Dorset Miles, Bear Cross "Hardriders" Sunday Ride, 70% of FTP

Twelve riders at Bear Cross this morning for the start of another winter’s riding, despite the constant drizzle spirits are always high on this first training ride of the pre-season. Looking to put miles in the legs and create a solid foundation on which to build next season’s campaign and of course, the crack.Riding in pairs, the pace is good but this is no chain gang nor is it a club run! Out past Canford School to Wimborne, the main road to Cranborne was busy but we stuck with it till Wimborne St Giles. Ignoring the village, taking the rolling road across to Sixpenny Handley and turning right to climb Garston Down, before left and the fast descent to Ebbesborne Wake. The familiar names of Alvediston, Berwick St John and Ludwell were soon behind us on this enjoyably muddy road. Easily resisting the temptation to climb up to Win Green we cut through Charlton and briefly on the A30 before dropping down to Cann Common and East Melbury. All attempts at “Cock Measuring” on Zig-Zag hill were frowned upon, as we rode up “en bloc”. Emerging from the trees we singled out to let the impatient pass. On, up to Win Green, the easier way, the usual panoramic views across Charlton Down to Shaftesbury were denied us as the heavy mist & drizzle began to close in. Descending through Newtown, Farnham, across the A354 the weather worsened and two simultaneous punctures delayed us. Moor Crichel, Witchampton and Holt came and went as the conversation turned to cups of tea and hot baths. Pig Oak, Furzehill and Wimborne and the dozen began to separate, the lure of the kettle had won, as it always does. Returning to Bear Cross and the manic depression that is Castle Lane on a Sunday; lots of people going nowhere in the rain. 4 hours 20, as always, it is a work in progress!

Images from Inter-Club Hill Climb Competition 2011

Local Cycling News

Luke Gray had a disappointing start to his Cyclo-Cross season in Belgium. After just one race his team manager decided “I was not on the team anymore” After some frantic “asking around” Gray managed to secure a deal with SL Carbons, who will be providing bikes and wheels for the National U23 Champion. Gray will be racing for the Baboco Cycling Team, the Belgian team that 3 times World Cyclo-Cross Champion Erwin Vervecken rode for. The former Hargroves rider was back in the UK last weekend, racing at Prospect Park, Reading in the latest round of the Wessex league. Suffering from a virus picked up a few days before the event Gray struggled to get on terms. Despite making the leading group of 5 he could not live with the pace and dropped back to eventually finish 5th, 2 minutes down on the winner Crispin Doyle (Swindon RC) “I was a little disappointed but I had my troubles in the week, I’ll be looking for better next time” Gray told “E D”

photo's by Lisa Lindstroem

CC Weymouth successfully defended the Hill Climb Trophy they first won last season. Playing the numbers game, Weymouth mobilised their troops to put riders on the start line and score counting points.

The Weymouth club also had the individual winner last time with Todd Preston, this year, with Preston not riding; the way was open for Simon McLaughlin (BJW) to take the title.

McLaughlin made it a clean sweep, winning all four rounds in what was a very popular series this year. Notable by their absence were the Bournemouth Arrow, with not one rider in any climb. CC Weymouth will start the defence of their crown on the 30th September 2012 on Portland, round 3; promoted by the Jubilee will be on Okeford Hill. At the time of writing the competition format remains the same. Official results have yet to be issued. (More images from the series on "E D" soon}

All interested parties are invited to a meeting at Moreton Village Hall to discuss next years road race series. This years co-operative approach worked well, with riders taking on the marshalling duties. The meeting is from 18:45 on Friday 4th November.

"Active at 60" Track Sessions

A Forest View!

Bob Jolliffe writes.........

Prospecting in tough park!
It might have been a parkland course but, according to New Forest CC’s Martyn Dymond, some steep climbs in the Bill Higson Memorial Cross at Reading, made it a bit of a brute.Martyn, who is currently the only New Forest member riding cyclo cross, took 16th place from the 73 competing in the veterans’ event in the Reading CC promotion at Prospect Park on Sunday.“It was all grass with some hilly climbs. It was the toughest course I’ve done all season by a long way,” said Martyn.Matt Woods of Hargroves Cycles took first place in the vets’ race from Sean Williams of Wight Mountain. Swindon Road Club’s Crispin Doyle was victorious in the senior race.The events were part of the Wessex League series.

High hills equals high heart rates!
Martyn was not the only New Forest CC member taking on some rigorous climbing on Sunday.Club president Roger Bacon, secretary Peter Weaver and up-and-coming time triallist Gary Lock tackled the 73 miles distance in the South Downs Sportive, while Mike Ahearn and Phil Collins took on the even bigger challenge of the 100-miler.According to Roger, Butser Hill was brutal, with a strong headwind for its full length while the one in six clamber up South Harting Hill was close to being a killer, sending heart rates soaring.But as a tired-sounding Roger reported: “We got up there. I’m still alive . . . just.”

Another Sunday ride option opensNigel Gemmell is organising regular Sunday rides in the eastern sector of the New Forest starting at the Heath Roundabout at Dibden at 8am. Nigel is also aiming to ride from Southampton to Barcelona in a week next June and wants to hear from anyone interested in going along with him on the sponsored ride to raise money for Southampton Hospital’s Eye Unit. Contact him on 07828 609763 or at ntg0963@excite.com .

Please keep "E D" informed of your clubs winter activities, reliability trials, events, anything that is going on involving two wheels.If you want it to appear on here just tell me about it!