Chippenham Wheelers

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Miffy & Friends Charity Cycle Challenge – Thank you Wheelers!

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Dear Members,
Day 1

125kms

I survived the 1st day and we are now in Folkestone.

Ride was ok, today hardest day and the frequent stoppages made it extremely long.  Should have taken 6 hrs.  Took 10. Ah well. We are onto the Europe flat country tomorrow. 🙂

Was a lovely 27 deg. Poms & Dutch complaining about heat. I might have mentioned it was finally warm enough to take off my ugg boots!

http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/miffy-and-friends-charity-cycle-challenge-day-1-sponsored-by-kinnerton/042312

Day 2

111 kms

3 countries in 1 day. UK, France, Belgium

Left hotel at 7.30am. Immediately hit last hill of the journey, 14% for 800m.  Definitely got the blood pumping.  Rode 14km arrived at Dover.  Ferry strike meant 3hr delay.

Finally hit the road at Dunkirk for 90k ride at 4 o'clock by which time it was 39 deg. That's right, hottest day on record for Belgium

Arrived hotel at 9.45pm local time.  Fell into the pool.

We are 1/2 way!

http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/miffy-and-friends-charity-cycle-challenge-day-2-sponsored-by-kinnerton/042326

Day 3

125kms

Lovely start, swim in the pool, shower, emails…only to realise I've not reset my watch to EU time.  Arrive downstairs to find peleton ready to leave, eeekk!  Stuff some food into my jersey and hit the road.

Lovely easy riding, along canals then along came the thunder, lightning, hail and wind.  Learnt to 'wheel suck' and sat behind my domestique and lead-out man all day.  Came 1st in the sprint finish though 🙂

Arrived hotel at 5pm.  Very novel to arrive at hotel with time for leisurely drink before dinner.

100 kms to go, Utrecht here we come!

http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/miffy-and-friends-charity-cycle-challenge-day-3-sponsored-by-kinnerton/042334

Day 4

 

106kms

Last day of the ride was pretty uneventful apart from 1 incident where a Dutchy tried to run me into a canal. Never fear, my childhood back lane training on the dirt allowed me to stay upright and get back into the bitumen. 36 deg day though. 

Holland is beautiful and flat (phew!). We had a 30min changing time then off to the arrival party. Great band & Mum would have been proud of my 'twist' but, dear god, my quads were burning!

Oh yeah, also won 2 boat races. C'mon Aussie!!

Finally back to hotel at 11.30pm. 

Today we off to a brunch for the Grand Depart and Christian Prudhomme will be there. 

Back to uk late tonight then sloth day on the couch tomorrow. 

http://www.licensing.biz/news/read/miffy-and-friends-charity-cycle-challenge-we-made-it/042352

 

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Alternative club hilly

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A few club members did an alternative Sunday hilly ride joining the Club de Cingles du Mont Ventoux and climbing the Giant of Provence three times in one day. After a gentle 10 mile roll out, the first ascent from Malaucene started at 06:20. 2 hours of climbing some photos then a rapid 30 minute decent to Bedoin. Brevet cards stamped and water bottles filled, back up the classic Tour route for another few hours. More photos and faffing and a drop to Sault, David was sent in search of a Brevet stamper and we were off again. With tired legs the more gentle ascent from Sault was welcome. More water at Chalet Reynard and slow formation riding for the last 6km to the summit for the last time (that day). Finished on the summit for 15:30. Lots of photos, Brevet time and an amazing decent back to Malaucene and brewed recovery drink.

4623m (15,167ft), 100 miles, 8hr30 ride time.

The ride was organised by Steve Wallis as a recovery focus from his terrible accident in 2014. Steve did the ride with more in the tank. Amazing. 

Here is the Strava trace from Seb.

Strava profile

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Last GoRide this Thursday 16 July!

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GoRide will NOT take place Thursday 25 June. The circuit is not available on this date.
 
The remaining 3 GoRide dates are July 2nd, 9th and 16th, all from 6 to 7pm as usual. 
 
If you have any queries please email secretary@chippenhamwheelers.org

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Midsummer Bike Night 2015 – 7465 miles ridden!

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We are pleased to announce a very successful evening at last nights Midsummer Bike Night at Castle Combe circuit.

On a sunny and warm summer evening, 460 riders achieved a total of 7,465 miles. This is a tremendous achievement beating last years total by almost 700 miles!

Midsummer Bike Night is the Wheelers contribution to National Bike Week.

The aim of Bike Week is to show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life by encouraging everyday cycling for everyone. Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, the week aims to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK, whether this be for fun, as a means of getting around to work or school, the local shops or just to visit friends.

It was great to see all ages and abilities cycling around the circuit making a contribution to the grand total of almost 7,500 miles.

To give you an idea of how far this is, it's equivalent to riding your bike from Chippenham to Moscow and back – twice!

Many many thanks to the registration team, circuit marshalls, go-ride team and club clothing stand team for putting on another successful bike night. Plus thanks to Cycology Bikes for arranging the Dr Bike facility for visitors too.

We were also pleased to see our friends from Lifecycle who run the Twos Company tandem rides once again supporting the event.

We are currently calculating the surplus funds available from running Bike Night 2015. These will be going to support Chippenham Talking Newspapers our club charity for 2015.

Calling web developers

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This is a call to any club member who works as a web developer or for a web development business.

The club web site was developed by those lovely people over at road.cc in Bath back in 2009. It has been maintained over the years and extended with new membership functionality. It is the tool by which the club membership, diary and communications all run.

The internet is a different place in 2015 with social media, mobile internet and web applications being the norm. Our club web site is therefore in need of some work to bring in line with current web consumption habits, give it a lick of paint and throw in any new ideas that might be appropriate.

If you are interested in chatting further about our ideas, please get in touch with Rich (rich.buckley@chippenhamwheelers.org). The committee wish this to be a professional and commercial undertaking, we are not expecting freebies but mates rates would be nice.

Many thanks.

 

 

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28 June Help Needed – Open Time Trial – Crudwell (U86/25)

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Yes it is that time again – help is needed

The Club is hosting our third Open Time Trial of 2015 on Sunday 28th June. First rider is off at 10 a.m. so this is not one of those events with a really early start time! As event organiser (with Dylan Spencer) I am seeking some volunteers from our membership to help out on the morning of the event. The following positions are still required to be filled:

The event HQ is Crudwell Village Hall. The Time Trial will start at 10 a.m. The last rider will set off at circa 11.30 a.m. (assuming a full field) and all riders should have finished by about 1 p.m.

If you can spare a few hours on the morining of 28 June, please get in touch as soon as possible by email (racing@chippenhamwheelers.org) or use my contact form on the club website or even ring 07792 372 309. Many thanks in anticipation!

All volunteers will receive free refreshments at the end of the ride!

Paul Winchcombe

Racing Secretary

HQ Co-ord/Signing On

Ensure that riders sign on, read the latest course Risk Assessement and collect the correct race number.  Also looks after the safety pins which as we all know is a very important task. (John Else TBC)

Fetching Results

Ideally someone at finish with mobile phone to call results in to the HQ in order that the finish results can be compiled in “live time”. 

Pusher Off

The Pusher Off should have hand – eye co-ordination with a sense of balance to hold up racers so they can clip in and set off as their time is called.

Start Official

The Start Official will be required to attend the start of the Time Trial with the start timekeeper and pusher-off, keep the start area free from obstruction and resolve any last minute issues. It would be a good opportunity for any members who are interested in learning a little more about the pusher-off or start timekeeper roles.

Marshals

As a 25 mile event with a turn at several roundabout and joins to main roads this event needs 5 – 6 marshals to stand at each exit / entrance or turn. The purpose of marshals is to indicate to the riders the route to be taken (i.e. not to direct traffic!). Each marshal will be provided with a fluorescent jacket on the day together with brief instructions. The roundabout are the two Malmesbury RABs and the turn is the junction at Minety.

Traffic Count

The Traffic Counter is required to take a note of the amount of traffic passing at a certain point on the course. A pencil and official recording form will be supplied. Instructions are simple and can be given on the day!

Cake makers

If you would like to make a cake (or 2) for the event that would be much appreciated. You will be reimbursed for the cost of ingredients!  Please let me know though or else I will be heading for that supermarket chocolate.

Kitchen Staff – serving teas and coffees to riders, supporters and helpers (helpers get free tea or coffee!).

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New Forest Spring Sportive – 11 April 2015

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On the 11 April Jack Shuker took part in the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive. 71 miles around the glorious New Forest roads. 
 
As you can imagine Jacks father Ben was a little worried that it was too far for an 8 year old. However after 10 miles they were averaging almost 14mph and at the first feed station, 40 miles into the event, their average was 13mph. 
 
Bens main worry then became how could he keep up with his son for the remaining 30 miles. The rest of the ride was a very strong head wind which knocked the strength out of both of them. Despite that, there was not a single word of complaint from the young man and he powered on to the finish line with a 12.1 mph average and a moving time of 5hrs 52mins. 
 
Congratulation Jack (and Ben!).
 
 
[Here at Wheelers HQ we love reading about our members cycling related antics. Please jot down a brief (or wordy) description of your trip and send us a photo or two. Whether its a ride across Africa, sprint through the New Forest or bimble to Biddestone we would like to hear about it!]

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GoRide in Swindon

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Sean Bolton, who helps us on Thursday evenings in the Summer Is organising a regular Saturday morning Go-Ride session for novice riders aged 7 to 13 in Lydiard Park, Swindon.
 
Usually he has three coaches on hand to help run the session.
 
They start at 10:00 AM just after the Park Run.
 
So if you know of anyone from the Swindon area who might be interested please point them in Sean's direction.  Anyone welcome.
 
www.swindon-go-ride.uk
 

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Bristol Children’s Cardiac Cycle Challenge

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Message to our members from former Wheeler Owen Burgess:

On May 1st members of the Cardiology Team at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (led by me) are cycling from Land's End to Bristol to raise money for the Children's Cardiac Ward. We are aiming to complete the 245 mile journey in 4 days.

The Children's Cardiology Service in Bristol is one of the largest in the UK and we are very proud of it. The staff work tirelessly to provide the best experience for all our patients and families. However we always want to do more.

We provide care for Children from all over the South-West of England and Wales. The Children we care for suffer from a wide range of illnesses including congenital heart defects and heart rhythm problems. The nature of these problems means that many of our Children will be cared for in our hospital and keep coming back for life for surgery, 'keyhole' or other medical procedures.

Staying in hospital can be a stressful time for both the children and their families. Because of this we want to make our ward as comfortable and inviting as possible. We hope to improve the quality of their stay here by using the money to purchase items such as nursing chairs for breastfeeding mothers, sensory lights, pushcars and bumper seats for the children.

We, the Children and their families would really appreciate your help and support in completing this challenge!

If you want to donate, please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/b3c/ or text BCCC92 to 70070 to donate £5.

Despite the rumours, the funds are not going towards a new disc wheel and powermeter.

Kindest regards

Owen Burgess

Paediatric Cardiac Physiologist

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

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Junior Led Training Sessions at Castle Combe on alternate Tuesdays

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Junior Led Sessions at Castle combe will be starting on 21st of April at Castle Combe Circuit.

This is a great opportunity for our youth riders to develop their own and also group bike handling skills.

Sessions will be available for the following depending on riders ability:- U8 (subjected to ability) U10, U12, U14

Cost:- Normal Tuesday night track cost.

Timings:- For riders to arrive at 6pm onwards and be ready to meet coaches by start line by 6.30pm and will ride for 1hr.

Dates: 21st April, 5th May, 19th May, 2nd June, 16th June, 30th June, 14th July, 28th July, 18th August, 2nd September.

Bicycle Type:- Recommended Racing bikes, and Cross bike, but other bikes can be used. It is the parents responsibility that the cycle is in a safe condition and Coaches and member will be available to check cycle if parent is concerned.

Clothing:- All riders must wear a cycle helmet and recommended to wear gloves and sports clothing. Lose clothing is not recommended. It is recommend that a Waterproof coat is available for changeable weather.

Drinks and food – It is recommend that all bring a cycle water bottle and small snacks during activities

Parents:- All Parents must be in attendance during the coaching period and will not be allowed to leave their child alone at the circuit.

For further information please Contact Paul Metcalfe on 07469763667 or email paul.g.metcalfe@mail.com

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