Tip #1

Greg LeMond - "There is no better training than riding hills. It forces you to a higher pulse rate, and it's not boring. It's exciting to climb and descend. For me it's the easiest way to get in shape".

I've got the runs!

Due to public demand there will be three planned long runs in ‘99. The venues have been decided but the dates haven't.

Venues:

• Back of Benachie
• Cabrach
• Cairn o'Mount

Membership Fees

At the last meeting it was decided to remove a number of members who hadn't paid their fees from the newsletter mailing list. Similar action will be taken in 99, Please pay your fees promptly as it allows the club to plan expenditure if we know for sure what money is available. I think an accountant would call it cashflow. If there are items you think the club should buy then please let us know.

1998 Events

Thanks to everyone who organised and helped out at the '98 events. They all were a success and ran very smoothly. The club appreciates the time given to help fellow cyclists. I hope we can continue the level of activity in '99.

Confined Time Trials

Jack won! Leading from about midway in the season the end was close but by the last TT Jack had it in the bag. Well done Jack, don't rest on your laurels - ‘99 is another season and we're all gunning for you.

Full results are here.

'99 Confineds will start in April.

'99 Events

The organisers have been chosen for the '99 race events. The dates have yet to be ratified by the SCU.

• Hilly 20 - Graham Ward & Bob Hill
• 10 Mile TT - Sean Monaghan & Lorna Adam
• Road Race - Graham Gerrard & Colin Allanach
• 25 Mile TT - Colin Allanach & Abby McHardy

In addition, other events will be the planned long runs, the children's run to Udny and a sponsored run in conjunction with the Round Table.

Active-8 Training Weekends

John O'Donovan, Norman Ramsay and Sarah Philips are in the process of organising the next set of Active-8 training weekends.

These are:

• 7^th/8^th November - Open training with Guest - possibly Jonny Clay
• 16^th/l7^th January - Female training weekend
• 6^th/7^th February - Open training
• 6^th/7^th March - Open training.

More details are available from Graham Gerrard. If you are interested please forward your name to Graham who will pass it on.

Tip #2

Fred Mathenev - "You should look good on your bike. Or at least feel that you look good. If you ain't stylin' half the joy of cycling is lost."

Mountain Bike Runs

Graham Parley and Steve Argo are arranging the mountain bike runs on the first Sunday of each month. See the diary for details or contact Graham on Ellon (01358) 722172 or Steve on Ellon 721896.

Bike Fest

A Festival of Cycling is to be held at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre on the 25^th October. There will be trade stands, a top BMX demo team, indoor cycle races, cycling museum, frame & wheel building demo. Ythan CC have been asked if anyone can help out at a computer training stand. Please contact Graham Gerrard if you can help out for a while at the stand. I imagine you will get free entry if you help out.

Winter training

Training starts on Tuesday 27^th October. The venue is the Community House in Ellon's Castle Park estate. The first night is an Aerobics session from Mandy. Mandy is a trained instructor in normal and step aerobics. Please try to turn up at these as the more people we have the more fun we have. There will be an aerobics session on the last Tuesday of each month. These will be charged at £1 per person to cover Mandy's time. Normal Tuesday sessions will usually consist of a warm up, some circuit training and turbo training. There is no cost for the normal training.

Christmas Meal & Prize-Giving

The venue for this is being sorted out at the moment. It will definitely not be the New Inn! Expect a note through your door soon.

Club Runs

The Sunday morning club runs now start at the Ellon Community Centre. These are usually quite popular depending on the weather. So instead of lying about in your bed on Sunday morning get out there and get some fresh air in your lungs. Details of club runs can be obtained from Abby McHardy (Club Run Captain) on Ellon (01358) 721007. From 25^th October the start time changes to 10am.

Spare Kit

I have put away an order for kit but if anyone wants to buy their family & friends a Christmas present, then what could be better than an Ythan CC top? Get your orders in quickly. Cut off date for these is the end of October.

1999 Races

• Hilly 20 Mile time trial
• 10 Mile Time Trial
• 65 Mile Road Race.
• 25 Mile Time Trial

 It would be nice to go back to the days when we had a few more events on our calendar but unfortunately the volunteers to organise races are few and far between.

Other suggestions for races are

• 40 Mile APR (perhaps in the Peterhead area like the one we used to do?)
• Duathlon
• 25-mile Time trial
• 2-up Time Trial
• Mountain Bike Race

Organising the races does take up a lot of time, but at the end of the race there is a tremendous sense of achievement and the feeling that you have put something back into the sport.

Club Runs

Sunday morning, I jumped out of bed, the sun was shining, I decided a short sleeved top and shorts would do, Netty had my breakfast all made and the kids sat quietly eating theirs. I looked at the trees in the garden, not a breath of wind. Feeling great I went into the garage, checked the tyres, still hard, I swept out of the garage and Simon, our next door neighbour waved cheerily while he washed his car. Down the hill to the Community Centre a gang of about 30 cyclists were waiting. As soon as I arrived we set off at a comfortable pace into the bright sunshine, downhill all the way, the slight breeze now behind us and I knew that it would change direction just as we decided to turn back and that the wind would be behind me forever...

A typical Sunday morning run, could you stand to be so cheerful? In my dreams that's what Sunday morning runs are like. We all know the reality is slightly different. The one thing that doesn't change is the fact that after a club run you always feel a lot better than if you had stayed in bed.

Just a gentle reminder to some of our faster riders, the club runs are meant to be a relaxing run at the pace of the slowest riders, going balls out for 50 miles is not everyone's idea of fun on a Sunday morning. This scares off new members who can't keep up the pace and demoralises others.

Race Team Co-ordinator

Charlie Allan came up with a suggestion for 1999: Charlie will organise teams to go to the local events. Instead of individuals turning up at races you will now be part of the YCC Team. Charlie will draw up a diary of events when the SCU handbook is published.

Ythan 99 Race Team in action

Thanks

Thanks to Lorna for the tips, Jack for the political stuff and Graham for the rest of the info in the Newsletter.

Next Newsletter

The next Newsletter will be the DECEMBER edition and your input is desperately required. Any race reports, items for sale, tips, general chit-chat should be sent to Colin Allanach.