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Newsletter - February 2000
Ythan CC race dates for 2000 are: 25th March 1400 hrs - 20 mile Hilly (Graham Ward) Assistant organisers are required for all these events .
This is the new "National Bike week" organised by the CTC from 17th to 25th June 2000. Besides the usual things there is a Ride the Net event taking place locally. It is based on the "National Cycle Network" and the event will be registered and insured by Sustrans. Locally a ride is proposed from Cullen to Parkhill. Enthusiasts can complete the whole run while others may only want to do part.
Active-8 is being disbanded for cycling in Grampian on 31/3/2000, but the two womens' training weekends have been arranged and they beat the deadline. Sarah Philips is organising one in Garioch on the 26th Feb and one in Stonehaven on the 18th March.
Garioch sports centre have purchased 15 "Spinning Bikes". This is equivalent to aerobics on bikes. Stewart Gordon, the manager is the organiser. The club will contact Stewart to arrange a social night where club members can strut their funky stuff on a bike. There are sessions on Tueday evenings, Thursday evenings and Friday evenings. Cost is £4 per session.
Aberdeenshire council have obtained funding for a Mountain bike route at Rhynie off the Rhynie - Cabarfeigh road. Toilet facilities are being built and the routes will be signposted by the end of March.
Bob and Lorna are currently undertaking a comprehensive first aid course which deals mainly with cycling/coaching type injuries.
Local triathlons have been organised for the following dates: Winter Series Summer Series Aberdeen Standard Triathlon Sunday 30 July
"What an end of season I had. After a bad start to the year I had a terrific July to September bagging a season best and feeling like I could take on the world. Then it happened. I won't go into much detail about what happened as I still go red in the face when it's mentioned. Suffice to say I crashed my bike and it was entirely my fault. The front forks of my mountain bike were now pointing towards my back wheel, but everything else looked Ok. I could also feel the pain beginning to build in my shoulder and chest. When the ambulance man arrived he said how lucky I was to have been wearing a helmet. "Yes, but it's not my head that's sore," I retorted. I was taken to Accident and Emergency and after some x-rays it was found that I had 3 broken ribs and a broken right shoulder blade. After 8 weeks off my bike I'm now back cycling with a vengeance. I learned three things from my incident and I would like everyone to benefit from my experience: 1) I looked at my helmet a few weeks after the accident and found a great dent on it. So it turned out I was lucky to have been wearing a helmet. I don't want to be controversial but I believe everyone should. 2) I was well insured and have now made a pretty penny out of the whole sad incident. If you don't have an accident insurance policy get one now. Most Importantly
The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne This book is hyped by the publisher as "The greatest cycling novel ever written", a bold claim and one I would dispute. Originally published in 1973, it has recently been reprinted by a US publisher. It's a tale of a philandering ex-pro who makes a comeback for a single season just to impress his latest girlfriend. A combination of the right contacts and luck get him one last ride in the Tour, and once there his years of experience and a vast dollop of good fortune give him the maillot jaune - but for how long can a 37-year-old comeback merchant hold on to the ultimate symbol of glory? The narrator and hero of the story, English ex-pat ex-pro Terry Davenport, is not a likeable character and seems to devote his entire life to getting women into bed. The first part of the novel is basically a rather thin and unconvincing romance, and it's only in the second part that the cycling interest kicks in. At this point the writing improves tremendously, almost as if Hurne wrote the last part of the book first, and then felt obliged to pad out the beginning to make it into a full-length novel. The "view from the saddle" on the Tour de France is well done and exciting in places, but amazingly dated - remember that this book was written in the age of toe-clips and straps and 5-speed sprockets, when even top pros had to carry their own suitcases and were paid a pittance. It's an interesting contrast to today's world of two-way radios and TV helicopters. The author is American, but makes his principal character English and unfortunately doesn't quite get it right. His American's interpretation of a cockney accent (one of the minor characters) is hilariously awful. I found the book enjoyable but at the same time unsatisfying, mainly because I decided early on that the sexist Terry Davenport would benefit from a damn good slap. Worth borrowing for a light read, but I wouldn't recommend you to rush out and buy it. The Yellow Jersey is difficult to get hold of in the UK - only Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk) seem to be able to supply it.
The BCF have confused riders yet again. The SCU annual application form was on the inside back page of the Bcf Newsletter for Nov/Dec, and on the 3rd last page of the Newsletter for Jan/Feb. Graham Gerrard has some spare for new members, or those who have binned the BCF newsletter, as it's not as exciting as the YCC one. Full membership gives third party insurance plus free legal advice, and there is now an associate member who are allowed to ride in three races, which is cheaper than the day licence.
In case you missed it here are the winners of Ythan CC trophies for the last century. If you have not picked up your trophy please contact Colin Allanach. Open Events Confined TT Series
If a Marshall can not attend on the date stated, they should arrange for someone else to cover.(Unforseen circumstances on the day are a different matter.)
There has been a suggestion from one member that we redesign the kit to a more modern design. There are pros and cons for this:
It's only a suggestion and we should listen to all suggestions from the membership, What do you think ? Let's hear your ideas at the AGM.
The World Corporate Games are being held in Aberdeenshire on the 15th - 16th
July 2000. The cycling events are:
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. We have been severely lacking in enthusiasm for the MTB side of the Club recently. If you've forgotten the excitement of whooping through the woods and belting down rough tracks, it's time to dust down the old Muddy Fox and start playing again.
Anyone interested in trying out a kingcycle test to find your maximum heartrate and help find those optimum levels for training should contact Bob Hill on Ellon 722449. Bob will put you through a series of tests to help you towards a more structured approach to training.
Cardiosport Exel PC Heart Rate Monitor and downloader Both brand New £115 for both. Contact Rowland on 0402 338158 Shogun team issue frameset - 54 cm centre-centre double-butted alloy frameset & alloy forks (threaded). 8-Speed Shimano 105/Ultegra mix. Brand new 3t Forma SL bars (42cm) and stem (11cm) Campag seatpost and Rolls saddle. Mavic 32-hole rims on Shimano 105 hubs + tubes & Vittoria tyres. Look pedals. £350.00. Contact: Malcolm Cooper (01779 476029).
For those of you who have decided that cycling isn't hard enough and want to throw in a bit of running and swimming, there is a new triathlon club in the area. TRI- BUCHAN has quite a few YCC members in it and it is hoped that the triathlon club will encourage others to come to our cycling club. Click here for an extract from the Tri-Buchan triathlon club newsletter.
MARCH APRIL
The next Newsletter will be the April edition and your input is desperately required. Any race reports, items for sale, tips, general chit-chat should be sent to... Colin Allanach Thanks to everyone who contributed to the newsletter. |
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Editorial
