Rye and District Wheelers Newsletter, August 2019.

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Rye and District Wheelers

Newsletter August 2019

From the Chair

Having returned from holiday and catching up with Club news I thought I would get straight on with the August edition of the Newsletter, rather than wait until the end of the month as usual. 

More than twenty Wheelers attended Andrew Whittaker’s funeral on 10th July and during the service I was very proud to speak of his contribution to our club. He will be greatly missed. 

Andrew’s role as Honorary Treasurer has now been taken by Doug Lambert who was formally elected at the EGM held on 11th July. A warm (and grateful) welcome to Doug.

As this newsletter will demonstrate, our members have been very active over recent weeks. Huge respect and admiration goes to Rebecca and Nick Wilson, Dave Greenwood, Barry Goodsell, Steve Gooch, William Murtagh and Craig Neilson for their fantastic achievements.  Having watched the Tour de France in the Pyrenees I can at least claim to have undertaken related activity on my holiday. I even trundled over the Col de Tourmalet, proudly wearing club colours but for sure I didn’t conquer the 2000m of climbing!

Thanks go to Steve Blattman for organising a very successful Treasure Hunt and BBQ on 30 June.

And finally, best wishes to Ivor Rushforth, Rod Harrow and Jeff Gage as they convalesce after surgery.

Dates for your diary:

  • 1st September –  Up for Lunch charity ride. Details in last Newsletter.
  • 29th September – Le Tour de Rye et Romney Marsh. Details emailed to members by Hon Secretary on 26 July.

Paul Wilson

From the Captain

As well as the usual Club rides June/July has been the month for Ultra Distance Cycling.

June 22nd, the closest Saturday to the longest day. Nick Wilson, Barry Goodsell, Steve Gooch and I rode “Chase The Sun”. A 206-mile self-support and self-navigate ride from Minster on the Isle of Sheppey to Burnham on Sea on the West Coast and to be completed during the daylight hours. We were supported on the day by Kathy and Monty Wilson, who met us at pre-arranged feed points along the route.

With a sunrise start time of 04:39hrs, meant a ridiculous reveille time of around 02:40hrs, to enable us to get to the start from our various locations. Barry and I had some last-minute road diversions to negotiate on route to Minster, so it was a little after sunrise when we left. We were plum last, leaving at 04.58hrs, Barry, cool as you like was in no panic pumping up his tyres as the 700+ riders left.

So, we set off with much haste to make up for lost time and it wasn’t long before we were catching and passing riders along the roads of North Kent into London.

Our first stop for breakfast was Cadence Cycles in Crystal Palace at 48 miles, bacon rolls, coffee and top up of bottles, was enough to keep us going till we met with our support team at 66 miles. Going through London was a bit of a stop start affair and busy on a Saturday morning, so it was a great relieve to get that part of the ride over with.

With London behind us we heading to Bramley for our 100-mile stop and a spot of lunch. We had made up on our time and we were firmly on schedule to beat the sun.

With further rest and feed stops planned in for 137 miles, 161 miles and 186 miles, it meant that the legs were not too long and we could take on much needed sustenance.

Cheddar Gorge was a highlight of the day, a twisting downhill route. Barry took the lead through here just in case we uncounted any unpredictable Goats. Getting through unscathed we headed on with good speed to Burnham on sea.

Arriving at the jetty at 18:55hrs, completing the ride with 12 hours riding time, 14 hours in total, and with at least 2hrs 40 mins of daylight left.

The final RV was the Pub to celebrate and fantastic day in the saddle. A massive thank you to Kathy and Monty for supporting us throughout the day.

Pan Celtic Race 2019

A general outline as I have not been able to talk with the racers.

Two of our younger Club members took this self-supporting cycling adventure race on, journeying through the Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. William Murtagh, due to carrying a knee injury decided to race the shorter of the route, still an epic distance of 840 miles, While Craig Nilsson took on the full 1476 miles. Both routes Start in the highlands of Scotland are raced on the same roads through Scotland, Ireland and Wales but the shorter route misses certain sections. There are two ferry crossings on the route, Cairn Ryan – Belfast and Rosslare –Fishguard.

Craig completed the full distance and finished an incredible 3rd place, racing the 1476 miles in 6 days, 23hrs and 12 mins

William completed the shorted route in a very credible 6th place racing the 840 miles in 5 days 6hrs and 37 mins.

David Greenwood

From the Hon Secretary

June has been pretty much taken up with Club Treasure Hunt and BBQ and I’m glad to say very well supported with over 20 to 30 riders and over 30 for the BBQ. Thanks for all those that attended!

I think I mentioned in last month’s newsletter that always difficult trying to determine if the clues were too hard etc. However, they were all solved across the different teams.

Paul Osbourne’s team won again, I’m sure it’s down to local knowledge! Anyway, well done, Paul’s team!

Other teams put a lot of effort into the hunt but under a hot sun, I think 12 o’clock meant beer o’clock and time to pack up and blow the froth off a pint!

Steve Blattman

From the Racing Secretary

The program of open time trials goes a little quieter during July and August, but the Wheelers riders nevertheless have been out representing the club. Though not a time trial, William Murtagh took on an epic adventure in the form of the ‘Pan Celtic Race’ which covered over 800 miles on a course which started in Scotland, crossed the Irish Sea, and then back to finish in Wales. Although I haven’t spoken to William since, I know many were able to follow his progress via his GPS tracker and frequent ‘WhatsApp’ updates, I look forward to hearing more tales from his inspirational journey.

On 30th June Mark Wright was the only Wheeler to compete in the VTTA 10 and covered the Q10/30 Thanet Way course in 23:37.

On 14th July, the VTTA 50 was held on the Q50/11 course which runs from Hamstreet and two laps of the marsh before returning to Hamstreet. This event also doubles as our club championship. Mark Wright kindly volunteered to push the riders off, and Rod and Ros Harrow again provided assistance at the Lydd ‘T’ junction, I’m extremely grateful again for all their help. The weather was generally kind although a stiff easterly breeze meant that is wasn’t the fastest day, and there were a few light showers towards the end but nothing to cause too much trouble. There were four Rye starters, Mark Amon having discovered that he had a fractured ankle did not start but came out to spectate, and three finished;

  • Nick Wilson 1:53:22
  • Dave Greenwood 2:08:27
  • Rebecca Wilson 2:11:19 (4:40 pb)
  • Steve Gooch DNF

Another VTTA 10, this time held on the Q10/1 Hamstreet course took place on 20th July. There were three Wheelers on the startsheet, but a thunderstorm meant that only one competed on the day. Mark Amon kindly volunteered to marshal.

  • James Ashburnham 21:51

20th July National 24-hour TT championships. 

The club has a fine history in endurance events, and it was Dave Greenwood and Rebecca Wilson who travelled to Cheshire along with me for support, to keep the tradition going. Dave and Rebecca are both veterans of 24-hour time trials, Dave having participated in two previous Mersey Roads Club promotions. Rebecca’s rides were both in East Sussex when Esther Carpenter promoted on behalf of ESCA in 2011 and 2014. Many of us remember fondly the 2011 edition when Jim Hollands successfully encouraged a record number of Rye riders and supporters to participate, mostly with little idea of what to expect. The event provided great results, Steve Gooch covered 412 miles and secured a place in the club record book, Bronwen Ewing finished with 406 miles completed which was not only a club record but a National Title too.

To compete in a 24-hour event cannot be underestimated, both Rebecca and Dave had completed months of training and preparation and as we made the journey north, Dave was contemplating the possibility of taking the record having come tantalisingly close in 2017 with 401 miles. The weather wasn’t looking great with heavy showers and strong winds being forecast but almost anything would be better than the 18 hours of rain that Dave endured two years ago. 

Approaching from the south gave us the opportunity to have a course recce en route to our hotel before a pasta meal and early bed. Saturday morning, with little obvious sign of nerves, we set off for the HQ at 11:00 where the first rider would set off at 13:01, first to go was Rebecca No. 33 and some 40 min later Dave followed No. 76, but not before ‘no dramas Dave’ had broken his skinsuit zip and had to make a swap just 15 minutes before his start.

With both underway, I set off in pursuit of Rebecca who was nearing the first course loop. This provided me with my first stress, making progress any faster than the riders was all but impossible as traffic had built up behind each of the competitors who were evenly spaced along the road, then the unwanted phone call from Rebecca to say that she’d been stationary for 30 minutes with a puncture and I was still some miles away. The camaraderie of a 24-hour cannot be underestimated and I’m so grateful to Glen Whittington (of Wildside Cycles) who, while supporting Pip Jenkins – Southborough & Dist Wheelers, came to the rescue and got Rebecca rolling again before I was able to get there. 

Finally, my pair had made it to the Espley – Shawbirch out and back loop where they were scheduled to complete two laps, and I could relax – except I couldn’t as upon completion of one lap, Rebecca was signalled to transfer to the next leg. I now had the dilemma of who to support, if I left my position Dave would potentially cover his first 80 miles unsupported, if I stayed it would be Rebecca – sorry Dave but I have to live with her.  With a distance in the region of 100 miles behind them and by now late afternoon, all the riders were on the 12 mile Quina Brook loop where they would stay until nightfall.

Towards the northern turn on this loop, riders pass the Prees Heath roundabout which provides a temporary home for many supporters and an amazing tented village appeared beside the road. I chose a site further south which I felt made it easier to find me should I be needed, and I set up camp and counted the laps. As the light faded competitors were migrated to the 20-mile out and back night circuit up and down the A41, where I again opted to position myself halfway down the course to minimise transfer time if I should be required at either end. I didn’t particularly enjoy the night hours, the A41 proved very busy with heavy lorries thundering past and, from a spectators point of view, it looked terrifying.

Dave was looking solid and continued to lap consistently only stopping occasionally for a coffee. Rebecca was also managing to lap at impressive speed, but was also starting to look quite fatigued. 

The sun’s arrival provided a lift to the spirits and by 6am the transfer was made back to the much more pleasant Quina Brook loop. 

Both stopped for a quick breakfast, and continued to lap the 12-mile circuit in about 40 min until the final transfer to the finishing circuit at 10am. After a rather lumpy transfer, the final hours started around the 9-mile lap of Wrexham industrial estate. Not a moment too soon the final timekeeper comes into view and all that remains is to head back to HQ to review the provisional distances. The results are remarkable, Rebecca has covered 392 miles, a 66-mile personal best and Dave 421, a 20-mile pb and taking the club record by 9 miles. 

Could they improve? Never say never…………..

Nick Wilson

From the Treasurer

Following the extremely sad passing of Andrew Whittaker, I was voted in as Treasurer of Rye

Wheelers Cycle club during an EGM in June. As treasurer, I am charged with keeping the accounts

and ensuring that the club is solvent and able to pay its way. This responsibility is straight forward in a small club like ours. However, for me to fully understand the income and expenditure please email me with any anticipated receipts. My email address is lambertdoug@hotmail.com.

At the end of July 2019, the Rye Wheelers had a bank balance of £3,020.44.

During the month of July, we received half year subscriptions from three new members, Lisa McNally and David and Fiona Topping. In addition, the club received £83 in kit sales and a £48

British Cycling fee.

The only expenditure was a payment of £216.78 to Andy Croft for time spent working on the

website, and £41 to print the leaflets advising details of the Up for Lunch event.

If anyone has any questions about the accounts I will always be delighted to help.

Open balance November 2018                                                                                  £1,883.45

Plus, Income 9 months to end July 2019                                                                    £2,819.50

Less Expenditure 9 months to end July 2019                                                             £1,682.51

Balance 31 July 2019                                                                                                  £3,020.44

Doug Lambert

Members Contributions

When traffic slows or becomes congested, on a bike you will most likely be moving faster than it; needing to filter through and overtake. Once the traffic starts moving freely again you will then need to reintegrate into the flow safely and efficiently. This British Cycling video gives you some tips on how to do this with ease.

Contact Details

Paul Wilson, Chair. stonegarth@gmail.com Dave Greenwood, Club Captain. dmgreenwood65@aol.com
Steve Blattman, Hon Secretary. ryewheelers@outlook.com Nick Wilson, Racing Secretary. mail@dotwilson.com
Doug Lambert, Treasurer. lambertdoug@hotmail.com   General Enquiries info@ryewheelers.com
mage result for rye wheelers

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