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Plomesgate Cycling Club |
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Happy Christmas!
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
November Club Run
There was a ride from Wickham Market, which was a bit fast for some people. May I politely remind people that the aim of the club run is a social ride together, and preferably not to lose any of the participants.
December Club run
Meet at Somerfields in Saxmundham at 10am on 12th December. Arrive hungry, ready for a ride to Friday Street Café for breakfast at 11am. Tinsel and Santa hats recommended.
January Club run
This will be a MTB ride from Minsmere RSPB car park at 10am on Sunday 16th January. Mark will be leading the ride through Dunwich forest, taking in some different tracks. A trip to the RSPB café at Minsmere for lunch should compensate for using their car park.
Club Annual General Meeting
Thanks to Bev and Pete for hosting the AGM again. It was well attended, and we now have Trevor as Chairman, Steve continues as Treasurer, and Valerio is the new Secretary. It is good to see new faces on the committee, but as I didn’t note everyone’s name, I won’t embarrass myself by trying to regurgitate them.
Handbooks
Anyone requiring National or local handbooks please let Trevor know, by 31st December please. Trevor will send off the orders early in the New Year. Last year we had too many left over so this year we will only order what people want.
CTT National Handbook - £5:50 - a must if you intend to ride any open TTs.
East District Local Handbook - £2.00 - contains useful information about local events, club TTs etc.
♫ Children of The Revolution ♫
The song made famous by Marc Bolan and T.Rex echoes around the velodrome at Manchester. The crowd wait in anticipation as World and Olympic stars warm up at speed, and tucked in amongst them is a lonely Plomesgate jersey. Yes it’s Revolutions 6 and the party atmosphere is winding up to a frenzy, the crowd whipped up by veteran commentator and ex World Champion, Hugh Porter.
It also gives me a chance to give you a bit of a report and to do some unashamed name dropping which I thoroughly enjoy.
Becky missed the last Revs meeting through illness but she was back for this one, but didn't really know what her fitness was like. As many of you know she is busy getting in some long steady hours in the saddle, so it can come as a bit of a shock to suddenly have to hurtle around a 250m bowl at 25 - 30mph ! She needn't have worried.
I know the psychologists all say us parents are not supposed to live our dreams through our kids, but apart from the one that involves me in a World Champs jersey, a pretty young thing and a shower, this beats any of my dreams so far. Five minutes in the track centre and Chris Hoy says hello, I nearly bump into Chris Boardman, his son tugging his arm as he nags Dad for the autographs of some famous cyclists. I share a lift with Alan Rushton, he was instrumental in bringing the TdF to the UK. Share a joke with Nicole Cooke, all whilst watching Becky circle the track with Bradley Wiggins, Chris Newton, Craig Maclean, Jason Queally, Ross Edgar, Vicky Pendleton, Magnus Backstedt, Franco Marvulli, I could go on and on…
The racing was fast and exciting the crowd were deafening at times. Great Britain is amongst the best in the World at track racing now and I will go as far as to say that we are amongst the best at putting on a great meeting as well. I remember the London Six Day at Wembley, I've been to the famous six day at Ghent, this is as good if not better.
Becky was riding with the women future stars, there were a few hairy moments in the scratch race with a couple of crashes which she narrowly avoided. She mixed it on the front and finished safely in the bunch in that and the one mile dash. The last event was the devil (elimination). Becky's new found endurance was showing as she was still feeling pretty good and as most of the "names" got eliminated there were 6 left and Becky was still there looking calm and confident. She was surprised to get eliminated on the next lap, even the commentator didn't agree, and there were several boos from the crowd, but Becky took it on the chin, and was pleased with her 6th place., happy that she obviously had a few fans in the crowd. Another exhausting and exciting night was over.
The next one is January 29th, the French are coming….bring it on !
Hill Climb
Nov
7th - District Hillclimb, Semer Hill, nr Hadleigh.
How did our team get on?
Hopefully someone will provide an article for the next newsletter.
Winter training
These will be running again this year, starting on Nov 21st. The first two rides (at least) will start from Northgate Sports Centre in Ipswich at 10am and will probably be between 2 and 3 hours. If there is demand, we may mix up the rides, with some starting from Ipswich and some from another venue, possibly Snape crossroads or Saxmundham.
The aim of these rides is to build a base of "endurance" miles as preparation for next season, so the rides will be at a steady and fairly easy pace. You should be able to talk comfortably as you ride, if you can't, you need to slow down a bit.
Results
28th November Thetford MTB Enduro
Mark and Viv raced the 2 hour enduro at Thetford. Mark did 4 laps in 2hrs 31, and finished 7th of the Vet men. Viv did 3 laps in 2hrs 16 and finished 6th of the women (no Vets category here).
Newport Track Day
Jeff Wade of the Chelmer CC is organising another track training day at Newport Velodrome, primarily for Eastern Region riders on Sunday February 13th. I know some of you have expressed an interest in trying the track out and these sessions are ideal. If you are interested then rather than me duplicate what Jeff is doing the best thing is for you to contact Jeff directly, the details are below.
"The track is booked from 09.30 till 16.00 hrs and the cost will be £20 for the full day (payable in advance). As previously there will be sessions for all abilities including complete newcomers.
If you are interested then contact Jeff at ChelmerCC@aol.com <mailto:ChelmerCC@aol.com> or send a cheque for £20 to:- Jeff Wade
1 Rana Drive, Braintree, Essex, CM7 2TD.
If you don't have a track bike then the velodrome can supply bikes, they are nice Pinarellos, not sure whether there is an extra charge though. If you are interested then let me know but please book it directly with Jeff. Once we know whose booked we can sort out travel arrangements, car shares.
Club Dinner
The club dinner and prize presentation has been booked for Saturday 22nd January at the Lighthouse in Aldeburgh, starting at 7:30pm. Meet at the Cross Keys pub at 7pm if you’d like to meet up beforehand. The meal costs about £17.50 for the set 3 course menu, or there is an a la carte version available. If you’d like to see a sample menu, please ask. Let Viv know if you would like to attend – either 01728 452143 or broughton.m@btinternet.com.
Dates For The Calendar
Tuesday evenings – MTB ride from Sizewll car park at 7:30 (or sometimes Snape crossroads)
Friday– Roller riding, Foxhall Stadium, from 7pm.
12th
December, Club Run, Saxmundham 10am.
25th
December, has Santa delivered the new bike?
12th
January, Committee meeting, 8pm Aldeburgh
16th
January, Club Run, Minsmere MTB 10am.
22nd
January, Club dinner, The Lighthouse, Aldeburgh
23rd
January, MTB Enduro Thetford
23rd
January, East District Prize Presentation (inc Spoco East Presentation) at
Roydon Village Hall (main Diss to Thetford Road A1066).
- 9:00am 50Km Reliability Ride
- 12-1:00 Lunch - food & drink available.
- 1pm Prize Presentation
Committee Meetings
The next meeting of the committee is at 8pm on Wednesday 12th January at 185 Saxmundham Road Aldeburgh. Any club member is welcome to attend.
News contributions
Send us any news of events, results etc so that they can be included in the newsletter.
Our e-mail address is broughton.m@btopenworld.com
2005 Open Events
The following dates for Plomesgate CC Open TTs for 2005 are now visible on the CTT website:-
19/03/2005 Sat B10/9 10miles 14:00 Solo TT; 2upTTT; Tandem TT
14/05/2005
Sat B25/2 25miles 14:00 Solo TT & Tandem TT
18/06/2005
Sat B10/9 10miles 14:00 East DC GHS Championship;
Solo TT; Tandem TT
2005 Club Events
Thursday
April 28th start time 18:45
Thursday May 5th
start time 19:00
Thursday May 19th
Thursday June 2nd
Thursday June 16th
Thursday June 30th
Thursday July 14th
Thursday July 28th
Thursday Aug 11th
Thursday Aug 25th start time
18:45