February 2001

http://www.sherwoodcc.org.uk  

Congratulations and best wishes to Rob Stevens and Judy Papworth who recently married.

Jayne Savage has also recently celebrated becoming a veteran – hard to believe!

Two new members to welcome this month Esme Savage (age 1) and Ann Spencer (age ???).

As a means of escape from the dreadful weather we have been experiencing Pat and I had a week in Fuerteventura where it was warm enough for riding in shorts and lying on the beach. It was, however, a shock to return to ice and snow. Although we were mainly riding off road the island does have a good network of well surfaced and quiet roads and would make an ideal spot for a week of winter training if you are so inclined.

CLUB NIGHT

Club nights and committee meetings are held on Mondays towards the end of each month at the Burton Road Community Centre, (opposite Walker’s Garage) Carlton 7.30-9.30 p.m. The next two meetings are 26 February and 26 March.

CLUB CLOTHING

At the last committee meeting only a few ideas for a new design of club clothing had been submitted and it was felt that more ideas were needed before making a decision. Many people are talking about possible designs but we need actual drawings to look at.

It was decided that we would give a prize of a new jersey to the winning design with a deadline of the committee meeting on 26 March.

I will co-ordinate the collection of suggested designs so get thinking and drawing.

 Is anyone artistically gifted to draw the final design? Or how about producing a design on a computer?

 CLUB DINNER 

The Club Dinner has been confirmed and booked for Saturday 24 November 2001 at the Westminster Hotel.

CLUB RACING PROGRAMME 2001

The provisional club racing programme has now been agreed. Some changes are possible, as the events have to be approved by the local RTTC to avoid clashes, roadworks etc. A couple more events have been introduced for this season. You can still enter on the line but to qualify for handicaps you must bring along a completed entry form.

The Open events and the ANDCC 25 have to be entered in advance direct to the organiser with a completed RTTC entry form.

‘100’ Championship Trophy for the fastest time in any open 100 mile event entered under RTTC regulations. Send Result Sheet to Wayne before November 1^st 2001

The Tuesday Evening Tens all start at 7.00 p.m. from the Old Epperstone Road (near the Springfield Pub) from 17 April until 21 August inclusive.

EARLY SEASON TIME TRIALS

If you are keen to start time trialling early here are details of some local early season events.

CLUB RUNS

Club runs meet at the Shearing Hill/Burton Road junction on Saturdays and Sundays at 9.30 a.m. My aim to have two groups on a Saturday did not, unfortunately, come off as everyone waits for the “my” group and then an attack occurs at some point to split it up. This split often occurs early. A few weeks’ ago we went up Shelford Hill and when I eased to allow a couple of riders to get back on it gave an ideal opportunity for Mick Perrin to launch an attack.

This is not much of a problem as long as it is a clean split but if you decide to chase after the split you need to be able to look after yourself and find your own way!

On Wednesdays there is a run meeting either at the top of Coppice Road at 9 a.m. or Lowdham (by the war memorial) at 9.15 a.m.

On the days when it hasn’t been raining we have had some icy roads necessitating main road routes but on the 21^st snow curtailed the run. Only George Minion and I (we ought to have more sense at our age) persisted for a 30 miles non-stop ride despite more than an inch of snow on the main road in Southwell.

The following Sunday was perhaps one of the most pleasant days of the winter. It was cold and frosty but sunny. The roads were a bit white but not icy. Being cautious we stuck to fairly well used roads through Fiskerton to Newark. Then we went via Kilvington and Elton to Margaret’s. It was a nice steady ride with only a café dash on the last three miles to split us.

We arrived just right as a few groups had just left making room for us. Rob had a puncture that delayed our departure a little before we came back via Barkestone, Granby and Scarrington.

Back at Lowdham some of us stopped at the Women’s Institute where celebrations of Nick Loasby’s 90^th birthday were being held. For those of you who are too new to know Nick, he used to be a regular professional photographer at local events, he also wrote touring articles in “Cycling” under the Pseudonym “Nickell”, he also used to do reports of events in the Evening Post. Some years ago he was a member of the Sherwood and promoted one of the first Professional City Centre Races in Nottingham.

Many familiar faces (and many I had forgotten!) were present and everyone was enjoying the spread of refreshments, rummaging through old photos and a good old gossip. Ethel Scothern was present looking extremely well despite being a few years older than Nick and a few still cycling octogenarians like Dick Clarke, Jack Coe and Arthur Straw – cycling certainly keeps you fit!

MISTER TOM by Chris Sidwells

I have just enjoyed reading the above biography of Tom Simpson by his nephew Chris Sidwells. Chris ran a bike shop (Go Bike) in Southwell for a few years and some of you may know him from then.

The book will appeal both to those who remember Tom’s exploits and to younger ones who want to know some of the history of cycling and to gain an insight into how things have changed.

Although Chris was only about eleven years old when Tom Simpson died he has obviously well researched the subject and made full use of his contacts to make a highly readable and informative book. Some accounts of episodes differ from other people’s accounts. In his final year a young Eddy Merckx was in the same team as Tom leading to some clashes of two potential leaders.

Sidwells relates that in the Paris – Nice, Merckx took an early lead but missed a dangerous break on the third stage. Tom chased and caught the break and whilst seemingly protecting Merckx’s lead took over race leadership and later in the race with co-opertaion from Merckx dominated the race. In the following Milan-San Remo, Simpson attacked early for a 128 miles break to take the pressure off Merckx and repay him for his help in the “Race to the Sun”. Merckx thus achieved the first of his seven victories in “La Primavera”.

Merckx now interprets these events as Simpson telling him he must stay in the bunch in Paris-Nice but then Merckx beat him in Milan-San Remo to make it “one victory each”. I don’t know which version is “correct” but as with anything like this it depends on the individual’s interpretation and time always clouds memories.

The book certainly highlights how misfortune and headstrong tactics affected Simpson’s career and with many opportunities for victory lost. In those days pro racing was a bit of a closed shop in Europe – established riders didn’t want to see a British rider winning their events, so team support for Simpson was minimal. Riders were also left more to their own devices – no radioed messages telling them when to attack or team doctors on hand to treat dodgy knees – Simpson’s strategy was attack and if that didn’t work attack again! When he won the Milan-San Remo he only ate a couple of honey rolls and had nothing to drink – imagine that happening now!

Recently, in “Cycling Weekly” it was proclaimed that Chris Boardman was the best ever British rider but despite his undoubted successes I don’t believe he approached Tom Simpson’s level.

Consider some of Tom’s main victories: World Professional Road Championships, Tour of Flanders, Bordeaux-Paris, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Lombardy and Paris-Nice. He also finished fourth overall in the Tour de France and had numerous high placings in Classics (2^nd in Paris-Brussels, Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Tours). He was the first British rider to wear the Yellow Jersey in the Tour and was a genuine contender for overall victory. He finished second overall in the Super Prestige Pernd competition the equivalent of today’s World Cup. Success was also found on the track in pursuits, motor paced, and even winning the Brussels Six Day with Peter Post.

Mr Tom, The True Story of Tom Simpson by Chris Sidwells and published by Mousehole Press £13.95.

Amazon Books -- Click Here

FOR SALE

1 pair wheels – Ultegra FH600 hubs, Campag Atlanta 33mm rims, flat spokes (16) V.G.C. £95.

Wheel bag (new)– double padded, zipped. Top quality by Total Fitness - £20

Shoes - Sidi scarpe silver/blue velcro and ratchet fixing. Size GB 6 (Euro 40). As new £30

Pair Shimano 600 hubs with Trans X skewers £25.

Shimano Hyperglide 7 speed cassettes 12-21 and 12-23. £8 each.

Contact Lesley Cliff, 87 Shelford Rd, Radcliffe on Trent. Tel 9333984 or 07801 816490 (mobile).

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

If you haven’t paid your club subs yet they are now overdue.

Seniors £9, Vice presidents £11, Juniors £4, Juveniles £3 (free in first year). Sends cheques (payable to Sherwood Cycling Club) to Orford ASAP.

Click here for a form ----> �