THE Yeovil Cycling Club May 2008 The season opens with two close fought races The Ham Hill and Pittards Road Races are the first major races of the season for a lot of riders. Both races were well subscribed with 80 riders contesting the shorter Pittards Road Race and 55 starting the Ham Hill. Both events went round the 15 mile circuit at a particularly quick pace this year. Leaving quite a number of riders falling off the back in the early laps. The Pittards averaged 24.8 mph whilst the higher category riders clocked an average of 26.2mph. The whole event was extremely well organised, as usual our thanks go to Shaun and his team of helpers. The five motorcycle marshals from the Welsh National Escort Group did a fantastic job controlling both the race and the traffic. Since we have started to use them for the road races we have had far less problems and drivers take the event far more seriously when they see 'official' escort riders. Both events saw a lot of attacking and strong riding, not only on the grinding drag up Coppits hill into Yeovil (pictured right) but all round the course. There were a couple of problems, one which resulted in a trip to Yeovil hospital for Tom Southam, but Hold the front page!! no serious damage. The other was when a After months of speculation and horse, complete with rider, was spooked by numerous rumours it has finally the bunch, fortunately again there were no happened. A momentous event that we serious casualties in that one. certainly never expected to see, more important than the Tour in the UK, There were bunch sprint in both races, more exciting than the ToB starting on the Pittards was won by Barry Clewett our doorstep. Quite why it did not make (Bournemouth Arrow) whilst Dave Clarke the National news we shall never know. (Team Lacuna) took the honours in the Ham Are you sitting down? Are you ready Hill. There was a valuable lesson to be had in for this? Well turn the page and see for the latter, turn to page 4 for more details.... yourself......... Look Garry has a new bike!!!!!!!!!!!! Carbon fibre forks, Easton wheels, a Shimano groupset and even flightdeck Club Runs shifters! Our Chairman and President has There are now two well established runs finally joined the 21st Century. The second each Sunday, leaving from the Sports Club at approx 9:15. The longer ride, led by Nick club run is now getting serious, we have Armstrong covers 55 to 60 miles, whilst the already seen a marked difference as Garry shorter, and more leisurely ride averages said "I am only 100 yards behind on the 45 to 50 miles. So far we have managed to hills now, it used to be 200!" meet at the same coffee stop each week. The longer ride just takes a less direct route. The rides still come back to Yeovil for about SECRETARY Andy Newbury 01935 421352 1pm, but again as separate groups. 12 Wraxhill Road, Yeovil, BA20 2JZ We have acquired some new riders in the MEMBERSHIP Mike Loader 01935 410790 second group and they have been able to 3 Poppy Close, Brympton, Yeovil, BA22 8US discover some of the more interesting back RECORDS Mike Northcott 01458 273576 roads of Somerset and Dorset. No one has been lost yet, well not in the sense they they TVCRA Mark Plummer 01935 824556 didn't get back to Yeovil but there have TIME TRIALS Vacant been quite a few comments on the lines of ROAD RACE Shaun Walsh 01749 812298 "I haven't got a clue where I am now". As the warmer weather has now arrived we NEWSLETTER & CLOTHING can start exploring some more of the Dorset David Notley 01963 440291 lanes (dry and flint free we hope) so why not come and join us on a Sunday morning? 2 Be safe not sorry Open or closed? Sustrans has teamed up with specialist Stormy skies and heavy rain meant that the cycle insurers Butterworths to offer a Open 10 in April was nearly cancelled but comprehensive cycle insurance policy. after a break in the weather at just the right It covers all types of cycle - including time the riders that had either checked, or tandems, recumbents – and covers come in hope, were rewarded with a ride. different types of journeys, from Yeovil CC were well rewarded with nearly a commuting to charity bike rides. With its clean sweep for the host club! Not only did 'all risks' cover, the policy offers peace of Mike Loader win but Dave Driver took the mind if your bike is stolen, involved in a Vets on Standard prize and together with crash or suffers malicious damage. For a Shaun Walsh they took the team prize too. free quotation visit www.ecoinsure.co.uk - 5% off online - or call 0870 141 2324. Thanks to all the helpers, to Paul and Dennis for timekeeping, to all the Yeovil CC members: Nick for pushing off, Derek, Christine, Arthur, Stuart, Colin and Martin for marshalling, and to Jane and Rachel for stocking and running the tea stall. Prize Winners were: 1st Mike Loader, Yeovil CC, 22:11 2nd Mark Wareham, John's Bikes RT 22:13 3rd David Kiddell, Cavalier CC, 22:27 4th Karl Hodson, Trigon, 23:02 5th Andy Wnterbottom, Somerset RC 23:11 Vets Standard Dave Driver, Yeovil CC +6:36 1st Woman Sarah Roberts, Gillingham and Our man in... Singapore District Wheelers 29:38 From Mark Plummer. We’re now in the Team Yeovil CC, middle of our trip and have had a few M Loader, S Walsh, D Driver 1:11:08 days in Singapore. I managed to hook up with the Australia and New Zealand Rota for Evening TT Series to end of July Association (ANZA) Cycling club and get out for a good ride yesterday. I met with 15 MAY 10 19:15 Andy Newbury a small group of about 10 riders at 6:00 am and we then did an hours ride to 22 MAY 10 19:15 Hugo Baldacchino meet up with the rest of the club at ‘The 29 MAY 10 19:15 Colin Williams Longhouse’ – there were about 80 riders 5 JUNE 10 19:30 Ruth Clements meeting there – it was great to be part of. From the Longhouse there were 3 groups 12 JUNE 10 19:30 Arthur Vince for different abilities - I went with the fast 19 JUNE 5 19:30 Robert Martin group (I’d only been at sea for 2 ½ months 26 JUNE 10 19:30 Phil Clements and it was 30+ degrees – so it couldn’t 3 JULY 10 19:30 Christine Vince be too bad could it?!!). We did a 3 hour ride (about 90 Kms) and then met up at 10 JULY 10 19:30 Chris Absolom Starbucks for coffee and recovery. 17 JULY 5 19:30 Dave Driver I’ll hopefully get a chance for another 24 JULY 10 19:15 Phil Waites ride with them mid May. Mind you, it’s still not like riding in good old Blighty – 31 JULY 10 19:15 Nick Young nothing compares with our countryside! 3 CTC Challenge Rides Oooh the pain 1st June 2008 - David Duffield They say it is never over until the fat lady Challenge - Corsham. Join inimitable TV sings, but in the case of road racing it is never cycling commentator David Duffield on over until you are across the line, and if you his favourite on and off-road routes in the are not well clear of the field then celebrating stunning Wiltshire countryside. The route too soon can mean it is all over before it has includes chalk White Horses, Avebury begun. One object lesson learnt the hard way Rings, Salisbury Plain and Stonehedge. by Jon Pain as Dave Clarke, who had been a Small wheeled bicycle inventor Alex marked man throughout the race got the final Moulton is once again opening up his result just inches ahead of the celebrating home in Bradford in Avon for refreshments GWR rider. en route. 21st June 2008 - Ron Kitching Ham Hill. Memorial Challenge - York. This 1. Dave Clarke (Team Lacuna) challenge is named after one of the UK's 60m in 2:17:28 most prominent and colourful cyclists. The 2. Jon Pain (GWR Team) ride includes Ron's favourite routes over 3. Ben Astie (Chippenham Whls.) @ 3 sec. the North Yorkshire Moors including the 4. Richard Tanguy (Unattached) @ 18 sec. spectacular scenery of the Vale of York, 5. Peter Dibben (GWR Team) before the challenging yet rewarding 6. Greg Sandy (Somerste R.C.) climb of White Horse bank. Pittards 31st August 2008 - Phil & Friends 1. Barry Clewett (Bournemouth Arrow) Challenge - Peak District. Now 45m in 1:48.44 firmly established as the UK's match 2. Mark Bird (Team Certini ) for the Etape du Tour, Tour de France 3. Johnathon Griffin commentator, Phil Liggett has joined up 4. Jake Durrant (Mid Devon) the most challenging routes in the Peak 5. Chris Peden (Velocity Bikes C.C.) District. The route doesn't disappoint with 6. John Hyde (Velocity Bikes C.C.) beautiful scenery and challenging terrain including Winnats Pass and Holme Moss. Shaun of the dead CTC Challenge rides offer something Well it could so nearly have been. As some of for every cyclist with the option of family you will no doubt have heard Shaun Walsh routes or 150km and 100km romps. was involved in a nasty accident whilst out The rides follow a simple formula: riding with two friends.