apyatez April 28th, 2013

After a sunny week at Compos training camp, the Time Trial season got underway with the Prologue between Rudston and Burton Flemming. Mark took the honours by the slimmest of margins over Miles and only thirty seconds separated the first 6 riders. Dawn finished with a very good time of 6mins 30secs in her first taste of the Race of Truth.     RESULT

The Hilly Ten was the course for Tuesdays first TT proper with a 11 riders facing the tough course and the cold and windy conditions. The usual suspects pinned the numbers on with some notable absentees namely Andy Askwith and Ben Roberts. Its always good to see new riders pitching up and pitting themselves against the clock and young Kevin Helliwell  turned in a very respectable time of

32.08 on his road bike. The non-aero position on the back half of the course into a very strong headwind did him no favours but he seemed to enjoy it. Matt Pilling perhaps spurred on by Kevins participation has splashed out on some Areobars and will be pinning a number on for the Haisthorpe 10.

Mark continued with his 100% points total with a 12second victory over the rest of the field, but a strong performance by Stu  pushed Martin into 4th place. Its a long season but it looks as if the race for Div1 could be tough.

It was a tight race for the Div2 riders with Adam just pipping Brian by a second to take top points but Seb was marshalling so has yet to start his campaign.

Its a great reflection on the club to have two strong ladies fighting it with the men and more than holding their own, Trish turned in a PB reflecting on a successful training camp and Dawn putting a good time on the board of under 30mins which is very good for a first look at a difficult course.

See you all at Haisthorpe on Tuesday night. Please check the results page for your turn at marshalling.

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apyatez February 3rd, 2013

		Coast to Coast 2009 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

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apyatez December 12th, 2012

I have updated the clothing page so anyone that wants to order has the full list at their disposal.

Please have your order submitted by Januarys meeting.

Thanks to Harry from http://www.halosportsmanagement.com/management.html for his very helpful visit with the samples and listening to the feedback at the last meeting.

Merry Xmas and be careful out there on the ice.

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apyatez December 12th, 2012

thanks to Trish for the pictures

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apyatez October 14th, 2012

Part two: Check Point 1 to Newcastleton

This picture shows me smiling leaving the second check point at Newcastleton just over the Scottish boarder. Last year this is where my race was slowly grinding to a halt in the mud and the rain.

This year conditions were almost perfect and I left here with an hour or so to spare and only 37miles to go.

The route from to here from checkpoint 1 was the best bit of the route, lots of single track, great northshore over the top of the moorland above Kielder Water and this year I could actually see the scenery.

My average speed was still well above the 8mph needed to meet the cut off times and I was feeling ok, more importantly the bike was still performing well and both brakes were still 100%. I didn’t want to fail due to a technical problems so I  had heeded the harsh lessons from last year and was carrying 4 sets of spare pads and had two new sets fitted to the bike,as well as a bottle of oil to avoid chain suck in the wet conditions. As an added precaution I had taken my bike back to Wheelbase Cycles in Staverley and had paid for a full service and a new bottom bracket, £300 well spend

The piper at the Scottish boarder  was a welcome sight this year, and I owed him some payment from last year when I grumpily crawled past him in the low cloud and rain. Although I didnt have any money this year I did have a packet of mini Oreo’s that I chucked in his hat for payment which made him smile. He plays there all day to raise money for the local school in Keilder village.

Part of me was beginning to enjoy this but it was only 2/3rds of the way through. The taste of energy bars and gels was starting to make me feel sick, and riding a hardtail mtb over this rocky single track was starting to make my back sore.

Rolling into the feed station at Newcastleton with lots of time in hand and a functioning bike was a great feeling. Having a pit crew made up of my friends wife and father was a great timesaver. As I oiled my chain and checked the brakes Debbie restocked my supplies and Stewart filled my water water bottles. I was refuelled, restocked and back on the course in less than ten mins after rewarding my self with a cup of coffee at the refreshment tent.

Just one more cutoff point to make and I would be safe……

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apyatez October 14th, 2012

Please click on the link below to find the menu for the clubs Xmas shindig on Saturday 17th November @19.30pm at Rags Hotel .

Please have all money into Jeff Thorley by the 2nd November please.

Can some one make sure they look after Chris?

Christmas Menu

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apyatez September 24th, 2012

After a competitive season the old guard has managed to keep their positions at the top but it has been a hard fought battle. Andy Askwith hasn’t had it all his own way with Martin pushing him close at the top of League One.

Next season could see some of the trophy’s heading to a different cabinet with the break through star of the season coming up to join the top division

Mark Woodley has already taken a couple of victories this season and with another winter of hard training under his belt will only be getting stronger.

Another beneficiary of Martins winter program is Brian Parlane who has muscled his way into the top 5 or 6 in most tt this season as well as giving a good account of himself in the road race league.

This season has seen 20 riders clock up points in the three divisions as well as a number of guest riders giving our “sporting” courses a go.

Thanks to everyone that has taken part, marshalled and timed the events.

Bring on 2013

Final league position 

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apyatez September 24th, 2012

Part One: Start to Check Point 1

What a difference a year makes. Last years race was a mud fest, with the Northumberland mud and grit destroying bikes and especially brake pads. Only 150 riders managed to finish last year, with me not being one of them!

As I lined up at the starting pen at 05:45 the weather looked like it was going to be in our favour. It was dry, cold and windy but not too windy to keep the midges in bed. Myself and two friends were near to the pros at the front same as last year and I was feeling anxious and a little queasy from the beans on toast that we had eaten at 04:30 at the bed and breakfast ( The Grapes Hotel ).

The start at 06:30 was accompanied by the sound of hundreds of riders clipping in and letting out a sign of relief as the waiting was over and we could try and ride away from the little biting insects swarming around us.

( video of the start… look for the Brid strip)

The pace was fast and furious, same as last year as the big lads fought for position behind the Forestry Commissions lead out vehicle. Twelve months ago I got caught up in this frenzy and went into the red during the first 3hrs and paid for it later.This time I stuck with my two friends and we let the tidal wave of hardtails, full bouncers, single speeds and internal geared mountain bikes wash past us. It wasn’t long till we saw a lot of these early birds come back to us during the first series of tarmacked climbs just before the lead out vehicle pulled off and we were out of the neutral zone and racing for real. That would be the last flat smooth surface I would ride for another 100miles

Our little group managed to stay together during the hectic first sections of single track and bottlenecks where the course crossed over itself. Unfortunately by thirty miles I had gapped my mates and was to spend the rest of the day seeing the same few riders as we settled into a rhythm and a pace that suited.

I was trying to eat and drink as often as I remembered but the gels and energy bars were starting to make me feel sick which was not a good sign.

It helped this year knowing the course and how near or far to the first check point. I arrived at the first check point with an hour and a half to spare. Last time I arrived at this bend on a fire road it was raining so hard that I had to seek shelter in the trees, throw one pair of gloves away as I couldn’t get them back on and  was close to packing the whole thing in and join the majority of the riders. My rear pads had been ground to the pistons and the front ones didn’t have much life left in them. This time I stopped, dibbed my timing chip, rewarded myself with a cheese and brown sauce sandwich and remounted my Whyte 19s and headed off for the middle section of the race almost happy and with the growing realisation that I might actually finish this time.

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apyatez July 24th, 2012

With just over a month left of a busy Time Trial season the three leagues are getting interesting. The top two positions in Div 1 are being fought out between the old guard of Andy and Martin while Ben keeps steeling the points of both of them as he starts a late charge up the points ladder.

It seems that the hottest competition is in Div 2 with only 2points seperating Woody and Brian. Woody gets most points but Brian seems to turn up for more events so it could come down to the last few events to see if Mark can top off a fantastic first season with a winners trophy and promotion the the top league.

Division three looks to be done and dusted with proven winner Neil Ridsdale moving back into cycling after a curtailed running season due to injury. If Graham Lonsdale manages to turn his road race form into form against the  clock then it might be a closer finish.

CLICK ON JERSEY FOR UPTO DATE LEAGUES

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apyatez June 16th, 2012

Madison Event 29^th May

The Madison event was held on a 7.5 mile circuit at Burton Fleming on a fine Tuesday evening. Fourteen riders signed on for the event which sees riders paired together, a slower rider with a faster rider and their combined times count for the results. Posting the fastest time Ben Roberts showed he is in excellent shape beating Andy Asquith by 11 seconds. Guest riders Pete Conelley (17.47) and Ian Dalk (20.53) both did good times but as non club members were not included in the results.

Neil Ridsdale and Andy Asquith 37.25

Graham Lonsdale and Martin Cockerill 37.52

Steve Waterall and Stuart Pickard 38.14

Chris Hutchinson and Seb Pickard 38.17

Brian Parling and Mel Blackford 38.43

Ben Roberts and Trish Watson 39.29

		Madison pics VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Mountain 10 event 1^st June

The mountain 10 is a hard course, some regular riders on holiday and a poor weather forecast, it attracted only 7 riders. Martin Cockerill recorded his first win of the season after his recent excellent results in road racing. Second place youngster Seb Pickard showing that his hard winter of training is at last paying off and is ready to challenge the old guard for podium positions very soon.

Martin Cockerill 25.37

Seb Pickard 26.32

Brian Parling 26.42

Chris Hutchinson 27.11

Graham Lonsdale 27.56

Mel Blackford 28.00

Neil Ridsdale 29.17

Hilly 10 Time trial 5^th June

The hilly 10 championship very early this year was held on a blustery evening with the temperature more in keeping with March. A good turnout of 12 riders appreciated the strong tailwind up Bartendale hill but then the return leg to Grindale was into a head wind. Carl Williamson turned up with a new time trial bike and showed he is serious about his comeback after over a decade out of the club. Melvin Blackford also shows that with minimal training his times are improving rapidly. The much improved Mark Woodley is making inroads in to the established riders beating Martin Cockerill by 2 seconds this time only 43 seconds behind the winner and new champion Andy Asquith. Ben Roberts missing the trophy by only 3 seconds.

Andy Asquith 23.53

Ben Roberts 23.56

Mark Woodley 24.36

Martin Cockerill 24.38

Mel Blackford 25.09

Brian Parling 25.24

Seb Pickard 25.53

Carl Williamson 26.10

Steve Waterall 26.24

Chris Hutchinson 26.54

Neil Ridsdale 27.39

Trish Watson 30.50

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