Well my final round up, but don’t panic its not going to be long and drawn out as to be truthful there’s not been a lot of action taking place! In actual fact my tardiness as been down to waiting for the results of the 12 hour event which along with the weaver Valley hill climb was one of the rare highlights of September. But we shall start off at the beginning of September with the West Cheshire & Liverpool TTCA 12 hour time trial, simple in essence who ever covers the most miles in 12 hours wins the event, you can have as many stops as you want, and take as long as you want, however when your not moving you are losing and the serious entrants stop rarely and you can see their helpers running along the side handing up refreshments to minimise the rider slowing down. However our regular in these type of events having also completed the events big brother the 24 hour is Graham Halden who, as one of the support crew I can say thankfully takes a more civilised approach and stops. This year though Graham was joined by one of our newest and youngest members Gary Whiston who when most are daunted by the thought of tackling 50 mile time trials until they have been doing 25’s for a while, jumped straight in at the deep end after only a couple of 10 mile events and soon settled into a good pace, despite the day getting uncomfortably warm and many more seasoned competitors withering in the heat Gary turned out a steady pace to record an impressive first time distance of  220.56 miles to finish 15th , just missing out an the best novice award. Graham was one of those who suffered in the heat and at one time could be found taking advantage of the shade of a tree, despite this and preparation which many would consider insufficient to tackle the afore mentioned 50 mile events Gray completed the event in 24^th spot covering 166.88 miles. Congratulations to both, and they both are vowing to repeat the experience next year. Who is brave enough to join them and make it a team, don’t look at me though I’m support and my idea of a long distance event is driving up to O2, and I don’t do that anymore! Congleton’s Neil Skellern who covered a brilliant 267.11 miles won the event.

    Dropping back to less valiant efforts and yours truly had entered a piffling 25 around Cheshire I was however Den Engel’s only representative in the ABC Centreville event, although Churnet Valley Velo founder Pat Kinch had also entered along with his good lady wife Jacqui on a tandem, now having ridden team events with Pat and knowing that his competitive streak is at least as strong as his riding I can’t say how much admiration I have for the lady. That said Jaq was probably as relieved as I was frustrated that that the event was reduced to a ten due to roadwork’s on the original course, at least if she wasn’t at the start she probably was by the end. Personally I favour 25’s or even 50’s as being internally challenged it takes more to get rolling then keeping it rolling so I was not to depressed with my time of 24-10 especially as it gave me 11^th  overall albeit along way back from event winner Gethin Butler of Preston wheelers 20-41. Heady heights indeed for this season, Pat and Jacqui covered the course in a similar 24-28 to take the tandem win.

    Moving onto the 17^th and the Stone Wheelers 25. Now the original course that ran from Stone to Rugely has been lost to that great god of traffic management that insists on putting lights and roundabouts everywhere. And no local roads that are free of the same curse the club has created a new course that starts at Blythe Bridge and goes down the A50 via Uttoxetter to the Ashbourne junction before retracing to Blythe Bridge. Since a tragic accident a couple of years ago the CTTC (our governing body) decreed that any Sunday race must be finished by 9.00am. Inevitably this calls for an early start and I grew out of that a while ago, however the Wheelers have found a way round this by running their events on Saturday afternoon where the traffic volume (the main criteria for assessing this type of course) is lower. Now it is the first time I’ve ridden the Saturday event and although it’s still got a lot of traffic on it and things can get hairy. Especially when you get the type of moron that felt it was good lark to through a bottle at you as they speed past like what happened to Mark Poyser during the event, but no more so than it use to be on a Sunday morning at 10 o’clock ish, in fact there were more morons most of whom seem to be going to Alton Towers. Verdict is that its no more dangerous than any other of the so called drag strip courses whilst having the advantage of being on your doorstep, so if your into course chasing it’s a lot cheaper on juice. Of course the whole point of these courses is fast times i.e. my fluke 55minute rider earlier in the season, but you do need good days and the 17^th was not one of them! A vicious headwind all the way back from the turn with no hedges to hide behind left most, YT no exception grovelling, A rumour that it eased off for us later starters possibly as a result of last man off and winner Stuart Dangerfield’s incredible time of 48-34. I can neither confirm or deny suffice to say that if it was any windier I may have had to get off and push my bike back onto the dual carriageway after the turn, and although Stuart caught me from 9 minutes close to the finish, in my last outing that he was taking part in he would have nearly caught me from 11 minutes. On the day however I just sneaked ahead of Mark with a time of 57-57 to 58-32 in positions 20^th & 25th. But this was possibly more to do with the bottle incident than any decrease in wind strength.

    Both myself and Mark had the hazards of more rural courses brought home the following Saturday during the Withington Wheelers open 10 on the Monksheath to Knutsford road with both of us getting delayed in traffic behind farmers bringing in their crop. These things happen but it is galling when you approach a stream of traffic that are all aware of the event taking place and 90% of drivers pull over to the right to let you get through the side, but there’s always one that moves to the left to block, and generally it’s the middle one so you have to work your way down the outside of queue till you reach them only for them to move right forcing you way out across the road, then finally you pass the tractor and trailer and resume racing .all of which shenanigans  don’t help your overall time mark fairing slightly better recording a time of 23-17 for 16^th position whilst I was one place back with 23-34. It would be unsporting to presume that Arctic-Shorter Roachford rider Andy Proffit had a clear run to achieve his 21-24 as he can achieve such times and better regular where as my 23-34 is about par for the season.

    No such dramas for the members who took part in the Weaver Valley Hill climb the following day in fact it was errant cyclists that caused some grief! First a bit of background into why Den Engel’s had one of the highest number of entrants in the event. 5 years ago one of the clubs stalwarts, Dave Briand who was prone to riding these “sporting” (read hilly) events took part in the event and a bunch of us rode out to the event with him as it starts in Macclesfield before ascending the Cat and Fiddle and Dave always liked to ride out to events the traditional way when possible. Unfortunately it was his to be the last time we saw Dave, and would be his last event, as along with another friend he was tragically killed on Ash Bank when a motorist struck them as they chatted on the pavement. So it as a mark of respect that as many as possible ride out and take part in the event, even though most who do so have no thought of competing. The event organiser is aware of this tribute and as he rarely has a full field of competitors allows us to do so. This year we had 6 riders taking part including Dave’s son Marc Briand.  The quickest of the pack was that mile munching Gary Whiston in 24-57.1, this could have been quicker if he did not have to negotiate part of a club run that decided it would be a good idea to include the cat as part of their route and as Gary explained although the old timers (I like to call us experienced Gaz) rode in single file the youngsters were 2 or 3 abreast. After Gary was YT in 26-36.1, although I to could have been quicker if I was several stone lighter and 10 years younger. Marc came in next at 29-35.2, whilst Frank Connell in his first event for eons was outside the 30 minute mark with 32.07.5, and quite probably thinking that climbing vertical precipices in the dead of winter preferable. Especially after suffering a mechanical breakdown on his way back home and having to be rescued by his better half Trish! Bringing up the rear although he assures me he did not stop for Port and Stilton was Graham Halden who came in at 37-46.7. Those eagle eyed and faster of mind will have totalled 5 so far our 6^th man John Middleton was another who came to grief whilst negotiating bikers this time of the mountain bike variety, moving to the left as they moved to the right, only to hit something that caused the front tyre to rupture and some very expensive spoke damage ending his climb. Jumping forward a week and the turn out for the club hill climb proper was something of a let down with only two and a half club members taking part. The Half member being Richard Whalley who hadn’t quite got round to becoming a member although along with George Ainsworth had ridden out to watch the previous weeks event and decided he would like a go himself, as once again we used Congleton CC’s event for our championship and they were holding this years event on the ‘cat’ it was easy to oblige, Rich who returned a very respectable 24-22.9, which would have taken the title but Rich’s loss was John Middleton’s gain who after having his wheel re-built not only completed the course, but did so in 26-33.9 to take the title, relegating YT to runner up (and last) in 27-06.3. Fastest on the day eclipsing all the rest and claiming the Congleton title was Neil Skellern in 21-05.6. Neil going slightly quicker than his previous weeks outing 21-10.9 which was good enough then for 4th place.

Finally to the much delayed and considerably elevated Club 5, thought to be one of the oldest cycle races in the country and for a good few years its been run on the road from Rushton to Leek. However the road works and traffic lights, which have been in place too long to be termed temporary and as yet show no sign of completion, have led to the Committee to devise another alternative. As mentioned previously with the current trend towards traffic management finding a 5 mile bit of road that as no such protuberances was a challenge and they searched high and low, well high anyway. The new course starts by Blakemere pool, or as its more commonly known the Mermaid, then across Morridge top to finish about half a mile before the junction with the Bottomhouse -Warslow road.

It surprising how many folk think the new course is all down hill and its going to be quick, most I hazard at a guess knowing the road by car and few ever stopping to get out and sample the breeze that is generally existing and is usually somewhat brisk. For those who travel by car I can assure you that the section of road after the Mermaid pool that may not require changing down is defiantly sloping the wrong way to be called down hill, like wise after turning left and dropping down to the top of Easing lane the remainder of Morridge top is best described as rolling. Now that’s the excuses out of the way apart from slight matter of getting to the start, traditionally run on the first Monday of June event have conspired this year to reschedule to the first Sunday in October. Metrological concerns with one of the foulest Saturdays for a while arose but the odds on this course being flooded would be slim, and on the morning of the event the luck which as graced most of our events held and everyone was greeted to fine dry and blue skies. I escorted a 6 strong party who had ridden out from Congleton comprising of Pete Nelson plus Karl and Linda Austin on tandem mountain bike, Bob Norton along with Neil and Lynne Skellern who had ridden several miles to Congleton before then riding to Leek. In light of this I took them the scenic (ok easiest) way to the start via Bottomhouse. Whilst others made their own way out Gary Whiston and Marc Briand on Kevin Sharrocks tandem not wanting to be around much other traffic as they had only ever been for a short spin out as a tandem pairing the day before, well it was too wet to go further than round the mount.

    Confusion over meeting time meant John Middleton and Rich Whalley who elected to go for the latest one and so missing my genteel ride out instead headed straight up Thorncliffe, like wise Mark Poyser and Mark Lovatt also rode out straight to the start only to arrive there before anybody else and going for a loop round the moors to stay warm. Suffice to say that by the time my party arrived all the marshals and helpers were in place, Noel and Pam Hughes, Graham and Brenda Halden, Geoff  Tomlinson, Andy Bain, time keepers Kevin Sharrock, who timed the start so he could take part in the race, and Joyce Austin who timed the finish so she wouldn’t have to. Many thanks to you all.

    All in all we had 14 riders on 12 machines, two tandems you see! Some say it was a bit nippy up at the start in fact only one rider braved bare legs and he’s got enough insulation to protect from most elements no more clues. Most riders were therefore keen to get going (it could be warmer in June but don’t bank on it), after finishing we all headed back to the club house, where our hosts and sponsors Geoff and Hilary provided some excellent soup and doorstep rolls with cheese and ham to provide sustenance, all washed down with a variety of beverages ranging from Coffee at 0% to Radar at nearer to 10%.  

    In fact YT has just finished the large bottle of Chimay that Geoff donated to the fastest Leek rider YT, he also donated a second to fastest Non Leek rider Neil Skellern, plus a gift set to the quickest Tandem Gaz and Marc! Ah Ah! So that explains the rambling and why I haven’t listed the results yet so I will go and top up and leave you with the results in reverse order. Happy Christmas, Kel

Kevin Sharrock 24-41

Peter Nelson 18-35

Lynne Skellern 18-13

Bob Norton 15-51

Karl & Linda Austin 15-24 (tandem)

John Middleton 15-11

Richard Whalley 14-13

Mark Lovatt 13-39

Mark Poyser 13-32

Neil Skellern 13-19

Kelvin Milward 13-18.