Sundayriders: February 2007

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Thetford series points table

The final standings are up, that's it until next year:-)

Sunday March 4th is the SWRC ciclosportif.

'Once again, the fully sign-posted route starts at Fetcham Village Hall (near Leatherhead just off M25 Jcn 9) and winds its way over the North Downs via the long and tough Leith Hill climb (highest point in SE England). It then meanders across the undulating Surrey and Sussex countryside as far asWisborough Green and returning over the North Downs via the short and sharp ascent of Combe Bottom. With over 1,250 metres of climbing, the event will certainly stretch a few legs at this point in the season! '

The event is full, but still open to members. ie ramon, juanita and pablo,who haven't got around to entering yet....doh!

Fetcham village hall: here

Getting ready for the Trans Schwarzwald

This weekend LCO visited from the Wales and along with Ramon y Juanita did some interval training on the south face of Box Hill, culminating in a sprint for the Little Chef in Dorking for tea and toast...hurrah!

Sunday after mucho mas nagging by the LCO they went to view some tents. Somehow the five tents that the Sundayriders already possess didn't quite fit the bill. But....on the way to the tent shop she decided we had to go and see the aeroplanes at Gatwick! So, after spending half an hour standing under the flightpath and clapping as planes flew 50 metres overhead, the Sundayriders chose a lovely blue tent for the Trans Schwarzwald.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

British Cycling Report

A good write up from Joolze and some of her pics at British Cycling

Ramon gets a very brief mention - seen here signing autographs

Monday, February 12, 2007

Thetford round three

How it went for me:

My intention was to get away as quickly as possible, as I'd noticed that the guy who was lying two points ahead of me overall started slowly in the last two rounds and I didn't want him sitting behind me the whole race, only to come past at the end.

I got a fast start with the second fastest group and managed to hang on for almost three laps when I blew up! I managed to keep going but was slowing up a lot. Part way through the fourth lap Paulo came past and gave me his wheel for a while on one of the fire roads, but I couldn't hold on to him after that. As Paulo left he said we had to push to get another lap before the four hours was up. I pushed as hard as I could and toward the end of the fifth lap I passed Stefano Fardello who said Paulo was at least four minutes up on me. I got through the start/finish with six minutes to spare and into my sixth lap.

I grabbed a drink and managed to eat a bar and began to go a little bit better, all the time worried that the guy who was two points ahead of me overall, was catching me.

Towards the end of the last lap I saw someone ahead through the trees and pushed a bit harder to catch him, it was Paulo he'd blown. I had to press on past him in case the guy ahead of me overall was gaining. I finished six laps in 4.45 and now had to wait to see if I'd done enough to get third overall. Paulo came in a just after me and we waited to hear the overall positons, at that point my name was called for third place in this round......I was third today, so I had third overall too!!! It was a pity Paulo had blown he'd just missed the podium.

I've added some more pics: here

epilogue: my rival had missed getting a sixth lap by six minutes, so I had 12 minutes on him as I'd passed through the start/finish to start my sixth lap. Of course, if we'd known this we could have ridden back together and shared the podiums for the SM/SR

Ramon