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Newsletter - May '99
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Fit Like ? It’s been a long time getting started this year but I feel like I’ve finally lifted myself off the couch and on to my bike. The weather's been quite good the last week, I’ve bought a new bike (won’t make a lot of difference) and mentally I’m ready to start out. It seems most of you will already be miles ahead of me in mileage. Sean is close to the 1,999 mile mark. In fact he will probably beat it before I finish this Newsletter. He has also been doing rather well in races of late – a lesson for us all.
For the third year running it looks like we are going to keep the level of membership just bubbling under the 50 mark. With the ebb and flow of members at least we haven’t been declining as other cycle clubs. The one area we are lacking in is juniors and youth riders. If you have any friends bring them along to a club run or to the Tuesday evening time trials.
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Due to frugal spending in 1998 we are again able to keep the membership prices the same as last year. Only £10. This is the third year running we have managed this - It just gets better and better!!
A membership form is included with this newsletter. If you haven’t already done so, please fill this in and send it back to Lorna as soon as possible.
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The 1999 confined time trial series has started and are as usual from the Mace Supermarket in Ellon at 6.30pm. Slight changes in the handicap system have been made to make help new members and to stop the slow start to the season. So far Sean is leading and already over 23 riders have taken part.
NB Points will be awarded for taking part or helping at the open 10 and open 25 we are organising this year.
Read Charlie’s race report in the local press after each event.
At different points in the season we may run a two up or a mountain bike race. These will probably be a short notice so keep your ears open on Tuesday evenings.
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The organisers have been chosen for the 99 race events. The dates have to be ratified by the SCU.
Hilly 20 - Graham Ward & Bob Hill 24/4/99 Competed successfully. Well done Graham & Bob.
Road Race - Graham Gerrard & Pat Flanaghan 5/6/99
10 Mile TT - Sean Monaghan & Lorna Adam 4/7/99 (The results of this race will also be included for points in the confined TT League)
25 Mile TT - Colin Allanach & Abby McHardy 5/9/99 (the results of this race will also be included for points in the confined TT league)
In addition other events will be the planned long runs, the children's run to Udny & a sponsored run in conjunction with the Round Table.
Scouts & Guides run – 13th June See Lorna for details
Rotary Sponsored run – 20th June See Graham Gerrard for details.
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Over 3,700 visitors!!
The Ythan CC Website is now fully functional and can be found at http://ds.dial.pipex.com/ythan/ or by searching for Ythan on Yahoo. Ian Jones has been working hard to get the site up and running and has developed one of the best cycling site on the web. The site includes the latest newsletter, a comprehensive dairy of events, a For Sale section, photographs of club members in action and links to other cycling sites. If you have anything you would like to add to the site please contact Ian or myself.
If you have access to an E-mail address please send me a note to put you on my mailing list.
The Guest list is particularly impressive with cyclists all over the world contacting the site and keeping in touch with what’s happening at Ythan CC. Results and photos of the 20 mile hilly are also on the site.
Over 3,700 people have now accessed the site since Jan '98.
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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 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.
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For the younger cyclists there is the '99 challenge, in the format that most members saw at the Bikefest in October (i.e. an obstacle course followed by a short circuit TT). We have agreed to organise two of these events in 1999. Pat Flanaghan has volunteered to do one in Fraserburgh and the club will organise one in Ellon. The winners go on to heats, with a National final in Manchester. This needs six helpers for each event. Saville Gunn of GS Corsa is co-ordinating the events in Aberdeenshire but no dates have been fixed yet.
STOP PRESS: ELLON DATE FIXED FOR 30th MAY IN ELLON ACADEMY BUS PARK.
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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. Phone Charlie if you are interested in the events he has
lined up.
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We will be promoting two events in '99, which will also get recognition in the Active-8 action plan. These are:
13th June: The Scout/Guides run to Udny Station in National Bike Week (12th -20th June).
20th June: The Ellon Rotary are planning a Charity Fun Run with Ythan CC during National Bike Week. 50% of funds raised go to the millennium project and 50% to Club funds. This will be a 20-mile run around the Ellon countryside. Register by 6th June and receive a free T-shirt. Contact Graham Gerrard who has entry forms.
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This year's Tour ends in Edinburgh in May with racing round the city centre. If anyone is interested in making a day trip or weekend to see this great spectacle then give me a call and I will see what I can organise. Cash up front !!
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The kit order finally arrived and has been distributed. There are some spare short sleeve tops available. Contact me to try them for size.
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The Sunday morning club runs now start at the Ellon Community centre at 9am.
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 Pat Flanaghan
(Club Run Captain) on
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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 - TBA
Cabrach - 9th May - Glorious sunshine and a nice flat run.
Cairn O'Mount - TBA
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I’ve been getting a bit of cycling culture recently. I went to see a play in Edinburgh called "Re-Cycling" by Michael Smiley and told the tale of Victor, a 36 year old courier in London – very funny and poignant story and well acted. "When your wheels don’t turn….. you don’t earn".
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I have also been reading a bit: I read "Bad to the bone" by James Waddington a scary surreal comedy about drug taking in the peleton. There are some great descriptions of races but it gets a bit weird at times. I also got a peek at "The wind in my wheels" by Josie Dew. I thought this was a bit disjointed and the most remarkable thing about the book was the number of times she was "flashed at" during her travels.
All this culture has got me thinking about writing my own book. Annette suggested I called it "The wind in my shorts" I’ve no idea what she means by that.
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Richard and Robert Priestly were cyclists who took part in a lot of races around this area and last year Richard was chosen to race for Scotland at an International triathlon. Following this race he was out on a training run with his brother and his back wheel slipped, he fell and as a result of this incongruous accident Richard is now paralysed from the neck down. This month Stirling Triathlon Club are dedicating their triathlon to Richard to raise money for a special wheelchair and to send him to Poland for some new therapy which may help. At the last committee meeting it was decided to donate £50 to this cause.
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Graham Gerrard recently took part in a Rotary Cycling Week at Palma Nova in Majorca. Click here for the full story.
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Anyone interested in trying out a KingCycle test to find your maximum heart-rate
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.
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The next Newsletter will be the August-ish edition and your input is desperately required. Any race reports, items for sale, tips, general chit-chat should be sent to...
Colin Allanach
25 Carolines Cres.
Ellon
AB41 8BN
Phone 01358-723909
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Those of you who read Cycling Weekly will be familiar with their regular feature right at the back called "Final Word". What a good idea... click here!
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