Introduction
This newsletter covers the busiest week of the Shropshire cycling calendar with five key rides to aim at, so there is more concentration on results. Particularly notable are the win of Andy Bason in the Newport Open, the performance of “Speedy Gonzales” herself Maz Molineux at the Ludlow Open, and John Cocker’s superb first ever 25 at Prees.
The Hanna Phipps-Jones handicap was held in dismal conditions with Dave Goring taking Gold, and Andy Steventon making a return to racing after months out with a bad back - keep off that wardrobe! A significant number of club members turned out to help marshal the event, Round 4 of the Parker International Series, and were ensured a soaking. Thanks to all who helped out and who endured the foul weather gamely.
Lost or Stolen
Police are making enquiries about a couple of items stolen from one of our club mates. The items in question are 1½ stone, last seen at the end of 2005 around the victim’s midriff, and 9 minutes, lost suspiciously after the arrival of a new occupant of the victim’s house, the mysteriously-named Specialised S. Works – evidently an alias, or perhaps the spawn of a Beckham-loving Chav.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of these items can they please return them to the owner forthwith as worried club mates would like to offer a reward for their restoration....
Training – Climbing and Descending
Not all of us can be mountain goats like Ken Downing or have the ability to drop off the face of the earth like ex-cyclo cross rider Dave Goring, but we can all benefit from the use of correct technique. Ken Kifer’s Bike Pages give a number of useful and practical ways to tackle these and other disciplines. Although the website is mainly aimed at American cycling tourists, these two articles provide some insight for those less able amongst us. See http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/skills/uphill.htm and http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/skills/downhill.htm for details.
Café Guide
There’s nothing like the café stop, a fundamental part of Club Run culture. Whatever we might know however pales into insignificance beside the mighty knowledge of Shropshire CTC, who seem to have an uncanny knack of locating excellent stops in all manner of out-of-the-way places gained over many years of experience. Whether out on your own or in a group, you can make your day a better one by visiting Shropshire CTC’s website first at www.shropshireandmidwales.freeserve.co.uk/cafeandpublist.htm.
Falling Off Award – Update
The weekend of 13/14th May saw new member Mark Fenn put in the first claim in the Bog Snorkelling Division of the Falling Off Award. Whilst riding the technical 7 mile MTB Dog Trail at Cannock Chase, which he had ridden several times before, Mark came to a small, narrow bridge over a boggy area. Fortunately there was nobody on hand to witness his slide off the side of the bridge and into the bog. Unfortunately he told Ade Cotton who, being an upstanding member of the club felt it his duty to inform everyone else via the Newsletter. Ade remarks that Mark still has a slight smell of bog about him…..
Well done Ade for sharing this with us, and quite right too. The moral of this story is that if you don't want to go for the Award (and no one saw you) don't tell ANYONE!
Recent Results
Hawk Series: Round 3 – Ludlow 10, 13th May – 39 SCCA finishers
5 Mark Shelton 22:46; 6 Robin Shedden 22:47; 13 Dave Poulter 23:43; 18 Ron McBride 24:46; 24 Peter Hudson 25:25; 25 Steve Elcocks 25:37; =29 Marion Molineux 26:04 =29 Dave Fletcher 26:04; 32 Kevin Brocklesby 26:12; 33 Finbar O'Keeffe 26:27; 34 Adrian Cotton 26:31; 38 Alan Molineux 27:28
Hawk Series: Round 4 – Newport 10, 14th May – 10 SCCA finishers
1 Andy Bason 23:32; 2 Robin Shedden 24:32; 7 Adrian Cotton 28:14; 8 Kevin Brocklesby 29:50
Hawk Series: Round 5 – Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50, 14th May – 30 SCCA finishers
11 Finbar O'Keefe 2:10:39; 17 Dave Fletcher 2:21:47; 20 Dave Goring 2:24:47; 23 Mark Lines 2:29:00; 24 Marion Molineux 2:31:47; 27 Alan Molineux 2:34:49
Parker International Series: Round 4 – Wrekinsport 19, 17th May – 10 SCCA finishers
1 Robin Shedden 47:56 [45:46]; 4 Kevyn Wilton 50:56 [44:56]; 5 Dave Fletcher 52:18 [46:18]; 6 Mark Fenn 53:52 [47:52]; 7 Ken Downing 53:53 [46:53]; 8 Andy Steventon 54:32 [48:32]; 9 Adrian Cotton 54:50 [47:50]; 10 Dave Goring 55:19 [32:19]
Hanna Phipps-Jones Handicap times in brackets
Parker International Series: Round 5 – NSW 25, 21st May – 25 SCCA finishers
4 Robin Shedden 59:55; 12 John Cocker 1:06:01; 17 Dave Fletcher 1:08:29
Anfield 100
There is a significant Club presence in the classic Anfield BC 100 on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th May with Mark Shelton, Vince Evans, Dave Goring and Alan Marion Molineux all attempting the distance over a new version of the course including three laps of the Shawbury – Shawbirch – Hodnet triangle that Anfield had hoped to use last year but were foiled by road works. For Dave Goring this is his first attempt at the distance in 14 years, whilst for Alan & Maz this is uncharted territory at racing speeds, but their CTC mile-eating should stand them in good stead. Turn out and give them a cheer as they wheeze past sprinkled with a few liberal words of encouragement!
UK Racing Cycle Show 2006 - Sunday 11th June
This new show is the first of its kind, and takes place at the Holiday Inn adjacent to Junction 18 of the M1, with entry free. It will be a first chance to view many new products as well as debuting carbon frames from Eddy Merckx, female-specific geometries from Alan, wheels from Stella Azzurra, Rotor Q rings and Spiuk clothing.
Brands exhibiting include Bertoletti, BMC, Colour-Tech, De Rosa, FSA, Fulcrum, Gunnar, Litespeed, Merlin, Moots, Orbea, Oval, Reynolds, Rolf, Speedplay, Tiso, Thomson, Vision Tech and Vittoria Shoes. The show will also launch two new brands, Luna and Sasparilla. Check out the show website at www.racingcycleshow.co.uk for more information.
Social Scene
It’s getting to the time of year where the social events need to be discussed, so any suggestions for functions and volunteers to organise take one step forward! For the more adventurous amongst us White Water Rafting and a walk up Snowden have been talked about in the past, and would certainly need to be arranged before the onset of winter. For the more sedate, Kevin Brocklesby’s Skittles Evening was well received last year, as has the summer barbeque last seen in 2004 and missing from the 2005 schedule. Finally, a trip to the Track will require booking soon before November or December dates are fully taken. Any bright ideas or offers to arrange please let Dave Poulter know.
British Cycling – Free Bronze membership
British Cycling is again offering free Bronze membership for new members of BC-affiliated clubs, and to riders who have let their BC membership lapse for over 2 years. The good news is that they will now accept on-line applications. Bronze membership entitles you to a provisional racing licence with access to some closed Road Circuit, Cyclo-Cross & MTB events; Training & Coaching advice; and a weekly e-mail newsletter. http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bcf/bcApplicationFormTmp.asp?promo=club2 has the details.
…and finally
So you think you do your bit to help the environment by nipping to the local shop to get the papers on the bike rather than using the car? Think again and realise that you could be doing much, much more….