31/3 Tour Of The Weald Sportive

Cold But ready To Ride!

As we drove up to Staplehurst, myself Paul B and Steve B were worried about the amount of ice on the road and knew that the further inland we got the worse it was likely to be. Was this route going to be safe? After signing in we joined up with Steve D, Metin, Andy, Derek and Metin’s friend Stuart before all setting off together. The air was so cold that our fingers soon became frozen so we all rode gently together hoping to warm up. Just three miles into the route the dreaded East Hall Hill appeared in front of us rising up like the lower slopes of the Matterhorn at around 16% elevation. With cold leg muscles nowhere near warmed up, this made the climb even harder. We were all out of the saddle and plodding our way up when I heard heavy breathing and looked round to see that Derek had caught up with me, I was just thinking that Derek was really going for it when next moment he blew up and had to pull over. Determined to avoid the same fate I carried on steadily riding out of the saddle with the objective of just getting to the top without blowing a gasket, I was just going fast enough to slowly pass Steve D and remain in sight of the others. All that height was lost in a steep decent back down to just 60 feet above sea level. Being a poor decender, Steve D had caught me up and the main group lead by Andy had pulled away from me a little. Over the next 5 miles I slowly lost sight of the leading group but had Steve D for company. Another longer but slightly smaller gradient hill appeared. I managed to drop Steve D and rode on my own for the next 5 miles before recognising the upright cycling figure of Metin in the distance. Having passed Metin it wasn’t long before Steve D caught up with me only for me to drop him again on Goudhurst hill. Having discovered the cause of my noisy derailleur to simply be loose bolts my bike’s running gear was working almost perfectly and the old fashioned 36 spoke wheel I had recently put on the front mad for a much plusher ride than the lighter but harsher square rim wheel I had thrown out the day before, unfortunately my back was letting me down and at one point it was so bad I had to pull over to stretch it. This gave Steve D time to catch up with me and we rode into the only refreshment stop together. Here we met up with peter H who had been in the front group but had had to stop to reposition a cleat. Peter said he didn’t want to ride alone so I rode with him all the way back, leaving Steve D and Metin to their own devices. The route was really well way marked so I switched my Garmin to elevation mode which gave a useful heads up for any more hills. At one point we had to shout out our numbers to an official at the side of the road. Why did they want our numbers we thought? The answer soon became apparent when what looked like a cliff face soon came into view on the profile screen. Yet another large hill was going to have to be overcome and this one looked the biggest yet. Saving our energy on the approach we began the climb of what was to be the highest and longest of all the hills. Fortunately the gradient never reached higher than 6.7% so we were able to remain seated for most of it. What goes up must come down and a very steep decent on a wide road followed. Looking at the elevation profile I could see that all that remained was 3 miles of flat riding to the finish but even these proved hard as they were into a cold head wind and the road surface was that rough high friction surface you sometimes get when the council have laid a surface with too many chippings and not enough tarmac. Finally we arrived back at HQ where we met up with Andy, Steve B, Stuart and Paul B. Steve B had been the first one in having dropped the others who came in together. Within the next 15 minutes everyone else arrived safely. This was a tough but excellent ride, my memory had played tricks with me and I only had recollection of the first hill from 2012, I won’t make that mistake again. An excellent well organised event, we will be back next year.

29/3 Early Bird-Guestling Double

Good Turnout Despite The Cold

Taking A Breather After Doleham Halt

Good turnout today despite it being very cold for the time of year . This was only Nick S's second ride with us and also it was good to see Josef back riding with us again. Paul Baxter was late and was half way up Battery Hill as we were descending, so had to quickly turn around and catch us up. This was a brand new 30 miler early bird, 'The Guesting Double'. I wasn't sure what the road surface would be like but I needn't have worried as most of the roads were surprisingly smooth and free of potholes. With it not having rained for a while they were also mainly dry. Nick was nursing a bad hangover having drunk eight pints of crofters bitter (F.I.L.O) from the night before and was hoping the ride would help improve the headache (which only partly worked).This was a nice lumpy route that saved the hardest hills for the end, as it had to finish with the climb up Peter James lane and the last bit of Battery Hill. Myself, Trevor, Paul B and Malc decided to treat ourselves to bacon butties, tea , coffee and cakes in the coast guard cafe at fairlight, putting back all the calories we had just used up!When we came out it was snowing a little. This ride was a nice little warm up for the much harder sportive ride on Sunday (Tour of the Weald) when it is going to be even colder!!!Lets hope that now we are entering April things must surely begin to warm up?

Weds Chaingang 27/3- The South Cliff Slog

Duncan Coulter Rides His Second Chaingang

With Chris "ChainGang" Watson unavailable, Steve was forced to scrape the barrel for a CG report so here briefly is my view of the action.

Most aggressive rider Simon N once again set the pace initially going out to Pevensey,  with Malcolm behind on fixed and the rest of the group strung out behind.

The South Cliff Slog formed a smaller group as Malcolm raced up the slope on his steel fixie, forcing those riders not quite prepared off the back. From there on out Stuart D and I took turns on the front out to Spooky Hill, Stuart riding strongly into a wind that seemed to change direction often, never being helpful.

On the descent of Spooky I took to the front and went as fast as my little legs would allow, continuing until a K or so from the finish, where I promptly blew up and was immediately passed by the bunch and spit out the back. From my distant vantage point I saw the group wind up for the sprint, Stuart Hodd looking strong, but couldn't see who pipped it, sorry!

Reaching Pevensey I took the route through Wartling home, so missed the return action, see you all next week.

Matt

PS- Tadros Alert Tadros Alert Tadros Alert Tadros Alert Tadros Alert Tadros Alert Tadros Alert
Pete Intends to do the chaingang next Wednesfield and intends to record it on Starva !!!!

Liege -Bastogne - Liege Sportive?

 Simon Grogan writes "  I have been looking into doing one of the Spring Classics challenges but went off line for a week and now its getting a bit late especially for the Paris-Roubaix. I would go with Trevor but I do want to enter the challenge (sportive event) the day before the race  and now all the shuttles are fully booked,  so maybe next year on that one. 
Looking around I found the Cyclosport review of Liege-Bastogne-Liege ,its well worth a look. It's the day before the race proper, 20th April, with most of the riders entering on the day. Entry is 20 euros for the 80k ride, 25 for 155k and 30 for the full 270k.There are 5 feed stations,  free insurance, tee-shirt and a kiss from the Mayor or was that a mare? 270k is a bit of a monster but the others are not bad.The fare from Dover is about £85 per car and its 2hr from Dunkirk to Liege. Am not asking for conscripts but just putting it out there,  cheers Simon G."

http://sport.be.msn.com/lblcyclo/2013/eng/

HSCC Time Trial Series And Close Of Season For The Weds Chaingang

Hi All
Chris Parker has asked me to remind everyone that Wednesday 24th April will be the last HSCC Wednesday Chaingang of the current season. We switch to the HSCC Wednesday time trial season instead.

The Friday Chaingang continues until the end of May.

Please see details of the time trial season below (these have also been placed onto the calendar) . Please note that only members of HSCC or other official cycle clubs are insured to ride the time trials. We hope that  many of our friends from the HSCC Wednesday Chaingang will join us.

Lets hope we have a warm summer this year with some balmy evenings where we can all enjoy a post TT pint in the beer garden!

The HSCC Wednesday Chaingang starts up again on August 28th.


DATE COURSE CODE MEET START

Wed 1 May Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 8 May Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 15 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 22 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 29 May Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 5 June Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 12 June Hastings - Rye - Hastings (18) QS/27 1900 1930 late
Wed 19 June Hastings - Rye - Hastings (18) QS/27 1900 1930 late
Wed 26 June Hastings - Rye - Hastings (18) QS/27 1900 1930 late
Wed 3 July Pevensey 10 G10/83 1900 1930 late
Wed 10 July Pevensey 10 G10/83 1900 1930 late
Wed 17 July Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 24 July Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 31 July   Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 1830 1900
Wed 7 August Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 14 August Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1830 1900
Wed 21 August Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 1815 1845 early
Sun 20 October Battery Hill - hill climb QHC/16 0900 0930


The Club’s Points Trophy is based on the events listed above.  Points are awarded to first claim members for each event as follows:
1st = 12 points, 2nd = 10 pts, 3rd = 9 pts etc.   11th and all finishers = 1 point.

Junior and women's (J/W) competitions (subject to revision if too few members / rides):
1st = 6 points, 2nd = 4 pts, 3rd = 3pts, 4th = 2 pts, 5th and all finishers = 1 point

The winner of the series is the rider with the highest score from their ten (*) best scoring events.
In the event of a tie on points the outcome of all head to head contests shall decide the placings.
(*)  Riders are required to timekeep or marshal at least one event, otherwise a maximum of 9 count.

ENTRY FEES:  All riders must be members of a club affiliated to Cycling Time Trials (CTT).

Senior riders (H&StL plus private TTs):  £3.00 Hill climb:  £2.00     Junior riders:  £1.00


COURSE CODE Car Parking (if you must!) / Meeting Place

Broad Oak circuit (8) QS/19 North of Broad Oak crossroads, Oakfield Close
Ninfield circuit (14) GS/883 Downs View off Church Lane, Ninfield
Hastings - Rye - Hastings (18) QS/27 Nr. Hillcrest School in Old Winchelsea Road
Pevensey 10 G10/83 Lane by west gate of Pevensey castle (Rovers meet)
Ivychurch 10 Q10/8 Newchurch Village Hall
Battery Hill - hill climb QHC/16 Country Park car park by Fairlight Church or V. Hall

Final Score: Potholes - 2, Chaingang - 13. March 20

Fifteen riders, two degrees above freezing.  Those that rode in Hardriders on Sunday seemed to be on form and nice to see return of some regulars we haven't seen in a while, among them Shaun, Nathan R and Paul H-H with a new job road testing a flash german carbon bike for a website. Unpadded carbon fiber saddle has added bonus of a free pound of raw mince with every long ride. In fact the exotica arms race just got hotter as Barney unveiled  his new racebike; 6.2 kg with the good wheels on, shaking it down for upcoming Tour of Malta. If this keeps up I'll have to consider putting my 9.5 kg  1970s steel winter bike out to pasture or on a diet, could lose the comfy brooks saddle for 600g for starters, but then again, as the Great Boffo himself always said,

 "Remember, its the man not the machine"

so maybe I'll keep training and crashing into ditches on old clunkers and save the race bike for best, tho' it could stand lose a kilo or two as well.

Simon N punctured first on Herbrand walk, lots of  stray pebbles and pot holes along here, then Stuart Hodd, while ripping along in the lead. Otherwise a lively enjoyable ride, large-ish front group with Nathan R riding strong on the front but enough room for a bit of tactical fun for the rest of us.

All the best to our Time Trial team this Sat in the Southborough "10" and to Tom Norris riding the 200km "Men of Kent" Audax on Sunday.

Chris Watson

Blog Reaches New Heights!

Our blog goes from strength to strength. For the first time that I have seen, we have gone over 700 weekly page views. looking at the all time chart you can see the upward growth of our readership (the profile is looking like that of K2!). Great to see contributions from new blog authors such as Dave HH, Chris C, Simon G and most of all from the gifted pen of Trevor Deeble! keep the reports coming lads. If anyone else wants to be considered for access  to the blog as a blog author, send an email to Steve Curtis.