Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 22/3/09

Trevor Bradbury crashes out at Hillingdon circuit.

Circuit Racing

Wayne Thomas reports on a weekend of circuit racing for the veterans of
Reading CC with mixed outcomes.

The race was a 54km event for 2/3/4 category riders with Reading well
represented via Trevor Bradbury, Paul Cooper and Thomas. "Warm sunshine,
little wind, and lack of competing events brought out a mammoth field of
over 100 riders. This led to some very spirited riding and a fast pace
(average 26mph). Along the back straight, 25mph was "slow", 29mph
"comfortable" and 33mph "quick". Bradbury rode well in the front part of
the field for much of the race. However, disaster struck when in the
huge melee of the final sprint, at over 30mph, in the final 200metres,
several riders collided bringing down Trevor, and completely writing off
his bike which was broken into four pieces." Bradbury commented "I have
little idea what happened, one minute I was sprinting, the next thing I
could feel the bike disappearing from underneath me. I saw the guy
immediately behind me go sailing through the air and land on the path
with a very heavy thump. I cannot believe that he only broke a finger!"
Thomas and Cooper finished safely 52nd and 68th. Neil Cooper (Paul's
son) riding for AW Cycles was an excellent 2nd.

Photo caption: Trevor Bradbury, in the market for a new bike
Photo credit: Dennis Sackett / www.cyclingphotos.org.uk
<>
On Sunday Wayne Thomas and Paul Steadman were at Thruxton for a 50Km 3rd
category race. "Whilst sunny, there was a cold strong wind which had a
big impact on the race. Once again, competitive spirits were high with
another 100+ field. The opening two laps of the circuit were run off at
a ferocious pace, before settling in to a rythm. Despite the wide
circuit, every lap there were problems getting such a large field
through the first sharp right hand turn, and more particularly, on the
far side of the circuit, where a strong cross wind caused rapid
funneling left, with some riders testing their cyclo cross skills on the
grass." The finale came down to a bunch sprint in which Steadman and
Thomas finished in the top 40.

Time Trials

Trudi Sammons put in a hard weekend of racing in two hilly events on the
A29 and A24 near Dorking. "Lovely sunny weather both days with a little
NW wind, but nothing too gruelling, just enough to keep you working
hard. Pleased with both days as having never done back-to-back races I
was worried that I wouldn't last. On Saturday there was a testing
10-mile event in which my 26.38 was a new ladies course record, which
was pleasing. On Sunday I suprised myself with a well-paced ride over 25
miles to record 1.04.23 on a hard and testing course."

Steve Bale and Rod MacFadyen travelled to North Waltham for the North
Hampshire RC 18.5 mile time trial on an A30-based course. Richard
Prebble (Pinarello-Candi TV) scraped home the winner. His course record
39:57 relegated Adrian Lansley of the promoting club to second place by
just one second. The on-form Peter Tadros (In Gear Quickvit RT) was
third with 40-18 while Mandy Hibberd's 49-58 made her fastest lady. Bale
said: "A great afternoon out, time-trialling as it should be with great
weather and fast times. I'm pleased with my result but was disheartened
to be caught for 4 minutes by Lansley." MacFadyen said, "It was a quiet
and testing course and the weather allowed one to concentrate on riding
as well as possible. I don't expect this to be my time of year yet I was
pleased with my time." Selected results:
1. Richard Prebble (Pinarello-Candi TV), 39:57
8. Steve Bale, 44:37
13. Rod MacFadyen, 47:06

Mark Pardoe, now based in Newcastle and riding with Tyneside Vagabonds,
started his season with a hilly time-trial. "Dominic Munnelly got the
expected win with a 45-minute ride around the hilly 21-mile circuit. I
did 52:06."

Sunday Clubrun
All groups leave Reading Market Place at 9am on Sundays.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club