The Stratford CC are running their annual reliability ride again this year on the 7th February (good grief - that gives us only 2 weeks to get in some panic training!!!!!)
The route covers 54miles of undulating Cotswold roads (most of you knew that I guess!) with a new start point this year at the FISSC Sports Club in Knights Lane, Tiddington (just behind the NFU buildings).

The start times are 10.10am (4 hour group), 10.20am (3.5 hour group) or 10.30am (3 hour group) and the entry fee is only £3 with all profits going to charity.

For those new to the game (and those with poor memories) you can check out the whole route through the Stratford CC website or at the following address:
http://www.stratfordcc.co.uk/pdfs/2010Reliability.pdf

Hopefully the snowy weather will not be with us for much longer and,in anticipation, we are starting a runs list once more. Below is a list for the first few weeks of the new decade (I’d say the “teens” but I’m unsure about 10, 11 and 12 ?) for your information; you’ll find the list on the “Club Rides” page soon. Happy New Year to all.

16-Jan Hillers Farm Centre, Dunnington
23-Jan Bantam Tea Room, Chipping Campden
30-Jan National Herb Centre, Warmington
06-Feb Redwings Donkey Santuary (Beginners Ride)
13-Feb Jinny Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury
20-Feb Yew Tree Cafe, Wooton Wawen

This popular event has just been announced for this year. The start is at Dunchurch Village Hall from 9.30am onwards.
There is a choice of two rides: 100km or 60km, both rides finishing back at the village hall.

The village hall has parking and changing facilities and refreshments will be on offer.

Entry is on the day, just sign on, pay £5 and ride. A donation from any event profits will go to “Marie Curie Cancer Care”.

There is usually a crowd from the Wheelers riding so check out who’s going and we could have a “clubrun” on some new roads (maybe the snow will have gone by then as well !)

This is just a short reminder to any Club members wanting Club clothing (particularly if you want racing kit for Spring next year).

Our Clothingmeister, Neil Goodridge will be sending a bulk order in very soon now. If you want any kit please get in touch with Neil (phone number on your membership list or on the Forum item on Clothing). Neil has already posted a note on this on the Forum so you can look up a bit more detail there.

The important thing to note is that the deadline for this forthcoming order is 15th December - so if you don’t want to miss it contact Neil now!

Another well-attended Annual Dinner with some 80 people turning up (the highest number for a few years) last Friday evening at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel. There was so much chat in the bar that no-one wanted to sit down and eat - ChairmanSteve had to “round up” the stragglers!! This year the trophies were presented by the Club’s own celebrity, Lance Ravenhill.

Amongst this years awards were the Road Race and Criterium trophies which went to Andy Webb, and the Cyclo-cross trophy which went to Nick Bosworth. The Track award went to Lance Ravenhill after his fantastic year at National and European level (see articles below) and he received a standing ovation from the assembled diners. The Most Improved Rider trophies went to Jackie Hobson and Richard Fairholme and the Achievement Trophy went to the team who completed the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride, raising £4000 for the Warwickshire Air Ambulance in the process.

The few “least sought-after” awards went to Neil Goodridge (best dismount in a ford), Jon Stephenson (half-wheeling), Dennis Witt (”how not to lock your bike” award) and Phil Muir (runs organiser award).

We understand from the Hotel that substantial amounts of “malted barley and hops sports recovery drink” were consumed during the evening but despite this, some 35 members made it out on the Saturday clubrun!!

With record Club membership numbers this year, ChairmanSteve is already thinking about hiring an even bigger room next year.

Due to a booking mix-up and the popularity of the track at Newport, the date for Lance’s trip has had to be changed to 29th November. All other information below remains the same and Lance’s note on the Forum remains valid as well.

National Track Champion Lance Ravenhill is organising a few trips to Newport Velodrome this Autumn/Winter. The first one is booked for Sunday 18th October from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. (There should be more sessions depending on interest from club members)

The session will be limited to 30 riders on a first come first served basis. If you would like to go (the sessions cater for track novices as well as more experienced trackies) please get in touch with Lance asap.

Lance has provided more details about what you need to do if you want to have a go at this exciting day out - click “more” to read all about it. He has also written a note on what the session will be like and you can see this on the Forum - well worth a read!
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The Wheelers have a double National Track Champion in their midst. The infamous Lance Ravenhill recently won two Gold Medals at the BCF Masters Track Championships. As well as the medals he was also awarded a National Champions jersey and here is a picture of him with medals, jersey and track bike.

Many congratulations to Lance and good luck in the forthcoming European Championships.
If you would like to read Lance’s report on the National Champs event click “more” and find out how tough championship events really are! (more…)

Following his driving  “error”  3 years ago Andy Wearing had to be airlifted to hospital, courtesy of the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.  He is now hoping to raise money for the Air Ambulance service  by tackling the UK’s classic long distance cycling challenge:  Lands End to John O’Groats.  Andy has pulled together a team of 6 Kenilworth Wheelers (including himself) to make the attempt and their target is to complete the ride in less than 7 days!!

The team of six are Andy, Richard Lewis, Dave Clegg, Steve Howes, Dominic Harrison & Andy Webb so if you see any of them out training you can check out there fitness (physical and mental). They are setting off on 5th July, so while you are all watching the Tour de France on the TV in the comfort of your home, these six intrepid riders will be heading north in all weathers on the highways and byways of the land.

Sponsorship

The most important thing of course is that they want to raise money.  Andy has therefore set up a site where you can donate through him, so if you would like to sponsor the team just click on the link below  and you can donate as well as checking out the pretty picture of Andy climbing the famous Col du Galibier in the French Alps.

Andy’s sponsorship site:  www.justgiving.co.uk/andyridesthecountry

Once again, a cyclist has been found guilty of taking drugs at world championship level (Davide Rebellin this time) and the reputation of all competitive cycling has plunged even further. It’s difficult to see how it can be stopped when there is so much money involved nowadays. However, one man is trying to do something about it.

Andy Layhe, ex member of  the Kenilworth Wheelers and ex cyclo cross star (he and his brother Chris represented GB at cyclo-cross world championships some years ago),  is asking all levels of cyclists to join in his growing campaign against drugs in cycling. Go to  his new website at  www.bikepure.org to see what he has achieved in a very few months, and see the list of professionals who are supporting his promotion of drug free cycling.

I’m sure you will join me in wishing Andy and his colleagues success in their efforts  to persuade top cyclists to clean up their act.