Cambridge University Cycling Club - comic 1
Welcome to the first CUCC Newsletter this year. In order to save paper and hassle, it will mainly be delivered electonically. I hope it fufills and satisfies. We have had a reasonably successful term so far, with the last few races of the season being run off, and some fun being had on the club rides. I hope all those who had their first crack at time trialing enjoyed it - get training for the Lent 10 to try and improve your time! On the gentler side of things, the touring rides have been well supported, and in view of this, the organiser Edward Lipman has now taken up the post of Touring Secretary.
Next, particularly for all you new members, we have the all singing and dancing: TONY'S GUIDE TO GROUP RIDING
Organising a big group of cyclists isn't easy, and co-operation like that seen on the first Saturday, is vital. A list of points to note follow:
1: There should be 2 groups each week, with the faster ride leaving first - if in doubt, try the slower ride and move up if necessary, rather than struggling out of your depth on the fast ride....
2: No attacking/dropping people this term for the first 3/4 of the run - these early rides are for everyone to get used to riding in a group, holding a wheel, etc - you can show us how good you are next term. Also, if you go off the front and you don't know where the rides going, don't rely on somebody chasing you down - if you want to get lost in Essex, that's entirely up to you....
3: Wait for regrouping after climbs/junctions/punctures etc - unless you want to become VERY unpopular....Also keep to the rules of the road - cutting corners, going round mini-roundabouts the wrong way, jumping lights are all things which give cycling and the club a bad name - DON'T DO IT!
4: Once the ride has turned back towards Cambridge, the pace _may_ increase a little. Anyone dropped at this stage should be able to find their way back to Cambridge easily enough, but....
5: If you think you are about to be dropped, and you don't know your way back to Cambridge, shout loudly! We don't intend to leave people stranded in deepest Hertfordshire....
6: Bring a spare tube, tyre levers, puncture kit and pump - don't rely on other people to provide it. A bit of loose change for a phone in an emergency, a drinking bottle, and a little food are also very good ideas
7: Signal significant potholes, parked cars by both shouting and pointing. 'On the left/right/middle!' is the standard thing to shout, whilst if there is a vehicle behind, shouting 'Car up!' warns everybody to keep in. If necessary, eg a narrow road, oncoming cars should be signalled by shouting 'Car Down!'
8: Standard formation is 2 abreast, after reaching roads where this is sensible. Always think of those following your wheels before braking/changing line/getting out of the saddle - the latter throws your bike back quite a way.
9: Take turns at the front if you can - how fit you are determines how _long_ you ride at the front, rather than how fast. To change formation, wait for a clear, straight road, and the front riders should move aside and slow down - when going through onto the front DON'T accelerate - this is very hard on those at the back. Try and close all gaps, as this makes it easier on everyone.
10: It is EVERYONE'S responsibility to make sure that no-one is dropped and/or left in trouble - not just the ride leaders.
11: Finally - we strongly recommend helmets, and dress warmly. Mudguards, if owned, are appreciated on wet days, and a rear light is advisable for later in term.
We have had a few racing events this term, so we have a few RACE RESULTS:
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CYCLING CLUB INTRODUCTORY '10'
As told by Tony Hornbuckle.
Date: Saturday 19th October Course: F2/10 (Landbeach - Stretham, A10) Conditions: A brisk south westerly made conditions quite hard, though not as hard as has been seen on this very exposed, if flat, course...
1 17 Tony Hornbuckle Trinity 23'12" 2 14 Mark Marshall St John's 23'27" 3 7 Richard Coomer St Catharine's 24'24" 4 16 Laurence Berman Addenbrookes 24'46" 5 11 Andy Sheppard Churchill 25'09" 6 8 Ian Farrer Girton 25'56" 7 4 Lee Drage Trinity 27'09" 8 1 Stuart Lemanski (puncture) Churchill 27'10" 9 2 Paul Brookes Darwin 27'39" 10 5 Paul Crosland Wolfson 28'28" 11 12 Ben Green Trinity 29'17" 12 6 Andrew Rae Fitzwilliam 29'28" 13 10 Ben Collins Magdalene 29'45" 14 15 Gareth Rees Christ's 29'48" 15 9 Chris Morris Magdalene 29'53" 16 18 Matthew Hornby Downing 30'47" 17 13 David St Jacques Corpus Christi 30'59" 18 19 Tom North St Catharine's 31'45" 19 3 Mark Watkins Trinity Hall 36'47"Thanks go to Dan Shrimpton for pushing off, so to speak, Michael Hutchinson for marshalling at the turn, and my parents for holding the watches...
Congratulations to all those finishing, especially if racing for the first time - the times were quicker than I expected given the conditions, and in this event we normally have a lot more riders outside 30 minutes. I would put conditions about a minute slower than a really good day, though those who have yet to do many TTs will be surprised at how much improvement can be gained just by doing more TTs (and more training, of course!)
BRITISH UNIVERSITIES SPORTS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIPS
As told by Rob English
Date: Sunday 20 October.
Venue: The Nick o'Pendle, Sabden, Lancashire (1400 yards with a maximum gradient of 1 in 6).
conditons: WET ! and slippy
Postn Name Club Time 1 J Henderson Oxford 3.41.0 Gold 2 J Swindells UEA 4.10.4 Silver 3 A Kay Sheff 4.10.9 Bronze 5 R English Camb 4.23.6 7 M Einon Oxford 4.28.5 8 D Ryan Oxford 4.29.2 11 D Symons Oxford 4.36.6 32 N Pashley Oxford 5.09.3 33 C Elwell Cambridge 5.14.0 44 B Allen Oxford 6.04..1 Gold Postn TEAMS 1 Oxford 12.38.7 Gold 2 Manchester 13.15.6 Silver 3 Sheffield 13.34.7 BronzeNot too disappointing on the day, despite CUCC not managing to get a team to the event. The weather didn't really help, and kept superman Jim Henderson from beating Malcolm Elliots course record by 7 seconds. Hopefully we can get a team out next year......But a least I get my name in the Comic!
FORTHCOMING BUSA EVENTS (ROAD + MTB) (More details from Tony) DATE DISCIPLINE VENUE 15 Feb Cyclo-cross Nottingham 16 March 50km 4-up Team TT Norfolk 22/23 March MTB XC and DH Huddersfield 26 April 10 Mile TT Hull 10 May 25 Mile TT Cambridge 15 June 50 Mile TT Oxford 22 June Road Race ?? 29 June 100 Mile TT North Lancashire
COMPUTER MAILING LIST AND CLUB WEB PAGES
If you haven't subscribed to the club's mailing list, then please do so without delay - it's the only way to keep fully up to date with what's going on in the club. To subscribe, simply send a message containing
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And while you're at the computer, you can find the club's NEW Web pages at the following address:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/CambUniv/Societies/cycling/
Well that's about it for the mo'. Any comments/suggestions let me know. Your ever-loving President, Rob. (95rje@eng.cam.ac.uk)