Plomesgate Cycling Club
|
Plomesgate Cycling Club
|
|
October Club run
The October club run joined the CTC Rough Stuff ride organised by Pete W, around the local tracks, lanes and bridleways, based at Butley. Tony, Mark and friend set off in one of the earlier groups, while Jim I and Steve waited for some of the Foxhall teenagers to turn up, eventually starting off with Neil, Blair, Claire (Neil's sister) and Mike. After safely reaching the first checkpoint together, Blair and Mike decided to up the pace a bit and were soon out of sight. Meanwhile, Neil blew out his tyre on the way to Red Lodge, and after a long, and ultimately fruitless, stop trying to fix it, was forced to give up. Jim, Steve and Claire continued, now one of the last groups on the course, and got round the 25.6 mile route safely - a good achievement for Claire, who has had the odd ride around Thetford but isn't a regular cyclist. In the interim, Blair and Mike had had some navigation problems, resulting in some extra miles travelled, but they also made it back to the finish, about half an hour after the others.
Steve
November Club run
Steve will be leading the Club Run on 13th November, starting from Northgate Sports Centre at 10am. A tea stop is planned at Corncraft, Monks Eleigh.
December Club run
This will be from Matt's house in Hollesley on Sunday 11th December 2005 at 10am, head towards the prison until you get to the crossroads with the water tower then turn left towards Boyton and Butley, No3 is the fifth house on the left (don't ask I don't know) - postcode for multimap is IP12 3LD. The ride will be the usual easy paced ride of about 40 miles with added spice of 2 or 3 intermediate sprints and a king of the mountains climb at predetermined and marked points on the route, participants can opt in or out of these as you choose. Tea and cakes and maybe prizes for the Points and KoM winners will be awarded back at Matt's house. All club members are welcome and the pace will be determined by the slowest rider so no one gets shelled out. So please come along and have some fun on the club run.
National Senior Track Champs
After only getting two 4th places at the National Junior track Championships and receiving some less than complimentary feedback from the National Sprint Coach, Becky Figgitt was in fighting mood as she prepared to take on the best British senior Women at Manchester, early in October.
Monday evening saw Becky line up for the 500m TT. One of the early starters was Janet Birkmyre (Twickenham CC), recently crowned double World Masters Champion, Janet powered her big gear around the two laps to go top of the leader board with 37.514s. No other riders came close, then Becky was on the start line. Becky’s start wasn’t brilliant as she powered her 90” gear away, she was trying a new lower bar position. She was soon into her rhythm and posted the fastest first lap so far of 21.4s. Still going strong into the last lap and the board showed 38.408, a new pb and Becky went into second place. Other hopefuls came and failed to beat Becky, including Katrina Hair last years silver medallist, and Welsh Champion Sian Richardson. Up next was Lorna Webb, she seemed to be on a big gear as she struggled to get it over at the start but was soon up to speed. Her first lap was good and she flew over the second lap to go top of the leader board with 37.284, pushing Becky into 3rd place. Next rider of interest was Lucy Ayres, fellow junior and she beat Becky by 0.02s to take the bronze medal at the Junior Championships. Lucy powered away with her customary fast start but tied up really badly over the last 100m to finish with 38.505 two places behind Becky. Only one rider to go, Vicky Pendleton, reigning World Sprint Champion, and we knew that failing disaster she was assured a win and would push Becky off the podium. Vicky was a model of technique and speed as she flew smoothly around the track to post an amazing 34.997, and blowing everyone else away! So Becky was 4th, satisfied with a new pb and taking some important scalps along the way. Her time was later reported as 38.048 but we are pretty sure this is a typing error on the result sheet.
Becky in full flight in the 500m TT.
(click
thumbnail above for larger picture...)
Becky was next on the track on Wednesday morning for the sprint qualifiers. After some exciting bunch racing on the Tuesday evening, it always seems a bit of an anticlimax as the sprinters arrive to a cold empty stadium for an early start to the sprint qualifying time trials. Becky was persuaded to ride with double disc on. To those that haven’t tried, it may not seem such a big deal, but a bike handles so differently and can be very twitchy with a front disc. Add to this the need to ride at the very top of the banking in order to give yourself the very best flying start to the 200m TT, and you can see why Becky was very nervous. She warmed up steadily and had to get over her tension very quickly as this alone could have caused a tumble. At Becky’s turn she quickly got up the banking and wound the speed up gradually flying off the last banking, to finish with a new pb of 12.943s. This was the first time Becky had gone inside 13s, so she was thrilled. This eventually gave her 4th fastest qualifying time, one place and 0.074s ahead of her junior rival Lucy. In the first round Becky beat the 9th qualifier Jayne Toyne, to go through to the Quarter Finals where she would meet Lucy. At stake was a place in the semi final against none other than reigning world champion Pendleton.
In the quarter finals Lucy beat Becky 2-0, Lucy went on to race against the rainbow jersey. Becky got to ride the minor final to decide the 5-8th places. Although Becky was the fastest on paper sprinting in a 4 up final is never a foregone conclusion. Becky controlled the race well, and looked like she had it in the bag as she had jumped well clear, but hadn’t seen Siobhan Mullen. As they came out of the final banking Becky suddenly spotted Mullen trying to come around her and had to kick again, eventually winning by a clear length, to take a final 5th place.
Friday was the Keirin. This was the first time that the Women’s Keirin Championship was run at Manchester and it looked like it could be an exciting event. Three heats of women would start off, paced behind the derny motorbike. The derny slowly accelerates over 5.5 laps to 25mph and pulls off the track with 2.5 laps to go, the riders then jostle for position, ending in a sprint to the line. The first two in each heat would go straight to the final, the remaining riders would get another chance in the repechage. Becky was in a tough heat with Vicky Pendleton. Becky looked in control, didn’t get boxed in, Pendleton jumped, Welsh endurance rider Lucy Richards followed holding the black line, Becky started coming around her. Pendleton opened up a huge gap, but coming out of the final bank Becky was alongside Richards, who had the benefit of the inside line. Richards held on to take the 2nd place, Becky was 3rd and would have to try again in the repechage. In the repechage, it was a similar story, Becky had to come around another Welsh girl Katy Curtis, and couldn’t quite make it. The only consolation was that the final podium read, Pendleton, Richards, Curtis, all the medals going to the riders that beat Becky.
Trevor
Club Kit
Those who can remember placing an order for club kit back in June, well it has finally arrived- with apologies for being late from the Director at Impsport, apparently they were busy!!!! Them and the rest of the working population of Britain then! Anyway apart from my lack of sympathy for Impsport the kit is with me and if you are desperate for your kit call me to arrange picking it up on 01394 411589, I live in Hollelsey or alternatively, all remaining kit will be at the club AGM on 23 November 2005 at The Horse and Groom in Melton. Steve will let you know how much you owe the club.
Matt
AGM
The Annual General Meeting will be on Wednesday 23rd November at The Horse and Groom in Melton, at 8pm. If there are any nominations for Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, committee, and/or any proposals for discussion then please can they be with Trevor Figgitt by Wednesday 16th November.
Trevor
Zak Carr memorial
As many of you know by now Zak Car was killed in an accident on his way to work on October 17th. Zak was something of a local and national celebrity and had ridden some of our open TTs.
By way of a tribute a memorial cycle ride was held on Sunday October 23rd from Diss to Attleborough and then on to a point near Spooner Row close to where he was killed to pay homage. A few plomesgaters took part in this emotional ride, including Matt Donaldson, Ron Philpott, Trevor Figgitt and Becky Figgitt.
My memories of Zak are of someone who was always first to come across and ask how we, especially Becky were doing. He was there the night Becky failed to qualify for the team to go to the European Championships and was quick to console her. We last saw him on the Friday of the National Track Championships at Manchester where he was piloting the tandem for his partially sighted team mate in the disability championships. They were well on their way to qualifying for the 2008 paralympics in Beijing.
Trev
I went along to pay my respects to Zak who was killed while cycling to work on Monday 17th October 2005, Zak, for those of you who don't know, was only 30 and one of the top 3 Time Trialists in Britain and was a regular around the Eastern Region riding solo, tandem with Glen Taylor or his wife Beverley. He was current silver medalist in the National 10,25 and 100 and probably would have got silver in the 50 too had it not been for a puncture after one lap. He held numerous tandem records and had held the National Junior 10 record of 19m 37s since 1992 until Alex Dowsett beat it this year.
I had met Zak early in 2004 when I started competing in open events around the region, I knew of him and was a little in awe of him as he was one of the big stars of my new sport. I happened to be rolling back through the HQ car park after warming up for an open 10 and was sweating like a race horse and all oiled up ready to race as Zak and Glen were putting the wheels on the tandem, Zak looked up and looked me up and down and said to Glen " Who the f*** is that?" It made me feel 10 foot tall and turn in a pb on the night as I now felt the part. The next week I got talking to him at one of the Godric evening 10's and his enthusiasm and friendliness shone through. As we got chatting he became aware of my rookie status and from there always made time to come over and say hello, offer advice and help no matter what else he had going on. This was the mark of the man, someone who always had time to give to others no matter what level of the sport they were in, numerous tributes have been made in magazines and on web sites and everyone says the same thing, for many a huge hole has been left in the sport now the warm, caring, friendly, selfless and flamboyant Zak has gone.
The memorial ride showed how much people thought of him, over 250 riders from across Britain turned up in Diss early on a Sunday morning including Trevor, Becky, Ron and myself from Plomesgate. The bunch left Diss in manageable groups with marshals cars for safety and headed to Attleborough where Zak lived, we were joined by Zak's wife and British mixed tandem record partner Bev who rode at the head of an emotional bunch to a bridge over the A11 near the Kettringham crossroads where he was killed. After a poignant pause and I must admit I was choking back some tears we returned to Attleborough where Bev left us and the group headed back to Diss. It was an emotional morning and a fitting tribute to a formidable champion of the sport.
Matt
Hill Climb 1
Adrian McTigue showed how serious he is about hill climbing by travelling down south at the end of October to take part in two of the biggest hill climb events on the British calendar. First event in the morning is the Catford event, Adrian climbed through the Tour De France style crowds to record a time of 2:30.6 for 42nd place.
In the afternoon many of the same competitors rode the Bec CC event. Here Adrian finished in 44th place with a time of 2:24.66, only 3 places behind Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins.
(click thumbnail above for larger picture...)
Hill Climb 6/11/05
Can Adrian defend his club "King of the Mountains" title and make it onto the podium this year, or will Valerio or Steve stage a coup? The East District Hillclimb Championship is, as ever, on Semer Hill near Hadleigh, and starts at 11am. This year there is a bumper number of entries - 36 -with Adrian Pettitt (Stowmarket) off last as defending champ. There's usually a good crowd on the hill, why not join them and cheer on the riders as they battle up this 500m, 12% hill?
Steve
Don’t be a Dope
Autumn might seem a daft time to remind all you racing types about doping and the use of prohibited substances, most of you have just finished your racing for the season. Basically, the reason I am mentioning it now, is that it is foremost in my mind, having witnessed the drug testing officials in action. Plus, now is the time we start reaching for the cough and cold remedies, but how many of us check that these drugs are not prohibited?
It never seems far from the news, and if I am cynical then I could suggest the only time cycling hits the mainstream press is when doping rears its ugly head. You won’t have to look far to see the latest stories concerning Johan Museeuw, Lance Armstrong or David Millar. You might think that because they are continental super stars that the chance of being tested for drugs all seems a long way off. Well think again.
Whilst at the National Track Championships, in October, the white shirted, clip board toting, officials from UK Sport were there every day selecting riders to be tested. It wasn’t just the well known internationals such as Victoria Pendleton, or Craig MacLean being tested, although they did get dragged off for sampling. It was anyone and everyone, regardless of age or international standing. I witnessed four junior riders, 16 and 17 years old, being taken for testing. One rider who is only 17 has been tested 7 times.
We all hear about drug testing, but rarely are we witness to what actually happens. The testers will decide before hand who they are going to test, possibly first 3 or 4 in the race plus one or two at random. After the race has finished, those riders will be notified that they have been selected for testing and will have to sign a declaration. The rider is then shadowed by an official until they are ready to go to the toilet. Naturally, after a long hot race the need to urinate is not always urgent, so copious amounts of fluid may be drunk. This can be whatever the rider prefers, rumour has it that the continental pros prefer beer! The rider is then taken to the toilets where they are watched while they urinate into a vessel. Riders are shadowed by a same sex official, just in case your were wondering!
Yes it really is that exposed, and I think you can thank Michel Pollentier for that one. In 1978 Belgian rider Michel Pollentier was leading the Tour de France after winning the classic mountain climb to Alpe d'Huez. Clearly worried by something in his body, he tried using a team-mate's urine to fox the drug testers. The method of delivery? A plastic pipe down his shorts. At first officials thought Pollentier had been bestowed with a special gift from the Gods. Unfortunately for Pollentier the truth soon emerged and he was thrown off the race.
So now the rider will be watched while they pee to ensure that it is the rider’s urine that enters the vessel, and not some other liquid from a foreign vessel. Once enough is collected this is then poured by the rider into two vials, A and B, and sealed. The vials are then taken away for testing, sample A will be opened and tested first, sample B will only be opened and tested if there is a problem, or positive result with sample A.
So what can we do to ensure we don’t end up in the headlines? Well we all need to get into the habit of checking out any drugs, be they over the counter cold remedies, or prescribed by your GP. If you do have to take medicines for a medical condition such as asthma, perhaps a beta-2 agonist such as salbutamol for example, you need to complete a “Therapeutic Use Exemption” form which you and your GP need to complete and return to British Cycling, and keep a copy with you at races. This is what is referred to as “Therapeutic Use Exemption” or TUE for short. The forms can be found and downloaded at the BC website, the link is below.
There are several places where you can check drugs against the prohibited substances list, so there are no excuses. By far the best I have found is the UK Sport Drug Information Database at http://www.uksport.gov.uk/did/. Go to search, complete search criteria, sporting role, sport, and nation of purchase, then follow the instructions. You can either enter the trade name, e.g. Lemsip Max etc, or you can input the individual constituents which should be on the side of the packaging. I have used this extensively to test the status of over the counter cold remedies and their constituents.
Other places to search are the World Anti Doping Agency website at http://www.wada-ama.org/en/ . Here you can access the definitive prohibited substance list, and there is also a quiz. Also more information pertinent to UK cycling can be found at http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/dopecontrol/antidoping_index.htm, where the forms and instructions on how to register for “Therapeutic Use Exemption” can be found.
If you follow the guidelines and instructions and you get a tap on the shoulder at the end of a race by an official with a clip board, you can at least be confident that you will not get any nasty surprises.
Finally to put this into context, I have been racing for 30 years now, and have a few National Championships, and not once have I been tested, but that is absolutely no excuse for being complacent. So before you reach for the Lemsip, Strepsils or Sudafed check it out, you have no excuses and it’s YOUR responsibility.
Trevor Figgitt
Foxhall Rollers
The new venue seems to be a success as the first few sessions have seen some familiar faces, as well as some new ones, and some great racing. Blair has been using his new road bike to good effect and has already eclipsed his PB times from last year. Neil and Steve have had several close races, normally going Neil's way, again both setting PBs in the process.
Big Matt had his first go on competition rollers and discovered it's a bit different - he found it necessary to start at less than full power, after a flat-out practice start set his rear wheel skidding off the rollers onto the floor. Fortunately the holders did their job - no damage, no injuries. This handicapped his 250m and 500m times, although they were only fractionally behind Neil and Steve's times, both of whom have had far more practice. However, in the kilometre, where the start isn't quite so critical, Matt was able to use his power to set a new Foxhall record of 46.8seconds.
Andrew Crowe also broke his roller "duck" and seemed to enjoy it, pedalling smoothly and recording some very competitive times (500m/35.8sec). Perry, Sam and James (all juniors) turned up one evening and had a go using their mountain bikes, before returning the following week to use one of Steve's smaller road bikes to shatter those times!
We meet in the diner at Foxhall Stadium on Friday evenings, from 7pm till whenever (normally about 9.30), all welcome.
Steve
Road Training
The Sunday winter training rides have started. We meet at Northgate Sports Centre, on the north side of Ipswich, at 10am, for a ride of about 3 hrs (45 miles). The normal route is Westerfield, Henley, Coddenham, Claydon, Little Blakenham, Bildeston, Aldham, Bramford, Claydon, Westerfield, Northgate. 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. These are very ad-hoc rides, and there's no guarantee that anyone will be there on any particular Sunday, so it might be worth contacting Steve or Valerio beforehand.
MTB Training
The Saturday winter training rides have started!! If you fancy a ride in Rendlesham forest there’ll probably be a few people there at 10am at the Tangham car park, aiming to ride for up to 2 hours (unless we get lost!). Mark and Viv will be there on 5, 19 and 26 November.
Results
NABC 25, Bungay, 2nd October
Valerio battled with the wind in this one to record a new PB of 1.09, but at some cost - he couldn't pedal after the finish, and after getting off the bike, found he couldn't walk either! A long sit-down was required before he could get back to the car.
EACC 10, Bungay, 8th October.
Another blustery day meant that season's best times were unlikely. Steve was our only rider and managed to improve by just a few seconds on his time from the previous week, recording 26.00.
EACC 25, Bungay, 9th October.
Valerio and Steve both enjoyed some calmer conditions. A small tweak to his position gave Valerio a much more comfortable ride, as he took another 3 mins off his PB from only the previous week on the same course, and he was still mobile after the finish (1:06:59). Steve finished a handful of seconds ahead of him in a personal season's best time of 1:06:44, to improve his BAR score a little.
SPOCO East
Congratulations to Pete and Bev, who both cycled onto the podium in the SPOCO TT competition. Bev was second lady, and Pete was third vet.
Thetford Enduros
Marin Winter Endurance Series - Thetford
This series of 3 rounds is open to any riders aged 14 or over. If you want to do the longer (4 hour) Endurance length, then riders need to be 16 or older. Pre entry costs are £15.00 or £20.00 on the day.
The 4 hour race starts at 10.30am with the 2 hour starting at 11.00am, so you need to be signed on by 10.00am. There will also be fun races for those that don't fancy taking on the longer distances, but for further details check out the event website: www.thetford-mtb-racing.co.uk
Calendar Dates
13th November, club run, Northgate.
27th November, Thetford Winter Series MTB race 2.
Tuesday evenings – MTB ride usually Sizewell car park starting at 7:30 contact Mark or Viv for details.
Friday– Foxhall Stadium roller sessions, from 7pm.
Saturday – MTB ride, 10am, Rendlesham forest.
Sunday – road ride, 10am, Northgate Sports Centre.
New Organiser
Please note Helen Simmons is no longer the organiser of the CC Breckland TT on New Years day. 10-mile time trial on the B10/3.
The new organiser is: - D Saunders, Gravediggers Cottage, Church Street, Carbrooke, Thetford, Norfolk. IP25 6SW Tel: 01953 880013
BC Coaching
Ever thought about becoming a qualified coach? British Cycling will be running a Level 2 (Activity Coach) course in Bury St Edmunds early in 2006. "If you have been involved in cycling for a while and wish to coach group sessions, this is the course for you." There's also a level 1 course early in the year, but this is really aimed at teachers and parents who don't know what a bike is.
L1 course - venue tba, but "Eastern Region", Day 1, 14th Jan, Day 2 11th Feb, cost £170
L2 course - Bury St Edmunds, Days 1 & 2 18th-19th Feb, Day 3 23rd April. cost £210.
As far as the cost goes, there are BC subsidies available (about £50), and the club may also be able to contribute towards it.
Steve
Book Review
Put me back on my bike - In search of Tom Simpson by William Fotheringham
With my ride up Ventoux this summer I decided to find out a little more about Tom Simpson as the two seem connected. Tom Simpson was an Olympic medallist, world champion and the first Briton to wear the fabled yellow jersey of the Tour de France. He died a tragic early death on the barren moonscape of the Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour. A man of many contradictions, Simpson was one of the first cyclists to admit to using banned drugs, and was accused of fixing races, yet the dapper 'Major Tom' inspired awe and affection for the obsessive will to win which ultimately cost him his life.
The book revists the places and people associated with Simpson to produce a warts and all biography of Britain’s greatest cyclist. At times it is hard going but ultimately for someone not born when he died it is a very rewarding read and really gets you inside Simpson’s head and gives you an understanding of how the miner’s son from a pit village in Nottinghamshire came to be one of the patrons of the pro peloton along with luminaries like Jaques Anquetil, Rudi Altig, Jean Stablinski and later Eddy Merckx. His sense of humour is very apparent and also the sorrow still felt by many people close to him over 35 years since his death. A rewarding read that gave me something to think about on the climb up Ventoux in June. If anyone would like to borrow it then let me know.
Matt
Sportswoman 2005
You have the opportunity to vote for Victoria Pendleton as The Times Sportswoman of the Year (if you want to). You need to register to vote, but it is free and takes about 1 minute. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,23709,00.html. Voting closes November 6th.
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
For Sale (probably)
This was missed from last month’s newsletter – I don’t know whether it is still available.
For Sale. Dawes 2 Way Street Tandem 20" front 19" rear, little used in the last few years. Ready to ride with mudguards/rear rack. A great ride out for the day or light touring. Previous experience suggests an upgrade to the rear bottom bracket by changing to sealed unit is in order, but we are touring with a Thorn now. Dawes has to go hence only £250
paul.remblance@btopenworld.com (Ipswich)