Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 28 March 2010

Reading CC's leading riders are scoring good results before many of us
have even begun our season.

Time Trialling

Nicholas English has been preparing carefully for the new season. He
went to Sotonia CC's 10-mile event at Andover on a fast course which
attracts a strong field. "Quite a windy day with a tailwind out and a
headwind return. I averaged about 35mph to the turn. Slightly too much
westerly to get shelter from the embankment on the way back though. I
had saved a bit for the return and that paid off with my 20:28 giving me
a new course best time and securing my National 10 qualification. That
netted me 5th overall with the joint winners being Ben Instone and Chris
Ball on 20:08. I got the better of a fair few riders that I haven't
beaten before so, while a single swallow doesn't make a summer, it looks
like my winter training and position tweaks are on the right track."
Selected results:
1. Ben Instone 20:08
1. Chris Ball 20:08
5. Nicolas English 20:28

Trudi Sammons has begun the defence of her Rudy Project series crown.
Bath CC organised the first event of this national series at the
weekend. Sammons placed 4th and 1st veteran in the women's event,
commenting: "It was one of the hardest course I have ever ridden. The
head-on wind going out and for the last 5 uphill miles was hurtful! I am
very pleased with result."
Selected results:
1 Sarah Storey Horizon Fitness RT 01:00:45
2 Rebecca Romero Orbea - For Goodness Shakes! 01:03:51
3 Michelle King Cult Racing 01:04:34
4 Trudi Sammons Reading CC 01:06:39

Road and Circuit Racing

Steve Bale rode the 3rd category road race at Thruxton circuit and this
time lived in the break: "After just half a lap two riders were off the
front and looking strong. I bridged across and began to work with them
to extend the lead. By the end of that lap 6 more riders got across and
the break was set. We lost one of the riders fairly early so we were 8
riders working hard together for the 12 lap race. The pace remained high
as we tested each other in the hope that someone would crack bettering
the odds in the overall finish. I probably co-operated too much along
the way as when it came to the final sprint I was cooked and finished
last in our little group, getting 8th overall. Over the course of the 28
mile race we had built an advantage over the chasing field of over 3
minutes. I'm pleased with that result as I had the legs to handle the
extended efforts but I still need to work on the tactics and sprints to
get on the podium."

Wayne Thomas reports on a busy weekend: "Saturday at Hillingdon saw a
strong turn out of Reading CC's road racers for the second of the
"Beyond Spring" series. Trevor Bradbury and John Snead turned out for
their first race of the season, and with Joe Harris making a welcome
return to Hillingdon (for the first time as a 2nd cat) plus Dave
Harmsworth, and regular stalwart Wayne Thomas, Reading had a strong
presence. This week it stayed dry - at least until 30 seconds after the
finish - and a little less wind. As a result some 76 riders sped off on
this 54km race (35 laps) for 2/3/4 category riders. Sped off being the
operative word as the average speed was well up on the previous week at
26mph. Clearly everyone is well on form very early in the season! Attack
after attack was nullified by the high pace, until with 5 laps to go,
three riders broke away and just held off a hard charging peloton, the
organising club having the privilege of providing the winner Paul Crook.
Joe Harris was the best of Reading CC finishing 23rd with the rest of
the team safely in the main bunch. Bradbury and Snead rode well in their
first race of the year, and Harmsworth fought off a late cramp attack to
hang on well in the bunch."

On Sunday Thomas was caught out by the clock change and had to replan
his day: "I went to a Surrey League event at Goodwoord rather than my
planned event at Evesham. The Goodwood event was on the main motor
racing circuit which has wide, sweeping roads and, on Sunday, lots of
wind. This 40mile race for 3rd cat riders attracted a big field of 102
riders. The wind made life difficult through the finishing area and the
first part of the circuit but two riders eventually broke clear and held
on by 10 seconds from the peloton. Having had a quiet race I was
pleasantly surprised to find that I finished in 34th place out of 81
finishers."

Sunday clubrun
This Sunday sees the annual running of the so-called 'Torture 40', an
informal sportive event starting and finishing in Mill-End car park near
Hambleden. The distance is only around 45 miles but the route makes
liberal use of the steep climbs that feature in the Hambleden valley and
should not be underestimated. Riders must be prepared for steep
gradients and poor road surfaces. Organiser John Wann will see riders
off at 10am.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club