Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Monday 4 May 2009

All the May Bank Holiday's competitive action in one convenient chunk.

Roly Chuter, debutant road racer

Roly Chuter is making his debut in road and circuit racing with Reading
CC and enjoying the experience. Last week he was at Hillingdon circuit.
"I arrived ready to battle with my fellow 4th Cats. I met Wayne from RCC
who talked me though the course and calmed my nerves. When lining up,
the race commissar implored us to ride safely hold our lines in the
sprint. After we set off and settled down I found the course to be
friendly with sweeping bends. The first laps were rather pedestrian so I
decided to test my legs. I went off the front, easing away in the hope
someone would come with me but to no avail. I was swept back up a lap
later. My move opened the flood-gates and immediately someone else went.
I followed most of the breaks, if only to eye up the competition! Coming
to the closing stages of the race I felt in good form and was looking
forward to the finish. Several guys I hadn't seen for the whole race
came out of the woodwork in an effort to set themselves up for the
finale. 2 laps to go and I was in the front third and felt I had plenty
left in the tank. In about seventh starting the final rise I thought,
"now or never," and started my sprint which, up the rise, felt like I
was moving in slow motion. Thankfully the rest of the bunch were moving
slower. I was quickly into third and closing on the no. 2 man but the
line came too soon for me and I finished in third. I felt slightly
deflated afterwards, being sure that I could have caught the other two;
next time, go earlier. Roll on next week!"

Brian Bingham's Weekend of Racing

On Saturday Bingham rode the Corley Cycles veteran's road race at
Cranfield, Bedfordshire. "I was in the 33 mile ABC race, 12 laps of
circuit where most of the moves were made up a long drag with a little
kick at the end. I tried to stay near the front and almost got away
with 2 others but we couldn't take advantage of it. The race was was
won by Stephen Felk of Coventry CC after he and another rider slipped
away on the hill of the penultimate lap."

On Sunday Bingham took part in the Gorrick Enduro Challenge at Swinley
forest, Bracknell. "It was multiple laps of a fast MTB course. I picked
up time on the hills and flat sections but then lost time on the twisty
singletrack . I finished in one piece in 27th place with a time of
2:39:10. Nick Onslow (Pedalon UK) was first home in 2:10:40."

Wayne's Week

Wayne Thomas is racking up the race miles. "Myself and John Snead
battled once more in the E/1/2/3 race at Hillingdon. Tony Gibb and his
Plowman Craven team drove us hard on a less windy night than usual and
an average speed in excess of 27 mph made it the fastest race this year.
We finished well satisfied in mid bunch."
Saturday saw Wayne Thomas and Brian Bingham at Cranfield, Bedfordshire
in their respective LVRC races. "I rode well at the front of the group
for most of the race. No-one was able to do much about race-winning
break away by Don Parry, Team Corley (his fourth win of the season). I
finished tenth overall, and third in my age group."
On Monday Thomas was back at Cranfield but on a different 10 mile
undulating circuit. "This was a 2/3/4 category race over 45 miles with
some 100 riders. In contrast to Saturday it was cold, windy and wet.
This was not a pleasant prospect. The race kicked off at a rapid pace,
and not too surprisingly it broke up during the first lap with
individual riders and small groups scattered around the circuit. I
drifted back to form a very hard working group of 16 riders who
persevered for the next 25 miles, with the group depleted to just 8
riders on the final lap. In the circumstances I was happy to complete
the race."

Time Trialling

West London Cycling Association 25-mile Marlow event
An early start and a cold morning didn't discourage Reading members from
the WLCA '25' at Marlow. In an event won by Steve Golla of SigmaSport in
a time of 52-21, Reading's fastest rider was Trudi Sammons whose 1-1-38
was shaded for first lady by Danuta Tinn's 1-1-00. Other Reading times
were Steve Fleming, 1-5-52, and Dave Gaida, 1-17-38.

VTTA 10-mile Marlow event
It was cold again on Monday morning for the veterans' TT association
10-mile event on the rarely-used Marlow bypass course. The potential
speed of this course is blunted by the two long draggy climbs it
contains. Local rider Peter Weir produced a fine 21:36 for the win with
Reading's Nick English 22:21 being good enough for 3rd place. Rod
MacFadyen recorded 24:10.

RCC Tuesday evening event
RCC's regular Tuesday evening used the hilly Bucklebury course. Fastest
on the night were Nick English and Stephen Bale, both getting well under
40 minutes, times that are rare on this testing course. Results:
1. Nick English RCC 37:51
2. Stephen Bale RCC 38:50
3. Stephen Millward RCC 40:40
4. Simon Notley RCC 40:50
5. Simon Markham RCC 41:51
6. Matt Melville AW cycles 41:52
7. Rod Macfadyen RCC 41:59
8. Dave Ravenhill Banjo 44:08
9. Paul Fallon Ross CC 45:18
10. John Ella RCC 49:07
11. Kevin Marshall RCC 49:45
12. Gary Henwood RCC 52:00

Forest of Dean Sportive
Peter Watson has been tackling endurance events. He rode the Forest of
Dean sportive just a week after running the London Marathon. "I rode a
slow time of 7hrs8 but was pleased to cope well one week after the
marathon. The distance was double my previous longest ride this year."

Sunday Clubrun
All groups leave from Market Place Reading at 9am and aim to return by
lunchtime.

Photo caption: Brian Bingham attacks a climb
Photo credit: Guy Swarbrick
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Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club