I have had an email from Colin Clews organiser of the famous East Midlands International Cicle classic with an open invitation to a pasta party to all our club members.

In conjunction with the East Midlands CiCLE Challenge Sportifs on Sunday 4th July, one of our main CiCLE Classic sponsors “Dolmio Pasta” (MARS UK) have asked to stage on the evening of Saturday 3rd July a FREE pasta party to which cycling club members from the East Midlands are invited as a THANK YOU to you for your support and contribution to the amazing success of the International CiCLE Classic over the past six years.

Venue for the Pasta party, which will start at around 6.00 pm will be the King Edward VII Sports Centre, Burton Road, Melton Mowbray

This a completely ‘without strings’ invitation; you do not have to be a competitor in the Sportif the following day etc; although if you wish to enter then we are happy to have you with us. It is a genuine THANK YOU from the organisation of the CiCLE Classic and one of its sponsors who wish to pay tribute to your efforts and support of the race.

If anyone does wish to enter the sportif however, places are still available online at www.eastmidlandsciclechallenge.co.uk or hard copy entry forms can be obtained from www.cicleclassic.co.uk

If anyone fancies going along add a comment to this post or email me on info@rutland.cc and I will send a single list of attendees to Colin before the event.

Marc Mallendar and Nick Latimer flew the flag for Rutland at the
Sheffrec 10 mile TT on the Hatfield Woodhouse course. Marc put in a
great ride to finish 2nd with a 21.29, and Nick sneeked into the top 10
with a new pb, 22.33 in 9th place. The hot temperatures made it a
sweaty affair, but compared to the Yorkshire Championships a few weeks ago which took place in 5 degrees and 30mph winds, the conditions were excellent. Nick was riding for the first time on a TT bike, with a disc wheel. While this undoubtedly shaved seconds off his time, Marc pointed out that the most important thing is that they “sound fast”.

As an aside, it should be noted that Marc, Nick and Nick’s Mrs. were the
envy of the other clubs due to their brand new Rutland CC t-shirts –
cheers Danny!

Full results are here

Well done guys and thanks to Nick for the report !!!

The Fred Whitton is well renowned as one of the hardest Sportive events on the calendar. It’s also one of the most over subscribed events on the calendar. This one sells out faster than spice girls concert…(or whatever the modern equivalent are called). This year three brave Rutland riders took up the challenge. Below Adam gives us his first hand account of the event…Enjoy!!!

Having heard the horror stories about how hard the Fred Whitton is, I wasn’t hugely disappointed when I didn’t get a place. So when Wojtek emailed me and explained he’d inadvertently got two (a charity and a ballot entry), it was with considerably less than 100% enthusiasm that I accepted his kind offer of the spare.

Fast forward a few months and we were driving up to the Lake District, watching the trees at the side of the road bend over in the 40mph gusts and worrying about the bikes on the roof rack. Fortunately the morning of the ride dawned calm and clear, and Wojtek, Tom and I rolled over the start line together at 7.15am in high spirits. We passed hordes of people on the first climb, including the obligatory chubby bloke wearing a King of the Mountains jersey and someone riding a hand-cranked recumbent (!). Some over-exuberant through-and-off for the first ten miles or so and I thought we were owning the race, that is until Rob Jebb (I think) and two other riders passed us like we were standing still. I tried to jump on a wheel and promptly nearly crashed into a pickup truck.

It was around this point that Wojtek sensibly decided to ease off a little and conserve his energy for the hills to come. Tom and I continued at a fairly rapid pace, however, which I was concerned I would regret in an hour or two. I couldn’t help but try and figure out Peak District equivalents for the various climbs: the first, Kirkstone, was a Froggatt-esque long and steady ascent, and Honister, the second pass, a real bottom gear grind like Winnats. If it was this bad now, how could I possibly get up the infamous Hardknott and Wrynose in another 70 miles?

During the middle part of the ride we found various people to work with, notably a chap from Cookson Cycles in Bury who absolutely crucified himself on the flat section along Ullswater towing us along at 25-30mph. Unfortunately he disappeared off the back as soon as the road turned uphill again. Another Cookson Cycles rider ( Shaun), Tom and I stayed together until the second feed station at 85 miles, but Tom’s superior strength on the hills was becoming ever clearer. He broke away for good at the bottom of Eskdale, the long valley leading to the foot of the 30% gradient Hardknott pass. I was really suffering by this point and Shaun left me behind too.

I’d been warned by Wojtek that Hardknott doesn’t really start until you pass a red phonebox, but by the time that came into site the climb was twenty minutes old already. As promised though, it kicked up viciously and it took every bit of strength I had left to push my 34*25 bottom gear. Following a brief respite, another killer section reared into view and it was here that Shaun, 100 metres or so ahead of me, fell sideways off his bike with cramp. I managed to get to the top without pushing, but it wasn’t pretty.

Wrynose was much the same again, and summiting that I was relieved that I all I had to contend with now was another punishing descent and an easy eight mile coast to the finish line. Or so I thought. The last section actually included a final nasty climb, and if I hadn’t found a wheel to chase I would have been much slower. Crossing the finish line I was very impressed to see Tom already changed, fed and watered, and Wojtek rolled in not long after.

Tom Webb 6h42min

Adam Dunajko 6h47min

Wojtek Siodelski 7h28min

Location: CLECKHEATON
Report :
The Derek Smith Memorial Road Race – 25 April 201
Organised by the Halifax Imperial Wheelers, this was the first running of the Derek Smith Memorial RR on what was a new course for the club based on Hartshead Moor near Cleckheaton.

In the A/B race it was Darren Otter (Rutland CC) who won in what has become his signature fashion, alone and several minutes up on his chasers. The winning move was made with 6 laps to go (of the initial 10). Several riders immediately saw the danger and took chase. It was to no avail, Darren soon gained time and held a group of what was to become 3 chasers at over 2 minutes all the way to the finish. In the sprint for second place Richard Binks (Holme Valley Wheelers) beat the promoting club’s Sean Smith (and Derek’s son), these two taking first and second place in the Bs respectively. Paul Dixon (VS Cycles) finished fourth to claim second A.

Meanwhile John Hadfield (Rutland CC) took off alone in the latter stages of the C/D race. He said afterwards that it was seeing his team-mate Darren’s solo efforts that had inspired him. It proved to be a successful strategy as he too held off his chasers – winning the race alone. Again a small group of chasers were sprinting it out for second place with Paul Webster (Dinnington RC) getting the verdict from Chris Miller of the Clayton Velo (who claimed first place in the Ds). Mick Day of Paul Milnes Cycles finished fourth in the race and second D.
In the E/F/G race it was the turn of Mick Holmes (Batley CC) to solo to victory with Phil Etches (Witham Wheelers) and Kev Shand (West Pennine) having to settle for second and third respectively. First F was Jeff Hardy and, in what is becoming something of a habit, Jack Watson of MI Racing won the first G prize.

Thanks to Darren for the write up !!!

Last Sunday saw round four of the Rudy Project time series. A challenging and picturesque course round the Retford region greeted the riders and luckily the weather was fairly kind to the riders with the sun shining for most of the event. For those of you who understand the crazy language of time trial code speak it was using the O13C course. Veterans, Juniors, Disabled and Women rode one lap of 13.44 miles while the Men and Espoirs faced two lap for 27.20 miles. The generally traffic free course included two climbs, at Gringley on the Hill and Clarborough Hill, a couple miles from the finish.

Three Rutland riders were on show with Marc and Danny finishing 12th and 13th in the seniors category while Stuart took 15th in the vets category.

Full results can be found here…senior result…vets result

I have to say on the whole I really enjoyed the event and would recommend riding a Rudy Project series event to anyone thinking of giving time trialling a go. It’s great to ride off against the best time trialist in the country even if it is slightly humbling to have 7 minutes put into you over 26 miles…

Stu Smith collecting his Bronze medal

Yes! Where were all the Rutlers on B/H Monday morning for the Yorkshire 10 mile TT Champs? You did not miss much in weather terms but you did miss winning medals and jerseys.

Congratulations go to Stuart Smith who picked up a bronze medal in the 60+ catogary with a sound ride on a very cold day (5 c)

Don’t miss this next year!!!

It was a great start to the 2010 road race league campaign for Rutland last night who managed a one two in the first event at Torworth. Jamie Burgan (true Rutler currently riding for Boneshakers) outsprinted Marc Mallender at the end of the seven lap race to bag maximum points.

It was the first night of the revised structure of the event which is now split in three separate leagues. Last night Group C and Group B were in action and we had Rutland riders in both groups.

The new un-handicapped structure of the events suited the Rutland riders attacking style down to tea. The race started in a lively fashion with Rutlands Danny Lowthorpe involved in a early move which went away virtually from the gun. After three laps Jamie and Marc bridged the gap and then blasted straight past to form a leading duo that forged ahead to gain a gap of approximately one minute by the line.

Steve had a dig of his own on the last lap but that was brought back before the bunch contested a hectic bunch sprint which was won by Sheff Recs Marc Etches, who rounded the podium off in third.

In the Group B race…I’m not sure what happened….all I know is that Dave was riding and finished in the bunch. Fancy writing a report for us Dave ???

Were you invloved in the racing ??? Why not comment on the article and give us your opinions on the first weeks competition.

Congratulations go out anyway to Marc and Jamie for a great Rutland 1-2 !!!

The sun was out and people flocked to make what has to have been one of the finest teacakes of the year…The turnout was amazing…something that I have not seen for a while but if you don’t believe me check out the pics below. (ps sorry for the quality they were taking using my sweaty camera phone!!).

I was also very pleased to see a great turnout for the slowcake also with eight or so riders tackling what turned into an epic slowcake of slightly elongated proportions.

All groups congregated back at the cafe for a well earned brew and plenty of banter. I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels really pleased to have found the Hathersage baths cafe. It’s great to actually feel welcome at a place and they have been brilliant catering for our ever increasing numbers with a smile. “Chapeau” to all at the cafe.

One of the main highlights for me though had to be newly signed Pinarallo test rider Dave Webster. Pinarello were apparently not getting enough of the right kind of feedback from their sky team members and so have turned to teacake stalwart Dave to put their product through it’s paces. Dave added, “Well Pinarello bosses approached me and said they were after some feedback on how the Dogma handled a rider capable of putting down some serious wattage, last week topping Cressbrook my SRM was reading 1500 watts and that’s a figure none of team sky can match.” We look forward to hearing more from our intrepid test teamer as the season progresses.

Were you out on saturday ? Why not leave a comment and tell us what you thought of the ride ?

What a difference 24 hrs make on Saturday it was scorching but Sunday morning on the east coast was a very different story with a cold easterly wind blowing across the course but Marc Mallender and Steve Ellis were wrapped up and ready to go.  The first few laps were fast and very cold with finger ends about to drop off but after that things started to warm up. In the Artic spell a group of 8 riders had slipped the field to gain a 1m 30s gap, in many riders minds it was over but not for the Rutland two who began attacking every lap between them. At the bell the gap had come down to 50s and a group of 8 splinted away from the main group after hard riding by Marc on the long drag to the finish, the group worked well and pulled back the leading group in half a lap to contest the finish on the long headwind hill. Steve grabbed 10th with Marc finishing 12th.

As of next Tuesday night (6th April) the chain gang will again be threading it’s majestic route through the peak district at warp factor 53×12.

We will be meeting as last year up at the Norfolk Arms at 6pm for prompt set off soon after 6pm (we may be able to relax the start time slightly as the nights get lighter).

Last year on occasion the group got a little large to be effective so if we get a big turn out again this year we are planning on splitting up into smaller groups down at Hathersage and having a bit of handicapped style pursuit down to Castleton and back. We may also lenghten out the route a little if there are any takers…

Anyway I for one can’t wait so engage that big ring and see you up at the Norfolk Arms !!!