World champ pics

I found a few pics of Pete McGuiness at the world masters' champs in Belgium ...

Pete plays by the beach

Another fast 10m TT course

I am indebted to Mark Staden and Mike Marchant for pointing out another fast course for those hoping to qualify for the national 10 mile TT ... "I know a gem of a course that if people are prepared to travel a little they can go fast it's the Q10/19 on the Tonbridge Bypass. Isn't that the one with the first 2 miles downhill?

If anyone is interested in travelling to the Q10/19 in Kent, there is an event on this course on 26th April (Catford CC 10), details here: -
http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/events.asp?Month=200804&Page=4&ID=358&Filter=&Distance=&District=

Velo rides world champs

Pete McGuiness flew the Velo flag at the UCI World Masters' cyclo-cross championships at MOL in Belgium. Pete finished 63rd in his event. I think I am correct in saying this is a first for the club. Good effort Pete. Hopefully he will give us a full report of his time on and off the course.

Ride the Pyrenees

Simon Pattinson tells me that he and Mark Warrington are off to the Pyrenees at the end of May and wonder if others are interested ... "Mark Warrington and my good self are going out to the Pyrenees for a couple of day from Sat 31 May - Tuesday 3 June (able to ride p.m. of 1st day and a.m. of last day) - Gatwick to Toulouse with BA ... we may have some space in both vehicle and accommodation."

You can contact Simon at simon.pattinson at montezumas.co.uk. Replace the "at" with an @.

Ride the national 10m TT champs

Our TT supremo, Mike Marchant has information for those who wish to ride the national 10 mile TT champs which are held near Petersfield this year ... "Most of you will remember at the end of last year, I mentioned that this year’s national 10 mile TT championship was being held near Petersfield. If you want to ride this event then read on. If you don’t, never mind, but don’t waste your time reading any further.

The event date is Sunday 25th May, the cost is £9 and entries close on 29th April. Entries should be sent, on a standard CTT entry form to: -

Dave Collard-Berry
59 Midhurst Road
Fernhurst
Haslemere
GU27 3EN
Tel. 01428 651843

Entry forms can be downloaded from the CTT web site: - www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk

Now, to get in you will need to have a fairly fast 10 mile TT time achieved in the last 3 seasons. The organisers job is simple, pick the fastest 120 riders from all who enter, but how do you know if your best ‘10’ time is fast enough? You don’t, but it is a fair bet that, given our proximity to London’s fast boys, you will have to have at least a ‘21’ to your name to stand a chance. If you don’t have one of those, or you want to try to improve anyway, then consider entering the following events (be prepared to travel!): -

Saturday 15 March, Sotonia CC 10, P613/16 (Andover, Hants). This course is your best chance of a fast time, unless you catch it on a windy day!

Friday 21 March, Bournemouth Arrow 10, P412/10 (Lychett Matravers, Dorset). A fast-ish course but a long way to go!

Sunday 23 March, a3crg 10, P883 (Buriton, Hants). One of the faster local courses around.

Saturday 29 March, Army CU 10 P613/10. Back to Andover for a fast one?

Sunday 6 April, a3crg 10 (Slowest 120 riders), P881R (Greatham, Hants). A chance to try out the National Championship’s course?

Saturday 12 April, Kingston Phoenix 10, G10/42 (North Holmwood, Surrey). Not the fastest of courses but can be OK on a good day.

Saturday 19 April, Andover Whs 10 (Riders slower than 22.30 only), P613/10. Another fast opportunity if you haven’t got one under tour belt yet!

Saturday 19 April, a3crg 10, P881R. Another chance to try out the national’s course? Internet entries accepted!

Saturday 26 April, Velocity Bikes 10, P841 (Funtington). Last chance saloon in the south of England! Not a particularly fast course but local knowledge might make a difference!

Details of these events can be found in the CTT handbook, if you have one. If not try this link: -

http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/events.asp

I’ll see you there for some of them. Good luck! Mike."

Is Shaun un-photogenic?

One has to wonder if Shaun Smart is just plain un-photogenic, or is there some other reason?

At the recent Herne Hill cross where, Shaun finished a commendable 22nd out of 65 starters and poor Pete McGuiness lost his rear mech to a plastic bag, the photographer managed four photos of Pete but not one complete picture of Shaun. Do these pictures provide the reason? Did Shaun spend the entire race glued to this young lady's rear wheel?

Photograph copyright of Sylvain Garde.

Photograph copyright of Sylvain Garde.

Website updates

The website has been updated with a membership form, Laurie Pither's list of local events and a much enhanced links section. Lots of new links to try.

Early season events

The British Cycling website has been updated with events for 2008, but as always the Surrey League events are not yet listed. Glyn Durrant has sent through this initial list ...

Sunday February 17th - MOD Chertsey - 10:00 - 4ths
Sunday February 17th - MOD Chertsey - 10:01 - 3W/4W
Sunday February 17th - MOD Chertsey - 11:15 - E/1/2/3 handicap
Sunday February 24th - MOD Chertsey - 10:00 - 4ths
Sunday February 24th - MOD Chertsey - 10:01 - 3W/4W
Sunday February 24th - MOD Chertsey - 11:15 - E/1/2/3 handicap
Saturday March 8th - Crowhurst - HQ Tandridge VH - 13:30 - 2/3
Sunday March 9th - Kirdford - HQ Alfold Crossways VH - 09:30 - 3rds
Sunday March 9th - Kirdford - HQ Alfold Crossways VH - 13:30 - 2/3
Sunday March 16th - Dunsfold - HQ Winn Hall, Dunsfold - 09:30 - 3rds
Sunday March 16th - Dunsfold - HQ Winn Hall, Dunsfold - 13:30 - 2/3

Saturday March 22nd to Monday March 24th - Surrey League Easter 3 Day - Venues TBC - 09:30 - 3rds
Saturday March 22nd to Monday March 24th - Surrey League Easter 3 Day - Venues TBC - 13:30 - 1/2/3

Saturday March 29th - Henfold Hill - HQ Leigh VH - 13:30 - 2/3
Sunday March 30th - Barcombe - HQ Newick Scout Hut - 09:30 - 3rds

Bits for sale

Richard Pearman asks if anyone would like to buy some of his surplus bits of equipment ... "Please excuse me for my email, but I am trying to sell some cycling bits and pieces. You may not require any of them, but someone might just be looking for that bit to complete a bike job or to use as a replacement for a broken part.

You may even know someone who could be looking for this part.

Anyhow, you can view my bits for sale at the web page below.

http://www.smlwebdesign.co.uk/forsale.htm

Thank you for reading and looking at the page.

Hope you all had a happy Christmas and New year. The 2008 racing season is almost upon us so will see you all soon.

Kind Regards

Richard"

Racing round up

It's all cross action at the moment. Tim Costello has been trying to keep the Velo end up in the Wessex series and lies 2nd overall in the 45-49 age group with one round to go. He recently rode the veteran's national championships at Sutton Coldfield finishing 39th in the race and 12th in his age group.

New members

Welcome to new members Alex Rice and Richard Parker.

Velo ride worlds

Good luck to Pete McGuiness who rides the UCI veterans world cyclo cross championships in Mol, Belgium on the 19th of Janaury.

Events coming you way - cyclo-cross

There are still a couple of cyclo-cross events left to ride and then its time trial and road racing season, details below ...

- This weekend, Sunday, 13 January cyclo-cross at Herne Hill.

- Sunday, 20 January cyclo-cross at Woodley, Reading. Sounds like a fast course. Last of the Wessex events.

- Sunday, 3 February cyclo-cross at Dunsfold Park. Last of the London League events.

Events coming you way - time-trials

GS Stella Hilly weekend 2nd and 3rd February
Entries must be in by 22/01/08 to Dr Mark Jones at:

55 Pulborough Road
Storrington
West Sussex
RH20 4HJ

Entry fee is £8 per event.

There are £1500 of prizes up for grabs of which £1000 is cash spread out over the 2 events - most of the dosh going to overall prizes (i.e. both events must be ridden!).

18km on Saturday and Sunday's event has been shortened to 34km due to roadworks. Both are either sporting or hilly depending on your point of view!

Mike Marchant tells me that for those of you who want to ride open TTs next year you will need to get yourselves a handbook with all the event details for the year (dates, venues, organiser, entry dates etc). You can order this from the link below.......

http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/handbook_postform.htm

Training after illness

It seems at the moment that the whole country has been struck down with some deadly virus, infection or just plain old cold. Every dedicated athlete dreads being ill. It's just all so frustrating when all that hard work is threatened by illness. There is a real temptation to not only try to go back to full training too soon, but worse to try and make up for last time. This is the worst possible thing you can do! Listen to a voice of bitter experience. I lost literally, not months, but years, of cycling by adopting this approach.

Firstly it is important to remember that you lose fitness at about a third of the rate that you gained it. So if you miss a week's training it does not mean you have lost a week's fitness. It is also important to allow your body to recover properly after illness and to build up gradually again at a pace your body tells you is OK. If you were doing 3 hour rides before illness, start off with a one hour ride. If you feel fine increase the load again, perhaps over a week. All the time judging how you respond to each ride. Don't be afraid to miss a day. The season lasts for several months. One day is not the be all and end all.

People often think it is intensity that places the most stress on the immune system. It isn't, it is volume. OK, one hour of interval training places more strain on the immune system than one hour of pottering, but it's long rides that are the killer. They really impact and supress the immune system. Read this paper by Sport England on over-training that recommends multiple short training sessions rather than one long one.

Take L-Glutamine (by SIS of course) to stop you getting ill in the first place. My experience is that it really works. It's one of those rare things. A sports supplement that has medical evidence to prove that it works. Happy training!