Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 14 June 2009

This week featuring triathlon, circuit racing, road time-trialling and
sportives.

Triathlon
Reading CC had two competitors in the Windsor Olympic distance
triathlon, both with great results, Paul Elcock and Thea Warwick. An
Olympic distance event consists of a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride, and a
10km run.
Warwick placed 7th in her age group, just 10 minutes behind the winner,
with a time of 2hr45min: "I haven't really trained for this distance but
I'm pleased with the result."
Elcock said: "The Windsor tri always gets glorious sunshine and this
year was no exception. Thankfully, the river level was lower than
previous years so swimming upstream to the turn buoy was possible! My
confidence was low for the swim and as I started to fatigue, I dropped
back from the front runners in my age group , losing minutes. A time of
26 minutes wasn't disastrous, but well off what I should be doing. But
this race was always going to be about the bike. I set out with clear
intentions to reel back those who had got away in the swim. Down on the
drops, passing groups of riders, my cycling experience gave me an almost
frightening speed differential - I felt like like a fighter pilot! I
completed the bike leg in 59 minutes, the quickest time of the day. The
eventual winner was just ahead of me coming into the run and proceeded
to pull away. A 41min run wasn't too bad for me, but several minutes off
the front runners. A total time of 2 hours 10 min put me in 18th
overall, with Tristan Shipshides taking the win with 2 hours 3 mins."

Road and Circuit Racing
Reading's Gavin Spiers took an excellent win at Eelmore circuit midweek.
Spiers reports on a surprise success, "I wasn't expecting any results as
I had been off the bike for 2 weeks on my honeymoon. However as the race
unfolded I found that the pace felt easy. I saved my energy and only
went with a few moves as it was obvious that the peloton would not let a
break get away. Mid-race I won a sprint for a prime. The other Reading
riders (Brian Bingham, Paul Cooper and Joe Harris) were active and got
in a few breaks which were chased down. With 2 laps to go Brian attacked
in a bid for glory but was never allowed to get that far away. On the
last lap I made sure that I was close to the front and as we rounded the
last corner I had managed to maintain my position. When the sprint
started I was able to lead it out and hold the lead all the way to the
finish to take 1st place. Quite a profitable evening with the prize
money from winning the race and winning the prime!"

Wayne Thomas, Paul Stedman and Sacha Wilson raced the midweek E/1/2/3
event at Hillingdon. Thomas: "The race got off to a ferocious tempo and
it did not let up all evening. With an average speed of just under 28mph
it was the quickest race all year. Stedman and Wilson hung in well and
managed to finish with the main bunch but 48 minutes in my legs said
no."
Thomas and Joe Harris were back at Hillingdon on Saturday for the Minet
Grand Prix,another E/1/2/3 category race. Harris and Thomas finished 9th
and 11th in the bunch sprint. Dave Harmsworth was 9th in the 4th cat
race, in the process gaining the points that promote him to 3rd cat
status.
On Monday evening Thomas rode at Upavon near Pewsey in a 55km circuit
race for 2/3/4 category riders. "This is a very exposed circuit and
there was a very strong westerly wind. Knowing where to be in the bunch
at three critical points was essential. A break got away and could not
quite be pulled back. In the long uphill bunch sprint I worked my way
through to 10th but too late to count for much."

Time Trials
Reading CC Open '50'
Ideal conditions greeted Reading CC's Open 50-mile time trial on Sunday
morning on the A4 at Aldermaston. Personal bests resulted for many
riders, including Lucinda Seymour, who also claimed the Ladies First
Prize, and Steve Bale who was second fastest with his first ever sub
two-hour ride. American Jesse Elzinga of Beeline Bicycles RT took first
place. Organiser Barry Quick attributed a low entry to the deteriorating
road surfaces on the A4, saying: "It was disappointing that we only had
33 entries this year, the lowest ever. The road conditions are pretty
terrible at the Theale end of the course. Let's hope West Berkshire get
their act together and carry out some much needed resurfacing. As always
my thanks go to all the Marshalls and helpers who gave up their time to
ensure the event was still a success."

Brian Bingham: "This was only my second ever 50mi TT so I was
apprehensive about what lay in store. I felt rested coming into the
race. From the start I kept the pace steady and then I tried to push it
up a level for the last 6 miles. The struggle was worth it for a PB
that took 5 minutes off my previous time."
Steve Millward: "I knew I was on for a pb but needed to improve by 8
minutes to go under 2 hours. At the first Pangbourne turn I was on
target but then couldn't sustain the pace for the westerly leg. At the
end I was very happy to improve my pb by 4 minutes."

Brief results, Reading CC unless noted:
1. Jesse Elzinga, Beeline Bicycles RT, 1.54:11
2. Stephen Bale, 1.58:19
6. Brian Bingham, 2.02:28
8. Stephen Millward, 2.03:47
11. Rod MacFadyen, 2.07:02
12. Lucinda Seymour (W), 2.08:06
17. Steve Fleming, 2.12:11
22. Barry Quick, 2.27:34
24. Dave Gaida, 2.33:47
26. Pete Stocker, 2.41:59

Reading CC 10-mile championship
The Tuesday evening event was the club 10-mile championship. TT
secretary Steve Ferry reports:"On a cool night with low winds there were
some fast times. Fastest with a PB was Paul Elcock with 21:03. Second
was Nick English with 21:27 and finishing off the top three was Greg
Woodford with 22:08. RCC had two lady riders with Trudi Sammons on 23:44
and Lucinda Seymour with 24:19. Greg Woodford was the best veteran when
results are corrected for age."

Sportives
Peter Watson rode the Dragon Ride Sportive in South Wales on a course
through the Rhonda area and the Brecon Beacons. "The 190km route with
3000m of ascent was very enjoyable, very scenic in places, with some
long climbs but nothing particularly steep.
I felt strong riding at the front of some of the slower groups, I
finished in 7h28 well inside the top half and 1h40 behind the fastest
time set by professional rider Daniel Lloyd."

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

Roderick MacFadyen
www.readingcyclingclub.com

Photo caption: Paul Elcock flashes a winning smile after the Reading CC
10-mile championship
Photo credit: Rod MacFadyen
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