Plomesgate Cycling Club 

January Club run

Despite the cold conditions, a dozen riders gathered in Saxmundham for the January club run.  It was a really mixed bunch, with Plomesgate, IBC, ITC and Suffolk CTC all represented!

There had been some doubt as to whether the ride would go ahead, as there were large patches of ice around and the roads were generally quite slippery.  Both Jim I and Nick C found this out to their cost, as they both kissed tarmac before the ride even started - Jim the previous day and Nick taking rather extreme action to avoid a horse on the way to the start.

We headed towards Dunwich for a cuppa and although our first port of call, the beach cafe, was closed, the other cafe at the top was open, and we were even in time for the morning "special" - bacon roll + hot drink - which was very popular! After Dunwich, we wandered around Suffolk for a while, taking in Yoxford, Peasenhall, Bruisyard and Parham, before heading back towards Sax.

After the cold start, it had turned into a pleasant sunny morning, with hardly any wind - ideal riding conditions (if you avoided the ice!) - and it was good to be out with a decent sized group, and to see so many new faces out.

Steve

February Club run

On Sunday 15th February there will be a club mountain bike ride in Thetford Forest.

!!IMPORTANT NOTE!!
Ride will now start 10am at Mayday Meadow
(half way between Elveden and Brandon)

We’ll ride for a couple of hours, including the black run and some bomb holes, have refreshments at Forest Lodge, then head back.  This will be led by the Broughtons, so if you need further details please e-mail broughton.m@btopenworld.com or ring on 01728 452143.

March Club run

Trevor will be leading the March club run from Framlingham on Sunday, 14th March, starting at 10am.  See next month’s newsletter for further details.

March Open 10

Plomesgate’s first open event of 2004 is on Saturday 20th March.  Hilary is organising this event, and would welcome any offers of assistance – mainly for marshals.  E-mail hilaryhg@aol.com or ring 01728 602563.

Winter Rides 1

The training rides have been continuing through the worst of the weather, although saying that, we have been remarkably lucky with conditions, as the sun always seems to shine on a Sunday morning! (And the wind blows, but, hey, you can't have everything!)

The start of the rides has changed since Christmas - we now meet at Northgate Sports Centre in Ipswich - but the start time (9.30am) and the ride (about 3hrs, about 50 miles) has stayed the same. There isn't a set route, as it depends on the wind direction, but we quite often end up going out on a circuit through Henley and Coddenham, towards Bildeston and Hadleigh, where there are a few nice hills to be found.

There's no training ride on Feb 8th, as the CTC reliability ride from Bredfield is that day, nor on Feb 15th (club run), but we should be back at Northgate on Feb 22.

If you want more details, or to know if a ride is happening any weekend, please contact Steve on 01473 603710.

Winter Rides 2

It’s far more fun riding off road in Winter conditions, than slogging into the wind on the road.  There are informal MTB rides most weekends from Snape / Aldeburgh area, but the time and day are flexible.  Contact Mark or Viv on 01728 452143 if you are interested.

Winter Rides 3

Can't make Sunday mornings? But your Saturday mornings are sometimes free?  Nick Collinson has organised a training schedule for Ipswich Tri Club and has a number of rides on Saturday mornings, starting at his house in Bredfield, at 9am.  These rides are normally about 40 miles (2.5 hrs), but are not on every week.

If you are interested, I suggest you contact Nick to confirm dates, check he(and the ITC) are OK with you joining them and to get directions to his house.

Steve

Members’ News

Welcome to Heather Collinson and Adrian McTigue, two more new Plomesgate members.

Congratulations to Rob R on his recent engagement.

Subscriptions Due

If you haven’t renewed you membership your Club subs are now overdue. The club accepts cash or cheques made payable to ‘Plomesgate CC’, which should be sent (together with your name!) to Steve Jones, 4 Leicester Close, Ipswich, IP2 9EX.  For over 18s it is £10, under 18 and over 12s, £5, and under 12s free.  If you are a second claim member half of the above fee is due.

Open Events 2004

These are the dates for this year’s Plomesgate open events:

Saturday 20th March 2004, Open ‘10’
Saturday 15th May 2004, Open ‘25’
Sunday 20th June, Open ‘10’, to include the East district GHS champs
Saturday 14th August, Grass track meeting, St Mary’s School, Woodbridge.

Evening events 2004:

Starting on Thursday April 29th, followed by May 6th and then fortnightly until the last one on Thursday 26th  August.  Start at 7pm except for first and last ones.

Club Clothing

Get that old cycling kit off and invest in some new go faster/ more comfortable Plomesgate clothing.  No price increase from last year. Approx. prices are shown below, assuming that 10 people order something:  Why not visit www.impsport.com cost = basic item + 2 colours + vat (I think). Orders by 15th  February please. John 01728 832404/ chalky@knod.freeserve.co.uk

Skinsuit (short sleeve) £ 54.00
Skinsuit (long sleeve): £ 56.50
s/s jersey (no pockets): £ 33.00
l/s jersey (no pockets): £ 35.00
s/s road jersey: £ 36.00
l/s road jersey: £ 38.20
shorts: £ 36.00
bib shorts: £ 42.00
thermal jacket: £ 50.00
arm warmers: £ 11.75
leg warmers: £ 11.75

Committee Meetings

The next meeting of the committee is on Thursday 11th March at Hilary’s house in Benhall.  Any club member is welcome to attend.

Dates For The Calendar

8th February, Suffolk DA reliability trial from Bredfield Village Hall.  The entry fee of £2 will include a free drink and free post-event leg massage provided by some massage students. 100km starts at 9am, 50km at 10:30am.  Contact Judith Gunion 01473 741992.

7th March, Ipswich BC Reliability Ride from Playford village hall.  100/75/40km with start times from 9am to 11:30.

Tuesday evening – 8pm MTB in the dark from Sizewell T car park.

Sunday mornings – 9:30am training ride from Northgate, Ipswich unless there is a club run.

East Anglian Children’s Hospice have organised two Rides for Life this year:

16th May, Thetford Forest

5th September, Rendlesham Forest.

Contact Simon Hempsall on 01953 888604 for details, or see www.each.org.uk

Kingsmill for Clubs

Don’t forget, if you have collected any Kingsmill tokens please hand them to Trevor.  Hopefully we’ll get enough for a first aid kit or something.

Newsletter 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