Had an email from the organiser of this event and the prize list looks very impressive… anyone riding??

The Sleaford Wheelers Nev Crane Memorial 25 mile TT is once again on the horizon. The date is 20th July. Since this popular event first appeared on the Calendar it has been arguably the richest and best supported TT in Lincs DC. It is now its 8th year and it is hoped that another fine entry will happen. Usually the event attracts around 100 riders.

Last year Matt Bottrill lowered his course and event record for the single carriageway C25/35 course to 50:04. With three 49 minute rides in the previous months National 25 in Lincs District, Matt’s time is the 4th quickest ever recorded in the County.

Once again the event offers around £900 in prize awards with £200 being ring fenced just for the ladies.

I hope that I have aroused some interest. The Prospectus and Details of how to enter are as under:

Sleaford Wheelers Cycling Club sponsored by Chandlers of Grantham-Mitsubishi-Solo Club of Sleaford promote the Nev Crane Memorial 25 Mile Time Trial, July 20th 2014. A Prize List of over £900, £200 of which is ring fenced just for the Ladies.

£100 Fastest rider going down 10 places
£50 Fastest Lady going down 5 places
£30 Fastest Junior going down 3 places
£30 Fastest Juvenile going down 3 places
£10 Fastest Vet in 5 year Age Bands
£10 each Fastest Team of 3 Riders
£10 Fastest rider slower than 1:00:59 and each minute down to and including 1:11:59
£50 if winner breaks Course and Event Record. (Matt Bottrill 50:04)
£50 if winner does a 49 or better.
£50 if Fastest Lady breaks Ladies Course record. (Wendy Houvenaghel 54:17)

Internet Entry or by Post
On CTT Entry Form along with Entry Fee £8 (Cheques payable to D. Laidlow) and
sent to: Doug Laidlow, 17 Fen Road, Little Hale, Sleaford, Lincs. NG34 9BD
Tele: (01529) 461018. Email: douglaidlow@btinternet.com
Closing date for entries is 6pm Tuesday July 8th.

Thinking of heading to Mallorca for a training camp this year? Or maybe you off for a week with the family in the summer? Whatever your requirements, friend of Rutland CC and part time Mallorca resident Phil Axe has started a cycle hire company in Port de Pollensa, Mallorca.

If you want to rent a bike for a day or a month, www.mallorcabikehire.com is the only place you need to look !!!

These days with the amount it costs to transport your bike by plane and obviously the risks from damage that you face by trusting those baggage handlers, renting a bike instead makes a very compelling case. At mallorcabikehire.com Phil has assembled a quality fleet of Orbea’s, Felt’s and Moda’s so you will be getting a quality ride not a clunker! The pricing is also very competitive, being cheaper for a quality bike than some are charging for a basic bike.

Who knows if you let him know that you are Rutland member you might even talk him into a discount.

Thursday 19th December 2013 – Hilsborough college. If you fancy it get yourself over to facebook and stick yer name down.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rutlandcc/

…although I think the entry fee might be a bit steep!

L’Eroica Britannia launched

Having been battered all the way up Froggatt by Darren last night on his lovely shiny new bike, I can tell you quite a bit! But in this video, Dan Lloyd gets all scientific and tells us the actual difference in watts. Take note Tony and Thom, he’s basically saying, you would kick everyone’s arse if you traded up the steel for Carbon!

Great bit of behind the scenes action from the Tour de Suisse courtesy of the Orica Greenedge team. Enjoy.

Saturday 04/05/13 I took part in the ‘Rat Race Road Trip’ an event covering the 440 miles from London Tower Bridge to Edinburgh Castle in either 4 days or 2. Being a Rutler and a Yorkshireman I obviously opted for the 2day event requiring me to cover 220miles per day over the weekend.

Due to set off between 05:00 and 07:00 on the Saturday I opted for getting to the start at 06:00, assuming that is when the majority would depart and not wanting to do the entire distance solo. On my arrival the park was empty, much to my dismay I was informed that everyone had hit the road at 05:00, Whoops! Luckily the sun was out and temperature way into double figures although there was a strong headwind (which persisted for 440miles).

I set off alone at Mach 15, determined to catch someone lest I get lost on my own. After about 30miles I caught a single rider from a welsh cycling club, riding sponsored by Skoda and I later found out a much stronger rider than me! Working together over the first day we slowly clawed our way back into the main field and eventually overtook towards the front, we later found out that for the first 130 miles we averaged 22mph!

Feed stops enroute provided flapjacks, cakes etc to fill our pockets and a larger midday stop due to provide sandwhiches. However much to our disapointment we found that the riders taking part over 4days had already been by and eaten the sandwhiches or anything substantial, therefore my lunch consisted of 2 slices of fudge cake, a flapjack and a hand full of crisps, great!

Most of Day 1 was flat but battling a strong headwind at a pace I was slightly uncomfortable with (trying to keep up with my adopted team mate) plus a lack of proper nutrition left me arriving in York at 19:30 a little worse for where. Luckily not untill the last 10miles but I had completely blown! Bonked, hit the wall, done! Delirious I inhaled the pocket full of jelly babies I had to try and help me focus untill I could find some real food and do my best to get at least a bit of sleep!

Day 2 was a difficult start, this time I WASN’T starting solo so I was ready to go at 04:30. I set off to searing pains in my left knee and across my shoulders, bad enough for me to consider turning round there and then. I was convinced that my knee wouldn’t hold out but told myself this is a one off event, so if I at least go untill my knee gives way, I know I’ve done my best. I spun steadily for the first 40miles until the sun came up and as the temperature raised my knee eased slightly, although the pain never ceased it fortunately eventually got me to Edinburgh.

The terrain in day 2 was much more challenging, after 100miles in a headwind some hefty climbing was thrown into the mix! As we neared Scotland some of the climbs were brutal, I hadn’t anticipated having to tackle this kind of thing given the distances involved! By this point my body and mind were done, I limped over the climbs and past the ‘welcome to Scotland’ sign, there was brief elation untill I realised that Edinburgh was 50miles from the border…..and the climbing became much more intense. I had now spent most of the day alone but tagged on with a group towards the final stages, as we were all demoralised and generally battered by that point we were taking turns battling the wind and helping each other out. About 30 miles out of Edinburgh, just before the 2 most testing climbs of the entire ride, the pain in my knee forced me to back off the group and tackle the remainder solo in a limp.

Descending towards Edinburgh was a massive relief (I thought). Although after every bend the city on the horizon appeared to be moving further away. I was now extremely tired and my entire body was in a lot of pain, sick of ‘chasing a rainbow’ I was getting frustrated. Having arrived at a point at which I thought was the edge of the city I passed a sign reading ‘Edinburgh 12miles’. This made me extremely angry! Again delirious from over exertion and on the edge of been blown once again I found myself shouting, not sure what at just simply yelling profanities at the world with displeasure of my discovery.

I did however limp across the finish line at around 20:15. A total of 30hrs 4minutes riding time, where I was greeted thankfully with water, cakes and a warm bowl of some kind of stew, the contents of which I couldn’t care less.

I knew 440 miles in 2 days would be tough, it sounds tough but in practice it was much more demanding, mentally and physically than I had imagined. Physically, it is now 3 days later and I am still in a fair amount of pain, still also nursing exhaustion and finding myself enjoying 2 or 3 cat naps per day, including the accidental couple of hours shuteye I had in Edinburgh town centre on the Monday.

Despite the ‘sandwhich incident’ Rat Race put on a great event! The feed stops, marshalling and organisation was fantastic, as was the route, avoiding any major roads and scenic from start to finish. The entire set up had a very professional feel. Can reccomend their events to anyone interested, will definitely be taking part again next year.