Reading Cycling Club

Roller Racing

Reading CC entered a team of 5 riders in the annual inter-club Roller Race
held at Didcot Phoenix's headquarters of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell cricket
pavilion. In roller racing each rider has to ride a stationary bike over a
"distance" of 1,000 metres as quickly as possible, putting a premium on
intensely fast pedalling. Reading finished a creditable 3rd to an in-form
Didcot Phoenix team.

Reading's team consisted of current club roller champion, Greg Woodford,
past champion Dean Bond, roller stalwart Trevor Bradbury and two newcomers
to this race format, Stephen Milward whose strong time-trial abilities would
come into play, and Brian Perry.

Bond reports: "Bradbury was first up to show the newcomers how it was done.
He started well, peaking at just over 50mph, but was unable to hold this
pace for the whole race. He posted a good time of 53.67 seconds. Milward,
although new to rollers, looked comfortable. He started conservatively at
48mph and was able to keep this impressive pace through to the end of the
race to post the team's best time of 47.35 seconds. I was next and topped
55mph early on but lactic acid filled my legs and my speed tailed off. I set
a time of 48.22 seconds. Woodford was 4th up. Being defending champion he
was keen to get going, so much so that with his opening effort he pulled his
foot from the pedal. Losing several vital seconds cost him any hope of a
victory but by half distance he had caught his competitor to set a time of
57.28 seconds. Last up was Perry who was fortunate to have seen how his team
mates performed before taking part. He looked calm at the start and peaked
at 52mph before the pain set in, recording a decent time of 51.63.
Congratulations go to Stephen Milward for becoming the Reading CC Roller
Race champion. It appears newcomers have a tendency to do well in this event
with three such wins in the last 4 years."

Didcot Phoenix posted the top two fastest times, the overall winner being
Nick Druce who set a time of 41.68 seconds.

Time Trials

Reading's time-triallists are getting their season into gear.

Lucinda Seymour travelled North for a 10-mile event near Manchester: "I
finished fastest lady with 28:04. The course had a couple of dips and drags
but the strength of the wind meant that the course record was definitely
safe."
Nick English opened his season in low-key style by taking part in a Newbury
RC club event: "I did a somewhat slow 36.09 for 6th place, the winner taking
31.31. It was very windy, but nice to get a race in to start the season."

Reliability Ride

Sunday saw a large turn-out for the Reading CC Reliability Ride. Riders had
to complete an 87km course through country lanes in a given time, with a
shorter 57k option also being available. Most riders treat the Reliability
as an early season workout. The weather was kind enough not to interfere
with this aim, being windy but dry and mild.

Clubrun secretary Steve Thurgood reports: "What a great day out on great
courses. There were some excellent results and a few things to mull over and
improve but overall well done to all. Congratulations go to RCC new boy
Andrea Mica who took exactly as long as predicted. It was a close run thing
with four riders within a minute either way."

Sixty-two riders turned out with only three failing to finish. The fastest
time for the distance was 2 hours 37 minutes. Thurgood noted: "As usual some
15 or so riders were a little conservative in their fitness assessment and
blew their targets to pieces. 11 averaged over 20mph." He concluded, "The
target times need to be quicker next year, even for what is a hillier and
longer course than before."

Paul Elcock went with the fastest group and remarked, "My legs were
definitely given a working over. To get under 2hours 30 on that course would
be very taxing and involve great teamwork from the off."

Photo credit: Dennis Sackett / http://www.cyclingphotos.org.uk/