Congleton Cycling Club

“Wheels for All”, bikes for the disabled, will be on show at Congleton Leisure Centre on Monday, 25th July from 14.00 to 15.00 hours.

This is the Cycling Projects’ charity to which your donations in memory of Karl are heading. The display is part of the Inclusive Family Fun Day, organised by Cheshire East Council.

Bob Norton and other Club Members will be on-hand to provide information.

There were just seven riders for the Gawsworth ’25’ circuit on a cold and blustery evening. A minute’s silence was held in memory of Karl before the start. Winner was Kelvin with a time of 1:04:35.
See Full Results

Karl Austins funeral took place yesterday July 14 2011 at Bradwell Crematorium in Newcastle u Lyme. The funeral procession was led into the crematorium by about 50 of his clubmates and friends on bikes. Hundreds of others awaited their arrival.

The funeral was followed by a “cyclists tea” at Allostock Village Hall, which is often used by the club as a TT HQ. More than 100 cycled the 17 miles back to the hall, which made an impressive sight on the road.

Bob Norton paid the following tribute to Karl at the funeral service.

Karl was the very heart of Congleton Cycling Club. He was a friend to us all. There will not be a time trial enthusiast within 100 miles of here who has not been touched in some way by Karl’s friendliness and generosity of spirit. When you told any cyclist, that you are a Congleton Cycling Club member their first sentence would be that they knew Karl Austin. He was synonymous with the club.

The news of Karl’s death was one of those moments, which none of us in the club will ever forget. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing at that time. Everyone in the club is in a state of shock.

On club runs you would often find Karl at the back with the last rider. He had the wonderful quality of being able to soft pedal and still makes someone who was struggling, feel good about themselves. He was a role model to younger and older riders alike. The club has been experiencing an upsurge in the last few seasons. I know Karl was pleased about this, and he played a key part in this upsurge. He was our Racing Secretary as well as participating in every aspect of the clubs life.

Karl first joined the club in 1975, 36 years ago at the age of 11. He was the first of the Austin family to join. He rode his first club 10 that year, and I am pretty sure that he never missed a season since. I could talk for a long time about Karl’s racing successes, about his PB’s , a 54 min 25, many sub 2 hour 50’s, a sub 4 hour 100, his dozens of 12 and 24 hour time trials. Karl was so strong. He was a part of nearly every Congleton Cycling Club team win for as long as I can remember. Who can ever forget that fixed gear, the size of which made our eyes water.

Karl’s prowess at long distance time trialling attracted other riders of similar ambition. This made our reputation as one of the top long distance clubs in the country. Karl was part of the team that finished third in the season long National BBAR competition last year. He established a superb reputation as a 24 hour rider. He won the Mersey Roads 24 hour event in 1999 and was part our club team that won the national championship gold medals in 2000 and 2008. In all I think he completed in 19 Mersey Road 24 hour time trials. This year would have been his 20^th. He passed 100, 100’s back in 2008 and would do 2 or even 3 twelve hour races in a season.

The time trialling forum on the internet showed just what the wider cycling community thought of Karl. Within 24 hours there were around 140 messages of condolence posted. There are many more by now.

I have picked a few quotes

“He was what we would all wish to be as cyclists, a damned good clubman.”

“He had cycling in his blood but particularly time trialling. He was probably the most popular cyclist of his generation.”

“A brilliant all rounder, a truly nice chap”

And from a fellow club mate

“Deeply saddened, We have all lost a dear friend. He achieved so much as a cyclist. He was hugely inspirational, yet so modest in equal measure.”

Looking around, I must say, Karl would not have thought of himself as a leader, but he had a lot of followers.

Karl we miss you.

At the C.T.T 100 Championships in N Yorkshire on Saturday July 9th 2011, Mike Smith the Eurosport commentator presided over a minutes silence in honour of Karl.

The tribute took place immediately before the medal ceremonies.

Karl Austin’s Funeral will be on Thursday July 14 at 2 p.m. The service, which will be a civil ceremony, will take place at Bradwell Crematorium, Chatterley Close, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 8LE. Linda would like as many clubs as possible to attend in their club colours. Parking for bikes and cars is available at or near the Crematorium.

This will be followed by a celebration of Karl’s life at Allostock Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Allostock, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 9LN. This is a 1 hour bike ride from the crematorium and is located just off the A50, about 2 miles north of Holmes Chapel. The gathering (with refreshments) will commence around 3.30 p.m. and will finish at 6 p.m. Parking at the V.H. will be open from noon.

See Route Map

Information about Wheels for All (Cycling Projects + Cheshire East new Centre in Congleton) and how to donate, can be accessed at www.justgiving.com/Karl-Austin

1. We have taken the decision to cancel the Tuesday Evening Time Trials for the next 2 weeks, following last weeks tragedy. I hope you all agree that this is appropriate in the circumstances.
2. We will go ahead with the club meeting in the Beartown Tap on Thursday this week at 8 o’clock. However we will not hold a formal committee meeting this week. It will be our opportunity to meet and just remember Karl and his importance to the club.
3. It is still too early to be able to give any details of Funeral time and place. One thing that Linda has asked is for as many of us Members as possible to accompany the hearse on bikes wearing club kit (if possible).
4. Linda has asked for no flowers, but rather donations to Wheels for All which provides adapted cycling equipment and cycling activity programs for people with disability and differing needs. This is the same charity to which donations went following Graham McCargo’s funeral 4 years ago. See www.cycling.org.uk

Dear CCC Member and Friends of CCC

It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Karl Austin was killed in a time-trial accident just after 8 o’clock last night. He was riding in a South Pennine Club “10” on the A50 at Etwall, when he was struck from behind by an HGV. Mercifully, the police said that he would have known nothing about it.

At this time, our thoughts must be with Linda, Katie and Simon and, of course, Joyce and Keith. I am sure that we will all want to do whatever we can to help them through this time of great sorrow. That is all that I can tell you at this time.

Bob.

(Bob Norton – Chairman)

Wayne Jackson’s Solo, Mountain Mayhem, 24-Hour MTB in the Malvern Hills

See Report under Competition – MTB

Just as per two weeks ago, Congleton’s Steve Hulme was the individual winner in a time of 57:26, and Macclesfield were again the winning team.
See Full Results

After 10 of the 20 events (10 best counting), Congleton C.C. are the leading Team with 329 points, followed by Warrington R.C. with 282, then Wills Wheels with 281 points.

As last year, our counting riders (which will not change) are: Alf Hilton, 2nd place with 139 points; Neil Skellern, 4th place with 129 points and Karl Austin, 19th place with 61 points. Come On Karl!

We expect them to add valuable points with the 12-Hour (West Cheshire / MDTTA / National) but the 100-Mile (MDTTA) on 10th July is not so certain as our top riders have entered the National “100” which is held on 9th July in Yorkshire and normally would not ride the following day.

Fine evening saw 22 riders (12 Congleton + 10 guests) competing on the Gawsworth course. Two riders got under 22 minutes: Mike Cuming (Orbea) with 21:25 and last week’s winner Mark Lovatt (Planet X) with 21:52.
See Full Results