2007 Activities

Missed a few weeks but as the season starts to wind down, there as only been a few of us flying the flag for the Leek Cyclists’ club/ Den Engels racing section. Going back a few Saturdays and Yours truly was joined by regular Duncan Poole, along with Philip Gayes fresh from his cycling holiday, if you can call climbing mountain passes for days in a row a holiday, as Phil reels off one notorious Col after another. I can only marvel at people who can not only climb with ease but enjoy doing it day in, day out whilst YT’s holiday was a week sorting out a water feature in the pond!

Still I digress back to the Seamons 25 that took place back on the 18^th of August. On a very wet and cool Saturday afternoon with almost a full field 120 on the start sheet . The wet weather reduced this to 80 odd starters, and it was decidedly wet for the earlier starters. Phil and I leaving Dunc sheltering in the car as he started almost an hour after us. Off first but any hopes of beating the afternoon traffic was eradicated even before I got out of the short start lane when a motorist overtook on the approach to the junction before pulling in and stopping smartly, wet brakes, and an initial sprinting effort (or as close as YT gets) turned in to slithering dead stop and start off again. This set the tone for my ride so although many would say I should have sprinted for the finish to duck under the hour instead of recording a 1-00-00 I (14^th) was past caring by that stage.

Phil was next man away and although not balked as much by the traffic his foreign exploits had robbed him of some top end speed recording 1-4-02 (48^th). By the time Dunc came out to play the rain had eased although conditions was still less than ideal and with Dunc still carrying a problem exacerbated by his previous weeks 50 his time of 1-08-42 (61^st) was well earned. Weather, Traffic etc seemed to have little effect on the quicker riders though and winner.

Moving forward to the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend and the Congleton 50-mile time trial Leek had a good entry, helped by the event being this years counter for the club championship 6 riders rose to the challenge. In start sheet order Ruth Goreham, John Green, Duncan Poole, Kelvin Milward, Keiren Merharg and Phillip Gayes. Unfortunately Keiren and Dunc were unable to start, Dunc finally succumbing to the problems from the previous week. This left four of us with John and Ruth tackling a 50 for their first time and according to Ruth possibly their last! We did have good conditions and were probably amongst the few that were relieved when the sun went back in. The long Straight down the A50 towards Holmes chapel can be a bit unforgiving on a baking hot day, and with the course covering it three times it becomes almost as hard as climbing hills.

As mentioned Ruth was our first rider off and covered the course in 2-30-01 , just edging out husband Johns 2-30-08 and tantalisingly close to covering the course at an average of 20 mph, (or evens as its known in the game). Making Ruth not only Leeks Fastest lady but placing her 3rd in the club, And for all those saying yes but there were only four of us there where were you? YT was next man away with a fairly trouble free ride that allowed me to improve a little on my previous fifties but not match my opening one, instead falling between the two at 2-2-04, to retain last years trophy.

This week ends unlucky rider though was Phil though, whose traffic problems were considerably worse then mine the previous week. Held up on the final lap after an un-related accident on the A50 Blocked the road, and it was of little comfort that Phil was not alone as a number of riders got tangled up in it Phil reckoning on losing 2 or 3 minutes which would have made his already respectable time of 2-11-50 even better. The event winner is still undecided after a time query but suffice to say they were well inside the two-hour mark!

To finish off during my pond maintenance holiday I did have an afternoon break and took part in veterans mid week time trail event, thinking it would be a low-key affair to give retired riders a change from training. I was therefore surprised to see 92 riders on the start sheet, more than some weekend events. A lot were younger riders possibly visiting the area as preparation for the British Cycling Time Trial Championship that took place locally last Sunday (2^nd).

However if I thought the traffic conditions were a lottery at weekend. Wednesday afternoon in Cheshire appeared to be manic at one point I had to resort to doing a diversion through a car park just to get past a queue in Chelford village. Add to the mix freshly cut hedges on Twemlow lane and an Alfa driver electing to nip past immediately prior to blocking the road with his right hand indicator on. I wish I had stayed holidaying by the pool, ok the pond. In fact despite being outside the hour yet again at 1-0-16 I was surprised that I got that close. Many other riders either more skilled or luckier, Definitely better trained managed to breeze round. the winner recording an impressive 54 minutes.

The next club event is the DSB Remembrance ride, where members ride out to the Weaver Valley hill climb up the Cat and Fiddle, retracing Dave Briands' last Sunday ride shortly before his untimely death. This takes place on the 30^th of September and members intending to take part in the race as well are reminded that they need to enter in advance.