Sunday 29 January 2012

Dorset Miles, Bear Cross "Hardriders" Sunday Ride,


Nine riders at a cold and misty Bear Cross this morning, the choice of an off-road ride had appealed to a few regulars. The usual route out of Wimborne, the Cowgrove and Langton Long, we could do it with our eyes closed. Climbing through a residential area of Blandford was different as was the lane across to Stourpaine. The A 350 is busy but it was not long before the turn to Child Okeford and on to Shillingstone and Okeford Fitzpaine. We were in the shadow of Bulbarrow Hill, not that there were any shadows today, nor was the summit visible. One of the highest hills in Dorset, there must be 8 or 9 ways up Bulbarrow, which one would we take? Belchalwell, Ibberton and thankfully Wooland were not on todays “parcours”. The road through Hazelbury Bryan and Wonston led us to Stoke Wake; it’s a beast of a climb and the damp, frigid air made it harder. The descent was cold. Winterborne Houghton, Winterborne Stickland, Winterborne Clenston, Winterborne Whitechurch, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Muston & Winterborne Tomson took us to Red Post. The road was grippy but a different name was a blessed relief! The usual lanes through West & East Morden promised Lytchett Hill but we turned left at Dullar Lane for a change. A large CTC group were labouring on the long drag up to the A31, we said good morning as we sailed by, they probably thought we were showing off, we probably were. Across the main road to Sturminster Marshall and we were back on the Cowgrove. Wimborne Minster was busy as was the final few miles home. 4 hours 4mins and it was still cold!

Friday 27 January 2012

Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwood Look to the Future

Press Release

At the recent AGM, the Club’s plans for this Olympic year were agreed. The Club now has 7 qualified coaches and one of our aims is to make the fullest use of that valuable resource for our members.
This year sees the Club make a dramatic step up in race and event organisation through the summer. Top of the “new promotions” list is the weekly Track Cycling League to run over 19 weeks every Tuesday from April at the Bournemouth Cycling Centre.
This will be complemented by Wednesday evening Intermediate Track Sessions at Bournemouth Cycling Centre open to all local accredited riders who are looking for a challenging track session. Each session will be pitched at a level just below full competition, and provide an opportunity for skills and fitness progressive development for all local riders who have already achieved basic track competence.
Thursdays will see the traditional Club 10 mile TTs at Ringwood which have proved so popular over the years.

Finally Friday sees the Club Track night, open to members only, where specific skills and fitness will be developed including Derny sessions for that vital top end work. In a development from its traditional Go Ride Cycling Skills sessions for kids, the first hour of the Club Track Night will be focussed on Junior Development for young riders over the age of 11.

The Arrow’s Club Development Officer Alan McRae says,”This Programme covering 4 activities every week in the summer, 3 of which are open to other cyclists, is a massive undertaking by the Club. We recognise that running the Track League will not be possible without practical assistance of members from other cycling clubs for which we are very grateful. For the rest, it is our own coaches and officials who will make this exciting Programme possible. If there has ever been a time to provide such a boost to our own members and the rest of the local cycling community, then 2012 is surely it.”

Thursday 26 January 2012

Local Riders,Local Races



Dan Lewis (RAF) won the final round of the Wessex league Cyclo-Cross series at the Thruxton Motor racing circuit.Lewis ended his season strongly, having won the Gloucester City Cross event the week before. New Forest –based Mike Cotty (Wheelbase/Cannondale) has already wrapped up the overall title and opted not to race the last event.


Luke Gray will be riding for Great Britain at this weekends World Cyclo-Cross Championships. Gray, from Broadstone has been selected for the under 23 team along with Kenta Gallagher,Jack Clarkson,& new national U23 champion, Steve James (Hargroves Cycles). Koksidje in Belgium is the venue for this years championships and the deep sand on the circuit will ensure the strongest triumph!

Daniel Lloyd will be back racing in the UK this season after signing a deal with Team I G-Sigma Sport. " I know most of the team, they are all good guys and a bunch of great sponsors to work with too, IG-Sigma will be a great fit for me" tweeted Lloyd. After Garmin-Cervelo decided not to renew Lloyd's contract, the 3 time Grand Tour finisher was facing early retirement.
Former Garmin-Cervelo teammate Roger Hammond is also out of contract and faces an uncertain future.Hammond specialised in Cyclo-Cross, winning the World Junior Title in 1992. After turning professional in 2000 with Collstrop he has enjoyed a successful road career. Twice a British road race champion, two stage wins in the tour of Britain and 2nd at Gent-Wevelgem, Hammond hit the headlines in 2004, finishing 3rd at Paris-Roubaix.




Exert from the first, Friends of Bournemouth Cycling Centre(BCC) Meeting


....."A weekly Track League to be run each Tuesday evening commencing 17th April to end of August and A Saturday kid’s club start date and details to be advised.In addition BCC also plan to extend use of the site to include Cyclocross events which would certainly maximise use during winter months. BCC were keen to advise that no development is possible without volunteers being willing to offer their time and expertise, essential to ensure the day to day operation of the facility. This includes those who can support the administration and control of regular events. Of course nothing at all is possible without promoters, organisations and clubs booking sessions so BCC can get riders on the track and make use of their fantastic facility.
The Centre is one of the few facilities dedicated to cycling in the country and organised by cyclists for cyclists. It is BCCs aim to retain that position. Should you be able to assist please contact info@bournemouth.cc......."
CTT Handbook 2012 is now on sale! Available from CTT HQ. (link at top of page)

Closed Road Sportif on the Isle of Wight!! Is this the future of road racing in the south?

Several riders have had their Boxing Day 10 entries returned in the post marked “Not Known at this Address” It seems, perhaps the postman delivered them to the wrong address. There may well have been more entries gone astray. Only 13 entries had been received by the closing date and the New Forest CC took the decision to cancel this long running festive event! The 2012 Boxing Day event is listed in this years CTT Handbook.

Daniel Lloyd signs for Team I G -Sigma Sport


Daniel Lloyd will be racing for Team IG- Sigma Sport this year. After 8 years in the profesional peloton Lloyd was staring at retirement after Garmin-Cervelo decided not to renew his contract. The team's race programme has yet to be finalised but expect a mix of big domestic races and some Continental racing. He took some time off the bike while considering his options but is now back training hard and loking forward to the coming season. Hugely experienced, Lloyd has raced in Asia, North America and of course Europe. Twice a finisher in the Giro de Italia,the former mountain biker also finished the 2010 Tour De France. A big fan of the "Cobbled Classics, he has ridden the Tour of Flanders, Gent- Wevelgem and the Amstel Gold Race. Speaking on Twitter he said, "I had a lot of ex-pro's encouraging me not to stop. Lots of hard work ahead now" Formerly Sigma Sport-Specialized, the team will continue to use Specialized frames with Campagnolo components.

Team IG Markets – Sigma Sport (UCI Continental)

Wouter Sybrandy
Tom Murray
Simon Richardson
Tom Last
Steve Lampier

Dan Craven
Daniel Lloyd
Simon Gaywood
Jake Hayles
Andrew Griffiths
Pete Hawkins
Steven Burke
Daniel Lloyd

Sunday 22 January 2012

Jens Voigt, ,Fabian Cancellara, Signed Photos!



Stuart Grace (G A Cycles) has been in touch and has some nice photo’s for sale and its all in a good cause!
“While he was at the recent www.radioshacknissantrek.com team launch Jens Voigt he signed a number of A4 prints of himself and got team-mates Fabian Cancellara and Andy Schleck to do the same with the prints of themselves.
The photos were taken by Robin Wilmot during the Tour de France this year and the previous one; all proceeds will go to the Piam Brown Oncology Ward at the Southampton Hospital.
Cost is £15 plus £2.99 p&p if anyone is interested before they go on e-bay contact me on the details listed below.”

Many thanks.
Stuart Grace
Home 01425 611606
Mob 07949 356413
stuart_singlespeed@hotmail.co.uk

GLENN LONGLAND: 40 YEARS of RACING

“I started in Cyclo-Cross on October 7th 1970 and rode my first open event in March 1971”
GLENN LONGLAND
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF RACING 1970-2012
CRABWOOD C.C. 6 YEARS
RADFORDS PROFESSSIONAL 3 YEARS
ANTELOPE RACING TEAM 31 YEARS
PROM0TING 36 YEARS

ANTELOPE RACING TEAM
UNDER C.T.T. RULES
Event Secretary Glenn Longland, 32 Testland Avenue, Nursling, Southampton SO16 0XG

Solo `10` Saturday 3rd March 2012 15.00 Start
2-up `10` Sunday 4thMarch 2012 09.00 Start

Entry Fee per Rider £8
Closing Date 21st February 2012
(NO ENTRIES ON LINE, this is not T.L.I.)
H.Q. KINGS SOMBORNE VILLAGE HALL
Course (P140) A3057-Compton-Romsey-Brook
2012 GLENN LONGLAND T.L.I. PROMOTIONS (Year 37)
SATURDAY 21ST APRIL SANDIE RADFORD MEMORIAL ROAD RACE

SATURDAY 25THAUGUST R.U.K.2-UP CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 6TH/7TH OCTOBER DOWNTON 2-DAY CLASSIC

Friday 20 January 2012

Frames for Sale


I’ve got about 12 new unused aluminium road bike frames, nothing poncy, just various makes like Raleigh, Coyote, Viking, and sizes, no forks or mech hangers, which aren’t much use to me. They are variously marked from storage but not dented. If interested let us know, I live in Brangore, looking for £20-30 each. If not, no worries I’ll stick them on ebay. I also have a lot of new Team UK Youth drinking bottles (couple of quid donation appreciated), and a few sets of Team UK Youth 2011 team bibshorts, LS and SS tops (these are a bit pricey though) Thanks Louis Home no. 01425 674489 or mobile 07818 403114 Mr.R.L. Bonney, Fundraising / Projects Director, 01425 675101 or 07818 403114

Local Riders,Local Races




Paralympic Champion Darren Kenny, OBE is in hard training for next month’s world championships. Verwood-based Kenny has just spent two weeks at the Newport Velodrome in Wales ahead of the Championships in Los Angeles, California. A mixture of high intensity speed work and pacing behind a motor bike should see Kenny in top form. At last year’s championships in Italy he won three gold medals and will be looking to defend all his titles in the USA. He will start as favourite in the 1km TT and the 3,000m individual pursuit.


The team sprint however will prove a harder ask. A change in the rules means the GB team cannot pick their strongest three riders. Kenny will line up with world & Paralympic champions Jody Cundy and Sarah Storey.
The three were picked after a series of trials at the Welsh cycling centre, Mark Colbourne and Jon-Allan Butterworth were the other riders in contention.
The London Paralympic games are on the horizon and media interest in the squad is intense. BBC Wales, BBC Sport, The Sunday Times Channel 5, Reuters, The Press Association & Cycling Weekly were all in attendance at the squad’s hotel Also heading to the states will be tandem pilot Barney Storey. Now based at the national cycling centre in Manchester, Storey, from Corfe Mullen remains a member of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers. Storey, along with visually impaired stoker, Neil Fachie will compete in the 1KM time trial and the tandem sprint. It promises to be a busy year for the squad and both Kenny and Storey will hope to be selected for the London Paralympic games in August/September.


Roger Papp, operations manager at BCC tells "E D" about the recent meeting to discuss the future use of the Bournemouth Track:

The first meeting of “Friends of BCC” (Bournemouth Cycling Centre) took place at the Hotel Collingwood in Bournemouth on Monday 16 January 2012.

The first meeting was open to everybody which enabled a broad selection of views on the centre to be received.

BCC were very pleased with the attendance, which included local clubs and riders, in addition to organisations and businesses that have made bookings at the centre since it opened.

A broad and detailed selection of information was provided to the meeting, and it was interesting to note there are already 150 riders registered with BCC who have taken advantage of the 117 sessions arranged so far.

From a financial prospective the centre is meeting their target for year one, which from a standing start has been very encouraging.

Bournemouth Borough Council have agreed a progressive ramp up in charges for ground and site maintenance, payable by April of each year, and while their objective is to be “cost neutral”, this still requires a significant and increasing sum to be paid each year to the council.

BCC is run as a not for profit “Ltd” organisation, and to support their development they presented a comprehensive business plan which includes growth in track usage, through Schools, University and Youth groups.

Sessions already booked for 2012 include:
• A weekly Track League to be run each Tuesday evening commencing 17th April to end of August. This is a British Cycling open series.
• A weekly intermediate training session each Wednesday commencing 18th April. This is for BCC licensed riders, or those who have progressed to stage 2 accreditation or above.
• A Saturday kid’s club. Start date and details to be advised.

In addition BCC also plan to extend use of the site to include Cyclocross events which would certainly maximise use during winter months.

The business plan includes a requirement, if funds permit, for a comprehensive website development to enable organisers and riders to enter and pay for sessions and events in advance.

BCC were keen to advise that no development is possible without volunteers being willing and available to offer their time and expertise in all areas essential to ensure the day to day operation of the facility. This of course includes those who can support the administration and control of regular events, but also professional support in all commercial areas essential to maintain and grow any progressive business.

Of course nothing at all is possible without promoters, organisations and clubs booking sessions so BCC can get riders on the track and make use of their fantastic facility.

The Centre is one of the few facilities dedicated to cycling in the country and organised by cyclists for cyclists. It is BCCs aim to retain that position.

The summary slide of their presentation covered the four key areas.

Track Bookings and enquiries – Roger Papp
Coaching – David Gilham
Track League – Alan McRae
Development Plan roll out – Andrew Mayfield

Should you be able to assist with any of these areas, please contact info@bournemouth.cc

For updates to the above events and other general information, please refer to the BCC website http://www.bournemouth.cc/
(link on right)

Luke Gray (Baboco) returned to his Belgium base after last week’s national championships for a world cup race at Lievin in France. The former national under 23 champion has been working with his new Danish coach and is starting to find some consistency.
Gray was the only U23 GB team rider in a select group of 6 GB riders, with Junior Hugo Robinson also in GB kit. The others where, Gabby Day who stays at the same place as Luke in Oudenaarde, Helen Wyman and Nicky Harris along with Elite Ian Field who also live in the same town. There was no GB back up at this race but Stef Wyman was acting manager. Speaking to “E D” Gray said:

“On race day the weather was a cold 0 degrees with most of the course covered in frost. There were some very short sharp steep climbs and a huge flight of steps to run up. Apart from a couple of places where there was some very draggy slow soft grass bits, it was a very fast race.
On the first lap there was a big coming together of bodies and bikes when a couple of riders failed to ride one of the steep banks. Luckily i managed to ride passed the mayhem of riders fighting to untangle their bikes.
I didn't quite have the power and seemed to be lacking top speed but after the race felt fine. I really enjoyed the slippery course as it tested your skill, with the last few downhill twisty bends being my favourite section.”
Danish U23 Champion Kenneth Hanson, who joined the Baboco team this year, crashed out of the race just in front of Luke. He is also the Danish elite Champ and with no GB pit crew, it was his father who was taking care of Grays pits throughout the race.
Photo's by kind permission of Rob Gray

This weekend is the last round of the Cyclo-Cross World Cup series in Hoogerheide, Holland. Luke will once again be riding for the GB team with a full GB support crew and staff on hand to man the pits.


This Sunday see’s the final round of the Wessex League Cyclo-Cross competion. Held at Thruxton motor circuit, entry is on the line, under 12s start at 10:00 with Senior’s at 12:45

Over 80 riders signed on for the third of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 4 winter reliability trials.The 75 mile route took in some of the biggest hills in Dorset. The 100 mile event on February 12th concludes the series and those who have completed all four rides will receive a specially minted medal.

Thursday 19 January 2012

G B Para-Cycling Squad hard at Work in Wales: A Snapshot!





Paralympic Champions, Darren Kenny, Sara Storey & Jody Cundy will contest the team sprint for GB at next month’s Para- Cycling World track championships.


The trio were picked after a series of trials at the Welsh National Cycling centre in Newport. Jon-Allan Butterworth and Mark Colbourne were the other riders in contention and Butterworth, especially, was unlucky to miss out.

The ex-RAF man who was injured in Iraq now has others in the squad looking over their shoulders as his rapid improvement continues. The sprint trials certainly added some “edge" but it was all in a day’s work for the Great Britain squad on their intensive track camp at the Newport Velodrome. The world championships are in Los Angeles but the London Paralympic games are on the horizon and media interest in the squad is intense. BBC Sport, BBC Wales, The Sunday Times, Reuters, The Press Association, Channel 5 & Cycling Weekly, among others, was all in attendance for a media day at the team’s hotel. Interviews, pieces to camera and photo calls are all part of the job.



After a morning on the road the riders were given an afternoon off but work was never far away. A team from the UK anti-doping agency turned up unannounced. Instead of putting their feet up the Para-Cycling squad spent three hours providing samples!

Even after 8 hard days on the track there was still time for a bit of fun, Barney Storey & Neil Fachie & Helen Scott & Aileen Mcglynn held an impromptu tandem match sprint competition.Storey & Faichie, rather ungentlemanly, won 2-0. The Championships in Los Angeles will run from the 9-12 February and the strong GB squad will fly out the week before. Last year in Montichiarri,Italy, GB topped the medal table with 17 medals including 13 gold.

Sunday 15 January 2012

Dorset Miles: Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 75 Mile Reliability Trial



The “75” is regarded as the toughest of the four Jubilee Tourist Trials but despite its reputation 87 riders signed on. This year’s clockwise direction is, perhaps the easiest way round, with all the big climbs coming in the first 30 odd miles. A roll call of local “names,” assisted by a stiff easterly wind drove the 09:30 group to Blandford. “Evens” was easy as we headed towards the first big climb. Tackled from the Turnworth side, Okeford Hill is a big ring grovel, in a nice kind of way. It was a clear day, the whole of North Dorset seemed to be set before us and the far distant hills had Somerset written on them. The pace did not slacken, talk in the wheels was of conserving energy, while those on the front seemed to have too much of this precious commodity. St John’s Hill took us up to Shaftesbury, it is relentless and the left hander by the church is a heartbreaker. We regrouped, a few had gone but there was time for recovery as we dropped all the way down to Coombe Bissett. The main road climb briefly halted conversation, yet still the pace demanded attention. Across to Cranborne, the wind was now from the side but the 11 miles back to Merley are flat and fast. Like bike rides all across the country today, those that struggle early on come good later, our group was no exception. The 100 in 8, on February 12th is the last of the four trials in the series and provides a fitting end to the winter. The Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers award medals to those that complete all four rides, on the face of it, not much of a challenge. In reality, ice, punctures, illness, can all make it harder to complete the series. It’s a small achievement perhaps but it may be the only medal some ever get but there is still the small matter of the 100! The ride out and home gives me another hour, 4hr 51.

Friday 13 January 2012

Driver Sentenced to 18 Month Ban in Rob Jefferies Case




Eighteen year old Lee Cahill, a college student from Wareham, Dorset, was given a 12 month community order and ordered to undertake 200-hours of community service and given an 18 month driving ban for causing the death of popular local cyclist, Rob Jefferies. Cahill will have to face a compulsory re-test. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85

Cahill had pleaded guilty to the charge of Causing Death by Careless Driving at an earlier hearing. Rob had been returning home from a training ride when he was struck from behind by Cahill. Fellow cyclist Bryce Dyer, who was riding with Rob at the time did what he could at the scene, assisted by an off duty fire officer who had stopped to help. Chairman of the Weymouth Magistrates bench Sharon Morecombe said "The consequences of this accident have been devastating for Cahill who is extremely remorseful. However the effect is considerably more devastating and will remain with the family of Mr Jefferies for the rest of their lives" Rob leaves a widow, Jayne, daughter and stepson

Local Riders,Local Races




It was lucky thirteen for Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles) at the National Cyclo-Cross Championships. Bowers battled his way to thirteenth place and helped his team win the National Elite Title at Chantry Park, Ipswich. The Ensbury Park-based rider backed up New Champion Ian Field and third place Jody Crawforth to claim the team medals. It was a satisfying result for Bowers, pressure of work has restricted his racing programme this year. Broadstone’s Luke Gray (Baboco) struggled to retain his under 23 crown. Gray crashed inside the first minute of the race after being hit from behind and was forced into the pits to change bikes. A gallant chase saw him claw his way up to fourth place, but that was as good as it got. Gray returned to his base in Belgium with the good news that he has been selected for the GB team for the world championships at the end of the month. Wessex league leader Mike Cotty (Wheelbase/Cannondale) has been in good form but could only manage 22nd place.Speaking to "E D" Cotty said,"It was a tough day, i was a little under par on what i'd hoped for. It was a powerman's course, super fast with no technical.The lead up to the race was a bit more stressful than normal, not just because it's a big race but because my girlfriend was in hospital for an operation on Wednesday. All seemed ok but she was readmitted on Friday in a lot of pain. I thought i would be able to race ok, no excuses but maybe the mental stress scrubbed a little bit of the top end needed to be there. I am dissapointed but racing is racing and life is life"


Harrison Fielding (Poole Wheelers) continues to impress in the Calshot track league. Wins in the 1km TT, and the Points race confirm the Corfe Mullen youngsters promise. Fielding also grabbed 2nd place in both the sprint and the Scratch race.



Darren Kenny & Barney Storey have both been putting in quality training at Newport track ahead of the Para-Cycling world championships. Storey is from Corfe Mullen and is still a member of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers despite now living in Manchester.


Kenny lives in Verwood and still has links with his first club, Bournemouth Arrow.



Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers winter reliability trial series continues this Sunday with the 75 mile event. The 75 includes Okeford Hill, this year climbed from the Turnworth side and the even steeper St Johns, which takes the riders up to Shaftesbury. The HQ is at Merley Community centre and refreshments are available. The first riders will set off at 09:00.


Don’t forget this Monday’s Bournemouth Cycling Centre Meeting, 7.30pm at Hotel Collingwood. Alan McRae, Facility & Development manager at the track said “We will summarise the progress so far, plans for 2012 beyond just the track and call for involvement from across the local cycling community.
At present the Centre is run "by cyclists for cyclists" but we need help to maintain that enviable position.”

HOTEL COLLINGWOOD 11 PRIORY ROAD BH2 5DF

Thursday 12 January 2012

Great Britain Para-Cycling Team: In Pursuit of Glory



Glory in sport always comes at a price and that price, especially in cycling, equates to hard work. Any team of individuals that might dream of medals and podiums must be prepared to pay the price. The Great Britain Para-Cycling squad turned up at the Newport Velodrome, ready to settle the bill on their way to the World Championships.

The fourteen rider team selected for the track championships in Los Angeles in February put in a full shift every day of the four day camp. High intensity intervals, standing starts, flying 200s were punctuated by much needed recovery intervals.


Performance analysis and blood lactate testing provided immediate feedback to the coaches.


When they were not on the track they were on the road, 2 hour rides, sometimes on TT bikes doing efforts “down on the ski’s!” Evenings were spent relaxing, some food, maybe a massage, listen to a CD, always with the feet up.


Another 4 days await the squad next week but there will be no weekend off, weights, road work and more track beckon. All will have left their sweat on the ground. Hunger, Desire, Application, to hurt & to hurt again, may allow the best to dream of glory; after all they have paid for it. Beyond Los Angeles, the London Paralympic games are calling, distraction is just a photo-call away, focus is key!


The World Para-Cycling Track Championships will be held at the Home Depot Centre Velodrome from 9-12 February. The Home Depot Centre Velodrome, a national training centre for USA Cycling, is the only permanent indoor track of international standard in North America. The 250 meter track with inclines of 45 degrees at both ends has 2450 seats

Team
Jon-Allan Butterworth (C5) – Kilo, Pursuit
Mark Colbourne (C1) – Kilo, Pursuit
Jody Cundy (C4) – Kilo, Pursuit
Neil Fachie (B/Vi), piloted by Barney Storey – Kilo, Sprint
Anthony Kappes (B/Vi), piloted by Craig McLean – Kilo, Sprint
Darren Kenny (C3) – Kilo, Pursuit
Aileen McGlynn (B/Vi), piloted by Helen Scott – Kilo, Pursuit, Sprint
Shaun McKeown (C3) – Kilo, Pursuit
Sarah Storey (C5) – 500TT, Pursuit
Lora Turnham (B/Vi), piloted by Fiona Duncan – Kilo, Pursuit