Now we are Six . . . A small but Perfectly formed Ride

On Saturday several riders took part in the Suffolk Byways Audax. Jonathan Howe was one of them. Knowing that Deane rode out to the 200k Mildenhall event a while back, maybe Jonathan felt that this was the way it should be done. Anyway, and for whatever reason, he rode out and back, covering 160 miles in total, arriving back in Bury as dusk fell and mere moments before rain fell. 09.00hrs saw Jonathan on parade for more miles. He confided that he felt that he ought to show his face, knowing that several regulars might be missing. Maybe there should be an award for such selfless action - perhaps a statuette of a cyclist banging his head repeatedly onto the handlebars?

Our select band set off as eight - Gareth, Pauls Rooke & Callow, Ed, Tristan, Dr Tom, Jonathan et Moi. Paul C talked me out of repeating my previous bright idea of Horsecroft Lane followed by every climb I could find (followed by my self-destruction) in favour of a more relaxed Newmarket Road, Westley Rd, Saxham sort of a route. At Wickhambrooke we swung along a loop that took us south of Newmarket and through to Dullingham where we went left along to Brinkley then hurtled down hill to Six Mile Bottom. I can't complain about the descent, I chose the route and I decided to ride a fixed gear of 72.5". My maximum of 30mph is 140rpm - but, as I say, that's my problem. By this time we had been six for about an hour - Gareth and Paul R having headed off to fulfill domestic commitments - and all five of my chums were waiting for me at the Bottom (6 Riders, 6 mile. Now we are Six). Dr Tom new his way around this area, having done a year's worth of Cambridge Clubruns - but, being a gentleman he allowed me the illusion (delusion?) of continuing to lead the ride today. Anglesea Abbey provided its light and airy ambiance and decent food. I provided the light relief when I shook my 'Fentimans' fizzy orange drink to mix up the sediment before unscrewing the cap (the fiasco's orange?). I thought everyone was looking at me in a concerned manner - they were aghast that anyone could be so stupid. The remaining Paul (Callow) provided paper napkins, the others dried their eyes from tears of laughter and Paul took a photo. I look as if I'm about to play the piano - an impression reinforced by the shades worn indoors. They're prescription, honest.

The journey home was the usual flat route, with a mainly following wind - I think that my 'souplesse' needs some work for this sort of riding. Who knows, eventually I might even be able to stop banging on about fixed. Ed, who considers 53 x 13 a medium gear, was responsible for quite a bit of pain when we allowed him on the front, Paul was Captain Sensible. The difference between 22 and 25 mph can be measured in discomfort as much as speed.

We had (Ok, I had) been talking of an early finish, but I must've taken us further than I thought on the way out because by the time I got home I'd done 76, just like last week. This distance may also be because I bottled it and turned left for Lackford rather than face the Cote de Risby Gallop - I think it may well be further via Lackford.

Next week, Hill Climb (check the web site)

Wheelers at Mildenhall Rally 2009

The West Suffolk Wheelers were in action in events on all three days of the annual Mildenhall Rally. With events across a range of discipline and distances, the

August bank holiday weekend had a variety of cycling events for all types of cyclist.

The weekend began on with an Audax on Saturday. About a dozen Wheelers took part, including John Steed, Mark Eastwood, Chris and Will Curtin, Richard Lines, Mike Bowen, Nigel Stemp and David Young all on the 100k route and with Deane Hill doing 300k.

The youth grass track riders took centre stage on Saturday. In the under 14 grass track Omnium saw Alan Trolove dominating, giving the judges a problem when

lapping the field in the Devil, and then riding off the front again. He took a more conservative approach to the distance race, staying in the bunch till three laps to go, and then simply riding away from the bunch for a convincing win.

Ed Ballam rode very well too, and despite pulling his foot out of the pedal twice in the sprints, found himself in second place overall coming into the final race. He rode very strongly and hung on very well to hold on to second overall, out of about 18 riders from all over the country.

Also impressive was 13 year old Jonathan Sjolin who won the U14 Duathlon on Saturday and freewheel races on Sunday and Monday, as well as competing in the Mad Madison Cross on Monday. This event comprised over 200 riders of all abilities, all in teams of two, doing alternate laps of a cyclo-cross course that wound its way around the school site, off into the woods, and back into the main arena, ten laps for each team. With over 100 riders battling their way around the tight twisty course there were inevitable traffic jams on the first lap, but riders gradually sorted themselves out and great fun was had by all. Barry Denny was paired with veteran ace Tim Butler, who came through on lap one in fifth position, so Barry felt obliged to race hard to minimise lost places ~ he failed, but at the end of the ten lap race they were still in the top twenty. Meanwhile Alan Trolove was trying out a new ‘Alan’ cross bike, and paired with James Carpenter finished well up the order. Jonathan Sjolin was paired with another young rider and rode gallantly in this new discipline for him.

This year we had only one competitor in the main grass track events. Ian Pettitt rode Monday, preferring the shorter distance events. He recovered from a poor start in his 800m heat, having to clip his foot back in after pulling it out, to come from 8th to 3rd. Starting near the scratch position in the 500m handicap and moving through the riders ahead, he ran out of distance and finished fourth in the rush for the line. The day finished with a very respectable finish in the hotly contested Devil, surviving to half distance before elimination.

Ian Pettitt