KPRC members rides list for 2012

Here is the link for those interested in recording their planned rides for December and the new year. This is a great way to encourage other riders to attend the same event so please keep it up to date.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apn0BsA0X5wldERxMS1PZkF1dENYSXU0Z3poSml4ZGc#gid=0

I have created access rights for most members to access this document which will enable you to edit and add new entries. I have left last year's  rides on the sheet but without dates, so feel free to up date those details when they are available.

Let me know if you have any problems to steve @ kprc.org.uk (without the spaces)

Mike Fricker - injured

I would have posted this on Saturday, but I didn't want to immediately overshadow the shocking news about Alan Roodenburgh.

Jo phoned me the other day to tell me that Mike had an accident on his bike recently - no one else was involved, and he thinks he slipped on an expansion joint.

Jo was relaying what Mike had told her, and I was having a little trouble visualising exactly what happened, but the gist of it is that in landing Mike hit a barrier with his hand and did some serious damage in dislocating the ring and pinky finger of his right hand.

He has had one operation at St Georges already and was waiting to see if another was necessary. He has also been signed off work for several weeks, and as he is unable to drive, they could well have trouble getting to the Anniversary Lunch on the 19th.

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Alan Roodenburgh

I have just received a call from Alan's wife, Debbie, to say that Alan passed away in his sleep this afternoon.

Alan was a colleague of mine for many years and when he left the firm a few years ago we kept in touch and we became good friends. I introduced him to our Saturday morning club rides and over the past couple of years Alan would ride with the off-road group, as he did this morning. I have spoken to Andy Pearce this evening to learn that Alan had an enjoyable ride and appeared in good health. The ride was shorter than normal and Alan did not fall. When he got home he saw Debbie and his daughter, took a bath, and had a nap on his bed from which he never returned. He was 54.



 

Me 'n G at the Velodrome

Today's ride happened entirely by chance. A couple of weeks ago I was glancing at road.cc and saw a couple of lines offering the last few tickets at the Geraint Thomas track day at a discount. I'm always up for a bargain, but, together with others, I might well have paid full price if they'd been advertised a bit better. But there you go.

Anyway, the time-table was to turn up at Newport Velodrome at 0830 to be fitted for a bike, ready for the off at 0900. Arrangements were good - bikes and mechanics were ready, and at 0900 the man himself arrived. 'Hello', he said, 'I'm Geraint'. I think most of us knew that, but it was polite of him.

The event was in four parts; a session on the 'Wattbikes' used by the GB squad to train; a track session; lunch in the centre of the Velodrome with the Mayor and Mayoress as guests and then an auction of cycling memorabilia such as signed shirts (and a new Trek Madone).

The WattBikes were interesting - they certainly gather a lot of data, and a coach would be able to make good use of it to train an athlete to deliver consistent performance and increased power. I don't think my performance will be transformed - though it did illustrate that I can deliver more power out of the saddle, but in a pretty inconsistent way. I sort-of knew that, but it's good to get the data to back up your hunch.

The track session was the highlight, and the reason for being there. I was pretty confident of a strong performance, having been coached by no less than Frank Cubis. 'Set off down the straight', he had told me, 'and then turn left'. Nothing to it. Well, not exactly - I've never ridden a fixie before, neither have I ridden on a banked track, but the organisation and coaching were excellent and within an hour or so I was proficient enough to do timed laps against the clock. Not the fastest, but not the slowest, either.

Once we had all had enough, G and some of his Sky chums showed us how it should be done, and just how quickly you could go with a motorbike pacing you. Impressive stuff.

Lunch was good - and eating in the centre of the Velodrome is quite a novelty. I skipped the auction as I've already got a lot of old cycle shirts. For the best, really - some bids started at £250.

Good fun all round - and instructive too. If you haven't tried it, it's worth a shot, though I don't think I have much of a future in Track Cycling.

Mark

Sunday club run to watch 2 Upp riders,

Sunday rides are now on winter mode, which means a bit slower . We want you to try them so any ride will be taylored to the slowest rider! This sundays run will go to Warnham Nature Reserve, which is really pretty in the autumn.

Grand Prix des Gentlemen - Pictures

Hi all, see attached some pictures from today. It was a lovely but cold and partially very foggy morning, that is why I gave up taking more pictures after Andy and Grant were through the finish - it was simply too cold! Sorry Mike and Phil.... The tea stop afterwards was more to my taste then. See you, Mel

Flying the Phoenix colours in India!

I've just returned from a 4 day cycle ride in Rajasthan! We flew to Delhi, caught the sleeper train to Jodhpur, where we picked up local single gear bikes and proceeded to ride to a small village that my company supports in Udaihpur, called Udawad!

We donated the bikes to the local children who will find it easier (and much more fun) to reach the school that we've helped them build.

The total mileage of our cycle was 260km, across some truly awful terrain: potholes like you wouldn't believe (there really was no point in signaling to the cyclist behind), stream crossings, crazy traffic and cow dodging!

There were 64 riders plus a support crew. We were given 2 branded cycle jerseys to wear on various days, but I couldn't resist flying the Phoenix colours on the 2nd day (see attached), which were most admired by all. Felt very proud :) happy

Many pics were taken on 63 other cameras, so will send through any more snaps of the Phoenix colours in India as and when I see them.

Lynda