News - June 2009

Monday 15th June – Youth Circuit Racing Andover Advertiser Report

Article courtesy of Mike Webber

 

The cycling season is now in full swing and it is the youngsters that are showing the way. In the recent 'Ray Martin Circuit Series' held over a 5 week period down at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, Cameron Thompson came 1st overall in the U12/10/8's age group and was supported well by Jed Webber in 3rd and 8 year old Alex Hall in 8th place. The U16/14's also saw good performances from Mitchell Webber in 5th place overall with first time competitor Andrew Bungay showing good potential to finish just outside the Top 10 in 11th place. The South Division season long points competion has also seen the Wheelers youngsters dominate so far, with the Top 4 positions in the U12/10/8's taken by Cameron, Jed, Alex and his sister Emily Hall.

 

There was yet more success for the youth riders when they recently competed down at Thorney Island. Experienced youngsters Tom Bolton and Mitchell Webber were joined by Ben Armes, Chris Cardy, Paul Double and Hamish Pike, all of which were having their first attempts at circuit racing. All age groups went off together and conditions were perfect apart from a nagging wind coming off the sea and it was U16 rider Tom Bolton who went away with another rider and quickly opened a big lead. The U16's chasing group included Armes, Cardy and Pike and they were working well together to keep the leading riders in sight. Mitchell Webber was riding strongly and found himself on his own leading his age group and U12 Paul Double was riding well with another group. Going into the final lap and Tom Bolton took a flyer and gained a good gap on his rival. It looked like Tom was going to take the win but he paid for his initial effort and was just caught on the line to finish in a hard fought 2nd place. Ben Armes pulled away from his team mates in the final stages to finish in an excellent 3rd place with Chris Cardy in 4th and Hamish Pike in 5th. All great results in their first ever race! Mitchell Webber time trialled his way to a solo victory in the U14's and Paul Double proved his potential by outsprinting his breakaway rivals to win the U12's race. A great team effort by all the Wheelers youngsters!

 


Monday 15th June – Simons Healey’s view of the 25 mile TT Championship

Article courtesy of Simon Healey

 

I drove to work. I usually cycle but this evening I will need fresh legs. First thing I do is check the weather forecast. It’s good; light winds and mild. I leave promptly at five.

 

At home I put the kettle on and make a mug of strong black coffee. Into it I dunk a biscuit, then another, and another…. The family are at the dinner table. The time is twenty to six. One hour twenty to go. I take the coffee with me upstairs to change.

 

I return down stairs to shouting and an upset daughter. No pudding for her today. I dive into the garage. I fit a bottle cage to the time trial bike and inflate tyres to 120 psi. I head to the kitchen to fill a bottle with squash. Daughter doesn’t want me to go. I point to the mantelpiece. ‘I’ve got to go and win that trophy so I can keep it for another year’. She understands; it was her first ever school sports day today. It is quarter past six. Forty-five minutes to go.

 

I always feel odd cycling through town on my TT bike. It must look strange to others; disc wheel, pointy hat. It’s made worse by the fact my muscles are cold. I don’t feel fast.

 

A car flashes its lights and beeps its horn. The driver shouts out of the window….a fellow cyclist. He is not a first claim member of the club. He can’t win the cup.

 

A small crowd at the start. I sign in and exchange a few words. There is a friendly atmosphere. I’m number eight, last of the Andover Wheelers to start. With twenty or so minutes still to go there is nothing to do but socialise. There is nowhere to warm up in the small lay-by.

 

Seven o’clock. First rider is called to the start line. I take off my long sleeved jersey and place it in the back of the time keepers’ van. The riders start departing, one minute between them. Numbers one, two, no three, four, five…..time for me to make my excuses and line up at the start. A few gulps of squash. Number six departs, seven takes his place and is held upright by the pusher-off, a former professional cyclist. I climb onto my bike. Seven is sent on his way. I take his place and clip in my right shoe. Thirty seconds. The former professional cyclist takes hold of my bike and I clip in my left shoe. Fifteen seconds. I take a few deep breaths. Five, four, three, two, one, go.

 

A golden rule of successful time trialling is not to start too quickly. I try to accelerate smoothly getting into an aerodynamic seated position as soon as I can. Fortunately the first couple of miles are downhill. I’m quickly up to speed concentrating on pedalling as smoothly and powerfully as I can. My muscles warm up and my breathing deepens.

 

After about three miles the road kicks up a little. I catch my first glimpse of a rider in front. Now my legs have warmed up I try to increase the effort. I set about reeling him in. I ask myself if I’m trying too hard; I am catching him sooner than I anticipated. I elect to postpone answering until I make the catch.

 

The fifth mile. As luck would have it I pass number seven near the top of a small hill. This is followed by a dip before another climb. I’m glad of the reprieve however brief. Climbing again I imagine number seven coming back and passing me. I daren’t look behind. My breathing becomes erratic but thankfully the gradient eases and I regain speed. I spot another rider in front. I try to pedal smoothly.

 

Seventh mile. I pass number six. Nothing in front but empty road. It is exposed and slightly up hill, but as there is very little wind I am faster here than normal. I’m feeling good. Time to knuckle down.

 

Less than two miles to the turn now and three riders, quite close together, come into view. A dump truck joins the carriageway from a slip road cutting across early to avoid the riders in front. It throws up a lot of dust. I hope it wasn’t as close to the last of the three riders as it looked. 

 

The first of the trio I pass is number one, the only woman rider. I try to shout encouragement. That is one, six and seven. No number three. I try to work out who is left out in front. I give up. I notice my breathing has slowed. My mind has been wandering. I pedal harder.

 

Number five. Before the start number five and I had discussed the forthcoming race. We agreed that I would catch him at the half way turn. I’m slightly early. I pass with just under a mile still to go. I think ‘I must be doing well’.

 

Between me and the slip road for the turn is number four. I need to get to the turn first. It is down hill and we are probably travelling at close to 40 mph. I turn 53x11 over as quickly as I can. I’m passed. I can now pick my own line for the tight right hand turn.

 

After the turn it is payback time for the fast down hill section as I climb back to the dual carriageway. As speed drops aerodynamics become less important. I sit up and try to take some swigs from my bottle between breaths, this is difficult.

 

Some maths. Down the hill at 40 mph, back up at 20. Average speed is 30 mph right? Wrong! You spend twice as long at 20 mph than you do at 40. The average is actually 26 2/3 mph.

 

I have a thought; there is one more rider out in front and, as if by magic, he appears on the horizon at the top of the hill. It doesn’t take long to pass number two. Now I’m on my own. Eleven miles to go. I concentrate on my breathing. The sun is getting low. I hope I don’t puncture.

 

The last few miles are up hill. I try to give it everything but in a smooth manner. The road winds its way through woodland and then opens up as the gradient eases. I attempt to accelerate but the road surface here is rough and it absorbs my efforts. It’s not far now to the turn off to the finish. There is a cruel sharp climb here. Fortunately it is also fairly short. I remain seated and manage to keep the big ring turning, 53x17. A small crowd has gathered to watch the suffering. I’m over the top with half a mile to go. All of it down hill. I give it everything. 53x11.

 

After. I circle a roundabout to return to the finish. I’m still travelling fast. It’s a fast night. The club chairman is at the finish. “Couldn’t you go any faster?” He says. I think of the times I found myself breathing too easily. I say ‘Probably. But I don’t want to kill myself’.  I look over the time keepers’ shoulder. 54’31”. A personal best time by one minute and thirteen seconds. I’m satisfied with that.

 

I watch the other riders come in. Starting after me were eleven non Wheelers, three of which finished with faster times. Still room for improvement then!

 

I get home in time to say goodnight to daughter. I tell her I won the cup. I eat dinner and open a bottle of beer. I don’t sleep well. I’m too hot from eating late and still on a high from the ride.

 

Friday 19th June – Club TT League Report

Article courtesy of Simon Healey

 

Well, time flies when you are having fun does it not? Believe it or not we are fast approaching the mid point of the season. A quick scan of the league tables would appear to suggest that in each, one rider is dominating.

 

Starting with the B league Hefin Richard, the only rider to have participated in every club time trial this season, has a 37 point advantage over second placed Lizzy Yates. Elsewhere new ‘boy’ Alan Spurden is showing great promise having already climbed to fourth place after joining the club just over a month ago.

 

In the A league Rob Ward has a 28 point advantage over Nick Adnitt, with Rodger Hartnell just ten points further back. While in the Elite and 2nd Claims table Simon Healey has established a 40 point advantage over Jake Prior. However Jake is the undisputed ‘class act’ of the league with six wins from seven appearances having only been denied a clean sweep due to an illegal bike in the ‘athletes’ event.

 

In the first paragraph I said that it ‘appears’ each league is being dominated. This caveat is because there are still 15 rounds to go and with only the best 18 results counting in the final shakedown there is more than enough time to catch up with the league leaders. From now on beating your nearest competitor will become ever more important

Thursday 25th June – Andover Wheelers at the Axiom Weekend

Article courtesy of Simon Healey

 

Three Andover cyclists, Simon Healey and Lizzy Yates of the Wheelers and Stuart Thompson of Behind-the-Bikeshed, recently participated in the Axiom Weekender time trials based in Liss.

 

Seventy-one riders contested the ten mile event in near ideal weather conditions on Saturday afternoon. Simon was pleased to record a time of 21’26”, just three seconds off his seasons’ best and good enough for thirteenth place overall. Stuart recorded 23’11” in thirty-ninth place and Lizzy was third lady with 26’43”.

 

Much cooler conditions welcomed the riders early the following morning for the twenty-five. A situation made worse by a nagging crosswind. However, Stuart battled valiantly to finish with 1h1’25” a mere two seconds shy of best time since his return to competitive cycling. Lizzy was the fastest lady with 1h11’58” and Simon managed fifteenth overall with 56’23”.

Thursday 25th June – Racing Roundup Andover Advertiser Report

Article courtesy of Mike Webber

 

The Andover Wheelers evening time trials have been well supported this season as we now get into the Club Championship events. The fast '10' mile TT course to the West of Andover hosted the clubs 'Handicap' Championship at that distance and it produced a very close result. Club Champion Simon Healey was the 'Scratch' rider, which means he has no time taken off his actually ride time, and he very nearly produced another winning ride but it was talented Junior rider Rob Ward who took the honours in an adjusted time of 21mins 35secs and beat Healey by 18 seconds. New club rider Alan Spurden has shown some promising form recently and he again put in a good ride to take 3rd place in 21mins 58secs with a 3min 26sec handicap.

 

The following week saw a new Championship event added to the Wheelers calender. The 'Athletes' Championship does away with any aerodynamic aids, so competitors have to ride on standard road bikes with no tri-bars, deep section/disc wheels and aero lids etc. The aim is for everyone to be on a more level playing field so that no one has anymore advantage than anyone else. Although the winner was never going to be in doubt, Simon Healey was pushed all the way by 2nd placed Roger Hartnell who only finished 25 seconds down, the closest he has been all season! The race for 3rd place was equally as close with junior rider Rob Ward pipping Alan Spurden by just 17 secs and the closeness of the whole event was underlined when the next 5 places were all seperated by under a minute. Other notable rides on the night were from U16 riders Chris Cardy and Alex Harding. Both were having there first attempts at a time trial and they did well to challenge a number of the regular club competitors with Alex just getting the better of Chris by 16 seconds.

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