Ian Franklin talks blue moustaches and close shaves
"You may have noticed me sporting a moustache and that recently it has become blue. Purely by chance, back in October, I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer, albeit not an aggressive type. This came as a complete shock to me, after all ignorance is bliss! So much so that I took part in “Movember” where participants grow a 'tache for the month to raise funds to help raise awareness, offer support, and sponsor research into men's cancers.
Subsequently I agreed to keep the 'tache a further two weeks and dye it blue if donations reached £500. Thanks to generous friends the £500 target has been passed but my donation page at http://uk.movember.com/mospace/2023734 is still open should you wish to donate. The 'tache is due to be shaved off this Sunday evening (18 Dec) It will have been a close shave on two fronts.
Finally, men often seem reluctant to go to the doctor or talk about health issues
“one man in this country dies of prostate cancer EVERY HOUR, of every day..” Do yourself, your wife or partner, and family a favour: Please, if you are 50 or older see your doctor about a PSA test which can be a indicator of prostate problems."
http://uk.movember.com/mens-health/
http://uk.movember.com/about/beneficiary1
Ian's close shave
Terry and Craig's chalk chase Saturday 31st December
The annual event of the year and the official unofficial VCM off road championship.
This year 9.30 start from Seale tea rooms heading east to Surrey Hills. Make it as hard or as easy as you like. The route will be marked by Terry and Craig with a brief stop at the 2 hour point. After that a flattish return to Seale. Mostly off road with some great single track and descents. Come and work off the Christmas excess or help yourself to justify the New Years Eve blow out.
All standards welcome-- cross bikes, mountain bikes- follow the trail and regroup at the stop.
Dancing on ice with Ken R
Some more timely advice from Ken Ruffel on how to ride when the icy weather arrives:
Group training in icy weather
Keeping fit during the winter is something we all need to do. A complete lay-off should not be an option! If you can fit into one of the Meudon training rides on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, then you’ll keep fit.
But when the icy weather comes, you’ll need some special skills. Training in a group on icy stretches requires special attention. The group rides on any one of these days will differ in ability, skill and overall safety.
Our elite groups might go a bit faster, but the safety element will always be to a maximum. It’s a bit like F1.........you can always trust the wheels in front of you! Some of our other groups of novice or lower category riders may not feel as confident in the wheels in front of them, so a few tips here might help:
• THREE MAIN RULES FOR RIDING ON ICE IN A GROUP!
1. Stretch out! - ride at least a bike-length gap from the rider in front of you.
2. Do not even think about touching your brakes.
3. Ride on the tops of the bars with more body weight over your rear wheel.
• Riding on icy road stretches can be a bit daunting. You will still be riding in two lines, at tempo, and the safety of the whole group will depend on the judgement of the leading pair. Their eyes will see what’s coming up. They should verbally warn the group behind of an icy road ahead, just as they do for holes and gravel.
• Always be aware of your situation on the bike and in the group. Pay attention to where you are in the group. Be alert at all times. Keep your eyes focussed ahead. The more you know about any possible danger, the more in control you are.
• React appropriately to any warning signs from the front pair riding tempo. Don't overreact. How you react can have a major impact on what happens to you and your club-mates with you. Your goal is to enjoy the ride and get home in one piece. If you panic, you won't be able to help yourself.
• Of course, it’s still partly social and we all want to chat as we ride, but stay vigilant!
Richard's video clip of the month...
MTB Skills
"Time to put away the TT bike, get out the knobblies and try to emulate Danny Hart’s downhill MTB skills. Apologies for the commentary, it’s not exactly Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen."
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/216258/
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2011-reader-poll-hart-becomes-first-downhill-mtb-poll-winner
Richard Unwin
Friday Snippet
In case you missed this Radio5 Live interview with Dave Brailsford earlier in the month
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/15576351.stm
Talks about the Olympics and track test event and recent team performances ....
2012 Diary Date - local Sportive
Sportivephoto will run it's first Sportive next year on 1st April 2012 .
The event, run in conjunction with UK Cycling Events, will start and finish at the Hollycombe Steam Museum near Liphook and provide distance choices of 50 and 71 miles.
Routes will take in many of our area's best routes including the newly finished cycle path over the Devils' Punchbowl at Hindhead (maybe we won't need our own vehicle escort through there as we experienced on a recent thursday run)
An added bonus will be loads of free Sportivephoto picture downloads after the event.
Entries are already open on the event website which has more details
http://www.southernspringclassic.co.uk
