Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 21st June 2009

Sportives
Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge
Nick Crocker and Mike Fenwick went to North Wales for the Dave Lloyd
Mega Challenge, a super tough 146 miles event with a total of 6000m of
elevation gain. Both riders did extremely well, Crocker coming in 12th
at 9 hours 16 mins, Fenwick 16th at 9 hours 24 mins, both gaining gold
standard awards. The winner completed in 8 hours 52 mins. Former
professional Dave Lloyd himself came in 7th at 9 hours 7 mins.

Tour of the Cotswolds
A number of Reading riders participated in the Tour of the Cotswolds,
including Debbie and Ian Richardson, Paul and Kevin Marshall, Adam
Perry, Russell Barton and Wayne Thomas. Thomas said: "The Marshalls were
too strong for me on the first big climb at Larkstoke, and having joined
a chase group, I had just got in touch with them again as we started the
next big climb at Snowhill. They went away and I did not see them again
until the finish! Cleeve Hill is a 25% brute and not surprisingly a lot
of walking was involved. The run home from Northleach was quick and wind
assisted. I completed the long route of 103miles in 6hrs 25 mins for a
Gold award."
Russell Barton said, "I managed to get round the course ten minutes
faster than last year. My main aim was to ride all the way up Cleeve
Hill, unfortunately with a car coming up behind me and other cyclists
walking in front of me I was forced to dismount for the final part. The
Cotswold are a great place to ride a bike, albeit hilly."
Debbie Richardson: "The scenery was beautiful, the hills were rolling
and the event was very well organised with excellent facilities and
refreshments. I finished the short route in 4hours 32mins which was
silver medal standard."

Photo caption: Reading riders Adam Perry, Ian Richardson, Wayne Thomas,
Kevin Marshall and Paul Marshall at the Tour of the Cotswolds
Photo credit: Debbie Richardson
<>

DrieLander Giro, Austria
Club sponsor Fred Hale is this week's foreign correspondent having
ridden the DrieLander Giro starting in Naunders, Austria. Hale notes:
"It's in the high Alps, the big climb being the Passo dello Stelvio
which goes to 2797 metres. As we climbed, I could feel the temperature
drop. At the summit I put on my rain jacket and leg warmers, but this
was not enough. The summit temperature was 1C. The local riders knew
what to expect and had warm gloves. The road was clear but there were
deep snowdrifts by the roadside. On the descent I was soon completely
frozen, hands without feeling, and had to stop twice to gather myself to
continue. Apart from the final climb back up to Naunders, the last 50K
was mainly downhill however with a strong head with it was tough. I
recorded 105 miles and a ride time of 7hrs 48 min."

Road and Circuit Racing
Wayne Thomas and Joe Harris competed in a 50Km Circuit Race at Upavon.
Thomas writes, "It was a lively race. Eventually two groups of five
riders gained a maximum lead of 50 seconds and stayed away for 25km or
more. The peloton whittled away at this lead until with just 5 miles to
go we were all back together. Three riders then broke clear on a climb
and making a big effort, Harris bridged across. Two more riders
followed. The six stayed away and in the uphill sprint for the line
Harris managed to snatch an excellent 3rd place in the final few
metres."

Time Trials
Lucinda Seymour travelled north to the Kent Valley road club 10-mile
event on the Levens course near Kendal. The race was enlivened by the
presence of Olympic multi-medallist Bradley Wiggins, preparing for the
upcoming Tour de France by making an attempt on the UK national record
for 10 miles. Unfortunately conditions were not in his favour but his
time of 18.00 was just 2 seconds outside the existing record he set in
2006. Fastest (non-professional) rider on the day was junior Jack Green
with 20:41. Seymour noted: "Wiggins' fans on the side of the road
cheered and encouraged all the competitors. I managed a season best time
of 23:38."

Nick English rode the Axiom 25 in Hampshire: "A very early start netted
me 55:41 and 11th place."

Barry Quick on Thursday evening took part in the Ben Owen Memorial
10-mile event held on the A420 near Oxford. "Myself and Mick Fountain,
2nd Claim, were the representatives of Reading CC. Cool conditions and a
strong West wind made the return from the turn very hard indeed."
1. Ian Greenstreet Newbury RC 'A' 21:07
Barry Quick 25:23
Mick Fountain 25:25

On Saturday afternoon Quick travelled south for the Farnborough &
Camberley CC 10 on the A31 near Farnborough. "Better than Thursday
evening but there was still a fresh west wind".
1. Bill Girvan North Hants RC 20:51
Barry Quick 25:29

On Sunday Quick took part in the Whitewebbs CC 25 on the A1 near Sandy
in Bedfordshire. "The conditions at the start were cold and breezy and I
started with arm warmers and gloves to keep out the chill. Despite this
over half the field beat the hour and I managed to record my best time
for many years."
1. James Hawkins Cambridge Uni CC 52:43
Barry Quick 1:04:55

Triathlon
Liz English was 2nd lady in the 'fun' distance of the Henley triathlon
with a time of 49:10. "I had the fastest bike leg of the 'fun' ladies
but lost out on the run."

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

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club