Welcome to VC Meudon News pages

New Year's Day ride - Mytchett

Mountain bikes, 10:00 start, route by Jo, leaves from:

Basingstoke Canal Authority, Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey. GU16 6DD.

This replaces the ride from Seale.

A Sunday in Hell

No, not 3 hours being half-wheeled by Gabriel on the shop clubrun, but an old film about bikes which is apparently very good.
Link courtesy of Ian Franklin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4IDCkcnnHg&feature=player_embedded

Training presentation - 7th Jan

Want to get your new Personal Best this year ?

Then come to a presentation on 'Fitness Training for Cyclists' hosted by Farnborough and Camberley Cycling Club, 8:30pm - 9:00pm on Friday 7th January at
All Saints Hall, Chapel Lane, Hawley, Farnborough, GU14 9BL.

Cycling related fitness training provides a solid foundation for performing throughout the year and reduces the risk of injury.

This presentation will look at the requirements and principles of training for Strength, Endurance, Flexibility, Cardio-Vascular ability and body composition together with Nutrition for the cyclist wishing to improve their abilities during the coming year.

The frequency, intensity, times and types of training appropriate to the time of year and types of cycling will be included.

Attendees will be able to leave with a framework into which they can start to map out their individual training plans.

For further details, contact Simon Kidd, 0775 774 4795

www.fccc.org.uk
www.Live-NoLimits.com

Upavon is now Ludgershall

New Venue for Winter Racing in the South

Upavon cycle races series organiser, Darren Clarke, is dissappointed to report that cycle racing will not be taking place at Upavon for the 2011 Winter series and probably not for the rest of the year. Military building work is the reason for the cancellation. With the increase in the use of Salisbury Plain for pre Afghanistan military training, Upavon has borne the brunt of the developments and is unlikely to be raced on the same as it has in previous years.

Darren has secured an alternative site utilising the REME test track at Corunna Barracks, Ludgershall. The site is only six miles east of Upavon and just two miles North of the popular Thruxton circuit for the same race dates.

The Ludgershall circuit is a grippy 0.9 mile long with a mild drag each lap that is sure to eventually split up the race. The circuit requires some work to get it up to standard but Darren is certain that this will be completed by the original Upavon start date of Saturday, 8th January. Whether the race actually goes ahead will be weather dependant. To describe the circuit it would be a mix of Eastway and Eelmore.

See British Cycling online calendar for all event dates/details which run weekly from 8th Jan to 19th March

Due to the site being a secure MOD area, riders who wish to take part in the series must email their rider details and vehicle registration number to darrenclarke30@hotmail.com to secure entry to the site. Ludghershall is on the A3026, just west of the village centre. Postcode for the venue is SP11 9RP and there will be ample signage around so that all find the circuit.

Unfortunately there are no toilets on the circuit at the moment and portaloos will be the best facilities available. Riders should understand that this is a military base and when arriving to race should proceed directly to the car park, race and then leave, anybody found not complying with this advice will be banned!

As ever, all races are £10 (no cheques please) with EOL only. The format for the racing will be as follows:

09.30: 4/L 30 mins +2 laps
10.30: 3/J 40 mins + 2 laps
11.30: E/1/2/3 45 mins +2 laps

Sunday morning ride pics



While the rest of us sat around inside, some of the more hardcore Sunday club run riders set off on mountain bikes over Tunnel Hill for a bit snow riding.

An un-named source (thanks to Jamie for the pics) reported: "Craig showing good form by crashing his brains out on descent potato chipping a front wheel and hitting Rob in the process." Surely not.

Zipps for sale



Zipp 404 front 700c clincher-with dimples £500 (cost new about £670)

Zipp 808 rear 700c clincher—with dimples. Shimano hub £650 (cost new about 1100)

Both are about 2-3 years old, totally immaculate and have only ever been used as race wheels and covered probably no more than 250 miles.
Christian Vaughan
07785 336608

2011 Club (white) kit preview



With the economy booming, house prices rocketing and Meudon members better off than ever, we've decided instead of waiting another two years to change the kit we're going to bring in an all new kit for the 2011 season. Out goes black and in comes...white!

Not really. After some requests for a higher visibility gilet we now have white gilets in stock (call Craig). Gianluca (our kit supplier) has also produced a white short sleeve racing jersey (pictured) which might be useful on hot days. If there is sufficient interest we will get some produced.

This is not a new kit. It doesn't replace the existing black kit, it's designed to work with the existing kit and is just an alternative for when you want a higher viz piece of kit or a hot weather race jersey. Or you prefer a white top that day etc. etc.

Tunnel Hill MTB ride - 30th Dec.

This is a xmas extra ride - Thurs 30th December. Meet at the Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey GU16 6DD at 9:00 for a 2hrs plus mountain bike ride guided by Dave Larcombe round Tunnel Hill, followed by coffee and cake.

New Year's Day MTB ride - 10:00 a.m. from Mychett - updated

This is a mountain bike ride from Basingstoke Canal Authority, Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey. GU16 6DD, note later start time. Route by Jo, 2hrs plus. Definitely not now from Seale.

Lookout MTB ride pics














Next Calshot track session - 12th March

Just a quick early notice that Steve Harris is organising another session at Calshot and the track is now booked for 10:50 - 13:50 on Saturday 12th March 2011. More information to follow nearer the time.

Need some spiked MTB tires?

Ken Ruffell reports back on his efforts to get hold of some ice friendly mtb tires:

"I have been trying to get hold of some mtb winter spike tyres ever since the weather became icy. I need to ride to work whatever the weather and it's been very dodgy. I asked Des at the shop if he could get some, but he couldn't. Apparently, there are none in the UK until January. Schwalbe and Conti are the main brands.

Anyway, the reason for this post is that I contacted Bike 24 in Germany and ordered a pair of Continental Spike Claw tyres with 240 studs. They were shipped from Germany on Wednesday and have just arrived via DHL (Friday, 8:30). They cost just £75 for the pair, including p&p.

The Conti Spike Claw is rated third only to Nokian's two top tyres - but they are nearer £100 each! They can be ridden on and off road. The only downside will be a bit of drag. Bike 24's website is easy to use and it's in English."

Rob's SE & E regional X champs report

Rob McCarthy rode the regional cross championships, here's his report:

After a week of snow and frozen conditions, the race still took place, typically by Sunday the snow had melted, making the course conditions cold, wet and muddy.

I got a good start, but found the muddy and cold conditions hard, The course was a bit too long which meant riding with a heavily clogged bike most of the lap, before a bike change was possible. I spent most of the race battling with Dan Duguid (Sigma Sport) but unfortunately I had a small spill on the last lap, in the mud and lost 30 M to him.
Towards the end of the race my hands were struggling to brake and change gear due to the mud and cold, I finished the race with agonizing chilblains in my hands, to a 10th place
OK but not a top 5 which I wanted. Hopefully some better results are on the way. Jamie Newell put up a good fight to retain his SE+E title but was just edged out on the final climb by Gareth Montgomerie. (Sigma Sport)
A big thanks to Andy Dilkes for helping out in the pits.

New Weds spinning session?

From Simon Kidd:

Im a member of Farnborough and Camberley Cycle Club and I wondered if any VCmeudon members would be interested in a cycling club specific training session using a spinning studio in Camberley ? (for those that live around there)

I was thinking of Wednesday Evenings for a good hour long staring at 7:30 pm. There is space for about 15 cyclists and we would be using the spin bikes much like a turbo trainer with me leading the group through the various exercises.

These sessions would be targeted at club cyclists and, although we will be using the spin bikes, the routines would be focussed more on cycling needs and would include various pyramid and interval sets, and simulations rather than a general spin ‘fitness’ class, for example:

‘Intervals’ to increase aerobic threshold, we would use HRMs or perceived exertion.
‘Hill climbs and sit-stand-sit’ to increase leg strength
‘Sprints’ to simulate the breaks in a road race or track event,
‘Resistance’ fartlek to simulate under and overs going on the front of a line and then off

.. and of course some great music to keep you going...

Whilst this is intended for club riders, I would be encouraging everyone to work at their own levels, so you can take it easier (or harder), in some sections if needed.

I need at least 5 people to make it viable and the cost would be about £5 each a session or £20 for a block of 5.
I would be running the sessions from January through to end of March, by which time people probably would like to get out on the road as the evenings get lighter anyway and the early events start.
I had thought Wednesday about 7:30 pm since that was a day when people are probably used to going out on their bikes in the Summer evenings and would fit into their routine – although Im happy to take suggestions for other times and days.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like any more information.
(Ive invited people from Farnborough and Camberley and also Charlotteville)

Regards

Simon
0775 774 4795

(member of FCCC and qualified Performance Cycling instructor)

Chalk chase post script video - Cranstone falls over, Craig's Garden

At the end of the first stage of the chalk chase last week we bumped into a group of mountain bikers one of whom was wearing a video camera. As we met Cranstone managed to fall over just in front of the camera at which point I suggested they send us the video. Despite not giving them an email address they did manage to send over the video and blog link.

With the two groups mixed up for a bit (4:50 into the video, note Dave C in the last edition Meudon jersey barging past!) we explained that this was Craig's garden they were riding. I think they must have thought that this was the name of the trail. At which point we came to a full stop in front of Craig's house for a mince pie stop followed by the other group of mountain bikers who had now come to something of a dead end.

http://www.vimeo.com/17416682

http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/this_week.php

Turbo for sale

Turbo Trainer £115

Bought this in October and only used this 5 times (maybe 4), I just don’t have the mental capacity for these things.

Elite Crono Fluid ElastoGel Cycle Trainer

Darren – 07722061375 or dgf@hotmail.co.uk (I’m in Camberley)

Training weekend 2011 - April 29th-2nd May

If you've got a big race coming up or you're doing the Etape this summer you might be interested in the training weekend being run by a friend of Paul Pickup's:

April 29th - 2nd May 2011 Training (long) weekend in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

12 riders in family run B&B mainly in twin rooms on farm in Dorset. Secure lock up for bikes.

2 ride leaders, 3 guided days of riding.

1 meal ready on your arrival, flexible arrival times.

1 evening meal organised in local pub.

Great pre-arranged (expecting you) lunch stops. Especially Gold Hill!

Fantastic riding area, not far from London (Lambeth to Shaftesbury 2 hrs 16 mins according to Google.) So pretty close to here.

Riding speeds about 15 -18 mph between 4 - 6 hours per day. Weather, ability and moods dependent!

GPS files and maps provided if you want to venture off from the group after lunch stop.

Cost £269 (£100 deposit non-refundable unless you get someone to fill your place as long as it is not your Nan, unless she can ride as fast as Mark Cavendish, then she's very welcome!)

If you're interested you can contact Paul or email us and we'll pass it on.