Shea's idea of a great weekend

A bunch of us are getting together for an informal but testing hilly ride on Saturday 17th November. The ride is the same as Reading CC’s Torture 40 loop. The details and spirit of the ride are below and it's more like 45 miles taking in 11 of the toughest climbs in the Hambelden Valley just outside Henley. Believe me, there are some real beauties on this route. You can count on this being a 3hr 30min to 4hour ride. [So about 6 for me. Andy]
If you're interested, contact Shea on shindman(at)comset.co.uk (mobile: 07971 322805)

1. Route details:
   
   
2. Meeting point is 09:30 at the Car Park in Mill End (turn off the Henley-Marlow A4155 at Mill End and take the road towards Hambleden, Car Park is on the L.H.S.
   ATTENTION: I seem to recall there are height barriers for those transporting bikes on a roof-rack.
   
3. Feel free to invite your mates.
   

Please note a couple of dangerous locations:

• The descent back down Vineyard hill is steep with an uneven surface. We have had an accident there before. Please descend with caution, it will only cost you a few seconds.
  
• Similarly the descent down Ashfield Farm hill, near Ibstone, is steep and bumpy, not a place to take off your Gilet, for both these hills hang-onto your hoods well
  
• Early in the ride you join the main Henley-Marlow road (A4155) for a short while. This is very busy, again just take that extra second or so to check traffic before you join the road.
  

Gearing & Equipment:
Some of these climbs, particularly Ashfield Farm, Fawley and Vineyard are real knee-crackers. A triple or 25 sprocket is recommended, but if you can’t be bothered to take off the 23, then wear thick socks.
A light bike is good, but it is probably best if you leave you carbon rims at home for these descents, they are quite harsh on your wheels and good breaking surface is quite useful.
This is across a lot of small backroads, punctures are quite likely, do take a full kit. If you just have a C02 cartridge and a bit of shiny plastic you may have a very long walk home.

FINALLY: THIS IS NOT A RACE OR AN ORGANISED EVENT. THE COURSE IS CHALLENGING AND YOU MUST TAKE CAUTION PARTICULARLY ON THE DESCENTS. GOOD TYRES, BRAKES, SPARES ARE ALL ESSENTIAL.

Prime Coaching's Womens' Road Coaching

Prime Coaching's Womens' Road Coaching and Training Afternoon on Saturday, 24th November 2007, commencing at 1.00 PM for Novice, Junior, 4th Category Female Riders, & U16 Female Youths at Hillingdon Cycle Racing Circuit, Minet Park, Springfield Road, Hayes, Middx, UB4 0LF.

Skill and Fitness Sessions under the guidance of B.C.F. Qualified Coaches plus Lectures to help you improve your performance. Exact format will be according to riders attending.

To register your interest and more information please contact David Lambourne on 01628 638984 or lambourne2@talktalk.net

Great South Run

Mark Dewey and some friends are taking part in the Great South Run on October 27 to raise funds for the Tom Prince Cancer Trust and are looking for additional runners.

The Prince family are genuinely lovely people and it really brings a lump to your throat when you read their story and what they are trying to do in memory of Tom and to stop others going through the same terrible experience, you can read their story at www.tomprince.co.uk
As part of our fundraising we are holding a Halloween party and fundraising evening on Saturday November 3 at WAMDSAD on Braywick Road in Maidenhead 8-12 comprising a sit down meal, disco, Raffle and best dressed fancy dress competition as well as the usual fun and revelry found at such events.
The tickets are priced at £10 each and we would love to see you as many as people as possible there.
Anybody who is interested can contact me on this email address or on 07973 155 574
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards.
Mark Dewey

Website: www.heartuk.org.uk

Track Training

John's running some track training over the Winter. The early sessions are full but he's still taking reserve places.

• 17th November, 4-6pm (2hrs)
  The first session in November is for beginners and intermediates. That's people who may never have been on a Track Bike let alone a Track (beginners) or those who have ridden at Reading, Calshot or Newport only once or twice and would like to repeat the exercise and develop the skills (intermediates).
  For this first session the limit has to be 15 riders only so cost will be £12.50 each. Velodrome bikes are available for hire. These use Look pedals which you are NOT allowed to change. If you can't ride Look you will have to ride in toeclips
  
• 9th December, 12-4pm (4hrs)
  For the second session in December we have a serious chunk of time at 4hrs. I would like to see riders from the first session back for more plus a more regular crowd of experts.
  It will have to cost more as we have twice as much time but the limit can be up to 24. I will set a cost later when I see how many riders are coming. For 15 it would have to be £20 per head. For 24 it would be £15 so the more we have up to the limit, the cheaper it gets.
  

All sessions will need to be paid for in advance by bank transfer or a cheque, I wont take money on the day. Nor will I ask for it this early but I will take your names please and will ask for money with one month to go before the session. I will send bank transfer details to those who ask for them. If you haven't paid with one week to go your place could be forfeit to someone who does pay.
I also plan follow up sessions for January, February and March but can't book them yet because of Newport's 3 month rule.
So, expressions of interest please, for any or hopefully all of the sessions. It would be good to keep the same group going through the winter so that I can plan progressive sessions.
John Percy Contact details

Winter MTB Duathlons (Ride/Run)

Cirencester Off Road Duathlons

For mountain bikers who want a different challenge in the winter why not try an off road duathlon - lots of mountain biking with a little running too! These event have proved very popular as winter training for mountain bikes such as Liam Killeen and Gary Foord, so why not give it a go too.

Duathlon 1 18th November 2007

2 miles XC run, 10 mile MTB, 2 mile XC run
or 1 mile - 5 miles - mile

Duathlon 2 17th February 2008

2 mile fairly flat run - 10 mile undulating MTB - 2 mile fairly flat run
or 1 mile - 5 miles - 1 mile

More information can be found on the following website: www.triferris.com
Email: triferris@btinternet.com
supported by Noahs Ark Bikes www.noahsark.co.uk
Many thanks
Lorraine Ferris
Tri Ferris Promotions