Cyclo-cross

Competition News

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 08:22 |

Written by Barry Denny |

Readers of the EADT will have read about Alan Trolove’s performance at the recent National Cyclo Cross event at Rutland Water. He had his best result so far, finishing 25^th in the Under 16 event, and with another season left in this age group.

This event followed a day at the Manchester Velodrome training at the DHL Sprint School, with promising youngsters from all over the country. The discipline for the day was Keirin, with each rider doing four races, having been ceded on previous results. Alan raced in heat four out of nine and managed to win three out of his four races, but this still wasn’t enough for selection to ride in that evening’s Revolution meeting in front of a capacity crowd. That day will come.

January 24 saw the last event of the Eastern Cross League, with only Adi Grimwood representing the club, with Trish Dennison not well enough and Alan away on the track again. Adi rode well on a very demanding course set out in the steeply banked and wooded Mistley venue. He finished 20^th out of 42 starters, just pipped to the line in a three rider sprint finish for 19^th!

With eight results counting from a thirteen event series, this left Adrian 2oth in the Vets league. Trisha finished 3^rd in the Ladies and Alan 2^nd in the U16’s. The team section was decided by the placings of each team’s best three riders at eight counting events. With just three riders in total it was good to see West Suffolk seventh in the team competition.

We really must see if we can get some more regular riders next year ~ it is a brilliantly organised series and Cross is a great way to keep race fit.

Meanwhile Alan was back at the Velodrome, this time at a Regional School of Racing training event. Esther Colman was also due to be at this, but is currently out of action with a knee injury. Hope she’s soon recovered. Action at this event centred around Madison skills, with Alan paired with dimunitive but very fast Bethany Hayward from Welwyn. The day went pretty well, apart from when he took a tumble after sneezing so hard that he crashed! Could be on YouTube in due course!

Last Updated (Friday, 05 March 2010 21:13)

West Suffolk Wheelers At Regional CycloCross Championships

Tuesday, 08 December 2009 17:33 |

Written by Barry Denny |

Ipswich Bike Club hosted the combined Eastern and South Eastern Regional CycloCross Championships at Foxhall Heath last Sunday.

Fourteen year-old Alan Trolove was representing West Suffolk Wheelers in the Youth Under 16 event and rode well in slippery conditions. A group of five riders got away on the first lap, pulled along by the eventual winner, Ipswich’s Hugo Robinson. Trolove worked hard in a chasing group of three and outpaced his ‘allies’ in the closing lap to finish sixth, and third of the Eastern Region riders. This sees him go to the top of the table in the Eastern League, in which rider’s best 8 results from 13 rounds count towards the season’s total.

Adrian Grimwood rode in the competitive 40-49 Veterans event and suffered a couple of crashes on the tricky descents, finishing 34^th. The Ladies event ran simultaneously to the vets and Juniors, and Trish Dennison, in her first season, finished 4^th, after a muddy tumble on the final lap, which saw her almost ridden over as the leaders bore down on her as she lay in the mud! Mildenhall’s Mandy Cook came fifth, with her son Matt, now riding for the API team finishing 5^th overall in the Juniors (16-18 years).

What did Adi do next? Click Here to find out!

Last Updated (Saturday, 19 December 2009 07:39)

Cyclo Cross News‏

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 20:34 |

Written by Barry Denny |

Our cyclo-crossers have been in action again over the last two weekends, at Davey Down in Essex and at Hempton in Norfolk.

The Davey Down meeting saw Alan Trolove score his first outright victory in the Under 16 category that he has now moved into. He led for several laps, fell, remounted in second, and in a last lap effort re-took the lead for the win. Meanwhile Adi Grimwood finished 21^st in the Vets, with Trish Dennison 33^rd. Mildenhall’s Mandy Cook was 37^th with son Matt, now in API colours, coming a creditable 4^th in the Senior race.

More action from WSW Members!

Friday, 16 October 2009 00:00 |

Written by Barry Denny |

Neil takes the Hill Climb Record!

Photo evidence just received from Neil Dykes suggesting that he has taken the Club Hill Climb Record. The picture shows Neil at the highest pass in Ecuador at 4,068m, unfortunately he has forgotten to include his bike in the picture so we have to take his word for it!

Coming soon Results from the Hill Climb

The WSW Cross riders were out competing again last weekend at Stanborough Park, near the Gosling Velodrome, in Welwyn Garden City.

In the Youth (U16) race Alan Trolove came fourth, with Esther Colman first girl home in the same race. James Carpenter rode his second event of the season, finishing 18^th in the Vets race. Trisha Dennison was the second placed woman, in 30th place. Mildenhall rider Matt Cook finished 12^th in the Senior event.

The following day Alan rode the second round of the National Series in Derby in very slippery conditions and in a very competitive field. He crashed twice on the last lap, but managed 31^st out of 52 starters. He contested this event in readiness for the Third Round of the National Series which is at Ipswich on October 25 and the forthcoming Inter-Regional event.

The next round of the Eastern Region League is this Sunday October 18 at Hillyfields East, Sheepen Lane, Colchester.

All the action can be followed on www.easterncross.org.uk with excellent coverage in the East Anglian Daily Times after each event.

Last Updated (Monday, 19 October 2009 16:18)

Beginner’s Guide to Cyclo-Cross

Sunday, 11 October 2009 15:38 |

Written by Tricia Dennison |

1. Just because you’ve had an enjoyable year of cycling and you normally do cross-country races (on foot) at this time of year this does not mean cyclo cross is a good idea. The skills and risks of doing a cross country course on a bicycle are in a different league.

2. When Barry suggests that cyclo cross will improve your bike handling skills you need to have some bike handling skills to improve. If you have no bike handling skills to speak of I would recommend that you develop some before entering a cyclo cross for the health & safety of you & the other entrants.

3. If your idea of fun is to have repeated goes on Oblivion at Alton Towers you have the right mindset. If the thought of plummeting down steep drops onto slippery mud at the bottom doesn’t excite you cyclo cross is not for you.

4. Cycling on grass is hard work. Cornering on wet, muddy grass requires bike- handling skills (see2). Cornering on gravel ,skidding & falling off hurts

5. You will need to get on & off your bike during each lap at least once. If you are as flexible as an ironing-board this will be inelegant. Look the other way when an elite cyclo cross rider passes you, hops off, clears an obstacle and hops on again & away in less than 10 seconds. They are just showing off.

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Cyclo-cross

Competition News

West Suffolk Wheelers At Regional CycloCross Championships

Cyclo Cross News‏

More action from WSW Members!

Beginner’s Guide to Cyclo-Cross