Newsletter - August 2002

  Editor's Bit

The season is swinging along fine. Sadly, the end is almost in sight and the choice of a winter on the turbo or on the turkey looms alarmingly.

The new chairman and president Graham Gerrard has conducted his team with the usual aplomb. There have been no great hiccoughs (although you may know different you have not told me so). We even got round the SCU ruling that organisers are not allowed to race, by changing the organisers on the day of any race where the original organiser wanted to take part. That seemed to work well though it does mean another person has to be willing to step in.

Jack Grant has been a great find as secretary. The only time he is noticed is when he turns out to be organiser of the day or otherwise assist. He should be a fitba referee. Lorna has managed to collect the money without giving offence or losing any of it. Dave Allan has organised some exciting Sunday runs including tours of the Cairngorms ranging to 100 miles. Mike Harper's role as race secretary is something of a mystery but the races have all taken place.

Gilbert Runcie's re-emergence has been a great boost to the club. As well as dominating the confined events he has kept the Ythan name up in the open competitions, which is just as well with the disappearance of Stevie Argo and the disappointing form of Mike Harper.

It was good not only to see Malcolm Cooper back racing but also Conrad Whitson. If only we could get Bob Hill back in the saddle we'd see again the Ythan Legends; the team that won the three by 100 miles Furneaux Trophy in 1996.

  Confined Time Trials

Flora has again organised the series almost single handed though of course she needs a volunteer for the turn marshall's job each week and Lorna has also taken a turn as commissaire. Attendances are definitely up on last year but the committee are open to suggestions of ways to spice the fortnightly races up.

Gordon Cairney has improved all season and leads the competition with two events to go. Graham Parley is only one point behind and may yet win the only trophy he has never won in fifteen years in the club. And Norman Fraser cannot be ignored… one good PB could still put the ex-fairmer and ex postie into the lead.

Results of the 10-Mile TT on 13/08/02, and series points scored up to that date.

  End-of-Season Dinner

To celebrate the end of another successful season of confined events, it is proposed to go for an Indian dinner on the 31st of August (stop press; this may be changed to the 7th. If you care get in touch with Lorna) at Nosheen Tandoori. (If you want to come this social event contact Lorna).

  Confined races under Australian Pursuit Rules(APR)

Paul Winter has again done a fabulous job in running two races almost single handed. He has shown us how to do it and that is dangerous for him because we need an organiser for the open APR we hope to run next year. Thanks to a grant from the Aberdeenshire Sports Council we now have most of the equipment(car signs etc) which we need.

The secret of racing lies in the fact that to ride alone takes one third more energy than riding behind someone. In an APR the racers set off in groups with the fastest leaving last. It is then up to each group to work for each other until they are overtaken at which time everyone tries to hang on to the best group and finally win the sprint at the end.

There was evidence that several Ythan cyclists hadn't grasped yet the finer points of APR. Too many when dropped tried hard to battle back into contention instead of conserving energy for the arrival of the next group. And too many individuals tried to break away, instead of using the group for an energy conserving ride into contention.

However the excitement of riding with others all round you does take you into higher realms of endeavour. Charlie Allan actually managed to make himself sick in a sprint for the line with Mike Harper and Conrad Whitson, and that was just an unsuccessful attempt to get eighth place.

That race was run between Mintaw and New Pitsligo. Dave Harrison and Ellen Thornall set off first followed in four minutes by Willie Gunn, Andy Bain and Gordon Cairney. The third group, comprising Conrad Whitson, Jake Vellacott, Alan Yeatman, Graham Parley and Charlie Allan, left three minutes later. After a further three minutes Dave Allan and Mike Harper left, four minutes in front of Malcolm Cooper and Gilbert Runcie.

The gap proved too much for the back markers but the handicapper did pretty well. All fourteen riders finished within four and half minutes having started with a fourteen minutes spread. It produced a thrilling finish with Andy first and then Jake and Gordon, all being awarded the same time.

  Lorna's 2-Ups

Lorna again organised two time trials for pairs. As this gets wrote the second one is on Tuesday first, 20th of August. Teams will be picked on the night. Meet at the Mace at 6.30. The first one on the 9th of June was much enjoyed by them that did turn up but Lorna was a bit fed up at the poor turnout. There were only eleven riders which seemed a poor reward for Lorna as she had to give up her chance to train in order to marshal.

  Aberdeenshire League

In the Aberdeenshire league competition Gilbert Runcie, who has dominated the confined trials all year as well as winning a host of prizes in open events all over the place, almost repeated Mike Harper's feat last year by winning the Aberdeenshire league. In the end he finished second to Deeside Thistle's Allan Wright.

The League which is run on a points basis over six Thursday evenings, saw a few Ythan participants including Dave Carnegie who scored well initially, and Ellen Thornall and Lorna Adam, Mike Harper did well but did not appear often enough to score highly.

  Russ and the Iron Men

Russ Allan's trip to Portugal for the Hawaiian Iron man heat ended before it began. The poor lad went down with a bronchial infection and could not race. Bill Dallas among others, had been watching the internet to see how he had come on and it was a big worry when the results came in but after the name of Russ Allan it said DNS - did not start.

However disappointed he was Russ boldly entered the German heat. As this is written he is preparing for the race tomorrow. Most of us have left our sponsorship money there but nevertheless we wish him all the luck in the world. He may need it. His training has been going well but it is very difficult to raise yourself twice to the sort of peak required as well as recovering from respiratory problems in so short a time.

  Events still to come

Ythan CC are organising the Glegg Trophy 25 mile time trial on Sunday 8th September on course AB25/6 on behalf of the Aberdeen District. This is a handicap race starting on the north Ellon bypass, turning just north of New Deer. The finish is before the junction of the bypass and Golf Road. Race headquarters is at the Ellon Trim Track at Golf Road and the start is 10.00am. Entry fee is £8, + £8 day licence to non-SCU members. The organiser is Graham Gerrard, 25 Brent Field Circle, Ellon , Aberdeenshire, AB41 9DA, Tel 01358 721599. Entry forms available at Tuesday's 2 up, also at confined on 29th. New members who have not raced before this season, will be refunded their race entrance fee of £8. Helpers are required on the day to marshal, time keep, and push-off - contact Graham please.

  Ellon Fun Runs

Alan Middleton Trust are holding their 3K & 10K Fun Runs on Sunday 15th September at 2.00pm from the Gordon Park Ellon. Entry fee is £5 plus sponsorship. Entry Forms available from Graham Gerrard or just turn up with money. The Trust assists young athletes (under 18), and both Neil & Gillian have received financial assistance from it. The course is complicated and they require 32 stewards - any help would be appreciated.

  Gran Fondo Campagnolo

A motley but dedicated team of Ythan Cyclists - Charlie Allan, Dave Allan, Mike Harper and Andy Turner - represented the club at this year's Gran Fondo race in Feltre, Italy. The trip was organised by club champion Mike Harper. He is the man to see if you fancy it for next year.

But read this report from the Glasgow Herald by Charlie Allan (whose nom de plume is the Farmer), before you make too firm a commitment.

Charlie before riding the Gran Fondo...

...and after!

In the little Italian town of Feltre in the Dolomite mountains the main street was a colourful sight last Sunday. Although it was only seven o'clock in the morning an expectant crowd lined the streets. The attraction was four thousand bronzed young men and a few women. Each had a bike costing between one and ten thousand pounds. There was not enough fat on the lot of them to fry an egg.

These were the starters in the Gran Fondo Campagnolo, a cycle race over 126 miles and up four mountains to heights of over eight thousand feet.

The Farmer was there. And he was not where he should have been, high up on the 13th Century city walls looking down or in his bedroom watching it on television. He was at number eight hundred and twenty three in the queue waiting for the starting gun.

This was a major step up in class for the retired Farmer who turned to cycling eight years ago in an attempt to improve his blood circulation. It was so poor then that a toe on his right foot turned black and threatened to fall off. In the end only the tip rotted and a big scab was the only loss but it had been a warning "get that heart pumping".

It had been a memorable day when the Farmer - not yet retired - turned up for the Ythan Cycle Club's fortnightly ten mile Time Trial. He noticed that even in Ellon the cyclists wore those ridiculous tight shorts his father used to call "advertising trousers". They had no need for bicycle clips. The Farmer thought those dropped handlebars would be gey hard on the back after a hard day at the hyow..

The Farmer was last that day by almost half a mile, but he had ambition. He would buy the right gear and he would practice. He took his bike out early in the mornings when not many people were around to see and he would ask anyone he did see if they had seen any of his cattle out on the road.

Cycling is a treadmill of ambition. You improve but it is pointless. As soon as you achieve one ambition it is replaced by another.

On that first evening it was to finish the time trial before the timekeeper had gone home. He took a few seconds less than forty minutes. "Not bad," I hear you say.

The next ambition was to be near enough the others that no one would say, "What's that auld mannie doing getting in the way of that race"? And then the sights were raised to beating somebody. That was achieved in six weeks.

By the end of the first year the Farmer had bought the advertising trousers and the dropped handlebars. Early in the second year he bought a third hand Italian Bike and broke the thirty minute barrier. The ambition was now to finish in the top half of the Ythan 10 mile TT.

No toes fell off. In fact the Farmer's feet now had so much blood they were roasting all the time and he couldn't sleep.

Then he started racing all over Scotland. He won his first cash prize; £7 as Booby. The ambitions had to be reworked….to be not last in an open race, to beat someone, to be in the top half of an open race.

The Farmer has still to win a real prize but all other goals have been met.

The Gran Fondo was another step, a step too far.

I blame Fiona. I told her grumpily that Mike was taking Andy and Dave to the Gran Fondo. She could see I was envious and said impatiently, "Why don't you go?"

Well I ken noo.

It was bit like that first Day at the Club. Andy told me it is important to have the right top, the right sunglasses and shaved legs so you look good. I had got a pair of industrial glasses and a travelling bag to carry my bike. It wasn't smart like the others' but there was no need for them to call it "Charlie's Binliners".

Nothing you can do in Scotland can prepare you for a race like this. Led by the one hundred aspiring professionals at the front, a cheer set us off to race the eight miles to the foot of the first climb.

That only averages one in seventeen, but it goes on and on and up and up for thirteen miles. They said there was unlimited food and drink along the way but they didn't say you had to get to the top of the first hill to get any. That hill took over two hours, by which the time all the energy drinks had gone. Six glasses of foul water did nothing to the Farmer's thirst. Three bananas provided no noticeable energy.

The Farmer couldn't get his feet to stay in his fancy new (Speedplay) pedals. Two hours later, at over seven thousand feet but with five miles still to go to the top of the biggest hill the Farmer was looking and feeling more like an old mannie than the young professional cyclist he fancied himself.

There is a fancy bus called "the broom wagon" which follows the cyclists round and gives the casualties a run home. "You Ok?" they said. "Aye, I always look like this," said the gallant Farmer. "Get in," they said and that was it. Riding into town in the broom wagon was not like the dream of coasting off the last hill and riding through the cobbled streets to the cheers of the adoring crowds.

Mike managed with lots to spare in just over nine hours, and then went out for a run. Andy was not far behind and Dave made the 12 hour limit with more than half an hour to spare.

Maybe my failure had something to do with anno domine. Maybe if I got pair of those £100 sunglasses… maybe if I shaved my legs…

  Lorna at the Commonwealth Games

Lorna with Sally Ashbridge (Scottish TT Champion)

On Thursday the 25th July my dear Uncle Norman drove me to Dyce Airport for my flight to Manchester. This was most exciting for me being my 1st flight since 1998, plus leaving my girls, hubby and dog behind - lets just say there were tears of joy on my behalf. My flight went well and I met my good friend Mairi at the railway station. The atmosphere in Manchester was brilliant with all the Commonwealth Games Stewards about, all the posters advertising the games plus all the live entertainment. We managed to stay at the Youth Hostel in Manchester that night which was lovely, modern, and clean and the food was superb. On the Friday morning we watched the ladies hockey at Bell Vue Stadium. The 1st game was Scotland v Australia. Let's just say that the Scottish team had a brilliant defense and the 1st goal was scored in 28 minutes. The final score was 0 -3 to Australia. The following game was rather embarrassing as the South African team was extremely strong and Malaysia might have had a problem beating our Ellon Ladies Hockey Team. Within the first 5 minutes South Africa scored 3 goals and every time Malaysia got the ball we all cheered frantically for them, but this did no good with the end result being 12 - 0.

Commonwealth Games Ladies TT Champions

The following morning being the big day for us cyclists we were in Manchester Station for 8.28am giving us a full hour to get to Rivington where Sally (my good friend was competing for Scotland). By 10am we had made very little progress as we were stuck in Victoria Station being the outskirts of Manchester and at 10.30am we were stuck in this dump of a station which had no taxis. Eventually the train took us to Horwich and a connecting bus took us to Rivington and I thought to myself I might see Sally, but oh no she had done her TT, got her shower and a massage! So as you can imagine I was rather p-ed off. However on a lighter note I did manage to see the 2nd lot of ladies finishing their TT, soak in the atmosphere and sunshine and see the ladies medal presentation. We watched the men's TT on the big screen and listened to the commentary in the field behind the beginning of the TT course. I did manage to pin point Sally and got a chance to congratulate her on being the 1st amateur to come in. Her overall placing was 11th out of 20 so as you can understand I was very proud of her.

Because we couldn't get accommodation in Manchester on Friday and Saturday night we decided not to visit the Sports City (where the athletics were held) due to the poor public transport, however we did manage some walking in the Peak District which is very beautiful. I came home to Ellon on the Sunday lunchtime and within half an hour it was raining! "Welcome home," I thought to myself!

Lorna

  For Sale

GIANT TCR Compact Bike with RIGIDA Wheels (carbon spoked) and Shimano 105 Components. Would suit person Approx 5"10' £500 o.n.o. Contact Neil Gerrard on 07876 498082 or 01358 721599 for more details.

  Winter Training

Despite the poor attendances at last year's indoor sessions it is hoped to run them again this year but with a bit more structure to them. Charlie Allan's coaching course has not happened yet. He awaits news. But he has ambitions to get everyone who is interested in doing better next year at least to have their heart rate assessed, maxima estimated and training plans made. Spinning sessions like those organised last winter at Inverurie by Lorna are also of great benefit and should be continued.

  Next Newsletter

Please send articles and/or gossip for the next Newsletter to Charlie Allan or Ian Jones.

Charlie Allan