guess that some might want to watch the entire race although maybe most would prefer to take in the final 2 or 3 hours. I am not yet sure how long the transmission will be. Hopefully the complete race.

We are planning to charge £1 to all who wish to come along, this will help to pay for some of the refreshments although contributions of a cake or two or perhaps some sausage rolls etc. would be welcome.

The event is open to club members and non-members and we are hoping to attract as many as possible to help make the day the next best thing to being there on the course. 

Please let me know if you think you will be attending.

Doug H.

Regional Road Race Championships

Stockbridge Sunday 20th May

A dry, blustery, overcast day welcomed Adam, Andrew and Berni for their visit to Stockbridge to compete in the regional championship veteran’s race. All 3 riders feeling suitably senior and of an age to safely avoid the championship race proper!

Berni’s description of the 13 mile circuit as “testing” was something of an understatement. It was horrible! Nearly 300 metres of climbing per lap and the major 2km climb leading out of Stockbridge and up to the finish line.

The race started just after 10am (following the departure of the main event) with a 2km neutralised section running from Test Valley school – race HQ – to the bottom of said hill, when the race went live. Straightaway the pace went up in parallel with the gradient. The peleton held together for the first lap but on the 2^nd visit to the climb it started to fracture, which was to be the pattern for the rest of the race. Not surprisingly, Andrew was one of the first to go and was soon riding with a small group of similarly ejected riders!! Adam suffered a similar fate soon after.

Berni, however, managed to stay with the group and was able to contest the uphill “sprint” to the flag. Despite a grey face and some grimacing, he came over the line in 5^th place. A fine result for his first race outing of the year, and more points for CCB. Well done Berni!

ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT FOR CCB

Wednesday 16^th May

CCB were well represented this evening by the old guard, with Jon and Scott racing at Eelmore, and Andrew again at the vets series at Hillingdon. A marked contrast in the weather too with no wind and plenty of sunshine!! Joe was not racing, preferring(?!) to study for his exams and Craig was forced to work!

Jon and Scott had the usual Eelmore experience with a steady race, one or two breakaway efforts that wouldn’t stick, until a lone rider made it away towards the end of the race leaving the rest of the field to contest the bunch gallop. An excellent effort by Scott put him second over the line for 3^rd overall. Jon followed him home in 8^th. So, perhaps the “thru and off” training around Farleigh is paying dividends!!

For Andrew it was a similar experience. A fairly brisk cruising speed for the bunch meant that the few breakaway efforts were brought back in fairly quickly, usually within a lap or so. This meant that once again it came down to a bunch gallop. A momentary lapse in concentration meant Andrew dropped back a couple of lengths in the back straight on the last lap, putting him in a slightly less than ideal position for the sprint. Nevertheless, a good sprint effort lifted him up to 5^th across the line!

So, points for all this evening! Next outing, involving some of the real old guard (Berni and Adam) will be at the regional championships, starting from Stockbridge, on Sunday 20^th May. All support is always welcome.

Sunday Training Options

A number of riders are meeting at the top of Farleigh Hill for a thru and off session.  They are meeting at 09:00 on Sunday mornings.  The plan is for 3 laps of the CCB Tuesday evening circuit, though beginning with a warm-up lap and then three hard laps followed by a steady ride.  Should be back by 12 noon the latest. All are welcome.  Contact Jon Harris for further details:

Punctures Galore

Eelmore, Wednesday 9th May

The old guard were out for last Wednesday’s race at Eelmore. Jon and Scott were racing in the 3rd & 4th cat race, and Andrew tried his hand with the E/1/2s.

There was a stiff breeze blowing down the home straight which had a big influence on proceedings in both races, but not as much as the condition of the track surface.

The E/1/2 race is very hard! Lots of attacks early on until the elastic breaks and the race is fractured into lots of small groups on the road. Andrew soon found himself in a small group of one, followed soon after by a puncture and the end of his evening!! More interval training required, I think!?

Jon and Scott did a good job of sitting in the peleton until late in the race, when Jon suffered a puncture just at the point of the lap count-down. This meant he spent the next 5 laps chasing back on with no energy left for the sprint. Scott found himself in a better position, but not much. A sizeable group broke away from the front in the last couple of laps to contest the sprint with Scott following in behind. The only bit of good luck was that he then avoided the rather unexpected crash that occurred soon after this group crossed the finish line! Both riders agreed – more interval training required!!

ANOTHER GREY DAY – RACING ON WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY

Another Wednesday, and another outing for CCB’s racers. With Jon Harris away, it was Scott

Oatridge’s turn to open his racing account at Eelmore, alongside Craig Atwell and Joe Gray in the 3 rd

& 4th cat race.

As usual, as the season progresses, more people turn out to race and so there was a bigger field

than the previous week, and the pace was a bit more brisk! Both Craig and Joe made efforts at the

front but trying to make a break stick was always going to be hard with a faster moving peleton. As

is often the case, it came down to a bunch gallop at the finish. Unfortunately, with about 60 riders

in the bunch, there was also a fair bit of pushing and bumping, so on the penultimate lap, Scott was

pushed out onto the grass. Good bike handling and a bit of luck saw him recover but fall back a bit

so that when the final sprint began he was not ideally positioned. Still, first CCB rider home in about

12th, with Craig and Joe following in not far behind.

Andrew McCombe was in action at Hillingdon, again competing in the Master’s series there.

Likewise, there was a much bigger field also running at a slightly brisker pace. Unfortunately, just

over 30 minutes into the race, there was a big crash involving a number of riders as the boys passed

the girls! Consequently, the organisers had no choice but to cancel the race. A rather unfortunate

end to the evening!

Next outing – Eelmore on 9th May.

EELMORE 25TH APRIL

The first round of the Pedal Heaven Eelmore series took place in atrocious, wet and
windy weather, on Wednesday 25th April. Not surprisingly therefore, the turn-out was
a little smaller than usual. However, a reasonable field of about 30 riders, including 3
from CCB assembled for the 3rd and 4th Cat race.

Our CCB riders were the evergreen Craig Atwell, and Joe Gray. Jon Harris was also
present for his first race of the season.

The first 20 minutes were fairly processional as everyone came to grips with the
conditions. The first action was a lone break by a young rider from VC Meudon.
He managed to build up almost a half lap lead at one point. However, Joe, keen to
emulate Craig’s recent success set off in pursuit. Over the next few laps he made
significant inroads into the lead but a stiff headwind on the home straight was not
helping. Soon after, the decisive move of the race came when a strong group of 5
broke clear from the front of the bunch. Working well together, they soon caught and
passed Joe and made it across to the lone leader who then joined them. Continuing to
work well together they opened a lead that was never going to be caught by a slightly
dis-organised peleton. Seeing the futility of persisting, Joe dropped back into the
bunch to recover.

With about 8 laps to go, Craig made a brave break from the bunch. Some really
determined riding saw him build a big gap. Spurred on by this, a couple of laps later
Joe tried the same thing but had with him another rider for company. They too built
a fairly comfortable gap from the bunch. So, as the chequered flag came out, the
bunch of 6 sprinted home, Craig soloed in for 7th and Joe out-sprinted his breakaway
companion for 8th. Jon led home the bunch sprint to finish in about 12th.

All in all good results considering the conditions but both races, the 3&4 and the E/
1/2, were scattered all round the circuit as a consequence of the weather, and more
punctures than I have ever seen at a circuit race!

Some planned race dates...

Below are a few dates where a number of riders plan to race.  If you are interested do just let us know so that we can arrange the most economical way to get there - if you like...

13th May Omega Crits at Thruxton 

20th May South Divisional champs 

26th May 10mile TT at Bentley
3rd June Banbury Star RR.
10th June Neil Gardiner Mem RR
17th June Lloyd Coward mem RR

Colin's update...

I've a couple of things to report back on.  

 

I raced the Maidenhead and District CC sporting time trial on 11 March.  This is hilly (just under) 30 mile course in the Chilterns starting at Lane End north of Marlow.  I set off hard and caught my minute man within the first mile or so.  The 6 miles to the first turn are all slightly up hill then there is a technical bit through to Christmas Common, which I did feeling in good form.  From there it is nearly all down hill to Henley, pretty much the fastest 10 miles you'll every do on a time trial.  Its then heavy roads along by the Thames to Marlow and then four miles of mostly draggy uphill before a final kick to the village hall at Frieth.  I got a bit concerned that I hadn't passed anyone else, but it turned out that I had three non-starters and two of the top three placed riders ahead of me.  Finishing time was 1-16.41 which was good enough for 9th, my first top 10 place in an open time trial.  Rode to and from the start from home to bring up an imperial century for the day.  Top day out!

I also completed the Dean 300k Audax on 24 March and was first man home in 12 hours and 47 minutes – as I hadn't bothered to put my race bike away.  It was about 15 minutes slower than the previous year but I'd had less company and I got close to suffering from the bonk between Marlborough and Membury.

Since then I've swapped bike for running shoes to do the Reading Half-Marathon as the office I work at does this big time for charity - we had 37 entrants which knocked me about far more than the Dean the previous weekend but did complete my first half-marathon in 1–31 – the second one from our office back.  So will have a go at doing it properly next year.

Karl spotted me on the way to my caravan in Selsey; I thought I was quite relaxed at the time.  I was more intense on Easter Monday when I set-off at 3.30am to complete a century ride including an ascent of Bignor Hill (so steep the tarmac doesn't stick) before breakfast.

Next events are the Bryan Chapman Memorial 600k Audax on 19-20 May and  the Hounslow and District '100' on the H100/88 course (Bentley – Farnham – Alton – Bentley x5) - if we get two more entries we'd have a chance at a team prize – otherwise its the closest to Basingstoke you can get seeing the club colours in action.

MIXED FORTUNES AT HILLINGDON

It was a week of mixed fortunes for Craig Atwell and Andrew McCombe as they both raced twice at Hillingdon this week.

Both riders raced on Saturday 14th. Craig rode in the 3rd&4th cat race where a bunch of almost 80 riders meant that it was difficult to determine exactly what was going on unless you sat right on the front of the bunch. Consequently, a big break made it away early in the race and Craig was left to sprint in with the main peleton, finishing an un-inspiring 35th. For Andrew riding the E/1/2 race, the result was even less impressive. A fairly high race pace fractured it into a number of smaller groups, and the after effects of a cold meant that he was spat out of the main bunch after about 30 minutes of racing. He continued riding but finished as the definite “lantern rouge” (last place!).

Mid-week brought much better fortunes – and much poorer weather; low cloud and heavy rain were the order of the day for both events.

Craig rode in the 3&4 cat race on Tuesday 17th April. A slightly more manageable group of about 30 riders set off at a fairly brisk pace as they set about chasing an early lone breakaway. This was brought back with about 6 laps to go and another small breakaway, with Craig included, made a bid to escape. The peleton was clearly in no mood to allow any escapes that evening and this too was brought back with a couple of laps to go. Nevertheless, a combination of good positioning, strong sprinting and some timely gaps in the run to the line meant that Craig came through fast to finish in third place!

The first races of the Veteran’s series took place the following day and provided an opportunity for Andrew to ride against some age appropriate competition! A reasonable bunch of about 40 riders set off at a fairly steady pace, wary of the very greasy conditions. A couple of efforts were made to breakaway but as is often the case at Hillingdon, these were brought back fairly quickly to leave the usual bunch gallop over the last couple of laps to the finish. Some firm riding on the last lap put

Andrew in the ideal position just behind the lead riders as the sprint began into the home straight.  A strong effort meant finishing fourth across the line, but, first rider home and winner of the Masters E & F race!

Tuesday Circuits Begin 10 April 2012

Meeting at the top of Farleigh Hill crossroads, these training rides will run from Tuesday 10th April to Tuesday 22nd May.  Depending on the numbers, we might continue with these rides throughout the Summer.

This involves 3 laps (c.7 miles each lap) of a local circuit designed to build on the Sunday training rides; these are at a higher intensity but much shorter in duration (c.1hr).  Because these are circuits, it doesn’t matter if you can’t make the 3 laps to begin with, you can take time to recover and re-join on the next lap and continue to do so until your fitness improves to see you through to the finish.

Start time is 6:15 pm.  Each lap takes around 20 minutes, so even if you can’t make the start time, you can always be there for Lap 2!

See you there.

HILLINGDON, SATURDAY 31ST MARCH

Two races and two representatives for CCB. Craig Attwell was riding in the 4th cat race and Andrew McCombe in the cat 2/3. A dry day but cloudy and the high temperatures of the preceding week had disappeared so that arm and leg warmers were in frequent use! In addition there was a stiff breeze blowing down the finishing straight.
 
The cat 4 race was 40 minute plus 5 laps. A steady start but after 20 minutes Craig, and a fellow racer, made a break. Some hard riding over the next 20 minutes bought them a half lap advantage which they were able to hold all the way to the finish. And with Craig out-sprinting his breakaway companion, a win was in the bag! Congratulations to Craig! This is an excellent start to the season and combined with his 2nd place last week has catapulted  him up to 3rd cat, with enough time to chase for 2nd cat!?
 
The cat 2/3 race followed a not dissimilar format but over a slightly longer time – 35 laps. An early ambitious breakaway of 3 put in a big effort early on to establish a lead of about half a lap. Although this varied a bit over the course of the race, it was held to the finish leaving the rest of the peleton to contest the usual gallop finish. Some good positioning by Andrew meant that he was able to join the back of a Welwyn wheelers lead-out train into the sprint in the home straight. A reasonable sprint, but a 3 week skiing break in Canada showed its effects, and a final position of 8th in the bunch meant 11th overall – first loser! But not too bad for a first outing of the season.

 
Overall a reasonable showing by CCB in the first weeks of the season.

Thruxton Sunday 25 March

Joe and Craig represented CCB in the cat 4 race at Thruxton with a 10:15 start. The weather was great, bright and sunny but with a right to left side wind along the back and up the hill. It was quite steady for the first 4 or so laps.
As always, a few riders tried for a break away but no real breaks formed. With about four laps to go Craig and Joe discussed tactics and decided that Joe would lead Craig out for the final gallop.

The final lap arrived and the dynamic duo were able to keep their position quite easily. With about 600 metres to go Joe went for it with Craig on his tail. This caught the bunch napping and a good gap was soon achieved. Halfway up the slight rise Craig came past Joe with the peloton chasing hard. Craig got through the chicane by himself but that last 150metres is hard after that effort and Craig started to run out of steam. Not surprisingly, he was passed by another young rider called Ethan (club?) in the drag to the line resulting in a fine but slightly frustrating second place. Joe finished somewhere in the top twenty.