TT Weekend - 5th Feb(18km) and 6th Feb (34km)
Saturday 5 February & Sunday 6 February 2011
Timed by Mrs S Balcombe & Mr M Kilby, to whom we extend our thanks.
OVERALL RESULTS
2nd Chris McNamara Team Corley 1.18.05
3rd Matt Green VL Technics 1.18.08
4th Dave Dent Whitelink 1.19.16
5th Simon Earnest AW Cycles 1.20.34
6th David Shepherd GS Stella 1.22.02
7th Simon McNamara SDBikes 1.22.11
8th Gary Brind SDBikes 1.24.34
9th Mark Clothier SDBikes 1.24.38
10th Paul Mellen Horsham CC 1.25.54
Veterans on Standard Veterans
Fastest Dave Dent +9.26 Fastest Dave Dent 1.19.16
Second Geoff Smith +8.30 Second D.Shepherd 1.22.02
Third David Shepherd +8.02 Third Paul Mellen 1.25.54
Team of Three
1st Southdowns Bikes(Gary Brind,Marc Clothier,Simon McNamara) 4.11.23
2nd Worthing Excelsior(Mark Bernhardt,Mel Robrtson,Stuart Jago) 4.40.07
Ladies
Fastest Emma Craddock SDBikes 1.35.34
Second Sarah Farmer Team Axiom 1.42.34
Lanterne Rouge
Elaine Scott Brighton Excelsior 2.05.08
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| Wouter Sybrandy |
Wouter beat his course records from last year
in both the 18km (24.31) and 34km (47.16).Quite outstanding considering the wet and blustery conditions this must stand him in good stead for the forthcoming season. Chris McNamara took second with a 2nd and 4th finish and Matt Green third place with a 3rd and 2nd.
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| Emma Craddock |
Our own Emma Craddock retained the ladies event in 1hr 35mins 34secs a full 3 minutes 4secs faster than last year.
The team event was also retained by the club with great efforts from Gary Brind,Marc Clothier and Simon McNamara.
Chapeau to all those that rode......
A big thank you to all who made the event possible. It couldn't have been run without the help from many others, the timekeepers,pusher offs,all the marshalls,caterers,sign placers and collectors. Special thanks to GS Stella and Crawley Wheelers.
Thank you to all the sponsors of the weekend races who enabled the club to provide a very attractive prize list commensurate with the quality of the field.
Set2Rise now Erlestoke 12
Just been looking the Spam Biking website for Set2Rise entries and found they have changed the event slightly for 2011.
Spam have been listening to rider feedback and decided to start the event at Midday rather than sunset, meaning you get to hit the highly rated course in daylight (mostly) rather than darkness.
Entries are not open yet but keep an eye out as they will be soon.
MK
Spam have been listening to rider feedback and decided to start the event at Midday rather than sunset, meaning you get to hit the highly rated course in daylight (mostly) rather than darkness.
Entries are not open yet but keep an eye out as they will be soon.
MK
Stephen’s view from the Back of the Pack
Q. Why do I race?
Last Sunday I competed in the Gorrick race at Crowthorne, the venue where it all began for them. The organisers will be holding their 20th anniversary race in November 2011. I calculated this is my 19th year with them, racing approx 5 times every year. On my racing CV I can count Grundig races, Nationals, Southern XC in all its guises, Bontrager, Big Dog, Dusk to Dawn, numerous enduros, Midlands XC, Thetford, SAMBROA (anybody remember them….my neighbour’s son won the junior title), Land of Nod, Cheddar, Houffalaize, Sea Otter and god knows how many more that I’ve long forgotten.
The key driver that keeps me coming back for more is the physical intensity that racing does to the body. I don’t do practice laps beforehand nowadays. Just make sure that my bike is in tip-top condition as I can’t abide mechanicals. Having reached a high of sixth place finishes, I know I’m not going to win, so am more relaxed at the start nowadays. I do have a good warm-up though, and this is the point, the first lap melee gives you such a rush that is addictive. The instant heart rate climb, lactic build-up, eye-brain-body rapid terrain assessment mixing pedal power with efficient gear selection and minimal braking. Checking for dry lines, grippier off-camber soil, rising over knarly roots (OK then, bumping into and slipping over roots; smoothly rolling (ahem) over drop-offs and powering up climbs (ahem ahem). All these factors brain-process faster than computer speed and whilst seeking advantages over fellow racers. Second lap, and you try to nail those lines, knowing what is coming up. Not too heavy on the brakes, keeping momentum speed to crest the obstacles. Third lap, and you know you are going to get round but how much slower than the previous laps? Urgency to go faster plays on your mind but keeping a smooth flow is key. Intensity increases on the last climb as you focus on spinning the lactic from your calves, leaving a trail on the dirt behind.
The weather plays a part too. Dry summer Plymouth Grundig races with dust hanging in the hot air, seeking the cooling water crossings, compared to the snow and slush and cold of a Brass Monkey around Ash ranges. All add to the challenge of courses, twisty and technical, fast and furious….yet vulnerable to the weather gods.
And the camaraderie. After the Gorrick, just by the finish line I meet a friend I’ve not seen for five years, and pick up a conversation as if it was yesterday. We used to rock climb with a mutual friend who’s now middle aged, married and several pounds heavier and no longer rides. Good job etc but without a smile on his face anymore. Or the SAMBROA winner, no longer a junior, shouts ‘ello Steve’ at another event as we coincidentally arrive to register together. Now a grown man with a rock star girlfriend in California, the clock rolls back in time as we swap notes. A good friend I see every three months on the local bike shop ride. Quick email: are we entering the Big Dog again this year? Immediate response - yes. That’s racing.
Why do you race?
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