Here is the provisional result for yesterday's PTTL event.

It was a chilly day; my car's thermometer showed 1 degree C just before we started, however it did warm up towards the end. It was a challenging course with its twist, turns, ups, downs, potholes and tractors trimming hedges(!), but that just adds to the fun!

Sadly we were well beaten for the team points by Velocity; remember that these points stack up for the end of season points total.

Well done to those who rode.

The next PTTL event is on 17th May, it's 50 miles, so start putting the miles in!

Become W Sussex's Cycling Officer

West Sussex County Council are advertising for a replacement Cycling Officer paying up to £31,000 per year based in Chichester.
Full details here .
Closing date 6 April.
"We have an opportunity for you to join our well motivated, forward-thinking Transport Planning Team as the Cycling Officer. You will be responsible for providing a specialist transport planning service dealing with the co-ordination, implementation and promotion of cycling in the County.

You should be educated to degree level (or have equivalent comparable experience) and be able to demonstrate experience and enthusiasm in the planning of cycling projects and initiatives. In addition, if you have an analytical mind and can offer effective communication and project management skills in the cycling environment, then we want to hear from you."

Special offer

Member Anne Marshall is offering members a spring special ...
"Monday 6th April to Thursday 16th April I am doing a special massage offer to SDV club members during the day/evenings in Birdham:

Come along for your introductory massage @ £20 for an hour (normally £25 for SDV members) and I will introduce you to some self massage techniques to keep you injury free. Also some important stretching for your hamstrings, glutes (buttocks) and rhomboids (in between the shoulder blades) using a tennis ball! Want some good stretches for the hip flexors and lower back ... and how to do a lying hamstring stretch (using an old inner tube), a lying spinal and a lying gluteal stretch against a wall? Also, I don't see anyone stretch at the cafe stop on Saturdays - I guess you are doing them when you get home then? Hope so!

Anne Marshall 01243 512826 - 07796 793 182
anne.marshall1@virgin.net "

Fareham Wheelers Road Race

Richard Bevan, Mark Warrington, Fraser Nurse and Andy Page ride the Fareham Wheelers Road Race on Sunday as Owslebury. Program here.

Help still required

I have five offers for help on Sunday, 10 May at Thorney Island. This is a bit disappointing out of a club of over 70 members. At the moment the races can't go ahead. Please let me know if you can or cannot help, otherwise I will be on the 'phone to you ... contact@southdownvelo.org.uk

Thruxton pictures

Anne Marshall said she dropped into Thruxton on Sunday she took these pictures. Perhaps next time she can give Toby a lift from Goodwood ...

New members

Welcome to our newest member Kevin Hawes from Bognor Regis.

Racing round up

Toby Neave was 10th at Thruxton in the elite road race. Toby describes his day ... "With 40+ starters and windy conditions I knew it was going to split early, so made sure I was near the front from the start. For the first 4 laps sports bean/wilier (who had 5 riders) hit the front on the climb and whittled the race down to a group of 14. With them missing turns and messing things up there was a lot of jumping around, and with 6 to go there was 10 of us left. I attacked coming up to the finish and got away with a sports bean rider, but he wouldn't work with me so it all came back together. With 3 laps to go 2 of them attacked with Justin Hoy and Paul Pickup. I was boxed into the gutter so couldn't jump across, therefore was forced to chase with just 1 other rider to help with the other 4 sat on. On the last lap 2 of them attacked, and with nothing left and a gallon of lactic acid in my thighs i floated across the line in 10th.
I'm pleased with my ride considering the way the race panned out, especially the way that i was able to go with the big guns when the hammer went down. I've never been in such a hard circuit race! Although it's needless to say I'm not happy with the way that Sports Beans/Wilier rode. They're one step away from being a professional team but behaved like idiots. Fortunatly Justin Hoy from Felt won the race in a tight sprint."
Andy Page and Richard Bevan raced in the 3rd cat race at Dunsfold finishing 16th and 31st respectively. Richard provides this report ... "Andy Page raced at Dunfold. First road race of year for me. A small group of 6 got away after a couple of laps. Andy tried to bridge across by himself but didn`t quite make it. I was content to sit in top third of bunch at that point lead went out to a minute but was wittled down on the closing laps with a couple of riders bought back into the bunch before a hectic uphill dash for the line when I was coming past riders on the way for the line when one rider veered off line and stuffed his rear mech through my front wheel still finish mid bunch"
Alastair Mallet and David Bridle road the Bognor 25m TT. Alastair reports ... "Two of us compeated this morning, David Bridle in 1.10.36 and my self in 1.12.55 (P. 'Unfortunately BRCC Veteran Peter Hicks was knocked off his machine in the event,whilst entering the Fontwell West RBT, sustaining a broken thumb, undiagnosed shoulder injuries and extensive bruising. He is now recovering at home after spending 8 hours in A & E. A motorist subsequently admitted liability to the attending Police Traffic Officers.'"

Start list for PTTL

This is the next start list for the PTTL at Wickham on Sunday.

New members

Welcome to our newest members Tony Walden from Lavant and John Baggott from Batchmere.

Racing round up

New member Andy Page scored his first point of the year when he finished 10th at Alfold in the 3rd cat race. Andy writes "I bust the BB in my one and only race training/bike two weekends ago and couldn’t get the cups out so a new bike was needed and lined up from Pete at Geared Bikes a Trek 1.9 . Using my last bike in the shed a MTB all week I picked up the Trek Saturday and spent a couple of hours setting it up as best as possible ready for Sunday. I missed the break but not overly worried as I was still getting used to the bike but managed 2nd in the bunch sprint, think I got about 10th in the end."

Second request for help

I'm still looking for help on Sunday, 10 May at Thorney Island. So far the following have kindly agreed to help:
- Simon Pattinson
- Alastair Mallett
- Paul O'Donovan
- Mike Marchant
- Eugene and Christine Bardwell

Angmering series

The first Angmering youth race is on Monday, 6 April. I'm in charge as The Bardwells are sunning in Belgium.

PTTL 15 mile TT

For those who are interested in riding the 2nd PTTL event on 29th March, please let me know by the 18th March at the latest. I need you name, age and date of birth. The course is a sporting 15 miles based at Wickham, Hants.

[Edited by TC] Please contact Mike Marchant, don't post a message here as it is likely to get lost. You can find Mike's details in the members' only are.

Thorney Island races - help required

On Sunday, 10 May this year, Southdown Velo in association with Velo Club Meudon and Ciclisti Vecchi are promoting youth and LVRC (veterans) races at Thorney Island.
I will require the following assistance:
- 8 marshalls
- 2 lead car drivers
- Judges
- Signing-on
- Refreshments
I expect to receive help from VCM and CV, but I would be grateful for volunteers from Southdown Velo. With over 70 members we should be able to manage that. Please let me know Tim Costello - contact@southdownvelo.org.uk
The start times are:
Youth races 2pm
Mums and Dads races (Islanders only) 2:30pm
First veteran's race 3pm
Second veteran's race 4:15pm
All racing ended at 5:30pm

LVRC map - click on map to expand

Youth map - click on map to expand

Road racing round up

Toby Neave had another aggressive ride at Chertsey but was caught and st in for the bunch sprint as it was a bit dodgy.
Fraser Nurse finished 38th in the 4th category race.

Toby on the attack

Hants RC 2-up TT

Mark Trevis rode with Seb Ottley (VC St Raphael) to win the Hants RC 2-up TT.