Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 1 March

A highly successful week for Reading CC racing cyclists in a variety of
disciplines.

Roller Racing

Reading Cycling Club has won the annual Inter-club Roller Race hosted by
Didcot Phoenix Cycling Club. Reading's team consisted of 5 riders (Nick
English, Paul Taylor, Stephen Millward, Paul Pomfret & Dean Bond) and 2
co-ordinators (Brian Perry, Lucinda Seymour). This year the competition
was held in a new format, a 20 minute team relay. Riders took it in
turns to sit on the stationary bike and pedal as fast as they could. A
computer measured the "distance" they had ridden and the winning team
would be the one with the greatest accumulated distance.

Dean Bond reports: "We had held a practice session a few weeks earlier
to get everyone familiar with rollers. Our race strategy was for riders
to give short bursts at high intensity. Fast changeovers were necessary
but the rehearsal showed that this was possible. On race night Didcot
Phoenix went first to demonstrate how the new format would work. They
chose to race 2 minute stints per rider, but we stuck to our agreed
strategy to avoid confusion in the heat of racing. Reading were second
team up. Paul Taylor's first effort saw him reach an equivalent of 60
mph! The other riders also spun the pedals furiously to set a blistering
pace. With the ride taking 20 minutes in total each rider had 8 stints
on the rollers. This called for strong riding and careful transition on
the rollers. It seemed to take an age to reach the time limit."
Reading's clever strategy and committed riding took them to a resounding
victory 3 miles clear of the second-placed team. Reading's roller racing
champion is Paul Taylor for his impressive average speed of 52.91mph.

Nick English: "I was surprised we stole such a march on the other teams
with our tactics, it seemed clear that shorter turns would lead to
higher average power. It was a very good idea to have had the rehearsal
though as the frequent changeovers were a challenge in themselves."
Steve Millward: "Dean did a fantastic job of organising the team. Our
training session was decisive in our success. After two 30 second
sprints my legs were starting to fade, and my final sprint was just 15
seconds when I gave it everything. It felt like the hardest 4 minutes of
cycling I ever done."
Paul Pomfret: "The whole event was very well organised, instructions
were clear and tactics were spot-on!"
Paul Taylor: "It was an unbelievable winning margin, and our tactics
were excellent - it ran like a sweaty Swiss watch!"

Didcot Phoenix roller race, result:
1. Reading CC 15.601 miles
2. Oxonian CC 12.673 miles
3. Didcot Pheonix 12.370 miles
4. Oxford City RC 11.200 miles

Photo Caption: Reading's jubilant roller-race team are, left to right:
Brian Perry, Paul Taylor, Dean Bond, Paul Pomfret, Stephen Millward,
Lucinda Seymour and (kneeling) Nick English
<>

Off-road Racing

The third round of the Gorrick MTB Spring Series held at Crowthorne
Woods attracted 570 riders spread over 20 race categories. Reading's
Denis Boltwood entered the new "Super Vets" category for over 60s. He
reports on a winning ride: "Andy Smith (1st Gear Cycles/Felt) and I
started as joint leaders of the Series with one win and a second place
each. My tactic was to try to break away from Andy. He stayed with me
until a technical section (the Corkscrew) near the end of the lap where
I managed to gain a 12 second advantage. Andy caught me again half-way
round the final lap but unfortunately for him he punctured and I was
able to cruise to the finish for the win. The 4.6 mile lap was a superb
mixture of fast fire trail, woodland single-track, climbs and some
technically interesting bomb-holes, ditches and drop-offs. A great day
out! "

Road and Circuit Racing

Wayne Thomas had another action-packed weekend. He started on Saturday
with the last event of the Upavon winter series. In the E/1/2 race
Reading's Rob King was also there, battling well to come home in a
well-earned 9th place. Thomas reports on the 3rd and 4th category race:
"The race got off to a cracking start with the aim of chasing down the
E/1/2 peleton, many of whom were indeed swept up. The high pace meant
few attacks and any that were made were short-lived. The almost
obligatory crash occurred just after half way, splitting the field and
making for a nervy finale. I came home 25th in a hectic bunch sprint."

Thomas was on the start line at MOD Chertsey the next day for a 50 mile
handicap race. "The 3rd category Veterans were set off first, which
included me. Our group worked well and when 4 or 5 strong riders caught
us at the 35 minute mark, the pace increased to such an extent that we
held off the main group for 65 minutes." Within that group was Reading's
Gavin Spiers who commented "we were eyeballs-out trying to catch the
front group - we were surprised how long it took". Both Thomas and
Spiers were delighted to still be with the main group as the final
sprint commenced, though swamped by the large field to finish 60th and
65th.

Time-Trialling

A3crg Hardriders 10-mile event
Trudi Sammons made a great start to the season by being fastest lady in
this early-season event. "We had almost perfect conditions for this
tough but enjoyable course. I was very pleased with my time, knocking
over 2 minutes from my previous best to record 26.15. I caught my minute
man within the first three miles. It was lovely not to freeze, as
usually you expect to at this time of year!"
Reading's Nick English was also there: "A fast descent to the turn
followed by a long drag on the return was a good test for my first
event. I managed a satisfactory 8th place with 23:52."

In the North Hants Road Club time-trial at Dummmer, Reading's Peter
Graham was fastest rider with a time of 44:43 over the 18.5 mile course.

'Surrey Rumble' Cyclosportive

Graham Ide rode the Surrey Rumble cyclosportive over a 77-mile course
with numerous sharp hills. He enjoyed the experience: "It was one of
those days where everything seemed to go OK. I got into a nice paced
group early on and later made good progress with a couple of others. I
finished in 4hrs 55 minutes which is not bad for an old guy. It was a
well-organised event with an interesting and well-signed route."

Clubrun
All groups leave Reading Market Place at 9am on Sundays. New riders
welcome.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club