June 2003

North End Road Race

Following spirited riding by GS Surosa team mates Philip Rose and Michael Clark in the first half of the race who picked up all 6 lap primes between them, a break of 10 riders developed after 35 mls containing the strongest challengers. A two minute gap developed back to the bunch over the next two laps and smart team work by the Deeside Olympic resulted in a win for Stephen Lloyd by a length from veterans Les West and Alan Ramsey.

The best BNE rider was Matt Walmsley at about 20th followed by Steve Gauller, Clive, John Kent & Peter Kay. Ian Boult retired with cramp: no other excuses were received from the rest of our hopefuls at the start line!

Geoff Brandt

The North End ‘hopefuls’

Geoff doesn’t say in this report, of course, that Stephen Lloyd is married to Claire Walmsley, so we do have a kind of connection with the winner!

Club Time Trial Results

A few more club TT’s in the last month.

The ‘10’ on the 6^th May produced a dead heat between Pete Davies and John Moore, in a 23-07. Andy Walsh took the bronze, with Tony Flannery winning on handicap.

The first ‘25’, on the 13^th of May, was outright win for Pete this time, ahead of Jeff Vernon and Ian Hawkins, with Dave Large winning on handicap.

There was another ‘10’ on the 27^th May, which was, once again, won by Pete Davies! He’s come first in each club TT this season so far. Andy Walsh and Ian Hawkins completed the podium, and Dave Cummings took the handicap win.

Mark Gibson

Just to inform the membership that Mark will be hors de combat for the foreseeable future after suffering a rather nasty burst appendix last month.

I’ll spare you the gory details, but suffice to say that he is currently recovering at his parents’ house, where he can be contacted on 339 7876.

For Sale

Our newly-installed President Mike Daly obviously decided that he needed a bike of a suitable stature to go with the job… so he got himself a Colnago C40 (oooh!). Therefore what would otherwise be a very nice Graham Weigh is now surplus to requirements:

54cm (centre-to-centre), Reynolds 7005 alloy frame, Carbon Forks, Campag Ergo (Daytona 9sp), Gipiemme Techno 24 wheels, Michelin ProRace tyres, £495 or very near offer.

If you’re interested, ring Mike on 648 1189, or email to mikejdaly@onetel.net.uk.

National Masters Track Champs

Four days away fom the family takes some doing: you never know how many Brownie points will be deducted. Winning the odd medal helps to parry the blows on the return home. No medals and a cry of "I don’t know why you went" is justified, as opposed to "Well done!" if any colour is produced. Well, Clive brought home a silver and an air ticket to Majorca, while I could ‘only’ produce a bronze and a sore throat. "See, shouldn’t have gone!". Sore throat or no sore throat, it’s different, it’s big time, mixing it with the big hitters is where it’s at........

The fact I pulled my foot out in the match sprints, lost my seeding and went out to Geoff Cook in a semi spoilt the first day (as well as having my car towed away the night before!). The second day went well, got my wheels back and made the break in the points race, to collect 16 points & a bronze. Clive was going too fast for the video camera in his points race, which missed him most times & left him out of the reckoning.

Day 3: watching endless pursuit rounds until 3pm and we are on a deadline. Clive has to be back home for midnight or Carol is off to Majorca without him. We race: I blow up trying to catch a break, Clive’s race is too short to produce anything but a sprint finish, where he is narrowly pipped for the gold, the picture is just after the line, was there a tyre in it?

We make it for Clive’s flight and my cold produced a throat like a grizzly bear. Yes, I should have known better, but I would not have missed the buzz of National Championship racing for a big clock.

Geoff Brandt

Clive’s sprint (the guy on the left was in different age group!)

Fantasy Tour de France

Just a quick note to plug the forthcoming annual Fantasy Tour de France competition. Entrants buy themselves a team from the Tour’s peloton, and watch as they (hopefully) pick up points for primes, stage wins and GC position. The last two years have seen victories for Brother James Hayes, so he’ll be out to claim a hat-trick. Last year’s entrants will be contacted automatically when the details are available (mid-June), but if you’d like to have a go for the first time then let me know through the usual channels, and I’ll make sure you get a copy of the entry form.

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