Southdowns Bikes Cycle Club

Mountain Mayhem 2011

Sounds like an eventful Mayhem with injuries before and during the race.

Results

Mixed Sport
SDB 1st Team 2nd - 24 laps
SDB 2nd Team 34th - 18 laps

Male Vets
SDB Vets - 3rd - 24 laps

Well done, any reports welcome.

Hope all the injured riders heal quickly.

Mountain Mayhem 2011

Mountain Mayhem is upon us again with a strong mixed team from Southdowns Bikes returning to defend their title. Also competing will be a 2nd mixed team and a vet team under the charge of Team Manager Tim Bishop. Good luck to all the teams and lets hope the weather improves.

The Wight Stuff

21 August · 07:30 - 20:00

The Wight stuff is an anti-clockwise circular route around The Isle of Wight. It is not a race but it will be a challenging all day road bike event with the emphasis on fun, social riding.
We anticipate the ride to be approx 70 miles and there will be plenty fop regular stops for refreshements.
If you are interested in taking part then please let us know and more details will follow.
To register your place on the ride we will ask for a £5 deposit (which can be handed in at the shop) in order to block book ferry tickets at a group rate.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177866178937540

Southern XC Rd3 - Crow Hill

Alex

Crow Hill near Ringwood was the venue for round 3 of the Southern Area XC MTB Series (SAMS). A full days racing for all categories was on offer, with the elite men last off at 2pm.That lack of rain this spring had left the course rock hard, producing some fast racing that kicked up plenty of dust. Ironically the rain started to fall as the day wore on but it was not enough to dampen the trails.
2 club riders attended with Alex Taylor coming a great 7th in the Male Open and Ian Petherbridge in the Grand Vets who unfortunately had a mechanical on the first lap spoiling his hopes of a series podium place. Alex is going from strenght to strenght and is also hoping for a good showing in the series points and possibly a top 5 finish in the next round, keep up the good work Alex.

Smithfield Nocturne

Steve

Three team riders were competing in the Smithfield Nocturne on Saturday with great rides by all. Steve Calland won the support race of the evening with Simon McNamara coming in 21st and Emma Craddock came a creditable 27th in the ladies race.

Simon

Emma

Red Kites

Last week on the Bank Holiday pub ride we witnessed a Red Kite soaring effortlessly on the drop down to the waterworks at Coombe Lane, Burpham, this evening we saw 7. Quite a remarkable sight as they were only re-introduced in the UK in 1989 in the Chilterns. Just 20 years later we are seeing more and more of them in our area and while sitting down admiring these graceful birds you realise how lucky we are to live and be able to ride in this area. Long may it continue.

Erlestoke 12

Erlestoke 12

6hr Male
6th Matt Knight - 9 laps

8th James Bailey - 9 laps

18th John Davies - 7 laps

19th Andy Goodyer - 7 laps

12hr Male
9th Damian Redmond - 13 laps

This was without doubt the best course of the enduro season so far, flowing, rideable and with enough technical sections to keep you on your toes. Good turn out for club with 5 riders, well done to Damian who finished the 12hrs in 9th place, Matt and James 6th and 8th in 6hrs and the old gits John and Andy coming in in 18th and 19th. Weather was a bit changeable with bouts of rain and a strong wind. Some top class riders there with Ant White(Cannondale/XC Racer) winning the 12hr and Jon Pybus(GT UK) the 6hr.

St George/Moab Trip April 2011

Day One:- Hurricane Cliffs Trail System
This ride was fairly non-technical, a few long, gradual climbs make it challenging and there are a few surprises on the section plus some of the corners are super fast, but if you over cook ‘em, you can fly right off the trail in a hurry(as I did destroying my camera). This is a 21 mile loop incorporating the Jem Trail and Hurricane Rim, we also did an out and back above a river which was a little nervy descending as you are pretty close to the edge(photo below).
This was a great day to break me in for what was to come.

Day Two:- Gooseberry Mesa

I thought I was good with heights until I hit the trails here, it took me a couple of miles before I had the confidence to follow the guys around some tight bends just a couple of feet from a 600'+ drop. This trail was spectacular, riding the north and then the south rim with a little bit of slickrock thrown in for good measure in the interior.

The slickrock here was great only small climbs and some nice technical trails popping in, out and over the formation.

Day Three:- Slickrock Trail, Moab
The promised land, this is the ride that made Moab I had already ridden slickrock at Gooseberry and wasn't to worried about what to expect. On the practice loop I soon became a little concerned this was much more difficult, some of the climbs were over 30ft at 45 degree + gradients and the drops well my butt spent alot of time mm's from the rear wheel.

On the slickrock above the Colorado River

3 hours in this playground was quite a tough workout at this altitude you spend alot of time in oxygen debt at the constant interval sessions you are doing.

Day Four:- Amasa Back
An out and back trail with an insanely steep initial descent followed technical climb up steps and ledges for 3 miles before you reach the top of Buzzards Bluff an easier section high above the desert floor for a couple of miles after which it was time to explore. Retracing the route was a fast paced rocky adrenalin rush.

Day Five:- Porcupine Rim

Next to the slickrock this is one of Moab's most notorious trails. There is a nasty 4 mile climb up from the parking lot to 6800' and then its all downhill but first you have take in the view from the rim which is absolutely breathtaking. The descent is very technical but it induces a perma-grin when riding over the ledges off boulders and towards the bottom you are swooping down boulder strewn singletrack 3ft from a couple of hundred ft drop into the Colorado river dicing with a certain visit to the A&E if you make any mistake even death. My advice don't admire the view.

Can't wait to go back, looking for some volunteers for the next trip. Must take a full sus though as I was battered, and riding the slickrock would be much more fun.

Great Britain Triathlon Team Member :o)

As some of you may know I have had a goal during the last year to get into the Great Britain Triathlon Age Group squad (not pro...). Upon qualifying, successful entrants would compete in the World Championships in Beijing for Sept 2011.

In order to get into the squad there is some pre nominated races where if you come in the top 4 in your age group and do it within 15% of the winners time you get a place. The race was held at Eton last Sunday (22nd May), the swim part started off with a mass lake swim start, with the usual kicks and punches to the head / legs (about 45 people started at once in my wave), so as you are all so close in the swim at the start, it is impossible to see where you are going, so a little hazard to deal with i.e people swimming into you / over you.... The bike section was on a flat closed road circuit around Dorney Lake and boy was it exposed to the super strong winds, which at one point my speedo went down so low I am embarrased to publish the speed I was doing (not fast..). Anyway I managed to come in 2nd, 25 secs behind the winner. Therefore I now need to order my GBR team kit (wont take it off when I get it) and sort some flights out to China to kick some ass. So to say I am happy is an understatement, cant wait to wear the flag and represent!

PS : As Mr Postie likes to see photos of me at work, here is a pic from a ride the week before. Sadly not the Tri race, but a sponsored Steyning Strikers (football) kids 9.5 mile bike ride with my 5yr old son, which Southdown Bikes kindly co sponsored...