Monday 21 May 2012

NHRC Invitation


Hello Northanters

As I am sure you all know one of the first Olympic Medals to be completed for will be the mens road race on Saturday 28 July.

It was suggested at a recent committee meeting that it might be a good idea for the club to get together on that day and watch the race as a club group, (no, I haven't acquired 50 dodgy tickets on the internet). What we have done is that Maggie has used her influence at the Ex-services Club in New Road, where we will be able to have the use of a room with a large drop-down TV screen on which to watch the race. THE BAR will be open and we are also planning to have refreshments available.

The time of start is 10.00 with the finish scheduled for around 16.00. I guess that some might want to watch the entire race although maybe most would prefer to take in the final 2 or 3 hours. I am not yet sure how long the transmission will be. Hopefully the complete race.

We are planning to charge £1 to all who wish to come along, this will help to pay for some of the refreshments although contributions of a cake or two or perhaps some sausage rolls etc. would be welcome.

The event is open to club members and non-members and we are hoping to attract as many as possible to help make the day the next best thing to being there on the course. 

Please let me know if you think you will be attending.

Doug H.

Regional Road Race Championships

Stockbridge Sunday 20th May


A dry, blustery, overcast day welcomed Adam, Andrew and Berni for their visit to Stockbridge to compete in the regional championship veteran’s race. All 3 riders feeling suitably senior and of an age to safely avoid the championship race proper!

Berni’s description of the 13 mile circuit as “testing” was something of an understatement. It was horrible! Nearly 300 metres of climbing per lap and the major 2km climb leading out of Stockbridge and up to the finish line.

The race started just after 10am (following the departure of the main event) with a 2km neutralised section running from Test Valley school – race HQ – to the bottom of said hill, when the race went live. Straightaway the pace went up in parallel with the gradient. The peleton held together for the first lap but on the 2nd visit to the climb it started to fracture, which was to be the pattern for the rest of the race. Not surprisingly, Andrew was one of the first to go and was soon riding with a small group of similarly ejected riders!! Adam suffered a similar fate soon after.

Berni, however, managed to stay with the group and was able to contest the uphill “sprint” to the flag. Despite a grey face and some grimacing, he came over the line in 5th place. A fine result for his first race outing of the year, and more points for CCB. Well done Berni!

ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT FOR CCB


Wednesday 16th May

CCB were well represented this evening by the old guard, with Jon and Scott racing at Eelmore, and Andrew again at the vets series at Hillingdon. A marked contrast in the weather too with no wind and plenty of sunshine!! Joe was not racing, preferring(?!) to study for his exams and Craig was forced to work!

Jon and Scott had the usual Eelmore experience with a steady race, one or two breakaway efforts that wouldn’t stick, until a lone rider made it away towards the end of the race leaving the rest of the field to contest the bunch gallop. An excellent effort by Scott put him second over the line for 3rd overall. Jon followed him home in 8th. So, perhaps the “thru and off” training around Farleigh is paying dividends!!

For Andrew it was a similar experience. A fairly brisk cruising speed for the bunch meant that the few breakaway efforts were brought back in fairly quickly, usually within a lap or so. This meant that once again it came down to a bunch gallop. A momentary lapse in concentration meant Andrew dropped back a couple of lengths in the back straight on the last lap, putting him in a slightly less than ideal position for the sprint. Nevertheless, a good sprint effort lifted him up to 5th across the line!

So, points for all this evening! Next outing, involving some of the real old guard (Berni and Adam) will be at the regional championships, starting from Stockbridge, on Sunday 20th May. All support is always welcome.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Sunday Training Options

A number of riders are meeting at the top of Farleigh Hill for a thru and off session.  They are meeting at 09:00 on Sunday mornings.  The plan is for 3 laps of the CCB Tuesday evening circuit, though beginning with a warm-up lap and then three hard laps followed by a steady ride.  Should be back by 12 noon the latest. All are welcome.  Contact Jon Harris for further details:

Punctures Galore


Eelmore, Wednesday 9th May

The old guard were out for last Wednesday’s race at Eelmore. Jon and Scott were racing in the 3rd & 4th cat race, and Andrew tried his hand with the E/1/2s.

There was a stiff breeze blowing down the home straight which had a big influence on proceedings in both races, but not as much as the condition of the track surface.

The E/1/2 race is very hard! Lots of attacks early on until the elastic breaks and the race is fractured into lots of small groups on the road. Andrew soon found himself in a small group of one, followed soon after by a puncture and the end of his evening!! More interval training required, I think!?

Jon and Scott did a good job of sitting in the peleton until late in the race, when Jon suffered a puncture just at the point of the lap count-down. This meant he spent the next 5 laps chasing back on with no energy left for the sprint. Scott found himself in a better position, but not much. A sizeable group broke away from the front in the last couple of laps to contest the sprint with Scott following in behind. The only bit of good luck was that he then avoided the rather unexpected crash that occurred soon after this group crossed the finish line! Both riders agreed – more interval training required!!

Wednesday 9 May 2012

ANOTHER GREY DAY – RACING ON WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY


Another Wednesday, and another outing for CCB’s racers. With Jon Harris away, it was Scott
Oatridge’s turn to open his racing account at Eelmore, alongside Craig Atwell and Joe Gray in the 3 rd
& 4th cat race.

As usual, as the season progresses, more people turn out to race and so there was a bigger field
than the previous week, and the pace was a bit more brisk! Both Craig and Joe made efforts at the
front but trying to make a break stick was always going to be hard with a faster moving peleton. As
is often the case, it came down to a bunch gallop at the finish. Unfortunately, with about 60 riders
in the bunch, there was also a fair bit of pushing and bumping, so on the penultimate lap, Scott was
pushed out onto the grass. Good bike handling and a bit of luck saw him recover but fall back a bit
so that when the final sprint began he was not ideally positioned. Still, first CCB rider home in about
12th, with Craig and Joe following in not far behind.

Andrew McCombe was in action at Hillingdon, again competing in the Master’s series there.
Likewise, there was a much bigger field also running at a slightly brisker pace. Unfortunately, just
over 30 minutes into the race, there was a big crash involving a number of riders as the boys passed
the girls! Consequently, the organisers had no choice but to cancel the race. A rather unfortunate
end to the evening!

Next outing – Eelmore on 9th May.