27 April- Weather Window

After five days of cold windy weather which was to be followed by appalling weather at the weekend, there was a brief 'weather window' for the Friday Chaingang, with light winds and beautiful red skies (see photo). Most of the usual suspects were present although several of us noted that we haven't seen Paul B or Ant for ages. Duncan felt very tired as he has stepped up training in preparation for the South Downs way randonnee , so his legs were feeling done in, despite this he still managed to trouse myself, Derek and Steve D up Stonestile.

The ride was very pleasant and it didn't get dark until the start of Stonestile lane, so the drag up to Broadoak didn't seem as never ending as it usually does.

The Friday Chaingang will continue every Friday until the first Friday in June when we switch to two circuits of the off road circuit at Bewl Water.

S.C

Chaingang Wednesday 26th April

An appropriately dreich* night for end of 2011-2012 winter chain gang season with the usual  hardy Hastings CC souls turning out plus Slavek Giecewicz & sub hour man John Cordner, our friends from Eastbourne Rovers fresh from great times in ESCA 25 - not forgetting big Dave H-H making the trip over as well - all that winter training paying off now eh lads? We'll hopefully see you at some of the summer events -  I'd like to try the Thursday night hilly TT the Rovers hold up Beachy head - in August I think?

Ivan doing big turns on the front towing a small train behind with Slavek and Malc's new tubs and I putting in some turns doing hard work riding fast steady tempo in rain and strong winds.  Steve keeping the gruppetto in order.  Lively social chat in Traffers afterwards including looking at a photo of Jon's great uncle Alf Engers Shorter drilled out TT bike.   On a similar bike in 1978 he set a record  for 25 miles in less than  50 minutes without modern tech like disc wheels and aero bars etc -  a record that stood until 1990.

 The club TTs start next Wednesday May 2nd with two Broad Oaks, meet 6.30 pm at the fire station on A28, just past the Udimore road. First rider off 7pm. 8 mile course on rolling B roads.

 

Dreich* Scots origin - A combination of dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and miserable weather. At least 4 of the above adjectives must apply before the weather is truly dreich - urban dictionary

Steve's Friday night runs continue till May, when some  offroad rides will be organised. Contact Chris Parker or Steve for details of weekend clubruns and early birds etc. Chaingang will be starting up again in September, have a good summer!

Hastings times in ESCA's 25 and 10 mile TTs

Chris Chapman and his team from H&StL CC made a great job of promoting ESCA’s 25 on Sunday morning. All 13 Hastings riders on the start sheet finished with Simon Casebourne getting his name on the Club’s Opening 25 Trophy with a great sub–hour ride. Malcolm Daly has made great progress these last two seasons and smashed his PB. Joe Jenner was fastest junior and ironman triathlete Sarah King put in a great time on her first ride for the club. Hastings also had a team of four finish Saturday’s ESCA 10.


Sunday 22 April 2012 East Sussex Cycling Association 25 mile time trial on the G25/89 Uckfield course

Simon Casebourne 59:53
Malcolm Daly 1:02:16 a PB by several minutes
Greg Cahill 1:02:58
Chris Watson 1:03:17
Joe Jenner (junior) 1:05:07
Simon Newell 1:05:31
Tim Carpenter 1:07:47
Sarah King 1:07:53 a great debut by an ironman triathlete
Tim Miles 1:10:46
Jay Miles 1:14:25
Jonathan Rawle 1:17:32
John Fowler 1:17:50
Chris Parker 1:20:57


Saturday 21 April 2012 East Sussex Cycling Association 10 mile time trial on the G10/87 East Hoathly course

Simon Newell 24:24
Joe Jenner (junior) 25:41
Tim Carpenter 24:44
Chris Parker 30:04

21/4- Dave Earle-y Bird

A rare but welcome guest appearance from David Earle on today's short Early Bird ride. Also present were myself, Duncan, Paul K, Mita and Doug. According to the weather forecast we had a small window of opportunity before yet more rain, so we set off at 8:05 into the cold but sunny countryside. The Beckley 35 is the hardest of all the short early bird rides with a particularly nasty hill near Westfield, the riding only really gets easier at battle from where its mainly downhill to the seafront. Dave is not a fan of hills but still managed to outride myself and Duncan who were feeling a little jaded after the Friday chaingang. The weather forecast was spot on and the last 10 miles had to be ridden through light rain, so we arrived at Witherspoons for breakfast cold and wet. It felt more like an early march ride. When will it warm up?

Distance 36 miles Av speed 14.5 mph

Fri Chain 20/4 -Haran's Last Hurrah!

Record breaking turnout for the Friday chaingang with nine riders including Haran on his last ever ride with us. Haran has now finished his work at the conquest hospital and is going back to London to continue his studies. The weather forecast was dry but as we entered the Rye nature reserve there were some impressive looking black clouds to the North in just the direction we were heading. Sure enough, as we rode up the long drag to Broadoak it started raining but by the time we reached the top the rain had stopped. Riding up stonestile with wet roads is not a good idea especially when two of the riders are on fixed so we decided to main road it all the way back up to the ridge. I must say this was a lot easier than stonestile, and from my position near the back I enjoyed the view of eight red lights all strung out along the main road.

S.C

Bunch of Five and Pub meet next week Chaingang 18 April

Weather looked threatening so just five of us out tonight Simon G, Jon M, Chris P, Chris W and Dave H-H over from Eastbourne. Tough headwind, fast blow back, 25 mph on Cooden Drive, misty rain but heavy stuff stayed off til 9 when we were nearly home.

& here's details from Chris Parker of the first 6 club TTs - Broad Oak is a lovely "sporting course" on quiet lanes, Ninfield likewise with a bit on the Herstmonceux & Pevensey main road.

DATE COURSE CODE MEET START

Wed 2 May Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 9 May Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 16 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 23 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 30 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 6 June Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900

Entry is increased to £3 for all riders due to CTT levy now being £2.

Juniors only £1 though and they must wear hard shell helmets in all TTs and races

Eastbourne Rovers and Lewes have made their club TTs compulsory hard shell helmets for all riders.
H&StL CC recommends that everyone wears one.

It is also recommended to have a flashing red rear light

Steve Curtis writes :

Next weds weds, 25 April is the last weds chaingang of the year (the friday one continues until the end of May) To celebrate we intend to meet for couple of drinks at Traffers pub in Bexhill after the ride (I will leave some locks there) This will also give us a chance to look back at what has been our most successful season ever and to look at how the chaingangs are to be organised next year. The location for Traffers is

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/30/30913/Traffers_Bar/Bexhill_on_sea

If you have not already joined as a member for 2012 this would be a great opportunity to join, membership is just £10 for the year or £7.50 if we are your second cycle club. Because of various issues we are encouraging all riders from the chaingangs, club rides and early bird rides to become fully signed up members, so please bring along your form* and monies if you are not already a member for 2012. If the weather is terrible, myself and Chris Parker will still meet at usual place, the Bridge Cafe even if it is just to cycle to the pub.

* email hastingscc@hotmail.co.uk for form, thanks.

Trying out Track Cycling at Herne Hill

Took myself up to Herne Hill velodrome on Saturday for a track induction and basic track training session. I arrived there a little apprehensive as signs of recent rain (which caused the previous weeks sessions to be called off ) were obvious.When I got there the sun and breeze had dried the track and an intermediate session was in progress.The track was relaid last October and its superb, the surroundings are shabby but the track, wow.You sign on and get given a wrist-band, track bike and helmet.About 45 people were doing the induction (about a third ladies ) and the majority on a show of hands, hadnt ridden a fixie before.The idea is to do the induction then if you like it stay on for the basic training session.It was very well strucured , we started off with a slow lap then had to split ourselves into 3 groups.Slow group to ride on the bottom, medium(my choice) middle and "cocky",coaches words on the top of the track.we all then rode round doing half lap through and off for the rest of that session.The next session we all rode round in 2 lines at the bottom of the track,when this was going smoothly and you were riding in pairs the riding coach got you both to sprint off the front to the back of the train, good fun that.This went on with riders retiring as they tired and the group getting smaller and faster.Then we got into one line and a coach got on the front and towed us round at a brisk pace before pulling off and left us to ride and overtake constantly being told to look over yor shoulder and signal.My legs were burning a bit after fri.nights c-gang but I loved every minute of it,the time flew by and I hope to go back and all for £8 ! It was honestly one of my best times on a bike, hope to see you soon
Simon Grogan

Mr White revealed! Chaingang Wed 11th

Just seventeen riders bet against some threatening looking rainclouds spoiling our fun, and we all got lucky. I was late setting off - just had time to wolf down a hastily cobbled together plate of spaghettti, borlotti beans and cocktail sausages after seeing "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists" at the Odeon. Caught up with Chris P and pals, didn't catch the others. Spaghetti stayed down, more luck.

Somewhat strung out on the return trip back, tho' a big bunch reformed at Cooden while we gave way to traffic. Joe, the Simons, Malc, it was anyone's guess. We put on a nice little demo of interval training for Club chairman Stuart Crabbe as we passed his house ( with the chessboard outside) and then Swavek led us out along Bexhill Drive, I had a late dig - it was in the bag surely when lo! Paul Horta Hopkins swept by. But its not over - as the mysterious Mr White steamed past us all with one foot on the bars sipping a cup of Earl Gray, whilst perusing the letters page of the Times. That's when I realised: hardriding John Corder, (also formerly referred to in these pages as Eastbourne John) and Mr. White are one & the same! . . . elementary.

Wednesday evening time trial series for Hastings CC begins in May, enter on the line, £2 for club members, more details soon.

Chris Watson

REMEMBERING ALF ENGERS

Fantastic to find we have a descendent of the magnificent Alf Engers in the local cycling community and yes Jon, he really was something special and a really big name in the 1960s when I was racing. I knew his father- in- law quite well who kept me up to date with his exploits but the last time I actually spoke to the man himself was 27^th June 1969 when he turned up to ride a Polytechnic CC evening 10 on the old St Albans F4 course. He rode it as a 2-up with, according to my notes Alan Shorter, although I’m not entirely convinced, but whoever it was they did a 20 something and made it look like a club run. According to my diary I did a 24.43 on a Pat Hanlon track bike riding 86” fixed. I only ever did two more 10s racing mainly 25s until the Hill Climb season started in October but packed for good when I met my wife to be in the 100 Club in Oxford Street in Nov 69.

In 1997 I was persuaded to give time trialling another go and did a 10 on the Pevensey course but very nearly packed in again straight afterwards as it was so bloody painful. They say if you remember the 60s you weren’t really there so I enclose a picture of myself from those far off days just to prove I was.

Tim Miles

Marshalling at ESCA 25 on 22 April

Chris Chapman needs people to help with the marshalling at the ESCA 25 that we are responsible for. If you could help out please email Chris Chapman on

drcpchapman@tiscali.co.uk

8 April- VTT Tour Of The Weald Sportive

Derek recommended this sportive to us having done it for the first time last year. This was a great route of 66 miles in an area where I have never cycled before despite it only being a 35 minute drive away. There was not as much climbing as last week but even so total ascent was 1,146 metres. Taking part were myself, Derek, Jon S, Paul K, Steve D and Malcolm. Malcolm was riding an old airlite 100 that someone gave him (still awaiting return of repaired carbon Giant)but still managed to beat all of us except for Paul k who came in an impressive 19th. We all enjoyed the route and I have saved it to my GPS so we aim to repeat it on our own sometime in October, the roads being perfectly safe even in damp conditions (weather today was cold and damp)

S.C

Jon has royal blood!

Hi Steve, Thought you might find this interesting:

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/riders/engers-riders.html

This is my Great Grandfather who I have just been told was a serious cyclist in his time. I can see why having read this. Jon Stainsby

Chaingang 4 April- For The Joy Of Chips

I couldn't resist taking a picture of Paul B under this sign as it has been his love of chips that have stopped him doing the Friday chaingang all winter and led to his increase in mass. Another great turn out with 21 riders. Good to see our two lady riders Maxine and Caroline were present for their second time as was John S's friend Gavin , this time without the jeans!. Ivan led out and was still in front by the top of Galley Hill but on the descent a group of geared riders flew past. Ivan gave chase but could not catch up with this group and ended up in no man's land with a group led by Malcolm following behind. At the back were myself Paul B , John S and Derek. They were all riding well and I ended up getting dropped with only the newbies behind me. On the way back all the fast riders were content to stay behind mother goose Ivan, all the way to Cooden drive when Matt went past Ivan with a burst of speed but then the mysterious 'Mr White' (unknown rider dressed in white on a white framed bike) sped past Matt to arrive first at the Bexhill lights, another impressive performance from the mysterious Mr White who even impressed Pete Tadros a few weeks before. At the back of the field and evenly matched were myself, Derek and John S who kept taking turns at the front until my strength faded and they disappeared into the distance on cooden drive.

S.C/IJ

BAPTISM OF FIRE

On Saturday Joseph Jenner entered the SERRL Criterium race for Cat 3 & 4 Riders Women & Juniors. A 90 minute race. He did well to finish the race as it was his first criterium which primarily contained men. Joseph decided he wanted to try Road Racing as he has been Time Trialing over the last year and surely it cannot be that different, as you are predominantly in a group rather than on your own. Wrong, it is different and it's not the same as what you see on the tele, and not everybody ends up in the Peloton, and if you are not, then you have one long time trial on your hands. Pre race was easy. Joseph knew which riders to look out for and the pre-race plan was just to sit on their wheel right until the end, then just go for it. Pre-race plans and actually what happens, can be, and in this situation, are completely different. First of all, it was a Category 3 & 4 Criterium with (as we found out quickly) about 6 Cat 3 riders with Cat 2 aspirations. Each rider is allowed a few warm up circuits before the race starts, and then the Commissar requests all riders to form up at the start line. It was at this point that Joseph realised there were no other young riders in this race and looking around found out that the vast majority were men in their mid twenties.

Being the young novice, Jo opted to start at the back (thereby keeping out of trouble). This was I'm afraid a tactical error. Once the starter’s siren had sounded the 6 aspiring Cat 2 riders shot off at great speed catching everyone by surprise. The idea was to break up the field quickly, and give a great deal of open space between these 6 and the rest of the field. Mission accomplished by the first turn. Meanwhile at the back of the peloton (which was now disappearing in front of Joseph) was a young 16 year old trying rapidly to catch up and hold on. It was not to be, and the peloton increased in speed and maintained a distance (always just out of view for Jo). The pre-race plan fell to pieces, and over the next 1 hour and 30 mins Jo ended up doing a 31 mile time trial. He didn't give up, and Dad was spurring him on with, ' you’re closing the gap, well done, keep going'. As the race continued Joseph was not to see the peloton again until the finish, but he did manage to go past a few stragglers who could not keep up as the race continued. Joseph finally finished with a 'well done son at least you continued to the very end' from the Commissar. A very tired teenager fell asleep in the car on the way home, who in the last few hours had learnt a lot, and realised that Road Racing was a completely different experience to Time Trialing. So is Jo put off by this foray into the Road scene? No he is not. In fact he is now spurred on to do better. Two weeks and we will be back for some more.

One word of warning for those venturing to the Cyclopark. It is not yet officially open (opens in about 6 weeks time). Therefore none of the facilities are open. Signing on and toilets are portacabin style. But more importantly there is no drinking water. Make sure you arrive with full water bottles or otherwise it's a trip to the BP Garage (which does have fuel) down the road. It's also very exposed so anyone going to watch needs to wrap up warm. From a spectators point of view it's good as you can walk around the circuit as the race continues.

I have also attached a few pictures of Joe as well.

Reporting by Peter Jenner

Etape Du Heath- April 1

A number of us took part in the first Etape Du heath, a sportive organised by SiS. Myself and some of the others were wary of tackling this as it was a hilly route of 77 miles. The weather was lovely and sunny but very cold, we were all shaking and shivering at the start at HaywardsHeath. After a crowded electronic start and fighting our way through indecisive car drivers, myself and Derek had become separated from the rest. This was a shame as before long we were fighting our way up 'The wall' and it would have been good fun to see everyone suffering! After gaining altitude on the wall we lost it all in a fabulous decent parallel to the wall, in the distance I caught sight of Steve D but he pulled away again and was out of sight. Derek and I regrouped with the others at the first feeding stop, I was a bit disappointed to see only a few squares of flapjack and some jelly babies. Paul B and Steve D were not hanging around and set off before myself and Derek barely had time to throw a few jelly babies down our throats. We naturally split up into ability groups with Ant, Paul B, Paul K and Dave HH going off at the front with me riding on my own and Derek some way behind me. The next 30 miles of the ride were the hardest with almost no flat sections at all, it was an excellent route with narrow country roads, some of the descents were quite hairy as there was barely enough room for a bike to pass a car coming up. Much to my surprise I caught up with Paul b and we rode together for a while until we got to 'Cob Hill'. This hill has a similar gradient to 'Chick Hill' so its a real killer . There was a familiar figure at the side of the road struggling with a wheel, it was Dave HH. His chain had gone over the largest sprocket when he shifted down too quickly and got stuck between the sprocket and the hub, despite our efforts we could not shift it and Dave had no choice except to call for the sweep wagon. I pressed on, now on my own for the next 20 miles or so before meeting up with the others at the main feeding station just 15 miles from the end. Here the timing was halted, there were limitless cups of tea and we all overdosed on jelly babies. Nowthe riding was much flatter and our average speed started to pick up . Derek noticed that Paul K's wheel wasn't lined up properly, by the time we had fixed it everyone else was gone. We eventually caught back up and went past Ant and Derek , Paul k overtook me and shot off up the road , unfortunately he missed the turn and ended up going the wrong way. After ringing his mobile several times I managed to tell Paul his mistake and he came back to the junction where he had gone wrong. For the last 10 miles were worked together as a pair but were unable to catch up with the others. At the front there was a competition between Paul B and Steve D who were both wishing to achieve gold standard. Paul came in first but Steve had the fastest time overall, they both got silver, the rest of us got bronze.

A very well organised event with an excellent well marked route. Our only criticism was the poor food on offer, but we will be back next year !

77.5 miles Av speed 15.1

S.C

Friday Chaingang- 30 march

Just 5 riders were out on friday: Nick, Paul B, John S, Simon G, Ivan. Many of us were saving our legs for the Etape Du heath on the Sunday. Paul B and John S were well matched on Stonestile with the pair of them riding neck and neck up the hill before a big push seized victory for Paul at the top.

P.B

Chaingang- Into the Light 28 March

This was the first weds chaingang since the clocks went forward, so it was quite a novelty to meet in the light. It was an excellent turnout with many riders, I intended to count everyone at Pevensey but never got the chance. A warm welcome to Nick's partner Maxine on her first chaingang, riding a carbon specialized that she had recently bought from Paul B.Pete Tadros was on flying form as usual and set off at the front with everyone in pursuit. I was in a group near the back with Paul B, and Derek. As we arrived at Herbrand walk I was waved down by Simon G who has suffered a puncture from a pebble and couldn't fix it as his pump had packed up a few days before. My pump wasn't fairing much better so we had to flag down the next rider to come along , Chris Parker. My pump then decided to play ball and we soon had the tyre up. We were hoping to make it to the roundabout before the chaingang turned for home but they passed us about 5 minutes before the end. Working as a team we headed back determined to at least meet up with them at Bexhill but unfortunately we got caught by the barriers at the crossing. The only riders I eventually caught up with were Maxine and nick on Galley hill. good to see Chris Parker getting back in form as I could not drop him on the way back despite my best efforts.

S.C