Bristol South open ten mile time trial

My first ten mile time trial, and fourth week back on the bike after 6 weeks off from 'the crash'.

Thanks to Andy K for photos (and lift), Andy L and marshals for a great event, and Jo for the yummy cakes.

Bristol South Mega Hilly 45km time trial, near Dursley.

Thanks Paul for a brilliant day, Helen for the delicious cakes, and the riders for all the fast times and safe riding.



If anybody doesn't want their photo published on the site please get in touch/comment on the post

Bristol South Club 25 Time Trial Photos

25 mile time trial near Falfield, Saturday 6th April. Beautiful day with some fast times.

Sorry I didn't get everyone, some were too fast for me I'm afraid.

Publish Sunday 7th April '13 by Christina

Laurie Pither cyclist veteran, boasted some incredible averages into his 70's

Laurie Pither - ''He loved the mountains!''

Laurie Pither (Grandad) was club secretary for Hampshire Road Club for 21 years, and could often be spotted at the West Stoke Village Hall with wife Valarie Pither.

I have treasured memories cycling the Hayling Billy Line as a child with them both, and my younger brother, thinking they were possibly the fastest pensioners on two wheels.

Twenty five years on the roads saw some brilliant adventures for Laurie Pither, including 33 trips up Mount Ventoux in Provence, along with many other incredible achievements:

50 miles Memorial Shield 1992
50 mile time trial event.
2hr16m37s  21.95mph

Vetcher Trophy 1992
Club Hill Climb (Knights Hill, Charlton).
4m29s

Joe Hancock Special Trophy 1992
Annual award for a selected veteran.

Hilly 20 Trophy 1993
20 mile hardrider time trial.
1hr07m58s  17.65mph

The Duo Norman 1994 52.30km
After catching two pairs in front he and his duo partner Fred Shepherd pulled in at 1hr.25m.58s, winning the 100+ age group.  22.68mph

Grand Prix Des Gentlemen 2005 - 2008
Gentleperson over 40 yrs of age is paced around the course, their time is recorded for the event not the pacers. Winner is decided on Vet’s Standard.
Gent :Laurie Pither, Pacer: N.Batchelor
2005 Laurie Pither Noel Batchelor +7.24 P841 24m 36s
2006 Laurie Pither Noel Batchelor +6.38 P843 25m 37s
2007 Laurie Pither Noel Batchelor +6.22 P843 26m 08s
2008 Laurie Pither Noel Batchelor +7.00 P843 25m 46s

Middle Markers B.A.R Trophy 2007-2008
Best 10m,20m,50m avg.
2007 22.82mph
2008 22.15mph

Four years today Laurie Pither passed, doing what he loved. He is greatly missed and fondly remembered, aged 72.

Laurie Pither, Valarie Pither and I in '88

Laurie Pither and two close friends and fellow Hampshire Road Club members at Mount Ventoux

Published Saturday 6th April 2013, author Christina

Women cycling | Why are women cyclists a minority, and should the commercial market not be embracing change?

Female cyclist and novelist Arlene Plevin inspiring women to ride and promoting ladies within the sport...

With time off the bike mostly comprising of failed baking attempts, radio four overload, and oil painting, I've also been able to get through a few good books, one of which being an excellent and  inspiring book by female cyclist and writer Arlene Plevin, Cycling - A celebration of the sport and the world's best places to enjoy it.

If you can't get up and out on your bike this book takes you to the road without even having to leave the sofa, and leaves you reaching for the calendar to check against the many cycling events listed across the US. It's motivational, informative and paints women cyclists in a great light, and more importantly does not dwell on the lack of women on the roads, but instead promotes the growing rise of those taking to two wheels.

Why are women cyclists a minority, and should the commercial market not be embracing change? 

Women cyclist numbers at the elite level are higher than ever, there has even been talks of a women's Tour De France in 2014. I've heard that sponsorship is not as generous however, and after finding some of our elite riders within an advertising campaign that I can't imagine Wiggins or Cavendish were ever invited to participate in, I am left questioning whether the reason more women aren't on the roads is because of how far behind the commercial market is in embracing and promoting women within the sport.

We are living in a time of change, equal opportunities and inclusion, within all kinds of minorities. However, I think somebody needs to inform Cycling News, Bike Radar and Assos to name a few, as I nearly spat my tea across my lap this morning when I chanced upon this terrible crime against equality, taste and Adobe Photoshop. The Cycle Passion 2013 Calendar, aka cycling meets soft porn.

Assos have also launched a marketing campaign, although for a women’s range, and it is equally cringe worthy, although marginally less offensive. I’d say I was probably their closest hope to a target market in this campaign, however if these are their latest range of winter tights I think I’ll be giving them a miss. 

I’m not sure those shoes are SPD compatible either.

First circuit race... first bike crash...

'It's not the racing, it's the crashing that's the problem'

The race got off to a great start, I was keeping up with the bunch, and was able to negotiate a good few stints within the bunch saving steam, which was good as I did end up leading out the pack a few times, which was poor tactics on my part.

The race was 30 minutes then 3 laps. We had done our 30 minutes, which flew by, and I still had plenty of energy left in the bag, the next lap did push a little more but wasn't out of reach. The final lap was called and another break away was just about departing when I got engulfed by riders closing in on both sides.

I was right in the middle of the bunch as they all made their efforts to push past and not lose the sprinter making a go for it. I was shoved hard into another bike and my front wheel got caught on a rear mech. The wheel stopped dead, travelling at 20mph I was sent hurtling into the air with my lovely new carbon frame still attached.

Miraculously the bunch dispersed around my path and remained rubber sides down. I somersaulted across the track and skidded along the tarmac with my bike close by.

The damage - bike and body

The rest went by pretty fast and was somewhat of a blur.

I had a large crack in my helmet (always wear a helmet), a wrecked front wheel (with the spoke and nipple ripped clear out), very grazed hoods, and a wonky bar leaver knocked out of place... with a very grazed club jersey, and a sore skin graze to match down my side.

More worrying though was the pedal shaped holes in my leg, so deep that even the first aider was looking a little pale. My elbow was also getting more painful by the second, with my arm getting less and less mobile as the minutes went by.

I was soon in A & E, and ended up with 15 stitches to the leg, and a sling for my fractured elbow. They also gave me antibiotics for the wound, and advised a month off the bike.

Will I race again?

So not a great first race in all. A lot to learn I'm sure... but whilst there are few opportunities for me to practice I'm not sure it's really such a great idea. Women's only races are few and far between, and circuit races I'm starting to think are maybe not the best way to start if you don't live all that close to a track, or have other women to ride with in a race situation.

I've been told road racing might be better, with a good hill or two that would be beneficial in breaking up the group, and avoiding close bunched up riding. The only problem with road races however is the cars, and with the recent loss of a road racer on a local race of late I'm reminded that racing on the road can be all the more fatal.

So whilst I debate my options it's a turbo month for me whilst my arm heals. It might be more that TT's are a safer route to go down.  I wanted to dabble with both TT's and racing this season though, so I could make a choice to commit to next year, so we'll see.

NHS doctors and nurses doing a great job, even understaffed on St Patrick's Day

I'd also like to say that the staff I saw at A&E in QA were all very lovely, and although I was there a whopping nine hours total (due to a blood splash in a poor nurses eye - yes it was all very bloody...), I was very pleased with the treatment I received.

They were certainly overstretched on the ward, however Hattie and I couldn't help but reflect upon how incredibly lucky we are to have a health care system paid for in taxes. I even got given a free lunch and mug of tea with my 15 stitches and x-rays.

In the mean time, if you like blood and gore further pics can be found here. You have been warned however, they are not pretty.

Post author Christina

Diary of a Food-Cycler

It’s well known amongst cyclists that there are a number of distinct tribes which co-exist and interweave to form the cycling community. And it has to be said that Christina and I identify with different tribes.

Whilst Christina has been putting in the training miles in preparation for her first forays into racing, I have been turning my pedals to something a little different.

I’ve been volunteering for FoodCycle, an innovative charity, with really a very simple concept which makes sense; preventing food from going to waste and feeding those in danger of food poverty.

For the past three years FoodCycle Bristol has been serving delicious cooked meals down at Easton Community Centre, where there’s a place at the table for anyone who wants a free hearty meal, a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and some friendly company on a Sunday afternoon. The three courses of nutritious goodness and bread to take home at the end of the day, is all prepared using surplus produce from supermarkets and local grocers that may otherwise go to waste.

Cycling for FoodCycle

So where does the cycling come in? Well, all of the food needs to be collected from the supermarkets and local shops and then taken to the Community Centre, and what better way to transport it but by bike and trailer?  FoodCycle really does combine two of the greatest things –food and cycling, and does it all in a sustainable way which helps to prevent food waste and food poverty!

I’ve been volunteering for the past few months, collecting food on a Saturday night or delivering it to Easton Community Centre and doing the collection rounds in Easton on Sunday morning. It’s a really satisfying way to spend an hour or so on the bike, riding around the buzzing city of Bristol with other volunteers.

Photo Diary of a Food-cycler

Cycling at night has a certain attraction. My senses are heightened; the busy roads seem busier, alive with lights, and people, whilst the quiet back roads take on a peaceful contrast, with the odd urban fox darting across the beam of my front light. I head to collect the trailer (which will carry the food) from one of the other volunteers.

I use my own bike as I’m more comfortable riding my own wheels, but there are two FoodCycle bikes free for volunteers to use, which were kindly refurbished by the Bristol Bike Project.

 

Once the trailers are attached to the back wheel, we cycle to Sainsbury’s on the Triangle. Trailers in tow, we dodge the gaggle of students milling around the Triangle who’s Saturday nights are now in full flow.

At Sainsburys  we’re greeted by the friendly staff who are busy closing up. They help us bag up the left over bakery goods, and give us a bag of fruit/veg and other assorted goodies. It’s amazing the amount of good food, that’s perfectly edible and that would otherwise just be chucked out.

 With two trailers crammed full of food we head back, and unload ready for the food to be picked up the following morning and turned into a free three course meal.

With the food collected this weekend the FoodCycle kitchen team cooked up bruschetta with roast veg and coleslaw starter, vegetable curry with pea and coriander rice mains, and pastry and butter pudding topped with fruit salad!

So that’s how I’ve been spending my Saturday evenings/Sunday mornings whilst Christina’s out with the roadies on the Bristol South Club Run. One of the beauties of cycling is that there’s so much versatility in the way that you can embrace it; from towing trailers full of food around town to cruching out the miles and powering up the Mendips on club runs.

A little more on FoodCycle and how to get involved:

From cycling food across town on our FoodCycle bikes and trailers to getting stuck into chopping vegetables in the buzzing community kitchen with a team of like-minded people, or even just coming along to enjoy a delicious meal in Easton, this is a project that we can all be part of in one way or another. FoodCycle are keen to get more and more volunteers involved to help extend the reach of what we do, feed more hungry bellies and eliminate food waste forever!! To find out more visit the FoodCycle website or Bristol Hub Facebook Page.

Post author Hattie