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Plomesgate Cycling Club
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Newsletter
- June 2007
I thought we would start this month’s newsletter off with a teaser. The photo below shows a current PCC member in a former incarnation. I would like to know who it is as a starter for 10, when it was and where it was, if you can get all 3 then you are either a genius the club member in question or a family member of said member.
Thanks for sending the photo of himself to ……… I’m not that stupid, honest!
The answer will be in the July edition, if I remember! If not slap me and make me tell you!
Matt J
SPOCO East competition
Anyone considering riding the sporting time trial type courses in the area should consider signing up to SPOCO East. There are a number of age related categories that riders can be placed in, plus this year there is a team award for the best placed team of three from a club. You need to sign up before the first event you plan to ride. Note, that Plomesgate is promoting an event in each category this year. http://www.team-cambridge.co.uk/spocoeast/
Time is running out on this one!
Pete W
MTB’s in the forest.
In line with most of the other Forestry Commission sites in the UK, The FC is looking at doing something in terms of MTB'ing in the Rendlesham and Tunstall forests. There is to be a public meeting held in Butley village hall on Wednesday the 13th June at 7:30. We need to have as many people as possible at this initial meeting and if you want to have any influence over what happens you will need to be there. The more support for 'proper' MTB trails we can show, and then the more likely it is that we will get something done, otherwise it is likely that the FC will do what they believe is right which is going to be family friendly fire road routes. So please come along if you can, and show your support and we'll see if we can get something going that suits local riders and moves us towards being the premier MTB centre in the area.
Committee meeting.
The next meeting of the committee will be held on Thursday 12th July 2007 at The Butley Oyster after the Club Evening 10. All members welcome. Matt
CTT handbooks.
Trev has several CTT National Handbooks available at £5.50 each. He will endeavour to obtain the East DC handbooks in the next couple of weeks. Speak to Trev if you want one.
Wanted.
Wanted: a small cross frame or complete machine for a beginner.
For sale: 21" Merckx frame with carbon forks as I used last year £100.
Contact Ron Shoobridge - ronshoo@tesco.net
PCC Open 25 - May Open ‘25’
The event went well this year with no mishaps; except Pete’s bee stings at the finish. We did have a scare before the start as we were putting out the signs. Some road works had been set up in Eyke. We had a quick word with the men working there and they assured us they would be finished and packed away before the start. True to their word they had. What a relief!The event had 46 entries this year, 9 down on last year. I suspect that people were put off, thinking back to last years’ thunderstorm. We only had 4 non-starters, all of which had sent apologies. Only two people failed to finish this year, one being our own Valerio (mechanical). (He’s not having much luck with the PCC Open events, is he? Matt) The other turned right at Butley Pottery and puncture in the sand!
Many thanks to all of those who helped me make the event possible by helping in any way. Colin Kindred (Wolsey RC) & Trevor Figgitt (timekeeping), Hilary Graham for pushing off, Steve Jones for spotting, Ron Philpot, Jim Ingram, Magnus Ross, Gary Ingram, Tony Nelson, John Vidler, Marshall Crowe for marshalling. Special thanks also go to Jim Morris from IBC who helped me in the kitchen, Matt Donaldson for providing the results board and to Pete who put out and retrieved all the signs. (Sorry if I have missed anyone)
The prize winners this year were as follows
David
Staff (Anglia Velo) 58:05
A
Leggett (Ipswich BC) 58:32
A
Jardine (Ipswich BC) 58:38
T
Barber (CC Breckland) 58:50
P
Kinch (Churnet Valley Velo) 58:53
D
Murphy (Cambridge CC) 1:01:22
P
Ellis (Diss & District
CC) 1:01:39
S
Main (VC Baracchi) 1:02:38
S
Presland (Ely & District
CC) 1:04:28
Women- Emilie Fisher (XRT) 1:04:50
Juveniles- Matthew Cook (Mildenhall CC)1:07:20
This is a new Junior Course Record. Matthew took 1 minute 16 seconds off the old record set in 2001 by Andrew Whelan.
Veterans on Standard.-
Men- Peter
Baumber(Cambridge CC) +13:49
Women- Lucinda
Seymour (Reading CC) -2:20
Team- Ipswich BC (Andrew Leggett, Angus Jardine, Colin Lown 1:05:47) 3:02:57
Of the Plomesgate riders Pete and Adrian tied for 11th place. Pete assures me this was only because he got cramp on the second lap. I have included the lap times in the results below so you can make up your own mind.
11
Pete Whelan (32:17) 1:05:15
11
Adrian McTigue (32:43) 1:05:15
15
Stephen Beaumont (33:47) 1:06:25
18
Jim Hardwicke (33:33) 1:07:30
39
Caroline Goldsworthy (50:47) 1:42:12
Valerio
Malenchino DNF
(mechanical)
Congratulations to all of you for riding as I believe the wind wasn't pleasant! Special congratulations should go to Caroline for riding her first 25.Next event is the "30", which I will attempt to ride.
Bev
Can you help?
The club is promoting its first 30 mile time trial on a new circuit, based around the 10 and 25 mile circuits, but using the road from Butley, through Chillesford to the 10 start area. The event will also be doubling up as the East District Championship for the distance, so we can expect a few more entries.
Whilst not wishing to dissuade club members from riding, we still need to make the event run smoothly [some tasks can be done after you have raced]
I'm looking for marshals (at least the following points:- Tunstall, Eyke, Bromeswell, Butley, Chillesford and the turn to the start), pusher(s), a number spotter for the finish, someone to run finish times back to the HQ (ideal if you have ridden the event), kitchen, etc.
Pete - pete.whelan@openreach.co.uk
For sale
Thule Bike Rack
2x bars / 4x roof feet plus locks
Little use
Cost £120, sell for £80 ONO.
Contact Julie Grooms on 07713 733422
Kettler 'Runner' treadmill, manual operation. folds flattish
£50
Contact: Pete Whelan - pete.whelan@openreach.co.uk
Club evening TT’s
The club for 2007 are well underway , we are running our normal bi-weekly evening "10"s, but in addition we will be running a "15" which is one lap of the new "30" course, and starts and finishes in the same place as the "10", plus we will be running an evening "25" in July. To avoid the possibility of too many starters the latter ("25") will not appear in the East District Handbook. We have had a great turn out so far and all have ‘enjoyed’ it, we have already had our annual detour to the housing estate at Bentwaters this year so it is safe to come out!
* Thursday 7th June “15” Start time: 18:45* Course B15/9. One lap of B30/2
Thursday 14th June “10” Start
time: 19:00 Course B10/9
Thursday 28th June “10” Start
time: 19:00 Course B10/9
* Thursday 5th July "25" Start time: 18:45*
Course B25/2
Thursday 12th July “10” Start
time: 19:00 Course B10/9
Thursday 26th July “10” Start
time: 19:00 Course B10/9
Thursday 9th August “10” Start
time: 19:00 Course B10/9
Thursday 23rd August “10” Start
time: 18:45* Course B10/9
* - note early start.
Notice the two extra events, first one next week is the 15 mile TT, one lap of the new 30 course, follow the 25 course from the 10 start, but when you get round to Butley, bear right to Chillesford (not left over Wantisden) and finish where the 10 finishes.
PCC 2007 Dinner
As Ron was inundated with responses to the plea for ideas for the end of season awards dinner (he got none! Is anyone bothered?) the committee discussed the options at the last meeting and have decided on a venue. The preferred option is The Bell Hotel in Saxmundham. The Table D’Hote menu was £18:50, this may change but is a good indication; it gave 3 or 4 choices for starter, main and dessert. We would get a room to ourselves, served together and allow for a chance to socialise during the evening.
The others on the shortlist were:-
The White Lion, Aldeburgh which was £28.
The Holiday Inn, London Road, Ipswich, which was felt to be too far south - £22:50, £24:50, £29:00. (The Eastern VTTA had their dinner there and it was very good)
The committee discussed the options and voted unanimously in favour of The Bell, and the Table D’Hote menu. Suggested dates were Sat December 1st, Friday November 30th, and Saturday 24th November, respectively, watch this space.
Trevor suggested having a Guest of Honour to award the prizes and do a turn at after dinner speaking, again nothing is set in concrete yet so watch this space but I for one hope the offer being extended is accepted! I know I’m a tease!
I’d like to say a big thank you to Ron Shoobridge for doing the leg work on our behalf and finding what looks to be a great new venue.
Back in the saddle.
If it is of interest, I am currently racing, although not serious, this year as I am using this year to gain knowledge of the area and event in the area.
I have two results so far.
Middle 26 for a ten which was won with a 22.
Long 12 for a five which was won with a middle 12. Both done on training fixed with the wrong size gear on. If you don't know these are on K courses, and Richard Bradley wins most things round here. Next race is a 10 next Tue, supposedly on a faster course, some on the A45, but with a couple of islands in the way.
Hope to back to normal times next year, providing nothing gets in the way!!
Rob Cotton
PCC Questionnaire
The much anticipated PCC Questionnaire responses are in, over the next month I will be abridging and condensing the answers and will publish a synopsis of it next month, watch this space. I know I said this last month but need to talk to Evert and have had a busy month!
PCC Grass Track
Do you fancy bombing round a grass non-banked oval track with no brakes and only one gear? If so then, other than a trip to the psychiatrist, I have just the news for you. The PCC Grass Track Event looks like a goer in August with a change of venue. The tight track at St Mary’s Primary School caused a few problems and may have had something to do with declining numbers so Pete has spoken with the people at Bredfield Village Hall, and the cost is negotiable, but a price of £40 including the kitchen and village hall was mentioned. Pete is going to see if we can get that reduced for fewer amenities (unless Bev puts her foot down!).
Pete measured out a track of about 250m, and with short straights he fitted the track in with nice sweeping (read fast there) bends, the track is flat, no camber, so is preferable and probably safer than St Mary’s. Pete is going to pursue this venue. Again watch this space, can anyone lend me a grass track machine, this sounds brilliant!
TdF in London
I mentioned a couple of months back about a club visit to ‘that there London’ to watch the start of the Tour de France this year, again Ron did the leg work but had one response from a club member. So with this in mind and the fact that organising a trip where people will want to start from different start points, and the reluctance of ONE railways to do cheap group tickets has prompted him to suggest that people make their own way there.
It was suggested as a compromise that people who are going publicise their travel arrangements in the preceding newsletter if they are happy to meet up.
Articles for next month
If you feel inspired by anything in this months newsletter then please drop me a line, by e-mail, post or carrier pigeon by 25/6/07. Everything will be considered, do you have something to sell, something you want that another club member may have somewhere gathering dust, something to get off your chest or memories you want to share? Without your help there is nothing to put in these newsletters, so pull your finger out and tell me what’s gone, going or going to go on in your life on two wheels
It’s your newsletter so drop me a line at
or
Matt Donaldson
3 Boyton Road
Hollesley
Woodbridge
Suffolk.
IP12 3LD
………and finally
You may know that the proposed revised highway code requires cyclists to use cycle facilities 'wherever possible'. Many facilities are of poor standard, or just plain dangerous. Cyclists should not be forced to use such facilities against their better judgment. In short, cyclists should be allowed to use the road. If this clause is passed, then it is quite possible that if a car knocks you off your bike while you are on the road, and there is a cycle path on the pavement, then you could be held responsible.
You may also know that there is a petitions page on the Prime Minister's website, where anyone can launch a petition. There is a petition there which states that: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to listen to cyclists and not approve the revised Highway Code"