Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 19th April 2009

Reading's lady time-triallists set scorching times while our road racers suffer mixed fortunes.

Time Trials

Farnham & Camberley 25
Reading's Trudi Sammons set a new club record for a ladies 25-mile time trial with her 1.00:15 in the Farnham & Camberley 25 at Bentley. She must surely be a good bet to lower that further this summer. Sammons said: "I had a better than expected ride despite the fairly brisk wind. I was delighted with my time of 1.00.15. Getting the club record was a goal for this season, now I just need a sub-hour run!" In the same event Nick English recorded 56:19, commenting: "Not too unhappy given that I was not targetting this event but I need to find a bit more".

Andover Wheelers '10'
Reading's Lucinda Seymour was quickest lady in the Andover Wheelers event on the Thruxton course with a fine 23:43. She reports: "Everyone talks about Thruxton as being a really fast course so I was initially disappointed with my time but I under-estimated how strong the wind was. Very few people gained new personal bests. The event was friendly and well organised with delicious cake on offer back in the HQ." The men's event was won by Andy Laycock of Newbury Road Club in 22:10. Supervet Dave Gaida recorded 28.33.

Antelope RT 3-up Team Time Trial
Reading CC were represented by the team of Steve Bale, Brian Bingham and Rod MacFadyen for the Antelope RT 3-up Team Time Trial on Saturday. The 50km event takes in two laps of a circuit between Princes Risborough and Haddenham. Although mostly flat, the course includes some technical stretches through country lanes and a long rolling straight. A northerly wind turned out to be favourable and the winning team from Shorter Rochford set a new course record of 1.03:33. Reading CC placed 28th out of more than 70 teams with a time of 1.15:24. Although in a team time-trial the riders take turns, Steve Bale was the strongest rider and clearly spent the most time on the front.
Brian Bingham commented, "my power data shows I rode just about as hard as I could so I'm pleased with my performance even though my technique was a bit ragged."
Bale said, "We probably got close to getting the maximum speed we could for the team."
MacFadyen said, "Riding a 3-up is hard work but engrossing. The miles flew by and our time was much the quickest of my participations in this excellent event."

Road and Circuit Racing

Surrey League Easter 3 day race
Gavin Spiers was Reading's entrant for the Surrey League Easter three day race. 180 miles later he finished in 36th place out of 57, 28 mins down on the winner, Martin Williamson of London Dynamo.
Spiers reports: "Everything felt good going into the first day. Day 1 was at the Milland Road course which meant 8 laps of a course that included a 25% hill. Unfortunately I punctured and had to ride on my own for the majority of the race.

Day 2 was grotty with bad weather and road conditions. I managed to stay with the group until about 1.5 laps to go when I ran out of energy due to the big solo effort the day before.

Day 3 brought better weather and my legs felt good. The Alfold circuit was fast and twisty. I sat in the group trying to save energy wherever I could for the sprint finish. The sprint was nervous and I held back to stay out of trouble but looking for a gap to appear. Unfortunately a car disturbed the bunch and I got caught behind a pile-up, though I managed to stay upright."

Archer Junior Road Race
Simon Notley raced in the 75km Archer Junior RR over three laps of a hilly circuit. "I had a feeling that my lowest gear wouldn't be enough for Whiteleaf hill. I decided that the only way to make up for my poor gear choice was to attack so I was second over the top. Second time around however I didn't have the strength to turn the pedals and let myself slip away from the leading group. Content in the belief that I had bagged myself £20 for my efforts on the first climb of Whiteleaf, I settled into a steady rhythm in the second group for the remainder of the race. At the prizegiving I was disappointed to discover my efforts had been in vain as an incorrectly placed finished line meant that the prime at Whiteleaf had been scrapped! I finished in 22nd place."

Wayne Thomas had a busy week of four races.
Midweek he was pleased to make the top twenty in E/1/2/3 category race at Hillingdon.
On Saturday afternoon he was back at Hilliingdon for a third and fourth category race over 40KM with 70 riders competing. "With a strong northerly wind we were coasting at 30mph in the back straight yet having to push hard on the drag to the finish."

Thomas was again a top 20 finisher, with John Snead also finishing in the main bunch.
Taking only a short break, Thomas lined up again for the 50Km E/1/2/3 category race where he was joined by Rob King. With a surprisingly small field of only 28 riders, Thomas was anticipating a very different kind of race. "At midway I had a moment's lack of attention, when having done a turn on the front, the field surged and I was popped off the back." Thomas collected 20th place. Meanwhile, with four laps to go Rob King eased off the front and held on for a well earned fifth place.

On Sunday, Thomas was in the C/D group of a 74km 6-lap veterans race, accompanied by Fred Hale. Unfortunately Hale's race was ended by a mechanical failure on the second lap, leading to a long walk home. "The circuit was primarily flat but with one nasty hill and a long drag to the finish. I felt good and stayed at the front and responded to many attacks. On the penultimate lap I was caught out of position for the climb and needed a big effort to close a gap. My weekend of racing began to tell as early signs of cramp appeared and I was disappointed to get only 9th in my age group."