We had a lovely sunny day for the January club run, cycling off road from Minsmere, meandering round Dunwich forest before heading to Walberswick.  After a quick look at the river we headed back to Dunwich forest and Minsmere, ready for a well-earned lunch.

February Club run

The February club run is a road ride on Sunday 20th from Saxmundham, meeting at Somerfields at 10am.  There will be a stop for coffee at the Bridge café in Halesworth some time during the ride.

March Club run

March’s club run will start from the square in Wickham Market.  It’s best to use the car park behind the hardware shop, signposted to the toilets off the square.  Meet at 10am on Sunday 13^th March.

Crashes are like buses…

Becky riding at Revolutions 7

Crashes are like buses, you don’t see one for ages then two come along almost at the same time, and unfortunately Becky was tangled up in the first one.  It was the future stars women 5km scratch.  There were 8 laps to go and Becky had been on the front for most of the preceding 3km. Yes, that’s right, and every time she did a turn gaps were opening behind her.  She was feeling good and wasn’t looking at all stressed.  Then BANG! The middle of the bunch collapsed in the back straight at about 30mph.  From the track centre I saw a fluorescent yellow jersey somersault through the air, and I knew Becky hadn’t avoided the crash.  The medics were quickly on the scene.  Becky was lying on her back.  I rushed over to her and heard those dreaded words “Dad I can’t feel my my body or legs, Dad I can’t breathe”. She had a nasty burn mark on her throat and it seems someone had ridden over her neck.  I am pleased to say after the initial shock and panic wore off, apart from splinters, burns and abrasions the most worrying injury was to the throat.  As she started talking I knew that it wasn’t fatal.  We eventually carried her to safety in the track centre where after a little treatment she was soon back on the rollers loosening up.  Oh and the second crash…well Becky missed that one, which happened about a lap after the race resumed.  Poor Eileen Roe from Scotland was brought down.  She had a long journey back to Edinburgh where she was going to casualty with suspected broken elbow and collarbone!

Trevor

If you can’t beat them…

After a late night picking splinters from various parts of my body, it was an early start the next morning as we travelled down to Newport velodrome for a training session organised by Mildenhall CC’s Max Pendleton.  I was still having problems with my neck and throat and so decided to miss most of the session and kept my legs turning on the rollers instead. Dad, however, decided it was his chance to see how well he was going, and whether he was as fit as he thought he was.  I have never heard, however, that sliding down the banking is a way of checking fitness! (Might just have to try that one myself).  After lying on the floor giggling for a while he did decide to get up and dust himself off to join the rest of his team mates in the team pursuit.  In fact Dad showed his fitness in the last event.  The last 20minutes of the session is “Laps to destruction” the speed just keeps going up until there is only one person left, and some how it was Dad, and I have a feeling I won’t hear the last of this for quite a while.  Although Dad gave us a laugh by showing us his flying skills, the highlight was when we went outside and met most of the Paralympic squad who had just returned from a road training ride.  A surprise to me was that two of the people were Nyree Lewis and Dascha Kindred. Both won gold in the swimming at Athens.  Does this mean cycling has gained two more class athletes….I hope so!

Becky

Winter training

A number of riders have been meeting up at Northgate Sports Centre (north side of Ipswich) on Sunday mornings at about 10 am for a training ride.  These rides are between 2.5 and 3.5 hours long, at an average speed of between 15 and 16 mph, and the route varies according to where the wind is coming from, how people are feeling... These rides are intended to be "base" miles, at an aerobic level, so as a rough guide, you should be able to chat reasonably comfortably while going along.

Anyone who wants to go faster in 2005 is welcome to come along - go on, make it your New Year's resolution!

If there's enough interest, we may do some runs starting elsewhere, say Snape crossroads or Saxmundham, but if we do, there'll be a note in here beforehand.

Steve

Olympic Development Squad

For the benefit of those of you not at the dinner, Becky has been invited by the National Sprint Coach to attend a 3 day selection camp for the new Olympic Development Squad in Manchester from February 18th -20th.  The selection criteria will be based on past history and results, but will also involve lab based tests at the English Institute of Sport Labs, and track work at the velodrome.  If accepted on the programme Becky will receive a higher level of support than she previously experienced on the Talent Team.  For example she will have her training and race programme dictated and monitored by the National Sprint Coach but in return she will be up for selection for International duty.  Before you all start thinking of Beijing in 2008, this is highly unlikely, apparently riders now have to qualify to compete at the Olympics and qualification for 2008 would take place during 2006/2007.  This means to qualify for Beijing a rider must be getting top placings in World Cups/World Championships during that period which is unlikely in Becky's case.  If Becky does not get on the ODP this time there is another round of selection in October, and results from this year’s National Championships will be considered as well.  Also Becky would like to point out that if she doesn't qualify this time round it leaves her options open to ride more TTs and Road Races for which there are club trophies up for grabs....!

Trevor

Tuesday evenings

Jon Smith headed up from West Bergholt for one of the MTB evening rides, and sent the following mail afterwards:

“Just wanted to say that in a slightly scary and masochistic way I really enjoyed the ride on Tuesday night despite the snow and arctic temperatures!! It was really amazing to be out on such a wintry night and to see the stormy waves in the moonlight by Minsmere Sluice made it well worth it! Seeing the snow swirling around in our headlights was pretty neat too.”

Why don’t you join us?  We currently meet at 7:30 at Sizewell car park, and ride for about an hour. 

Mountain Mayhem

Mountain Mayhem was such fun last year that all team members have agreed to enter again.  This year’s event is 25-26^th June at Eastnor castle park near Malvern, again.  Mark Howlett has also expressed an interest in forming another team, so if you are interested, contact Mark.

Club Dinner

The club dinner and prize presentation was well attended this year – 24 of us took over most of the upstairs at the Lighthouse in Aldeburgh.  The meal was up to its usual standard, and Matt D went home with the biggest bag of trophies.

Handbooks

Trevor has received the CTT National Handbooks for those people that had ordered one. Cost is £5:50 payable to Mr Treasurer (Steve Jones) cheques to Plomesgate CC.

If you can hold back the excitement then the East District Handbooks should be along shortly, they will be £2:00 each.

Race Results

The second round of the MTB series was held at Thetford on 22^nd January.  It was a cold, frosty day, and the organizers were swamped with entries on the day, delaying the start by an hour and a half – more than 400 people raced.  Matt D and Tony did their first MTB race, and both seemed to enjoy the experience.  Matt was 32^nd in the men’s race in 1:16:49.  Mark and Tony both entered the vets – Mark was 6^th in 1:13:04, and Tony 14^th in 1:18:04.  Viv was 10^th in the women’s race in 1:28:19.

Foxhall Roller Rides

In stark contrast to the Sunday rides, these are definitely NOT aerobic - it's a full-on sprint. Roller riding is fast - there aren't many times when you can do 50+ mph on a bike, and especially not indoors! For training, it's good for power (there's no time to change gears, so you start in a big gear), it's good for developing a high leg speed, while staying smooth and it's some light-hearted competitive fun in the middle of winter.

If you fancy a go at this, it's held up at Foxhall stadium, Ipswich, on Friday evenings, from 7pm to about 9pm.  While all are welcome, some children's bikes don't fit on the rollers.

Dates For The Calendar

Committee Meetings

The next meeting of the committee is at 8pm on 16^th February at Trevor’s house in Framlingham.  Any club member is welcome to attend.

New members

Welcome to Georgia Donaldson, Paul Ross and Andrew Bentley, who’ve recently joined Plomesgate.

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

Plomesgate CC Open TTs for 2005:-

19/03/2005  Sat  B10/9  10miles  14:00 Solo TT
19/03/2005  Sat  B10/9  10miles  14:00 2upTTT
19/03/2005  Sat B10/9  10miles  14:00  TanTT

14/05/2005  Sat  B25/2  25miles  14:00 Solo TT
14/05/2005  Sat  B25/2  25miles  14:00 TanTT

18/06/2005  Sat  B10/9  10miles  14:00 East DC GHS Championship
18/06/2005  Sat  B10/9  10miles  14:00 Sol TT
18/06/2005  Sat  B10/9  10miles  14:00 TanTT

For Sale (1)

Orange Evo 2 mountain bike with Rockshox Judy XC forks, some new parts.  Framesize 17”. Silver. VGC. £450 ONO.  Tel 01728 453644 Mobile 07753 197834.  Contact Rob Robinson.

For Sale (2)

I have just bought (yet to be delivered) 10 Livestrong bracelets.  If anyone wants one let me know.  If there is lots of interest it will be a 1st come 1st served basis.  If you want to email me on msimmerson@smart421.com to register interest then I can distribute them accordingly.

Matt

For Sale (3)

Marzocchi  MZ comp suspension forks – brand new – unused.  These come as standard on the 2004 Kona Explosif, but are not retailed separately.  Any sensible offers accepted (say £50).  Reason for sale – I want rigid forks on my Winter training bike.

Contact Mark or Viv.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are due on 01/01/2005 for the current year.  Please send you subs to Steve Jones, 4 Leicester Close, Ipswich.  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.