June Club run

Steve, Mark & Viv braved the fine weather for the RSPB ride from Minsmere.  Unfortunately the café at Orford no longer exists, so we returned to Minsmere for tea and cakes.

July Club run

Don’t forget the club run  on Sunday 9th July, 10:00am Framlingham, Elms Car Park for the "Trev's back on his bike" ride.

June Open ‘10’

We had a warm, sunny day for the ‘10’, with a field of 5 GHS and 51solos entered.  Martin Pyne was fastest in 23:08, with Julie Baker first woman in 26:15.  First of the Plomesgate riders was Pete W in 25:09, with Jim I, Ron P, Ron Sh, Ron Su and Bev spread through the field.  Thanks to everyone who marshaled and helped on the day.  These events couldn’t run without your assistance.

Viv

PCC Grass track

Make a note in your diaries of Saturday, 12th August, for the PCC Grass track meeting.  Helpers will be required on the day for judging, photographs, refreshments signing on, commentator, starter, lap board (Valerio) and RIDING the event.  I am planning on having an under 12s freewheelers event again, but hopefully not as last year to fill in time whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive!  The only equipment the U12s need is a bike and helmet, entry is free.

Anyone thinking of riding please get your entries in to me at least a week before the event, both to enable you to qualify for the lesser entry fee and also to help me in calculating the prize fund, printing of the programme and sorting heats for the events.

Depending on the state of the field the day before, I may call on anyone with a motor mower to borrow to cut the grass, though if this heat continues, then it will be scorched and dead.

Pete W

Evening 10s

1^st June

Summer this year is not playing ball, and the night was very cold and quite dark.  Surprisingly, the wintry conditions generated the highest turnout of the series so far.

Matt went back to his usual winning habit, with a good long 23, leaving the rest competing for the second place a couple of minutes behind. And quite a competition it was, with 4 riders in about 40 seconds. In the end, Richard was second in front of Pete.

The night was quite a slow one; the only rider to improve his time on course was visitor Stephen Thomson. But we had a number of new people on the course for the first time: the youngsters Tom and Mark helped to dramatically bring down the average age. Marjory raced her first ever 10 miles time trial. All had a good first go at the course, we hope to see them back soon for some more.

15^th June

A cold evening, but the wind was light and with England’s football team not providing an incentive to stay away we had had good turnout with guest riders outnumbering members.

Matt won (again) and set his best time on this course. Visitors Phil Hetzel and Dave James were not that far away, though. As far as I can remember, this is the first time in recent years with 3 riders under 24 minutes.

With his first ever + veteran time, Jim Hardwicke recorded his best time on 10 miles ever. And in the process he also reached the temporary top spot in the handicap competition.

Both Stephen Thomson and Tom Castle got their best time on course, Tom breaking the 30’ barrier for the first time.

Although Steve Grimwood is down as a DNF, Bev recorded his time across the line as 31:40 – not bad given that included a puncture, a careful ride back to his car for a change of wheel before setting off from the start again!

29^th June

In a sunny but fresh night the Plomesgate visitors Jeff, Mark and Richard took the podium, with Pete defending the home colours in 4^th.

Ron P. deserves a mention for recording his first (evening) “under 30” time on the course, improving his PB by more than half a minute.

Since we have now passed the half way mark for the series, it’s time to give a look to the various temporary classifications.

Fastest Plomesgate is at the moment Matt, with the time of 23:05. Fastest woman is Viv, with 28:27. Both positions look unassailable.

The veteran competition is slightly more open, but Evert with +3:27 has a commanding lead. Pete and Ron need to find more than a minute to get back in contact.

The handicap competition is still wide open: Jim H is leading with 21:29, but close by are Marshall with 21:41 and James with 21:42.

For the points it’s too early (and the rules too complex) to throw any sensible number yet, but you all know who has been winning the events with some frequency.

Valerio

MTB Weekend

Jon S and Mark H braved the Friday afternoon traffic to join Mark and Viv at Hope in the Peak District for the weekend.  It was the very hot weekend when England were playing Portugal, so it was quiet out biking on Saturday.  There are plenty of good quality trails around the Hope valley, mostly going up a lot or down a lot.  A speedy start to the day saw us meeting Trev for lunch at 10:40 at Ladybower reservoir.  The ducks were keen on sandwiches and cake, but the ducklings hadn’t yet learned that socks aren’t edible.

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Some challenging ups were followed by a well earned rest while Jon fixed his broken chain for the second time.  Riding the rocky downhill proved a bit too jarring for Trev’s newly mended collar bone, and a good reason for walking.  A five hour ride with 2 mechanicals.

Sunday’s route was slightly shorter, but still had plenty of hills.  The trails were mostly hard packed or rocky, but we did manage to find some loose sand, reminiscent of Rendlesham forest.  We cycled up the old road in front of Mam Tor, which is the closest you get to an earthquake zone in the UK.  A pleasant ride along the ridge was followed by a gnarly descent to Edale, much to the astonishment of the walkers … “you’re not going down there, are you?”

Heading along the ridge from Mam Tor
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An enjoyable weekend’s biking – let’s do it again next year.

Viv

10 training

Thursday we will be meeting at the start point (fire track 30) by 7pm with road bikes, and will head out round the 10 course as a group riding through and off like a team time trial, the pace will be governed by who ever is on the front and less strong riders need not take a long pull. If the pace becomes too high then riders can drop out of the pace line and get picked up on the way back from the turn and we usually finish with a bunch sprint for those that want to. We will then ride a recovery lap of the 10 course at a pace all are comfortable and can chat at, no one gets dropped on the recovery lap.

Please fell free to come along and join in or pass this on to anyone you feel might like to join in.

Matt

Calendar Dates

Committee News

The next committee meeting will be at the Butley Oyster after the evening ‘10’ on Thursday (13th.)  All club members are welcome to attend.

Giro d'Italia Mountain Challenge

I intend to raise some money for Orchid Cancer Appeal by completing a cycle ride in Italy on 12 September 2006 which incorporates climbing 3 of the largest mountain passes in the Dolomites that are used in the Giro d’Italia cycle race.  I intend to ride from Prato allo Stelvio over the Passo dello Stelvio (2758m), Passo di Gavia (2618m) and the Passo del Mortirolo (1854m) and back to Bormio in one day!  I will be cycling about 100 miles and it includes a lot of very severe climbing.

I have chosen to support the Orchid Cancer Trust this year to say thank you for the ongoing help and support they are giving to 19 year old Stefan Cawston who, as well as being a friend, the son of one of my longest friends and a member of the same rugby club, is having a tough year fighting cancer.  He is currently under going his third different bout of High Strength Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplants.

Please spare whatever you can and support a very worthwhile cause and show your support for a brave young man who is facing something you shouldn't have to when so young.  I would love to raise over £1000 so please dig deep.

Thanks very much,

Matt, 07771 857916

You can sponsor Matt online at https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/italyride

Grizedale Trail

We visited the North Face Moutain Bike Trail at Grizedale in the Lake District recently, and enjoyed it so much we went back the next day and rode it again. 

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See http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/oldsite.nsf/ByUnique/INFD-69HBP2 for details.

Viv

For Sale

SHIMANO SPD PEDAL (PD-M520) still in box used once £25:00 ONO 01728 688103.

Jim Ingram

News contributions

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