THE

Yeovil Cycling Club July 2007

Average 27mph!

The John Andrews Memorial Road One rider was not so lucky, he signed Race was open to 2nd, 3rd and 4th on and collected his number but when category riders and attracted an entry of he returned to his car he found he had over 70 from all over the South and West, locked his bike inside along with the keys from Surrey to Cornwall. Unfortunately and the breakdown could not reach him there were no entries from the promoting in time for the start! club! The race was run at a very fast pace with attacks on every lap, Stuart Dodd Results (Team Tor 2000) was one who enjoyed 1 Andrew Hitchens Mid Devon CC a few miles off the front in the first few 2 Grant Leavy Club 18 To Dirty miles. As the pace, over 25mph, began to 3 Philip Borrett Bikinmotion Cycling Club tell an attack from the ever active Cornish 4 Serge Scott John's Bikes RT Team Certini on the drag up through 5 Jason Flooks Team Certini Upton split the field and enabled the 6 Rex Facey 1st Chard Whls winning break of 7 to gain a gap of a 7 Julius Renn-Jennings Gillingham and District Whls minute. At the hard uphill finish Andrew 8 Dean Robson Ajchva Limoux Hitchens pulled clear to win by 3 seconds 9 Ian Rees Climb On Bikes RT from Grant Leavey. The best local riders 10 James Smith Team Certini were Rex Facey (1st Chard Wheelers) and 11 Andrew Rivett Sotonia CC Julius Jennings (Gillingham & District Whs) 12 Edward Griffin Bournemouth Arrow CC Winner Hitchens now a veteran of 41 13 Barry Clewett Bournemouth Arrow CC won this race in 1990 when it was open 14 Matthew Ewings Exeter Wheelers to 1st category riders and over 80 miles. 15 Nicholas Beale Didcot Phoenix CC Notice Of AGM Where are they now? It may only be July but there will not The results of the Chippenham 25 from be another newsletter before this years the 29 May 1967 read: AGM, so here's a reminder to note the date in your diary, Monday 10 1 Ray Garrett Wessex RC 1:00:09 September, starting at 8pm, at the 2 R Pearce Yeovil CC 1:01:35 Sports Club, Johnson Park. 3 G Coward Yeovil CC 1:01:38 It is at this meeting that all next 4 P Lewis Chippenham & Dist years events are agreed, the Committee 5 K Williams Glos City CC elected and any new proposals 6 D Huntley Frome & Dist discussed. An organiser for next years 7 J Fry Bristol South CC Open 25 is needed, there is plenty of 8 D Miatt Clevedon & Dist experienced assistance available so 9 P Foster Bristol South CC don't feel daunted, if you would like to 10 D Pugh Frome & Dist put something back into the sport... 11 S Humphries Corsham RC Motions for the meeting should 12 M Huggins Frome & Dist be with Andy Newbury by 1st 13 R Porter Stonehouse Whs September, either by e-mail, 14 M Elwell Rugby Velo [email protected], 15 P Offer Bristol South CC or post please: 16 D Whittington Yeovil CC 12 Wraxhill Road, Yeovil BA20 2JZ. 1st Handicap G Coward, Yeovil CC 1st Team Yeovil CC Time Trial Success If you know of any of the Yeovil riders On the time trial scene Yeovil I would be delighted to hear what they Club riders had a good day at the are up to now, especially if they are still Bournemouth Jubilee 10 near Andover. In cycling. the over 50 class Shaun Walsh recorded a personal best of 21.34 for 8th place and Iron Man Support Dave Driver 22.53, also a personal, in 24th The Sherborne Ironman Triathlon place. Drivers's time is a new Yeovil record takes place on Sunday 19th August. Once on age standard. again, Simon Slade will be responsible I had left a blank page for the for road marshalling both the cycle and picture of YCC winning the 25 Team run elements and, if you are able to Championship, but sadly the weather help he would like to hear from you. Tel: struck again and the event was cancelled. 01935 424873; Mob: 07966 153555; Email: [email protected] Secretary Andy Newbury 01935 421352 We have a number of members who 12 Wraxhill Road, YEOVIL, BA20 2JZ will be participating so let's lend a hand MEMBERSHIP Mike Loader 01935 410790 and give them a cheer on their way too. records Mike Northcott 01458 273576 2007 uses almost exactly the same TVCRA Vacant route as last year albeit with a few tweaks Time Trials Vacant to improve traffic flow at various points. The organisers are expecting a full entry Road race Shaun Walsh 01749 812298 of 1800 athletes! Newsletter & Clothing There will be full details of the David Notley 01963 440291 marshalling duties nearer the time, Website www.yeovilcc.com plus a supply of tabards and any other equipment that may be needed. 2 National Hill Climb Net gains The West DC of Cycling Time Trials is WIN £2000 of Bike Vouchers! By taking the hosting the National Hill Climb this year Road Biking Survey. BC are inviting all road and it is being held at Cheddar Gorge, bikers to take part in research to understand using the main road up through the Gorge. more about your cycling interests and get They are looking for volunteers to help your opinion of different makes of road bikes. marshal the hill on the day, 28 October. The survey will take around 10 minutes to The event will run from 10:00 to 12:40 complete and as an added bonus all entries and the main road will be closed to received by 31st July 2007 will be entered traffic. Marshals will be there to ensure into a prize draw with a chance to win £2000 the participants, returning riders and worth of vouchers to spend on a bike or bike spectators are kept safe. If you can help accessories. The vouchers will be supplied then please contact David Notley (01963 by Wiggle Ltd and can be redeemed on any 440291 or [email protected]) products through the Wiggle store. in the first instance and he will pass the If you are under 16 you will need permission names onto Toby Wooldridge who is the from your parent or guardian. Follow the Chief Marshall. link from the home page of Road News on the website or go directly to: http://survey.futurenet.com/roadbiking/ Meet me at the Forum The Yeovil CC website now has a link Club Clothing to a bespoke cycling forum (or at least it Most sizes are in stock at the moment, will when we have ironed out a technical although some sizes of road vest are hitch), thanks to Alex O'Brien. The joint running short. venture with Canons Tri Club will give all Bibshorts, short sleeved road vests, the cyclists in the area a chance to chat Training Tops and short and long online, arrange rides, races and express sleeved skinsuits.I will try and bring opinions about all things cycling. one of each, in every size, to the TTs on You will need to register but don't Thursday, or give me a ring if you need worry it's not complicated and you won't something urgently. get tons of spam or junk mail as a result, Contact David Notley (see contacts it's done precisely to stop that. Visit the panel opposite). Yeovil website (www.yeovilcc.com) and click on the link on the menu bar.

Dist Date Event Helper Start 5 19 July (come and try it) Shaun Walsh 19:30 10 26 July Andy Mortimer 19:15 10 2 August Dave Driver 19:15 10 9 August (Club Handicap) Arthur Vince 19:00 10 16 August Michael Loader 18:45 5 23 August Phil Whaites 18:45 5 30 August Rod Bowditch 18:45 5 6 September Darren Edmonds 18:45 5 13 September Paul Sparks 18:45 HC 7 October High Ham 10:30

NOTE: If road conditions affect visibility, the 10 event(s) will be substituted by a 5 mile event on the U30/5 course. 3 Land’s End to John O’ Groats Martin and Sandra Wills (support)

Day 1 Thursday 3rd May 7am Land’s End, 12 mph headwind. The first few miles flew by on the A30. After Bodmin, at 65miles, I stopped for refreshments (bacon rolls and coffee). Bodmin Moor was less of a problem than I expected, reached Oakhampton still going fingers and continued well. On to Coppleton, on. 142.6 miles at 14.7 another break. After mph. Crediton I took on the Day 3 Saturday worst hill of the entire trip. 5th May. 6.45am, a The wind had dropped good start across North during the day but it was Shropshire and into hot. Sweat was pouring Cheshire. The A49 was into my eyes but I knew almost deserted. The if I stopped I would never countryside was very get clipped back into my pretty and the road pedals. It was a grim slog, gently undulating, what after which the run into a contrast awaited me! Between junction 10 Tiverton was pleasantly down hill, or flat, as I (M56) and my emergence from the urban sprawl followed the river. I joined the A38 and after of Warrington, Wigan and Preston, I had to cross a short break before Wellington Sandra went 17 roundabouts and 37 sets of traffic lights, you ahead to find accommodation in Bridgwater. We certainly had to be focused. Somewhere near booked into the Walnut Tree in North Petherton, Wigan I met a cyclist, on a brand new Ridley, I arrived about 17.30. 156.4 miles at 15.4 mph. he said my wheel sounded rough. I agreed and Day 2 Friday 4th May. An easy start, the asked if he thought it would last another 500 Somerset levels on the A38, then over the miles. He looked at my Yeovil kit and it started to Mendips. After Churchill I climbed Red Hill up to dawn on him what I meant. He mumbled good Lulsgate Airport, I have driven up this one lots luck. of times but never appreciated what a pig it is. Sandra was waiting at Broughton with bacon Happily the drop down into Bristol gave me time rolls and coffee. The A6 was quite a busy road to recover before navigating the city and on to but nice and flat as it crossed the Lancashire the old Severn Bridge. There was a fair north Plain. For once the wind was behind me and wind so it was a bit unnerving on the bridge, I made fast progress to Lancaster. On past I was glad to get across. I battled the wind up Carnforth, through Kendal and onto the A6 the Wye valley, fantastic scenery, I may well towards Penrith. The 13 mile climb to Shap Fell do this part again. Sandra met me just before was constantly up but not that steep. I can see Monmouth, more bacon rolls and coffee, then that it must have been daunting to winter traffic I off again on the A466. A tough 15 miles to years ago but now just a long slog to a tired man Hereford, not terrible hills just lots of them. Fairly on a bike. Sandra was waiting at the top and flat through Leominster and on to Ludlow on I had a short rest before donning a windproof the A49. Rendevous in a lay-by on the bypass jacket for the long fast 16 mile descent to for my second break. I stayed on the main road Penrith. 149.9 miles at 15.9mph. past the Craven Arms and Church Stretton. Day 4 Sunday 6th May. Started early The big hills of the Welsh Marches loomed on heading for Carlisle. The A6 is dead straight and either side but the road stayed flat all the way to reasonably flat after Penrith. There was quite a Shrewsbury, where I called it a day at Battlefields. strong wind from the west, which I could have My back wheel was making a worrying noise, it done with coming out of Cornwall, now it was was the bearings. It would spin OK, I crossed my just annoying. On to the A74 with the wind 4 funnelling up the Solway Firth it was hard going fast going all the way to Aviemore. It was into Scotland and I was glad to turn North at certainly colder this far north, now I needed Gretna. What a bad advert for Scotland Gretna full gloves and kept my rain jacket on all day. is, with its tacky souvenir shops, what once must There was snow on the high mountains as I have been a pretty village is now covered in pedalled on towards Inverness. There was one cheap signs. The going seemed hard as I made more long climb after Aviemore at Slochd – I my way past Lockerbie and on to Moffat, where can’t pronounce it but I have cycled up it. Then I joined the A701 and it started raining. I caught it was gently undulating until the equally long up with Sandra just outside Moffat and had drop, quite a view across the Moray Firth, into to shelter in the car for a few minutes until a Inverness. As I crossed Kessock Bridge, two End squally storm passed. Then it was climbing again as the road snaked north to a high point called the Devil’s Beef Tub. The rain followed me up but as I reached the top it ceased and the sun broke through. What followed was 15 miles of exhilarating down hill along the Tweed valley. I don’t think I went below 25mph the whole way and the wind was behind me. My back wheel was complaining but I didn’t care. From here it was quite easy going all the way to Edinburgh. Not a very cycle friendly to Enders coming the city nor well other way waved up. signposted. When They must be mad I I eventually found thought! the Forth Road I was now on the Bridge there was Black Isle, which looked an enormous pretty green to me. tailback of traffic. Sandra was waiting in a I was able to cross lay-by and after a quick on a pedestrian stop she went ahead to walkway, find accommodation. overtaking the I followed on over a traffic, but Sandra long low bridge across had queued for 90 minutes. I threaded through the Cromarty Firth before turning east along its the Hill of Beath, Keilty and Kinross on B roads north shore. The last 20 miles went quite quickly, that ran parallel to the A90. Nice countryside but the wind behind me, it was quite flat following I was getting tired. I thought Perth was about the coastline. About 10 miles from Tain I phoned 152 miles from Penrith and Sandra had arranged Sandra to see how she had got on finding a hotel on that assumption. When I arrived accommodation. “you’re not going to believe in Perth, more tired than I like to admit, I had it... it’s got turrets!” came her reply. The room covered an extra 10 miles, they had been very was bigger than our living and dining rooms hard. 162.5 miles at 15.0 mph combined. There was a Jacuzzi and a view over Day 5 Monday 7th May On the A9 north to the sea. The food was good, yet we seemed to Pitlochory, then began the long gradual climb up be the only guests. 148.7 miles at 15.7mph. 88 Glen Garry. The wind was still westerly, although to go! not as gusty, and it was dry. As the road swung Day 6 Tuesday 8th May My intention had west around the Cairngorms it got harder. been to finish at John O’ Groats and then look Sandra met me at the Pass of Drumochter, for accommodation, but as the hotel in Tain refreshed with bacon rolls and coffee I found was so good we booked a second night. The it much easier as the road turned north, then day started well, I ticked off the first few miles northeast and predominantly down hill. It was to Dornoch, Golspie and on to Brora in fine

5 form. The sea was on my right and visibility was (under the signpost) and that was that. Ambition good enough to see the oil platforms off the realised, I loaded the bike into the car and we set Scottish coast. After reaching Helmsdale things off south, back to the Jacuzzi. I had cycled. 87.7 began to change. I had been warned of an evil miles at 12.9 mph hill and it was. I ran out of gears in the first 50 Total: 5 days 7 hrs. Cycling time: 56 hrs 38 mins. yards. It was long, Average: 15.02mph. steep and horrible. I Total distance: struggled on to the 847.7miles. top, recovering over the next couple of Summary: miles, where I passed • Having support a group of End to made the trip much Enders doing 50 more enjoyable as miles a day. This was the worry of finding their last day, they'd accommodation, been on the road carrying clothes, 18 days. Met Sandra spares etc and just just before Berriedale having someone and I fortified myself being there meant all with...quess what?. I had to do was ride. The group came by • The drivers I while I was stopped. encountered were Berriedale was another Helmsdale, I always courteous and I never felt in any danger. The thought dale meant valley in old English, now I only exception to this was three near misses by think it means hideously long and steep in old mobile homes. Scottish. I re-passed the other End to Enders on • I saw the complete Observers Books of animals the climb, some were off and walking, some and birds killed on the roads. Highlights include were weaving from side to side and a couple an owl outside Launceston and two very large were doing alright, they had triples. There would deer on the A9 in Scotland. Strangely not many have been a third nasty climb at Dunbeath but badgers outside the West Country! they have built a bridge over the top of the • It’s much colder up north. Take full gloves and village. I was happy to look down on the roofs of overshoes. the houses as I sped by. • No technical problems, only the wheel After this the road climbed again and the bearings (thankfully they held out). Not even a trees ran out, just open moor land and the wind, puncture. that had been a light breeze when I set off, was • I would advocate bacon rolls and coffee as the now a 20 mph gale straight from the north. perfect long distance fuel. Forget energy bars, No more cruising along at 20 mph on the flat gels and isotonic supplements, when the going I was working hard to make 10. The hills and gets tough you need proper food, preferably the previous 5 days’ exertions had come home fried. to roost. I struggled on, my plans of finishing by • At the start at Land’s End I was probably fitter 12.30pm a fast diminishing dream. The next 35 than I have been for the last 7 years. After the miles were probably some of the worst of my ride I was very tired for over a week. My right cycling career. I pushed on feeling weaker and knee was giving problems climbing, my left weaker. A couple of brief stops either side of Achilles tendon was sore and I had a bad back. Wick perked me up along with the thought that How the riders on the do three the finish was getting ever nearer. At last I found times the distance I did, in three weeks at twice myself climbing the final hill then freewheeling the speed, without falling apart is amazing. Then down to where the land ran out. Only the again I am twice as old as they are. Orkneys lay ahead. On reflection I may have been able to knock off There’s nothing much at John O’ Groats, a few hours if the wind had been in my favour just a line to cross and the signpost to have your but I think this was my best effort. I don’t plan to picture taken under. I arrived at 2 minutes to have another go. 2pm. I registered my journey and got my End to End form stamped. A nice man took my picture 6 The committee meets on the second Monday Treasurer drew the committee’s attention of every month at the Sports Club. to the fact that the income we generate May from subs only just covers the expenditure on affiliations. All income is from event Matters Arising Proposed we write to BC promotion at present. Bank Accounts were all requesting lead-car drivers and race marshals healthy. Discussion followed, no decisions. be offered ‘free’ Bronze (day) Membership. Time Trial Secretary Stu Dodd had been General Secretary Notice about the asked to open the Sports Pavilion for the Governments proposed changes to the High CATI events, yet to confirm availability. It Way Code, which recommends that cyclists was decided that as none of the evening TT use cycle paths where they are provided. team required expenses the amount available Concerns exist about who might be liable if would remain unchanged, until such time as there was a road accident involving a cyclist we have an appointed organiser. The 2-up, and motor vehicle, and the cyclist had not which was cancelled in May, will be run as used the cycle path. part of the first event in July. Open 25. Stuart Treasurer Income: Membership £211.00; Wroot has been scheduled to be away on Clothing £ 96.00; Catering £29.47; 10mTT business and will not be able to organise on £88.88; Ham Hill RR £537. Expenditure: the day (15 July). He will get everything done TVCRA £ 40.00; Newsletter £23.52 prior to leaving (8 July). GM agreed to be Time Trial Secretary The recent Open Event the designated Organiser with DN assisting. had 50 Entries and made good profit. YCC NA was asked to open the Sports Pavilion, he won the Team prize. Evening TTs are going needs to renew his pass, and will confirm. well, recent 2-Up was cancelled due to poor Road Race Secretary Report on progress for weather, but may be re-scheduled. Open 10 the JAMRR. GM to collect cakes. TVCRA Statement of Accounts to AN. ‘Come-and- numbers were in the garage. Lead Drivers Try’ 5 mile TTs are 21st June and 19th July. Nick and Mike N. GM to organise marshals Committee agreed to purchase some more ideally 12 required. MN to do gear check, 4 Marshall Jackets, Race No.s and Red Flags to juniors. S Wroot will do camera at finish. DT cover those that had been lost. to time. Catering C Vince to be asked. MN Road Race Secretary The merits/benefits asked not be named as Chief Judge next year. of Radio Communication between Race Entry cheques passed to DT. Cars was discussed, following comments Membership Secretary 51 paid up. from Commissaries at the recent Ham Hill/ Runs Secretary Steady with regular core of Pittards RR event. Good report from the Race riders (6-10) occasionally more. Commissaries. Records Secretary New records are being Membership Secretary 48 paid up members. claimed. M Loader the Club 5 record (11:02). Runs Secretary Steady with regular core of 2-up 10 record M Loader and S Walsh riders (6-10) occasionally more. (20:39) – also would be vets record. Dave Press Secretary, Records Secretary No report Driver had also submitted a claim and Shaun’s TVCRA Representative Mark Plummer has 30 was still to be ratified. agreed to be the YCC representative – Thanks TVCRA Representative Not present Mark!! Invite him to Committee meetings. Press Secretary Occasional coverage. Newsletter Editor April edition sent out. Newsletter Editor Next newsletter will be June published after the Open 25. An offer had General Secretary DN was authorised to been received to set up a joint Forum (online) proceed with the purchase of Race Numbers, with Canons Tri was discussed and agreed. Red Flags, Marshals Jackets and TT Any Other Business Has anyone received the Numbers. Mark Plummer’s contact details CTC magazine, we have paid the affiliation had been forwarded to AN, AN to contact fee? None present had. It was noted the Bike Mark Plummer re committee Somerset website was more like a Team Tor Treasurer Income: Membership £52.00; 2000 website. ML had written to Graham Clothing £ 30.00; Evening TTs £ 209.42. Bagley requesting it better reflect the diversity Expenditure: Road Peace Affiliation £ 20.00; of clubs in the area. Welsh Escort Group £ 113.00. Final account West DC needs marshals to help with the for HH/Pittards RRs show profit of £391.64. National Hill Climb. 7 REBELS WITH A CAUSE By Tony Taylor In the sporting world of rugby, we hear carrying more, or to what can only be described about the merits and claims of League versus as mini kit-bags. Union, but from 1942 to 1958, the same was One's spare tubular tyre would be folded very much common place in the sport of cycle twice, with a plastic advertising wrapper - racing. With the formation of the British League Kodak or an ice cream firm were popular ones, of Racing Cyclists (B.L.RC. ) in 1942, road around to protect it, and strapped under the racing as practised on the Continent of Europe, saddle with a toe strap. Testers had traditional rapidly gained an enthusiastic following. Many saddle bags, and only rode their racing wheels new fashion images came from the mainly in time trials, carrying them by way of an imported equipment and clothing, to what was attachment to each side of their front hub. a predominately young market. It replicated Their traditional cycle clothing had remained the Continental scene, and emphasised the unchanged since before the war, and consisted of differences between the fixed wheel, one brake heavy baggy shorts in summer, and plus-fours in time testers, and National Cycling Union winter. Their racing kit was black alpaca jacket (N.C.U) track-men, as opposed to the new breed and black tights, but did change to black jerseys of colourful, stylish and fashion conscious road- and shorts after the war. men. Whenever the two factions passed on the The 'gen ' road-man wore either denim jeans road, the greeting of 'Up the League' brought - new to Britain at this time, or a track suit. The the automatic response 'Up the Union'. bottom of the legs were always pulled up to just If you displayed this new image of the below the knee, with long white Richelieu socks, Continental road-man in Britain, you were which bore the name of the famous French 'gen' as the saying was at the time. There political and religious figure. Perhaps because were however some called 'tuggos', who were white was not the most appropriate colour for merely posers that did not train or race, but a clothing item near an oily chain, these later rode around the town on smart road-bikes changed to being coloured, and eventually to twiddling a low gear, often wearing sunglasses either tartan or diamond patterned. Racing and frequently looking at their reflection in jerseys for road-men were coloured for the first shop windows! The most common method of time, but both these and racing shorts were carrying anything, was in a cloth musette bag, woollen - non wind resistant, irritating to the usually with some advertising on it, slung across skin in hot weather, and when wet became the shoulder. These later changed to larger bags sodden and lost their shape, and with food etc made from canvas or deck-chair material for in the rear pockets, making them hang over the back of the saddle! There was a definite affinity between road- men and the jazz culture that prevailed at this time, with a number of road race promotions bearing the names of well known jazz musicians, the Charlie Parker Memorial RR. being a notable one. Training for road racing was in groups, and this resulted in numerous 'chain gangs' springing up an over the country, mainly around the large centres of population. These training runs would always be on the same course on set evenings, with sprints for any 30 mph signs, and for the final stop - the transport cafe. The so called training rides, were often in fact as hard as any road race, and were in some areas contested by groups of riders larger than the average In November 1942 a collection of organisations came road race field. There were many famous cafe together to form the British League of Racing Cyclists rendezvous up and down the country, most of with Percy Stallard (above) as event organiser. which have now gone. Those were the days!

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