Sunday - Espresso - West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club

A Photo Opportunity at Tea Time. Sunday 11 October 2009

2009-10-21T09:56:35Z

Good communication can quite transform a club. We have several methods in the Wheelers but, as with any modern digital wonder, the message is only as good and true as the writer makes it. The night before the ride in question (it isn't in question at all, that bit just wrote itself, but I'll leave it in anyway) I thought that I would keep the Espressos informed, and sent out an email about the Inter Club Hill Climb. So, all of you on the Espresso list already know the rest of this sorry tale. For the rest, I got the wrong date. The HC is this coming Sunday, 18th October.

I sent out a correction within minutes, but the turnout was a bit low and I thought "they all lead such busy lives, they might have glanced at the first, wrong, mail then closed the computer to dash off to another crucial event/ meeting/ spinning session". Still, we had a new rider join us, James Gill is a medic based at WSH and has (like Dr Tom) ridden the Cambridge Tuesday Chain Gang (average speeds up to 27mph). Like Dr Tom, he didn't mention being dropped, or even struggling a little bit. I have found that this is a good indicator of indestructability in tough conditions. Treat with caution. As well as James, we had both Pauls (C & R) both Colmans (J & N) Adi, Jonathan Howe, Mr Chairman Barry Denny, Tricia (spinning the pain out her legs after Cyclo X the day before) and Myself (Stephen Hill).

Similar route to last week, without the loop to Brinkley and descent to Six Mile Bottom, and a straight route to Coffee & Co in Newmarket. Just about warm enough to sit outside, Paul C doing his usual (quite humbling, really) whirling around with the tables & chairs to ensure there was a place for everyone (though never one to put anyone in their place).

Then Paul spotted the photo op. You'll recognise the spot from the summer ride when John Dumont played dead in the Churchyard (at least, we all assumed he was playing - how that could all have gone tragically wrong . . .)

The journey home took the flat version of the two usual routes, and the pace was characterised by several surges of speed followed by calm stretches; very reminiscent of 3rds and Junior races back in the day. It was only your correspondent who suffered a bit on the high-speed bits. Tricia, who rode in from 9 miles north, and I, who rode in from 7.5 miles east covered 68 miles.

This Sunday, the 18th October, actually IS the hillclimb, so Polly and I will be riding out from home. There will be an Espresso ride for those who would prefer more miles. SJH

Now we are six.... A small but Perfectly form Ride

2009-10-09T19:41:47Z

On Saturday several riders took part in the Suffolk BywaysAudax. Jonathan Howe was one of them. Knowing that Deane rode out to the 200k Mildenhall event a while back, maybe Jonathan felt that this was the way it should be done. Anyway, and for whatever reason, he rode out and back, covering 160 miles in total, arriving back in Bury as dusk fell and mere moments before rain fell. 09.00hrs saw Jonathan on parade for more miles. He confided that he felt that he ought to show his face, knowing that several regulars might be missing. Maybe there should be an award for such selfless action - perhaps a statuette of a cyclist banging his head repeatedly onto the handlebars?

Our select band set off as eight - Gareth, Pauls Rooke & Callow, Ed, Tristan, Dr Tom, Jonathan et Moi. Paul C talked me out of repeating my previous bright idea of Horsecroft Lane followed by every climb I could find (followed by my self-destruction) in favour of a more relaxed Newmarket Road, Westley Rd, Saxham sort of a route. At Wickhambrooke we swung along a loop that took us south of Newmarket and through to Dullingham where we went left along to Brinkley then hurtled down hill to Six Mile Bottom. I can't complain about the descent, I chose the route and I decided to ride a fixed gear of 72.5". My maximum of 30mph is 140rpm - but, as I say, that's my problem. By this time we had been six for about an hour - Gareth and Paul R having headed off to fulfill domestic commitments - and all five of my chums were waiting for me at the Bottom (6 Riders, 6 mile. Now we are Six). Dr Tom new his way around this area, having done a year's worth of Cambridge Clubruns - but, being a gentleman he allowed me the illusion (delusion?) of continuing to lead the ride today. Anglesea Abbey provided its light and airy ambiance and decent food. I provided the light relief when I shook my 'Fentimans' fizzy orange drink to mix up the sediment before unscrewing the cap (the fiasco's orange?).

In Which a Rider Chose A Route He Couldn't Handle

2009-09-12T19:49:15Z

The Riders on 6th September 2009
Those taking part were (for varying amounts of time) Deane Hill, Tom Southorn, Graham Smith, John Dumont, Paul Callow, Mike Bowen, Ed Bucknell, Julian Long, Hugh O'Neill, Jonathan Howe, Andy Davison, Martin White, SJH and Guest Rider (not ghost rider - nor, even, ghostwriter) Richard Farrow - distinguished ex-Wheeler and now all the way from Chippenham (no, the other one) & District Wheelers

Espresso Scatters over South East Suffolk

2009-09-12T19:46:39Z

Yet another sunlit morning assembly in Cornhill. The Rev. Wallace read the lesson, which was the much-loved parable of the counter-intuitive cyclist, and then delivered a sermon that skilfully expanded on this topic. They that return into a headwind shall arrive safe and as one, indivisible and enduring in the glory of united effort, even unto their homes and their loved ones. The mighty shall be humbled, and the weak shall prevail; the strong will lay down and wait for the feeble. For ever and ever, ah well.

Sunday 23 August 2009

2009-09-12T19:31:40Z

Another warm day in prospect and another good turnout on the Buttermarket. 18 riders were once again eager for a magical mystery tour. Albeit a little less of a mystery than the week before. And so it was decided that Hollow Trees should be the destination, via a circular route.

It was good to see some new faces along on the ride. Jonathan Howe - from the 'B' ride, Richard Muchmore - a well known local rider, and another Richard (Emmerson) - an erstwhile Wheeler and keen mountain biker. The rest of the crew were: Paul Rooke, Tricia Dennison, Julian Coleman, Adi Grimwood, Andrew Davison, John Dumont (any relation to Margaret?), Deane Hill, Ben Mickleburgh, Ron Fisher, Gareth Doman, Jeff Agricole, Paul Callow, Stephen Hill, Steve Newman and me.

Sunday 16th August

2009-09-12T13:08:28Z

If you're going to drop someone in the final 20 miles, it's probably best not to choose the one person best equipped to get his own back. Fortunately, I'm a reasonable man. For instance, I never refer to the time that Neil rode away when I had a puncture in the first ten of a two hundred K audax - and I will, eventually, put the latter part of Sunday's ride behind me too.

Sunday 26th July - Wicken Fen

2009-07-30T02:14:34Z

Sunday 28th June - Specialities Tea Rooms in Stisted

2009-07-20T22:59:42Z

Eight of us left the Cornhill this morning on a mission to find the Specialities Tea Rooms in Stisted; subject of a full page feature in Cycling Plus by Roger St Pierre.

Sunday 19th July

2009-07-20T22:43:34Z

19th July. Some threatening cloud, some sunshine and a bucket of rain at the end. Wind brisk, south westerly. As holidays take their toll, I guess we may be getting into leaner times on the attendance front. Still, ten is a decent number. We were: Adi, Deane, Graham Smith (apologies Graham, for calling you Geoff throughout the ride) 'John' who is a neighbour of Graham, Justin, Hugh, Erin, Julian, Paul Callow and Me.

Sunday 12th July

2009-07-20T22:40:30Z

Sunday 12 July, Club Run to Newmarket

We set off from Bury at 0900 hours on a route through Westley Road, Little Saxham, eastwards to Stetchworth and then a tea stop at Newmarket. We headed back through Red lodge, Cavenham, Risby and returned to Bury about 12:45