Local Riders,Local Races: December 2012

Monday, 31 December 2012

South District Open Time Trials 2013

02/03/13 10m P140 14:30 Sotonia CC
03/03/13 10m P140 09:00 Antelope RT (2-up TTT)
03/03/13 10m P140 09:00 Antelope RT (Tandems)
09/03/13 10.2m P601 13:30 Andover Whs (Hilly)
10/03/13 10m P829/A 09:00 Fareham Wheelers CC
17/03/13 42KM P454 09:00 Bournemouth Jubilee Whs (Hilly) (EDCA series)
29/03/13 10m P412/10 07:30 Bournemouth Arrow CC
29/03/13 10m P883 08:00...a3crg (Max 80 riders)
30/03/13 10m P451 14:30 CC Weymouth (EDCA series)
07/04/13 10m P886 08:00...a3crg
14/04/13 37KM P875 08:00 …a3crg (Tour of Lod Valley)
14/04/13 24m P427 09:00 East Dorset CA (EDCA series)
13/04/13 10m P303 15:00 Crabwood CC (2-up TTT)
13/04/13 10m P303 15:00 Crabwood CC
21/04/13 27KM P433 08:00 Poole Wh (EDCA series)
21/04/13 10m P612/10 07:30 Andover Whs
27/04/13 10m P881/10 17:00 Hampshire RC
4/05/13 15.5m P018/15C 17:00 Vectis RCC
05/05/13 22.5m P018/25C 08:00 Vectis RCC
06/05/13 40m P018/50C 08:00 Vectis RCC
12/05/13 25m P413/25 07:00 Bournemouth & Dist WCA (EDCA series)
18/05/13 25m P128/25 07:00 Sotonia CC (80 Solo's & Tandems)
19/05/13 50m P417 06:00 Wessex RC (EDCA series)
19/05/13 10m P612/10 07:30 Andover Whs
26/05/13 32m P333 07:00 New Forest CC (EDCA series)
08/06/13 10m P128 08:00 Sotonia CC
09/06/13 10m P412/10 07:00 Bournemouth Jubilee Whs (EDCA series)
15/06/13 10m P881/10 16:00 Team Axiom (Inc Wessex VTTA Champs)
16/06/13 25m P885/25 07:00 Team Axiom
23/06/13 10m P415 07:00 Poole Wheelers (EDCA series)
24/06/13 25m P885/25 19:00 ...a3crg (80 entries only)(Entries Close 11/06/2013)
26/06/13 10m P459 19:00 GHS DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP (South DC) (Poole Wh) (Championship entry Forms only)
30/06/13 50m P885 06:00 Hampshire RC
07/07/13 25m P413/25 06:30 Bournemouth Jubilee Whs (EDCA series)
21/07/13 25m P413/25 06:30 Poole Wheelers (EDCA series)(Inc South DC Champs)
24/07/13 10m P881R/10 19:00 ...a3crg (80 Riders) (Priority to league riders)(Entries Close 11/07/2013)
04/08/13 50m P413/50 06:00 Bournemouth Jubilee Whs (EDCA series)(Inc Wessex VTTA Champs)
07/08/13 10m P881 19:00 ...a3crg (2-up TTT)(1M &1W)(Entries Close 31/07/2013)
10/08/13 10m P303 15:00 Bournemouth & Dist WCA (2-up TTT)(1M &1W) (Hardshell Helmets Compulsory)
25/08/13 25m P901/25 06:30 Southdown Velo(Inc Wessex VTTA Champs)
26/08/13 50m P885/50 06:20 ...a3crg (100 Riders)
26/08/13 15m P416 08:00 East Dorset CA (EDCA series)
31/08/13 22.3m P436 RTTC CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP (South DC)(Poole Wh)(Entries Close 6/8/2013)
31/08/13 33.5m P436 14:00 RTTC CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP (South DC)(Poole Wh)(Entries Close 6/8/2013)
15/09/13 25m P415 07:30 VTTA (Wessex) (2-up TTT)
28/09/13 10m P303 09:30 New Forest CC
06/10/13 37KM P875 08:00 …a3crg (Tour of Lod Valley)
13/10/13 28m P911 08:00 Southdown Velo

Full Details on CTT website

Happy New Year from Belgium: Luke Gray flies the flag for GB!

"Once again this year I have been spending the Christmas period in Belgium racing cross.

December 22nd I raced the GP Rouwmoer at Essen a round of the Bpost Bank Trofee Cyclocross series (this race series was formerly known as the GVA- Gazet van Antwerpen). There had a been a lot of rain in the days prior to the race so I was expecting a course similar to last year, with a lot of wet mud and running. There is also a lot of flat with only a handful or short banks but even these were not ride able.
I was in the U23 race and had an average start racing down the tarmac straight, but it was still dodgy as ever with a right angled corner shortly after the start then another tighter corner leading onto a steep sand bank. One of the three Sweek brothers in my on the straight leading onto the off-road as the riders slowed down, so I had to avoid him. Everyone was soon spread out in a line and gaps appeared. On the second lap I caught a couple of riders and dropped them, but on the next lap they caught me again. But there were quite a few running and dismount sections on the course, where I found I could make time up on the others. I didn't make a lot of bike changes in the pits because the mud didn't stick or clog the bike too bad, it was just like rivers of muddy water standing on the course. Although sometimes I was forced to ride different lines and in some places you never quite knew how deep the mud was, or what lay underneath.
Some sections were very nearly axle deep in black runny mud ! You also had to watch out for the hidden ditch in one place. I was pleased with my race and the 25th place after the hard training I had done over the last few of weeks.

This is the link to the action of the last lap of Elite race which ends in a crash on the finish straight, just so you know what it was like for me.

Boxing day was the 6th round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Heusden- Zolder in Belgium for the Elite riders. Although it was the 4th round for the U23 riders as we do a couple of rounds less. My parents made the trip over as my usual helper Gregg from the ChainStay house in Belgium was unavailable, Holly his wife was expecting any day. That happy day came on Christmas eve, for new Baby Evelyn.
The cross race was held at the the Zolder Circuit, a former track used for formula 1 car racing. My parents had arranged for us to stay in a house at Maasmechelen, in the Limburg region where much of the area around here is National Park. We were not far from the Dutch boarder and not to far from Maastricht either.
Christmas day was the practise day, so instead of eating Christmas dinner I was doing laps of the course. Luckily the rain held off as I rode the course. It was very varied and had some similar terrain to which I am used to back home, a bit like Wareham forest with some very steep off cambered drops, a few steep climbs, sandy sections, and a huge stepped bank that was like climbing a cliff !

I was ranked mid pack along with fellow U23 Great Britain Team riders Hugo Robinson and Jack Clarkson. At the start of World Cup races its just like formula 1, we have to wait for the lights, then its go, go, go as we race down the long start straight to the first corner. We all got round safely only a couple of bikes between each other as we jostled for positions. After the first lap I was the leading Brit in 28th followed by Hugo in 35th and Jack in 47th. Half way round the next lap I had a mechanical, unable to change down gears I pitted for a fresh bike, that cost me places and I lost the small group of riders I was with . I was now back with Hugo at the end of that lap in 36th and 37th place. We both pushed on hard the next lap and I managed to make 3 places up, but Hugo said the pace was too much and couldn't hold onto my wheel. On the forth lap Hugo pushed to hard on one of the steep off cambered drops, and crashed into the big crash pads that ran the length of the drop. Summer saluting the two barriers still on the bike he landed in the crowd. Feeling beaten up, and knock out of the ring he threw the towel in on this Boxing Day. In the meantime Jack was having steady ride in 46th place.
Over the remaining 3 laps I swapped places many times getting up to 32th at one time, I even hit the crash pads myself spinning 180 degrees, but come the last lap I was in 34th chasing Frenchman Fabien Doubey. Whilst I was crossing the wooden bridge I sped up seeing Fabien was taking it easy. Seizing the opportunity I gave it full gas and as Fabien glanced over his shoulder to see me come like an express train, he got the saddle just too late as I flew past to take 33rd place.
Jack was pull out with 1 lap to go under the 80% rule, but gained another place and and given his finishing position of 45th.
I like a fast race like this, the course was good too, and I'm pleased with 33rd being my best result at a World Cup cross race so far. In fact its the best U23 World Cup result by a British rider for several years.
My next planned race is at Baal on New Years Day."

Luke

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Dorset Miles, Bear Cross Sunday Ride.

Four riders at Bear Cross, the earlier start time of 09:00 was obviously not to everyones liking. A shorter ride for this final Sunday of 2012 and an old favourite. Wimborne via Canford then up to Colehill. Down to Grange, then Pig Oak, Gaunts & Chalbury Common and Horton. Haythorne, Woodlands and on to the B 3078 to Wimborne St Giles. We took a chance on the lane through Monkton Up Wimborne,this back road is below the level of the surrounding fields and we were already wet when an amused local informed us it was thigh deep further on, we had no choice but to retrace. We had added a couple of miles to the total but to add insult to injury it was now raining. Back to the main road and straight to Sixpenny Handley, the rain had stopped as we started the climb of Garston Down it drags on but is never steep, the descent to Woodminton & Bowerchalke is shorter with gravel on the right hander at the bottom. Through the watercress fields to Broadchalke, before climbing Knowle Hill. Not quite as high as Garston but a lot harder and the older legs were left behind. The wind at the top is strong and in our faces as we cross the old ox drove and scream down to the A354. Martin, Tidpit,the climb over to Cranborne and we are back on the 3078, its hard into the wind now, a front wheel puncture gives us a break but it is unwelcome. Left at Furzehill and back up to Colehill, the drop to Canford Bottom is a blast. Longham, Parley Cross and home with the wind now behind. 3hrs 44