Congleton Cycling Club

Left-to-right above: Stephen Kane, Paul Kennington, Alistair Kennington, Tristan Roberts, Dean Roberts, Denise Hurst (Assistant Coach), Charlie Evans (Chief Coach), Edgar Reynolds, Mike Line, Tony Elliott (Organiser), Wayne Powell, David Hurst, Joe Langford, Beth Eardley, Stephen Jackson, Bob Norton, Rowland Bainbridge, Mark Allen.

About to start a drill

23 Club members took part in this 2 hour session at the Manchester Velodrome. Charlie Evans was our chief coach for the evening and Denise Hurst acted as assistant coach. The novice riders were taken through the basics of bike positioning, starting and stopping on a fixed-wheel bike, and safely riding on the banking. By the end of the session all were riding confidently on the blue stayer’s line. The more experienced riders concentrated on improving their group riding and bike handling skills. The ‘lumps and bumps’ drill proved popular as well the more strenuous ‘taking a lap’ speed exercises.

All riders thoroughly enjoyed the evening, with many asking the organiser Tony Elliott when the next one would be!

ABC Centreville 10-mile TT on Chelford Course

Our sole representative, Kelvin Milward, recorded 24:48 which yielded a very respectable Veteran’s Standard (Handicap) of +2:02. The event winner was Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with 20:28, plus a large winning margin on Veteran’s Standard of +5:41.

Clubrun to Tattenhall – 73 miles

Eleven riders completed the club run on Sunday May 5th on a promising spring day. They were Bob and Georgina Norton, David McVitie, Sue Blake, Mike Line, Pete Smith, Rob Waghorn, Stephen Kane, Steve Kirkham, Rowland Bainbridge and Chris Guest. The group started as one but at Church Minshull, it split into two groups, still with the same destination of Tattenhall. Both groups travelled on via Barbridge, Cholmondley, Bickerton, Harthill to Tattenhall. After checking out the Ice Cream Farm cafe which was found to be packed with Bank Holiday day trippers we opted for “Old Ma’s” Tea Room nearby, which was much quieter. After a leisurely lunch they all set off towards Beeston Castle and on through Bunbury, Alpraham, Wettenhall, and back through Church Minshull and Brererton Heath again. The ride distance was about 73 miles (a bit more for the faster group who took a slightly longer route to the cafe).

Buxton C.C. Mountain TT on Longnor-Flash-Royal Cottage Circuit – 22 miles (3 laps)

On a very warm day in the hills, our Sole representative, Nick Decker, recorded 01:44:34. The winner was Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team) with 1:23:20.

After 4 months of “Swan Lake”, we decided to change to a “Jodrell” shot.

Jodrell Bank Observatory from Cross Lane, Over Peover / Goostrey, on 2nd May 2013.

This should keep us going for another 4 months (although we have 4 more local views ready).

British Cycling Coaching Course for Pete Smith

Pete Smith reports: “Just finished my Level 2 Coaching Course down in Leighton Buzzard. We had sleet, hail and rain to contend with, in almost freezing temperatures! I had to do the group warm up and deliver a cornering lesson today. Now, have to complete an online written exam and plan and carry out 6 coaching sessions and then I should be qualified…”

Glossop Kinder Velo 25-mile TT on Chelford Course

Wayne Powell recorded 1:03:24 which was similar to that of previous week and David Hurst, 1:34:42. The winner was Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with an improved 52:45.

Clubrun to Delamere Visitor Centre – 60 miles

Rob Waghorn reports: “I was on the clubrun along with Jim Cook, Pete Smith, Stephen Kane, Sam French and Bill Boynton. We went out via Goostrey and Northwich to Delamere Cafe at the Visitor Centre and came back via Cotebrook and Sandbach. The weather was kind with no rain but quite a lot of wind which was helpful on the return. One special thing happened on the return when we were overtaken at speed by Andy Wilkinson with another rider tucked in behind. I called out to him and he waved in recognition.”

Roy Hayhurst, Quiz Master, was complimented by the 20 Members and Guests, on his hard work and excellent visual (Powerpoint) presentation of a wide variety of questions on Cycling and Non-Cycling topics, plus the presentation of the answers, which included impressive video clips. Isn’t it amazing what can be achieved via the Internet!? Georgina and Bob Norton were also thanked for their home-made and very tasty refreshments and Peter Hayhurst was pleased that much of his old (but useful) cycling accessories were given a new home.

The following link should provide a movie assembled from clips taken from a tripod mounted camera in order of riders reaching the A50. Due to my failure to switch from the stop button to the start button on the remote, I missed Mike Line. (Sorry!) I think everyone else should be there.

TT20130416 Movie

Social Ride, Saturday morning, to Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre. A record turn-out of 20 riders, enjoyed good conditions – see photo. (details to follow)

20 Riders on Club Social Ride on 20th April 2013

Five Members rode M&DTTA “25” TT on Chelford Course

Another record? Five CCC Members in same event and two Prize Winners! Pete Smith was our clear leader with a P.B. of 1:01:06 but our next three were within 15 secs of each other: Mike Jones, 1:03:07; Wayne Powell, 1:03:14 and Kelvin Milward, 1:03:22! Four Members to cover a 3-man Team is ideal! Peter Hayhurst managed to improve a little, to 1:25:41 – due to the better conditions compared to the previous week. The winner was Simon Bridge (Manchester Wheelers) with 53:22 but the top Handicap positions were taken by Wayne Powell (42:42) and Mike Jones (43:12).

L to R: Peter Hayhurst, Mike Jones, Kelvin Milward, Wayne Powell, Pete Smith

Sunday Clubrun to Meerbrook via Roaches

Eight Members enjoyed the first Hilly Clubrun of 2013. Bob Norton, Sue Blake, John Broadbent, Bill Boynton, Jim Cook, Sam French, Stephen Kane, Steve Kirkham and Pete Smith (photographer) rode via Sutton, Allgreave, Gradbach, Hulme End to the café at Meerbrook and returned via Gun Hill in clear and dry but fresh conditions.

Clubrun to Meerbrook via Roaches

Our Head Coach – Charlie Evans’ report (edited):

“Thanks to you all (existing Members) for making last night a success. I certainly believe we met our objectives of helping the young riders to start to get to know each other, to see that there are other riders their own age in the club to ride with and that CCC is there to support them and help them develope as bike riders. I really appreciated everyone’s enthusiasm and support last night. I know Bob (Norton) and I have discussed this, but I genuinely came out of the Go-ride meeting a few weeks ago with the understanding that the expectation was on me to get the evening up and running. I (am) glad that wasn’t the case, as last night was a success due to everyone’s collective efforts. I really appreciate the way Pete (Smith), James (Bailey), Mike (Jones) and Bob (Norton) dropped into the setting-up and picking up on what must have not been the clearest of direction from myself. It is this collective enthusiasm that will ensure the club succeeds in achieving its aims of developing both the youth and junior side, as well as the club as a whole. The efforts of Georgina (Norton), Peter H (Hayhurst) and co upstairs made a massive boost to the evening too. Really great effort by all! A good club atmosphere is what got me into club cycling as a junior, and it was seeing this at CCC last autumn that confirmed my decision to join the club. I hope that the young riders that attended last night feel the same.”

M&DTTA 10-mile TT on Chelford Course, Saturday, 30^th March

Three Members made this event the start of their competitive season. The bright sky and the dry conditions partially offset the effects of the cold wind and the low temperature, so warm clothing was the order of the day (except for some hardy youngsters). Our Members were satisfied with their times: Kelvin Milward, 26:56; Duncan Poole, 28:58 and Peter Hayhurst, 36:27. The winner was Mark Turnbull, Leigh Premier, with 22:25.

Clubrun on Easter Sunday, 31^st March, to Red House Farm, Dunham Massey – 53 / 57 miles

Cycling past churches on Sunday morning prompted some to feel that they should have joined the congregations. However, on a gloriously bright, but still very cold day, nine riders comprised the Sunday club run. They were Stephen Kane, Steve Kirkham, Sam French, Paul Turner, Sheldon Starkey, Pete Nelson, Bob and Georgina Norton, and Rob Waghorn. They left town by way of Back Lane, and Radnor Bank towards Swettenham. Here a friendly runner, heading the other way, warned them of ice across the road in the dip. Safely negotiated, the group continued together through Goostrey, Lower Peover and Plumley to Knutsford. Here Georgina Norton and Pete Nelson broke away from the main group and headed to Dones Green. The others continued through Tatton Park, Rostherne, Bucklow Hill and Broomedge, to join the Trans Pennine Trail for a couple of miles, before a cafe stop at Red House Farm near Dunham Massey. Suitably fortified, they soon discovered that the wind, which had been a light tail wind leaving Congleton was now a strong head wind. This made the return trip quite tough, but there was some shelter through Hale although the wind was troublesome towards Mobberley and on through Chelford, Siddington, Newsbank and Hulme Walfield. The ride distance was 53 miles. It was noted that Georgina Norton and Pete Nelson (soon to be 80) completed 57 miles, so actually ended up riding furthest!

The clubs hilly reliability trial may have been cancelled because of the weather, but the weekly Sunday club run was not. The mornings weather forecast gave a maximum of 2 degrees which would feel more like -4 degrees with wind chill. The five riders who were out today could confirm that as correct. The group consisting of Pete Smith, Stephen Kane, Bill Boynton, Tristan Roberts and Bob Norton set off from the Rugby club bound for Summertrees near Kelsall. There was a strong following wind, which made for a good pace. They rode out through Church Minshull and headed west towards Bunbury, before turning north to pass through Eaton and Cotebrook. At Cotebrook the temptation of a log burning stove and hot food and drink proved too much and the Shire Horse Centre was accepted as the destination for the day. Leaving there, and turning towards home brought a strong and very cold head wind. None the less a good pace was maintained on a route passing through, Little Budworth, Whitegate, Winsford to rejoin the outward route at Wimboldsley. The round trip totalled 58 miles.

Charlie Evans reports:

On the 9^th March, James Bailey and I went to Darley moor to compete in the circuit road race there. It was my return to road racing after approx 4 -5 years and James first ever road race. Both of us were in the mix, featuring in a number of attacks and breaks, however the race finished in a bunch sprint, with both of us coming home safe. Race was 34 miles covered at 25 mph avg.

James competed in his second ever road race the following day at the Tameside Circuit, Manchester. He finished 12^th and Pete Tatton 5^th.

On Sunday 17^th, James and I were again competing, this time in our opening off-road race of the year, Midlands XC Series Round 1 at Cannock Chase. Conditions were very muddy, on the largely single-track based course. I finished 4^th in the Masters category completing 5 laps in 1hr 39. The masters race was won by our Macclesfield-based training partner Dan Wells, Cube Bikes in 1hr 34. Shad Sadat, from Cyclestore.co.uk finished a strong 11^th place in the same category. James, competing in the Expert category finished in 11^th place, with the event won by Lee Gratton, from Run and Ride.

This weekends weather forecast (snow/ice/strong winds), once again has forced the postponement of the Hilly Reliability Trial.

To get an idea of what its like on higher ground see the Cat and Fiddle web cam. Remember the lanes will be worse!

New date to be advised, perhaps in the summer!!

British Cycling Go-Ride Conference at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday, 9^th March

Our Club made further significant progress to achieving British Cycling’s go-ride accreditation as five Members participated in various workshops, throughout the day: Pete Smith did a further Coaches Training, Georgina Norton did her “Further Safeguarding” as part of the Welfare Officer Training, Tristan Roberts did his New Young Volunteer Training and Bob Norton and Peter Hayhurst did their Go-Ride Volunteer Training. These were in-depth sessions conducted by professionals who not only gave excellent presentations but included plenty of discussion time, including inter-action with other participants and quizzes at various stages and then were sent home with much reference material on a USB Memory.

A crisp day with biting easterly wind was always going to be a challenge in the hills around Macclesfield Forest and so it was; out of Congleton, up Blackie Bank towards Rushton, via Danebridge and Wildboarclough , via Macclesfield Forest and then return to Congleton was the intended route. Everything was going fine until we climbed up from Wildboarclough before descending to the Hanging Gate pub above Sutton, and then the snow drifts on the road made cycling impossible. Cycling shoes are not snow shoes and having literally trekked through a few hundred yards of snow drift, pushing our bikes, with the bike computers reading -3 Celsius, we made the decision to head out of the hills into Sutton and via a quick café stop, back into Congleton. Andy Malbon, Pete Smith, Mike Jones and myself made it round and Mike claimed never to have cycled in the snow before on road racing tyres, so it is always good to push the envelope so to speak…

Todays reliability trial was postponed until March 24th, due to freezing conditions and snow. Even so a few hard nuts tried it. Pete Smith, Mike Jones, Stephen Jackson, Andy Malbon and Chris Dale, made it as far as the Hanging Gate, where they turned back after encountering several inches of snow.  Wayne Powell and Bob Norton did the short route over to Rushton Spencer and back through Bosley Wood Treatment. Phil Gayes and Rich Coghill of the Leek C.C. made it round. They are hard in Leek!

Stephen Jackson reports: “A crisp day with biting easterly wind was always going to be a challenge in the hills around Macclesfield Forest and so it was; out of Congleton, up Blackie Bank towards Rushton, via Danebridge and Wildboarclough , via Macclesfield Forest and then return to Congleton was the intended route. Everything was going fine until we climbed up from Wildboarclough before descending to the Hanging Gate pub above Sutton, and then the snow drifts on the road made cycling impossible. Cycling shoes are not snow shoes and having literally trekked through a few hundred yards of snow drift, pushing our bikes, with the bike computers reading -3 Celsius, we made the decision to head out of the hills into Sutton and via a quick café stop, back into Congleton. Andy Malbon, Pete Smith, Mike Jones and myself made it round and Mike claimed never to have cycled in the snow before on road racing tyres, so it is always good to push the envelope so to speak…”

If you fancy a hilly reliability next weekend why not try the Leek C.C. Event
The Paul Derbyshire Reliability Ride is in memory of Club Member Paul Derbyshire who tragically died last year whilst out on a Club Run. The Reliability Ride is a scenic 55 mile ride through the Peak Distrtict, which takes in some lovely lanes & challenging climbs. The ride will be followed by a Buffet & the Clubs Awards Presentation at The Den Engel Belgian Bar in Leek. The Ride will start & finish at the Den Engel Belgian Bar in Leek, signing on is from 8.00am with the riders due to start at 8.30am. Places at the buffet are limited so If you are interested in riding the Reliability or attending the Buffet afterwards please contact the email below. membership@leekcyclistclub.co.uk
Prices for the event are:
Ride only : £4
Buffet only : £5
Ride & Buffet : £7.50

The route is shown here.