Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 18 April 2010

Fine weather brings good racing.

Time Trialling
Farnborough & Camberley CC `25`
Reading's powerful veteran Trudi Sammons scorched to a new 25-mile
personal best in the Farnborough & Camberley CC `25` on the A31 at the
weekend. Her 58:01 was good enough to place her as 3rd woman and 34th
overall out of 104 finishers. Fastest lady was Julia Shaw with 56:17.
Said Sammons of her ride: "I was amazed and very pleased!".

Antelope RT 3-up Team Time Trial
Reading CC posted their fastest ever time in the Antelope RT 3-up team
time trial at Longwick. In good conditions, Steve Millward, Greg
Woodford and Steve Bale covered the 50km in 1.12:52 to place 20th from
over 80 teams. The three riders worked well together to maximise their
speed.
Woodford: "I enjoyed it, a beautiful day and really warm. The circuit
was quiet and interesting and I think we all agree that we worked well
together. Steve Bale showed his class by doing much of the leading. We
might have benefited from a little more practice and a slight coming
together at a junction lost us 20 secs or so. Th biggest shock was being
overtaken with about five miles to go. We tried to keep up but after
about a mile they disappeared into the distance."
Bale: "We were a well balanced team. Greg was strong and did long turns,
and we were a coherent unit throughout. I couldn't have given that much
more and certainly the team effort was much more than I would have
managed solo."
Millward: "I soon found I was the weakest member of the team which meant
taking a shorter turns at the front and making sure I got back on to the
wheel at the end of my turn. The most satisfying part was when we worked
really well as a team, with smooth changes and each of us working as
hard as we could."
Selected results:
1. Duggleby, Bottrill, Cambridge Platts i-ride 01:04:07
20. Woodford, Bale, Millward Reading CC 01:12:52

Andover Wheelers Middle-Markers '10'
Veteran Dave Gaida travelled to Thruxton for a middle markers event on
the fast P613 course. "I did 28-17, the winner was Roger Smith of South
Downs Bikes with 20-49." He adds: "This was the last Andover middle
markers event on this course and possibly last ever event on this fast
course as road changes have started at the turn." The loss of the
Thruxton course will be noted regretfully by Southern time-triallists,
many of whom have recorded lifetime bests on this otherwise unremarkable
stretch of road.

Oxford City RC '10'
Nick English confirmed his hot early season form with 4th place in the
Oxford City event. "Conditions were warm and fairly still so it seemed
that fast times were on the cards. I produced a few more watts than in
my previous event so I was a little disappointed to be 30s down on the
winner."
Selected results:
1. Stu Dodd Drag2Zero.com 20:39
4. Nicholas English Reading CC 21:08

Road and Circuit Racing
Wayne Thomas completed a trio of races on a glorious Spring weekend.
On Saturday it was the Westerly Spring Criteriums at Hillingdon with
Reading CC represented in the 3/4 category race by Trevor Bradbury,
Stuart Hale and Thomas. A lively race ensued with over 65 competitors
and Bradbury was always well to the front. With just 5 laps to go Thomas
moved in to contention holding sixth place in the line for the next 3
laps, however as the pace eased for the finale, the rest of the bunch
swarmed to the front and Thomas found himself boxed in. The inevitable
crash occurred, disrupting half the bunch and delaying Thomas and Hale.
At the front of the race, Bradbury had kept clear of the melee, and came
home in an excellent 7th place.

Thomas was back in action just 20 minutes later in the E/1/2/3 race -
and with a number of top Elites in evidence (including recent double
winner Tony Gibb - ex World Silver medallist) in the 45 man field,
Thomas was expecting a rapid and tough race. The opening 5 laps were run
off at a ferocious pace with attack after attack. Eventually seven
riders broke clear and gained a half lap advantage which they kept to
the end. Thomas remained comfortably in the main bunch to the finish.

On Sunday Thomas was to be found south of Basingstoke in an LVRC road
race - 40 miles over 4 laps of a new ten mile circuit with two climbs
including one to the finish. Thomas stayed well to the front of the
peloton throughout the race often bridging across to useful breaks.
Strong man Ray Palin rode off with Mick Deen on the second ascent to the
finish never to be seen again. Attrition wiped out half the field
leaving just 20 riders to fight out the finish. On the last climb
Thomas's legs finally gave out over the last 300metres coming in just
off the back of what was left of the bunch. Thomas commented - "it was a
tough day at the office!""

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

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club