Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 21st February 2010

Early season race news.

Photo caption: Steve Bale looks in good shape for the 2010 race season
Photo credit: Rod MacFadyen
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Time Trials

Stephen Bale and Nick English have kicked off Reading CCs time-trial
season with their participation in an event run by local club North
Hants RC on the 10.9 mile Heckfield circuit. Bale notes: "Although
chilly it was a dry afternoon and good to get out. I did 27.10 in my
first time on the low-profile bike since last August. Nick English rode
to a quick 25.55." English used the ride to collect power data for
subsequent analysis to see where gains can be made on this circuit. Bale
and English were among the leading riders in an event which saw more
than 30 riders turn out.

Circuit Racing

Reading CC's Wayne Thomas rode his opening race of the main 2010 season
on Saturday afternoon. This was an event in the Finchley RT's "Magic
Homes" criteriums at Hillingdon circuit. Thomas competed in the 3/4
category event, along with a good sized field of 40 riders, over a 25
lap race (approximately 1 hour). Sunny blue skies encouraged some
spirited riding and a high average speed. A number of breakaway attempts
were made but none stuck. The high speed resulted in the peloton
splitting on at least two occasions. Thomas was pleased to find himself
in the right place on each occasion and at one stage, with a much
thinned front group had high hopes of a good finish. However, the
peleton managed to re-group. With 3 laps to go, the pace shot up with a
long lead out in prospect and a nicely strung-out peloton. This was
sustained until just after the start of the last lap, when there was a
sudden slow down. This inevitably meant a much larger group exploding in
to action with less than 400m to go. In the usual melee of such a finish
Thomas finished comfortably in a surprising 20th place, saying
afterwards "I had not touched the bike for a week, as for three days I
had suffered a total wipeout due to a virulent stomach bug. I had no
idea what my legs would be like, and was delighted to ride as well as I
did".

Paul Stedman was also at Hillingdon racing in the Masters E/1/2/3 race,
finishing in the main bunch of a tough, high speed event with attacks
almost every lap. The race was won by Vince Halpern of AW Cycles.

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

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club