Congleton Cycling Club

Watching the Tour de France is Total Anti-climax, but that is what cyclists do.
You sit by the roadside for three hours, and the bunch flashes by in 30 seconds, because it is in Yorkshire it will be cold, wet and miserable. (No one does miserable better than Yorkshire).

I suggest a motorised club run from Edale, taking a picnic lunch to eat while we are waiting for the Tour. Meet at Edale car park 11:00 hrs and ride out to see the Tour between Langsett and Bradfield on the run in to the finish.

Distances Edale to Bradfield – 18 miles (The Saturday riders could manage this)
Congleton to Edale via Buxton (for the hard riders) – 29 miles
Ordinary people can drive to Edale, hard riders can ride from Congleton.

Looking at the timings
The official web sites say the roads will be closed 10 – 12 hours beforehand
But … Cyclists will be allowed access until the roads are handed over to the tour organisers.

Schedule – working backwards
Tour de France 15:50
Publicity caravan 13:45
We need to be in place before 13:00
Leave Edale at 11:00 – this will give people time to pick up food in Hope

Ten club members set new personal bests over 10 miles on the Gawsworth course on June 17th 2014. In warm sunshine with a following breeze to the turn, the biggest improvement was 57 seconds by Mark Allen with 24:21 to be fastest of 6 under 18’s and best on handicap with a net 19:03. Handicap runner up was Edgar Reynolds 25:29 (net 19:05) Edgars next TT is the National Championship 24 hour in East Sussex on June 21st.

The actual fastest was visitor Alex Royle (BH Solidor WAM Youth) in 20:22 with Steve Hulme 21:47 producing a seasons best 21:43 for second place ahead of Ben Norbury 21:59 and Pete Smith 22:57.

Claire Thompson fresh from a winning performance in a sprint triathlon at the weekend, was fastest Congleton lady with a new PB of 27:38 (3rd on handicap net 19:10), ahead of Sue Blake 28:07 also a PB. The actual fastest lady was visitor Nicole Green (Cyclesport International) in 26:09.

The Congleton junior points behind Mark Allen were taken by Tristan Roberts 26:02 (PB), Will Booth 26:09, Sam French 26:38 and Joe Langford 27:45.

Thanks to the event volunteers without whom we could not run.
Results Here.
Video at the turn courtesy of Adrian Pennington
Photos near the finish courtesy of Ken Norbury

At the Beartown Tap club evening last Thursday, Rob Waghorn observed that a “standard time” for one of our riders had switched to the next age a bit early – days before the person’s actual birthday.

Sure enough, there was a mistake in the calculation of age from date-of-birth. I claim the blame for this error. Sorry! The testing must have been a bit thin on that area.

The error had presumably been there all season, but after exhausting searches I have been unable to find any cases where it made any difference to the “Standards” points allocated in the first 8 events. However on the 6th June the Chelford 25 had two riders out of their correct positions in the Standards result. They have dropped three points between them which have been re-allocated to three other riders (one point apiece). You could only lose points if your birthday is in the month of the event on a day numbered higher than the event day – June and 6 in this case.

I believe I have corrected the software bug, the event report for 6th June and the league tables.

Congleton beat Macclesfield by 8 minutes and 53 seconds in this first of two inter club 25’s counting towards the Karl Austin Memorial Inter Club 25 Shield. The second leg will be promoted by us on June 24th. A repeat performance will bring the shield home. The format of the competition is an aggregate of the best 6 rider times from each club. Steve Hulme won the event in 57:26 with Ben Norbury second in 57:52, Pete Smith 59:09 (5th), Wayne Powell 1:01:26 ((10th) Jamie Willetts 1:01:48 (13th), and Kelvin Milward 1:01:55 (15th), gave us an aggregate of 5:59:29 compared to Macclesfield Wheelers 6:08:53.
Best Congleton Lady on the night was Sue Blake in 1:12:55 (PB) by just 5 seconds from Denise Hurst. The Best Congleton Junior was Mark Allen in a PB of 1:08:19. The Best on handicap was Angelo DeAngelis whose 1:07:16 gained him maximum points on the night and further advantage at the top of Handicap Points League.

photo by Ken Norbury

Members’ recent orders have been sent through to Endura for manufacture and you will be informed when they arrive. We have some stock items for immediate availability which are now listed on the clothing page. A small amount of additional stock has been included with the members’ order to improve availability of popular autumn/winter items.

On Saturday the Queen Commonwealth Games Baton Relay comes to Congleton in an event organised by Cheshire East Council, which takes place in the Park from 11:00 to 15:00Hrs.

We have a space for our Gazebo and some cycling activity. Our plan is to have some cycling and club promotional material, together with some demonstration riding on rollers by club members (for short periods). We will have our banners, the display boards, with posters and photos and a table with promotional materials (If you have any please let me know), In particular photos featuring club activities are useful. We have loads of digital ones but few prints!

We are looking for members to come along and support. Wear a club top if you have one. Its a great promotional opportunity for the club and for cycling.

The whole event is ticketed although the tickets are free. They can be obtained Here.
You can download up to 6 tickets. They are also available from the Tourist Information Office in the Town Hall.

The battle for top place in the TT league continues. This time Steve Hulme triumphed with 21:57, ahead of Ben Norbury in 22:01 with Pete Smith third Congleton rider in 23:23. Mark Lovatt (Planet X) was the actual fastest with 21:37 on what turned out to be a unexpectedly fast evening with a chilly NE wind.
The Ladies competition was also close. Claire Thompson was top in 28:25 from Denise Hurst 28:44 and Sue Blake 28:49. Visiting junior Paige Milward (Bike Pure) returned 28:42, after missing a few weeks to compete with the elite ladies in the Tour Series criteriums, which were televised on ITV4.
Mark Allen made up for his DNF puncture of the previous week by winning the Congleton Juniors race on the night in 25:33 from Sam French 25:36 and Joe Langford 27:37. The actual fastest junior was regular visitor Alex Braybrooke (Velocity WD40) with 22:57.
See Full Result.
Ken Norbury was out taking photos again so these should be available soon. Thanks Ken and thanks as always to the event volunteers.

Mark Allen (photo Ken Norbury)

A wet night welcomed the 33 competitors to the start line on a new 10 mile time trial course on the Congleton to Holmes Chapel road.
Ex member Mark Lovatt (Planet X) cycles set the best time in 22:07 from Ben Norbury 22:23 and Steve Hulme 22:42, with Pete Smith taking third place points in the clubs TT competition with 23:18.
Sam French was best of the clubs juniors in 26:01 from Joe Langford 27:53. Both commiserated with Mark Allen who suffered a double puncture a mile after the start.
In the Ladies competition Denise Hurst came out top with 29:24 from Sharon may 29:35 and Sue Blake 29:57. Making a comeback after 30 years, was former ladies junior national 10 mile champion Karen Line, who on this occasion was somewhat slower than her 23 minute personal best.
Graham Mitchell managed a PB 29:22 to take top handicap points from Mike Line 25:09 and Rob Dale 23:47.
See Full results

Ken and Adrian were on holiday so sorry no photos or video on this event

Conditions were cool with a stiff breeze against on the return leg of the JC/5 course. Competition was tough but friendly as always. Steve Hulme took top spot in 22:03 from Ben Norbury in 22:15 and regular visitor, junior Alex Braybrooke 22:19.
The full results can be seen here. Sorry for the delay this week which was due to IT issues.

Joe Langford

The Handicap competition is developing into an interesting one. Rob dale took top points on the night with an improvement to 23:47, but second place points went to Joe Langford with a new PB of 27:28 and now moves up to third in the league behind Angelo DeAngelis and Ben Norbury.
All the league tables can now be seen by using the quicklink on the right and following the prompts. The link has now been restored. (Thanks David)
Video at The Grove is again available courtesy of Adrian Pennington, and I think Ken Norbury was out taking photos as well.

Next week we signing on at Blackfirs Lane from 18:15 First rider 19:15

Sue Blake. (Photo Ken Norbury)

The threat of rain kept some away. Never the less 32 club members and 10 visitors braved the elements. In the event the roads at the start finish were wet, but strangely, were actually dry at the western end of the course.
In the conditions, most were slower than the previous week. Ben Norbury, 22:19, got back in front of Steve Hulme, 22:39, with Mike Stretch of Macclesfield Wheelers third in 22:46. Third place points in the league went to Pete Smith in 23:11. Ben is league leader with 149 points Steve second (146) and Pete Tatton third (131). Steve is leading the veteran league table.
In the ladies competition Denise Hurst again took maximum points with 28:45 but Sharon May was only 10 seconds behind in 28:55. Sue Blake retains the lead in the Ladies League.
Sam French was fastest club junior in 26:01, just a day after his charity challenge of 10 ascents of the Killer Mile to Mow Cop nonstop. He retains his league lead but has now been pushed into second place in the Handicap League by Angelo DeAngelis.

Full results from the event are here.

Thanks must always go to the marshals and other event volunteers. Adrian Pennington took yet more video at Chelford Island.

Sam French, aged 16, of Congleton Cycling Club with his two friends Joe Swinnerton and James Duncalf, both 14 and members of Lyme Racing Club, completed the challenge of climbing the Killer Mile to Mow Cop, ten times nonstop. They achieved this on May day Bank Holiday (May 5th).

Steve with James, Sam and Joe.
Job done!

The group of teenagers, who attend Alsager School, have raised over £400 so far, for the Donna Louise Trust hospice in Trentham, which assists terminally ill young people.

Sam French.

A small group of supporters stood on the 25% slope past the Cheshire View to witness the feat and shout encouragement. Another Congleton Club Member also rode the challenge. Steve Sladin had only gone to make a donation, but ended by riding the climb ten times as well.

Anyone who would like to donate can contact Sam via the club chairman chairman(at)congletoncyclingclub.org.uk Note (at) = @

The motorised club run has been re-scheduled to 18th May in place of 11th May. Our club run list has been updated with this and extended through to 8th June pending further planning for the summer season over the next two weeks.

Happy riding!

Steve Hulme
Photo Ken Norbury

This weeks club 10 attracted a record entry of 60 with 29 CCC riders and 31 visitors. The “Podium” places were taken by three of our own. Steve Hulme took top spot in 22:05 beating Ben Norbury 22:12 and Pete Smith 22:23. The competition for points is going to be intense again this year.

The full result can be seen here.

Steve was also top veteran and is building a lead in the veterans league table. Top Congleton junior was again Sam French who improved his PB for the third time in three weeks to 25:07 also leads the junior and handicap leagues. Denise Hurst was again best CC lady in 28:13. Sue Blake, who did a PB 29:06, continues as league leader having done one more event.

The latest league tables can be seen via the quick link on the right of the screen.

For the next 2 weeks the club 10 mile TT’s will start 15 minutes earlier than originally scheduled.

Tues Apr 29th on JC/5 First rider 18:45. Sign on from 18:15. Rising Sun Car Park.

Tues May 6th on J2/1 First rider 19:00. Sign on from 18:30.  AZ Car Park.

This is to give extra daylight to accommodate more riders.

Immediately after finishing in a winning 21:40, Jack Green (V.C. St Raphael), said “I was a bit slow tonight!”.

Ben Norbury took 2nd and the maximum club points with a time of 22:05, with Steve Hulme 22:31 and Pete Smith 23:09 the next best Congleton finishers. Best Junior, in a new PB, was Sam French in 25:51 and Best Lady Denise Hurst in 29:07. Steve Hulme took top place in the Veterans competition with a Plus of 4:19 and comeback rider Steve Sladin best on Handicap with a PB of 25:59 giving a nett 17:59.

A total of 42 riders competed, including 26 from our club, on what turned out to be  a fast evening. There will be quite a few handicap adjustments for next week.

For a full result see here.

The club TT league tables are now starting to take shape. To view these and the weekly league points see the quick link on the right of the screen.

Once again thanks to Ken Norbury for the excellent photos

There is also some video by Adrian Pennington on the Facebook page.

Sam French
Photo Ken Norbury

J8/9 Recently I said that I thought that the 27:28 done by Alex Braybrooke in our Hilly TT on April 8th was a course record. I stand corrected. Mark Lovatt recorded a 27:03 in our event in 2011. Apologies to Mark.
Records for the other 10 mile courses which we use are.
JC26 Holmes Chapel circuit 20:58 by James Tucker South Pennine C.C.  on Aug 8th 2012 in our club event.

JC5 Gawsworth to Congleton 19:45 held by James Tucker in a Macclesfield Whs club event on July 25th 2012.  Andy Tennant and Ed Clancy both did 19:47 on Apr 24th 2012 in our club event.

J2/1 Monks Heath to Booths Hall. Not sure but I think Rob Hayles has done a 19 minute ride there in an open event.

Manchester Area. This is listed in the CTT Local handbook as 19:34 by Michael Hutchinson in 2005.

Mark Lovatt

With the new method of awarding points in the Tuesday evening TT series, the results for all the riders (including guests) have been published in the established way but not showing any points. As most of you will realise, the points awarded in the 5 TT leagues and for attending club events are more complicated than the old scheme.

The records for the points this year and an explanation of the scheme can be found via the Quick Link on the right (or via the Competition menu) on a page called “Bob Job Attendance and TT Points Competitions”. This replaces the single points table in the old scheme.

Pinning Numbers

Great weather brought 42 riders out to do this weeks 10 on the JC26 circuit 10 course. Ben Norbury was fastest in 23:01, from junior visitor Alex Braybrooke (Velocity-WD40) 23:31 who was 1 second ahead of Steve Hulme 23:32. Fastest lady was another junior visitor Paige Milward (Bike Pure) in 27:18. Best club lady was Denise Hurst in 30:10 and best club junior was novice rider Will Booth in 27:13.

Full results are available here
Next week the course is JC5 with signing on at the Rising Sun from 18:15.

Ken Norbury’s photos here.

In last weeks Hilly TT,  some video was shot on major to minor left turn. A variety of different lines were used. Some could have earned a DQ if observed in an open TT under CTT regulations! These state that :-
“Riders must exercise care at all junctions. Any competitor whose riding line causes him/her to cross the white line when approaching or leaving a junction will be liable to disqualification and may be reported to the District Committee for further disciplinary action.” Please beware.
Have a look at the video.