Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 3 January 2010

Joe Harris's exploits at Hog Hill, club TT championship dates.

Photo caption: Joe Harris, keen to start his 2010 season
Photo credit: Rod MacFadyen
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Circuit Racing

Reading CC hill-climb champion Joe Harris kicked off his 2010 season as
early as January 2nd when he raced at the tough Hog Hill circuit in the
E/1/2/3/4 handicap race. Harris picks up the story: "Us 3rd cats were
only given 20 seconds over the Elite/1st/2nd cat riders so all that
happened was we rode a couple of laps and then both groups merged. About
ten minutes in, a rider broke away, I was on the front and I decided to
chase. As I rode up to his wheel I looked back and saw we'd opened a big
gap over the bunch. We stayed off the front for a couple of laps but I
decided to sit up as it was only 15 minutes into a 1 hour race and I
felt I was wasting energy. Halfway through the peloton split in two with
nine riders out front and about 15 or 20 of us chasing. I was gutted to
miss the move as the split happened when I was near the back of the
bunch for the first time in the race. I tried to bridge the gap and
ended up in the middle of the two groups with three other riders who'd
been dropped from the breakaway. I worked with them for a few laps but I
was riding at maximum heart rate for most of it and couldn't go any more
so I eased up and waited to be caught by the bunch. At five laps to go
we caught all the riders that had been dropped from the breakaway and
that left six riders out in the lead with a healthy advantage. My group
was sprinting for 7th place and downwards. With a lap to go I rode at
the front. I started the sprint first and pulled out a lead but as I hit
the middle of the climb to the finish I slowed down. I pushed as hard as
I could through the pain whilst riders started passing me, my heart rate
hitting 203 bpm. In the end I held on for 10th place which I was pleased
with after a lively race."

Selected results:
1 Hugo Humphreys, Mosquito Bikes RT, 2nd cat
10 Joe Harris, Reading CC, 3rd cat

Harris also raced at Hog Hill on the 28th December: "It was flat out
from the start and really hard, there were attacks throughout the race,
each one dropping riders off the back. I worked hard on the front of the
peloton to keep bringing the race back together, I also got in a few
breaks, but none of them came to anything. In the sprint I came in 9th
place and 3rd out of the 3rd category riders which will help towards the
overall championship."

Club Time-Trials for 2010

There are some changes to the competitions available for Reading CC
riders in the 2010 time-trial season.
The Veterans BAR (Best All-Rounder) now mirrors the Senior BAR award in
being based on a competitor's best ride at the 100, 50 and 25 mile
distances. The inclusion of the longer distance (100 miles) acknowledges
its current increase in popularity.
The new Veterans Mini-BAR is based on single best rides at 50, 25 and 10
mile distances.
These awards are based on veterans standard, with the winner being the
rider who beats their standard times by the greatest total amount.

Club time-trial championship dates
10 mile championship - Tuesday 1st June, Aldermaston
25 mile championship - Tuesday 22nd June, Aldermaston
Athlete's (non-aero) championship - Tuesday 29th June, Maidenhead
Thicket
Hill Climb championship - Sunday 19th September, Streatley and Flint
hills

Sunday clubrun
Weather permitting, all groups leave Reading Market Place at 9am on
Sundays.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club