(Photo- Pete Dyson on February 25th at the Bath CC Hilly)

Thanks to our new Time Trial Captain, Marianne Carpenter and her update below:

The season got off to an early start with our BCC Hilly Time Trial at Maiden Bradley (near Frome)
on Sunday 25th of February. We had 47 entries in total across the time trial bike/ road bike
categories, 8 of whom were women. 13 entries were from Bath CC members, with 8 of those making
it to the start line.
It was a cold but dry start, only getting a bit damp for the last few competitors who rode the fast
undulating course down to Mere village, tackling the stiff climb of Mere Hill before returning gently
downhill and through the Deverills, for a shortened finish at Longbridge Deverill. It was then back
to HQ to warm up with hot tea and an excellent spread of homemade cakes and sausage rolls –
kindly provided by various Bath CC members.

The prize giving saw Robert Francis (Team Bottrill) take 1st Open TT in 48:02 with the fastest Female TT going to Corinne Clark (360VRT) with 57:21.
Fastest Bath CC TT rider was Charles Thibault (52:53). Bath Amphibians Triathlon Club took 2nd
(Female TT bikes) and 1st and 2nd (Female Road bikes), with two first-timers gaining the prizes in
the road bikes category.

 

 

UPCOMING  TIME TRIAL EVENTS
Our next event is the fast (and flattish) Bath CC 10 mile Time Trial on May 12th. HQ will be at Nunney
Village Hall and I’d love to see a big club turnout, and especially a good number of women
competing. Don’t forget, if you are over 40, you also have the chance to win the Vet’s Prize based
on the fastest Age-Adjusted time – it’s not just about the overall fastest.

We also have a 25mi on June 9th (see below) with HQ at Maiden Bradley.

The West District has a season long competition called the ‘Hard rider Series’ with various events
included, where riders can accumulate series points over their best 6 scoring rides. Bath CC is
currently in 2nd team position for this behind Pronto, as per the standings after the third race
(Marshfield, 3rd March). The next events in the WTTA Hardrider Series are: Swindon (10/01),
Gillingham (18/03), Bristol South (24/03) Gloucester (28/04), Chippenham (02/06), and our very
own BathCC 25miler (09/06). The more BathCC riders we can get to these events, the better
chance of winning the Series!

NEW TO TIME TRIALS? HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…

• Firstly, they are very friendly events, and welcoming to first timers of ALL abilities. You are racing
against yourself to improve your time over the season. CTT is especially keen to get more
women involved, and there’s nearly always equal prize money on offer
• The governing body’s website, CyclingTimeTrials.org.uk has listings for all the time trials in the
UK, under the ‘Open Events’ tab. We fall within the WEST District, which means all of our routes
start with the code U followed by a number (the Hilly was U32R)
• Any BathCC member can ride in CTT events in any District
• You’ll need to enter a minimum of 10-14 days in advance of the event you’ve selected
• There are separate categories for Road bikes and for Time Trial bikes
• You must have working front and rear light attached to your bike and ride with a helmet on
• You can view the course (including elevation and distance) in advance on the website. Shortly
before the event, a Startsheet is published on the website, where you’ll see your race number
and start time.
• Turn up to the HQ in plenty of time. You’ll need to “sign on”, pick up your number, warm up and
ride to the start ready for your start time
• Riders get set off one minute apart, so you’ll likely be riding the whole course solo
• The course should be well marked, often with marshals at key junctions
• As you pass the finish, it’s good practice to shout out your number for the timekeeper
• DO NOT make a U turn within sight of the start line and do not warm up on the course once the
race has started
• Return to the HQ to “sign out”, have a cuppa and cake, and chat with your friends about how
much fun you had. You might even be picking up a prize!

 

Bath Cycling Club hosted a very successful Men’s Regional A and A Women’s National B Road Race on Sunday 13th August.  The race HQ was at the Bishop Sutton Football club, close to the bottom of the Stowey climb, the course was 8 laps of a 10km circuit.  1500m of climbing awaited the 138 competitors.

Men’s Regional A Race

A rain shower before the start of the Bath Cycling Club Road Races did not dampen the enthusiasm and anticipation of the 65 riders racing up Stowey 8 times.  The race was neutralised until the start of the lap, giving the riders almost a whole lap to get ready for the first racing climb.  Andrew Mouton of Bath CC made the first attack and picked up the points for the 73 Degrees KOM competition, but his attack only succeeded in distancing a few riders from the back of the peloton.  On the second lap Gabriel Dellar of Stolen Goat Race team pushed the pace, but this turned out to be a softening up exercise for the decisive move at the end of lap 3.  This is where Gabriel and Leo White of Reflex racing attacked at the bottom of the climb and formed the race winning move.   They had a lead of 30 seconds by the KOM point where Gabriel picked up the 7 points.

The two riders pushed hard for the next lap and opened an 80 second advantage by the time they got to the halfway point at the end of lap 4.  The race then stabilised for the next 2 ½ laps with the breakaway maintaining a gap of between 60 and 80 seconds over an ever-decreasing peloton.  Halfway around the 6th lap Andre Mouton and Renzo Casale of University of Bath tried a different tactic and attacked on one of the kickers 2 kms from the base of the climb.  The strategy worked and the peloton eased up and by the time they got to the bell they had a gap of one minute over the peloton, but they were unable to close the gap to the leaders.  At the front of the race Gabe decided to push on and leave his breakaway companion, he picked up the final 7 points in the KOM to take the win in that competition.

The leaders of the race held station over the final lap, and no one seem to have the energy to make a decisive move, with Gabe winning by 43 seconds from Leo.  Renzo got the better of Andre on the final climb to take the last place on the podium.  Darren Rider went long at the finish and had a 9 second advantage over Jack Ramsbottom of Caffi Gruff, who won the bunch sprint from the first junior, George Mahon of Poole Wheelers CC.

Men’s Race Strava Fly-bys

 

1 Gabriel Dellar 02:01:20 StolenGoat Race Team
2 Leo White 02:02:03 Reflex Racing
3 Renzo Casale 02:02:38 University of Bath Cycling Club
4 Andre Mouton 02:02:42 Bath Cycling Club
5 Darren Rider 02:03:12 BC Private Member
6 Jack Ramsbottom 02:03:21 Caffi Gruff
7 George Mahon 02:03:21 Poole Wheelers CC
8 Charlie Mactear 02:03:21 WestSide Coaching 73 Degrees
9 Sam Llewelyn 02:03:21 Clwb Beicio Egni Eryri
10 Oliver Tandy 02:03:21 Solihull CC
11 Thomas Bowden 02:03:23 Reflex Racing
12 James Pittard 02:03:23 WestSide Coaching 73 Degrees
13 Sam Shepherd 02:03:26 trainSharp Elite
14 Luke Brennan 02:03:29 BCC Race Team
15 Adam Millington 02:03:30 Contiki Velo Bavarian RT
16 James  Pearcy 02:03:33 Mid Devon CC
17 Timothy Jones 02:03:33 BC Private Member
18 Alexander Speirs 02:03:33 TAAP Endura
19 Liam Flannery 02:03:33 Team PB Performance
20 Harvey Thomas 02:03:38 Steele Davis Via Roma
21 Jonathan  Masters 02:03:39 University of Bath CC
22 George Wise 02:03:39 Saddleback Racing
23 Andrew Davenport 02:03:39 Team Tor 2000 KALAS
24 Charlie Lacaille 02:03:42 Velo Schils – Interbike RT
25 Philip Hopley 02:03:42 Bradford on Avon
26 Adam Baker 02:03:45 Royal Air Force CA
27 Alistair Gardner 02:03:45 Velo Club Venta
28 Iain Duffield 02:03:46 PMRR
29 Alexander Carley 02:03:46 BC Private Member
30 David Roper 02:03:52 Kalas Motip Race Team
31 Samuel Tillett 02:04:09 Reflex Racing
32 Will Duffy 02:04:13 Bath Cycling Club
33 Mathys Venter 02:12:22 Maindy Flyers CC
34 Matthew Franklin 02:18:30 Bristol RC
35 Connor Backhouse 02:18:40 trainSharp Development team
36 Joseph Staddon 02:23:05 Army Cycling Union
37 Corey Snell 02:30:24 Army Cycling Union
38 Louis Clarkson 02:30:24 Loughborough Students CC
39 Charlie Davis 02:30:24 North Devon Velo
40 Matthew Taylor 02:30:24 Army Cycling Union
41 Jos Kertzman 02:33:31 Somer Valley CC
42 Thomas Adby 02:52:40 Velo Club Venta
43 Tony Overington 02:55:36 Bath Cycling Club

 

Women’s National B Race

 A very high-quality field of 57 riders entered the 2nd running of the Bath Cycling Club Women’s National B Road Race.   The Women’s Race included the South, South West and Welsh Regional Championships, the Road.cc Queen of the Mountain Competition and the PDQ Coaching Team competition, so there was always going to be races within races and everyone fighting for their finishing position.

The peloton kept together for the first lap, and it wasn’t until the first QOM prime that the race came to life with Lucy Lee of DAS – Handsling Bikes getting the better of Awen Roberts of Liv Cycling Halo Films and the unattached Katherine Sheridan from the USA to win the 7 points for the 1st QOM prime.  These three would never be far apart for the rest of the race.

The impact of this burst of speed was to split the peloton into at least 4 groups, but with so many competitions on the line the riders fought to get back on .  And by the start of the next climb the peloton had swollen back to its original size, only to split once again as they climbed Stowey.   Each time there were QOM points on offer, Lucy Lee got the better of her opponents winning all 4.  The pace at the front would split the peloton on the hill.  But hard work around the rest of the course meant that by the halfway point there were still 27 riders in with a chance of victory.

The hill started to take its toll and slowly groups got distanced, by the last lap there were 17 riders left for the final climb to the line.   This time Awen Roberts got the better of Lucy Lee with Katerine Sheridan in 3rd place and Bexy Dew in 4th.

The winners of all the competitions were:

South West Championship

1st Tamsin Miller – Hutchinson-Brother UK

2nd Hannah Baynes – Saint Piran WRT

3rd Claire Pile – 05/03

South Championship

1st Bexy Dew – Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee

2nd Maddie Haywood – FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing

3rd Niamh Murphy – Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films

Welsh Junior Championship

1st Awen Roberts – Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films

Welsh Senior Championship

1st Lucy Lee – DAS – Handsling Bikes

2nd Amy Gornall – Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee

3rd Laura Furness – Army Cycling Union

QOM Prize

1st Lucy Lee – DAS – Handsling Bikes

PDQ Coaching Team Prize

1st Hutchinson Brother UK – 07:30:40

2nd Laka Pedal Mafia RT – 07:44:47

3rd Army Cycling Union – 08:05:03

4th FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing – 08:07:08

The combined services team best three rides Laura Furness, Pippa Inderwick and Sarah Toms  would have had a time of  7:43:23 and that would have been a good enough time for 2nd place – congratulations.

Sylivia Green Fighting Prize

This could have gone to any number of riders but was awarded to Rebecca Hair of Laka Pedal Mafia RT who fought 3 times to get back to the Peloton after being dropped on the climb.

Women’s Race Strava Fly-bys

1 Awen Roberts 02:29:58 Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
2 Lucy Lee 02:30:00 DAS – Handsling Bikes
3 Katherine Sheridan 02:30:00 Unattached
4 Bexy Dew 02:30:01 Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
5 Maddie Heywood 02:30:01 FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
6 Tamsin Miller 02:30:04 Hutchinson-Brother UK
7 Sannah Zaman 02:30:04 Hutchinson-Brother UK
8 Caitlin Dimbleby 02:30:08 Le Col Race Team
9 Amy Gornall 02:30:09 Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee
10 Alice Lethbridge 02:30:20 Loughborough Lightning
11 Olivia French 02:30:22 StolenGoat Race Team
12 Annamarie  Lipp 02:30:24 Saint Piran WRT
13 Savannah Morgan 02:30:27 BC Private Member
14 Penny Colloff 02:30:27 BC Private Member
15 Molly Patch 02:30:32 Hutchinson-Brother UK
16 Niamh Murphy 02:30:37 Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films
17 Marie-Louise Kertzman 02:30:47 FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
18 Rebecca Hair 02:33:51 LAKA Pedal Mafia RT
19 Laura Furness 02:33:54 Army Cycling Union
20 Lois Brewer 02:34:06 Ystwyth Cycling Club
21 Isabella Johnson 02:34:12 LAKA Pedal Mafia RT
22 Pippa Inderwick 02:34:27 Army Cycling Union
23 Sarah Toms 02:35:02 Royal Air Force CA
24 Laura Pittard 02:36:41 Brother UK-Orientation marketing
25 Rebecca Babbage 02:36:44 LAKA Pedal Mafia RT
26 Iona Mitchell 02:36:53 Brixton Cycles Club
27 Hannah Bayes 02:36:59 Saint Piran WRT
28 Jennifer Cynan Jones 02:37:20 Cardiff Ajax CC
29 Katie-Anne Calton 02:55:54 JRC-INTERFLON Race Team
30 Angela Laycock 02:56:42 Army Cycling Union
31 Claire Pile 02:56:42 05/03
32 Vivienne Tomlin 03:06:20 FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
33 Lisa Martin 03:19:42 05/03
34 Georgina Pasmore 03:44:20 FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing

Thank you to our photographers for creating such an amazing record of the event.  Their albums can be found at

Dave Dodge  www.pelotonpix.uk

Jonathon Lampard www.johnsphotography.co.uk

Ian Wrightson https://www.ianwrightsonphotography.co.uk/bath-rr-women-13-08-2023

Matt de B https://photos.mattdeb.photography/bath-cc-road-race-2023/

Thanks to the volunteers from Bath Cycling Club, British Cycling and Welsh Cycling for putting this event on, without whom this event would not have taken place.

David Stoyle

Bath Cycling Club

 

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

 

in action at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

Awen Roberts of Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films takes the win in the Women’s Race at the 2023 Bath CC Road Race.

An incredibly strong field turned up to the start line of the Bath CC Regional A Road Race ready to take on 8 laps of the Stowey circuit.   With 78% of the riders in the field being 2nd category and 44 of the 80  under 23, everyone believed they had a chance of winning the race.   The weather was perfect and everything was set for a blistering fast race.

The race was deneutralised on the ascent of Stowey – Tom Williams of NoPinz Motip Race Team (and also 2nd claim Bath CC) attacked from the gun, opening up a 15 second lead.  A small group containing Archie Cross of Bristol RC and Ben Stockdale of Cotswold Cycles RT tried to bridge across but could not close the gap.  The peloton were a further 25 seconds behind.

At the end of the first lap Tom was caught by 3 riders, this slowly increased as Ben Millar of Primera-TeamJobs, Ewan Warren of Mid Devon CC and Joe Griffiths of SCOTT Racing also made the juncture.  By the end of the 2nd lap the break had grown to 11 and the gap had increased to a minute.  With the major teams of Nopinz Motip Race Team, Primera-TeamJobs, Cotswold Cycles RT and Foran CCC being represented, it was up to the individuals in the chasing pack of 50 riders to coordinate themselves.

The leading group had the 73 Degrees KOM competition to think about and Ben Millar, Ben Stockdale and Tom Williams shared the points on Laps 1 and 3 after which Ben Stockdale had a small lead over Tom with Ben Millar in 3rd.

The lack of coordination in the bunch meant that the gap kept extending by 20 seconds a lap until it reached a peak of just over 2 minutes after 5 laps.   A few riders tried to bridge across Matthew Clayton of Bath Uni tried on lap 2 and got close, Will Duffy of Bath CC was out in front for a lap with a 25 second lead – but still 20 seconds behind the leading group.

The 73 Degrees KOM competition was still going on with points every other lap.  Ben Millar obviously decided that this was his competition and took maximum points on the 5th and 7th laps to win this competition with 21 points ahead of Ben Stockdale on 17.

After 5 laps the break started to look at each other and slowed from 14min 15 second laps (43km/hr) to 15minute laps(40km/hr).  The peloton increased their speed and started to close the gap,and  by the end of the 7th lap they were only one minute behind and closing rapidly.

The breakaway kept on pushing on the final lap and still held their minute advantage going into the final corner and heading up Stowey for the 9th time.

Tom Williams held his nerve and power and finished with a devastating burst of over 10 w/kg for the last 70 seconds to take the win in a time of 1 hr 59min 12 secs (line to line) from Ewan Warren Mid Devon CC in 2nd place,  Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs in 3rd and Irfan Zaman Spirit BSS in 4th.  Alexandre Touche of Pontypool RCC and Scott Redding of SRCT MUC-OFF made a push from the Peloton to almost catch the break but came up a few seconds short.

Matthew Gilmour Velo Club Venta, Will Duffy Bath Cycling Club and Morgan Curle Pronto Bikes were the strongest of the bunch and finished 14th, 15th and 16th respectively.

 

 

A strava effort comparison for 8 laps of Stowey – Morgan Curle is the black line and represents the bunch.

I have looked back at the history of races that have been run on this circuit and using strava data from the 8 Laps of Stowey, it would appear that this is the quickest ever race up Stowey, just under 2 minutes quicker than 2019 and a full 6 1/2 minutes quicker than the National B’s from 2016 (it has to be said that they were 10 lap races and raced in March).

Bath CC Regional A Aug 2022  01:59:12 – Av Speed 41km/hr  – Won by Tom Williams

Bath CC Regional A July 2021  02:03:26 – Av Speed 39.5km/hr – Won by

Bath CC Regional A August 2019 02:01:04 – Av Speed 40.4km/hr – Won by Hayden Burton

Severn Bridge Road Race National B March 2016 (First 8 of 10 Laps) – 02:05:50 (38.9km/hr) – Conor Swift’s time

Severn Bridge Road Race National B  March 2015 (First 8 of 10 Laps) – 02:09:10 (37.9km/hr) – Rory Townsend’s time

Bristol South Road Race Regional B March 2019- 02:20:42 (34.8km/hr) – Rob Pear’s Winning Time

Bristol South Road Race Regional B March 2018 – 02:13:33 (36.6km/hr) – Andrew Kirby’s Winning Time

This data is all from Strava and subjected to strava and gpx file errors.

Not only was it an incredibly fast race, but also strength in depth with 55 of the 75 starters making it to the finish within touching distance of the front of the race – Congratulations to all who took on the race.

Foran CC won the team competition with 51 points just ahead of Primera-TeamJobs with 54 points

Thanks to our Sponsors – Abel + Imray, NoPinz Motip Race Team, Pronto Bikes, 73 Degrees -, the commissaires Diane and Steve Marshall and Pete Deamer, NEG, Accredited Marshalls and 20 volunteers from Bath CC for putting on this event.

Thanks to Dave Atkinson of road.cc for the photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vmaLkUvCAu2xWS1n7

The results are at

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vT9sQfY6kRKHL4QW-cGZ_bUpx0y64LZZnS_LtyQOfCNF0oo2Ssry45w2-Vpsw_nm1fvjuNXr3bo6arX/pubhtml

 

 

Pos Lap Num Name Club Cat Junior Local
1 37 Tom Williams Nopinz Motip Race Team 2U23L 1
2 33 Ewan Warren Mid Devon CC 2U23
3 43 Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr
4 56 Irfan Zaman Spirit BSS 2U23
5 87 Eugine Cross Velo Schils 2Snr
6 21 Ben Stockdale Cotswold Cycles RT 2Snr
7 83 Dom Jackson Foran CCC 2Snr
8 12 Archie Cross Bristol RC 2SnrL 2
9 39 Michael Cunliffe Paceline RT 2Snr
10 54 Joe Griffiths SCOTT Racing 2SnrL 3
11 84 Thomas Springbett Foran CCC 2Snr
12 86 Alexandre Touche Pontypool RCC 3Snr
13 57 Scott Redding SRCT MUC-OFF 2SnrL 4
14 75 Matthew Gilmour Velo Club Venta 2J 1
15 7 Will Duffy Bath Cycling Club 2U23L 5
16 48 Morgan Curle Pronto Bikes 2U23L 6
17 45 George Skinner Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr
18 70 Andrew Kirby University of Bristol CC 2SnrL 7
19 15 Tom Palfrey Caffi Gruff 2U23
20 67 Matthew Clayton University of Bath Cycling Club 2U23
21 69 James Brown University of Bristol CC 2U23
22 16 Jack Ramsbottom Caffi Gruff 2U23
23 34 Felix Whetter Mid Devon CC 2J 2
24 6 Jamie Gostick Banjo Cycles/Raceware 2J 3
25 73 Conor Williams VC Londres 2J 4
26 27 Guy Blowfield Gateway Racing 3Snr
27 31 Connor Backhouse Kingston Wheelers CC 2U23
28 71 Charlie Lacaille University of Bristol CC 2Snr
29 19 Sam Andrews Clash Racing 3SnrL 8
30 17 Dafydd Wright Caffi Gruff 2U23
31 20 Henry Eve Cotswold Cycles RT 3U23
32 85 Tom Andrews Team Lifting Gear Products 2Snr
33 25 George Mitchell Foran CCC 2Snr
34 44 Ashley Newman Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr
35 9 Jamie Whitcher BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE 2J 5
36 63 Jack Dallyn Team Tor 2000 Kalas 2U23
37 36 David Roper Nopinz Motip Race Team 2SnrL 9
38 24 Joe Monk Exeter Wheelers 2U23
39 80 Darren Rider 2U23
40 13 Rhys (Iorwerth) Evans Caffi Gruff 2U23
41 26 Thomas Bowden FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing 2U23
42 47 Oliver Winwood Bratchell Primera-TeamJobs 2U23
43 10 Philip Hopley Bradford on Avon 3SnrL 10
44 78 Harry Lock Ward WheelZ 2Snr
45 29 Sean Dawson INFLITE 2Snr
46 66 Luke Protheroe UF Rowe & King 2U23
47 58 Harvey Thomas Steele Davis Via Roma Racing Team 3JL 6 11
48 5 Thomas Munn Avid 3J 7
49 53 Daryl Maffey Scarborough Coast Cycle Club 2Snr
50 41 George Cottrell Poole Wheelers CC 2J 8
51 88 Oscar Pratt Saint Piran Development 2Jnr 9
52 2 Glyndwr Griffiths 73Degrees CC 2SnrL 12
53 76 Oscar Hoult Velo Club Venta 3J 10
54 82 Adam Fletcher Bristol RC 3Snr
55 79 Finley Reddington 3U23L 13
56 50 Robert Lewis Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 2Snr
57 81 Ole Henrik Bang-Andreasen TRINITY Road Racing 2Snr
58 72 Nick Day University of Nottingham SCC 2U23
59 42 Ross Finlay Portishead Cycling Club 3SnrL 14
60 28 Matt Bailey High Wycombe Cycling Club 2Snr
61 49 Ross Mallen Royal Air Force CA 2Snr
62 30 William Piccin-White JRC-INTERFLON Race Team 2J 11
63 14 Isaac Henley Caffi Gruff 2U23
64 32 Alex Royal Mickey Cranks CC 2Snr
65 74 Sam Rutty Velo Club Bristol 3U23
66 52 Hugh Madeley Saint Piran Development 3Snr
67 1 George Whitlock 1st Chard Whls 4Snr
68 59 Lewis Rogers Switch Racing 3SnrL 15
69 35 Elliot Tappin Nopinz Motip Race Team 3U23
70 18 Ollie Morgan Cardiff University 2U23
71 23 Bryn Davies Embark – Bikestrong 2U23
72 61 Tom Sharples Team PB Performance 2U23
73 62 Galahad Bland Team Tor 2000 Kalas 3U23L 16
74 51 Tobias Coates Saint Piran Development 2SnrL 17

73 Degrees KOM Competition

Pos Num Name Club Cat Points
1 43 Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr 21
2 21 Ben Stockdale Cotswold Cycles RT 2Snr 17
3 37 Tom Williams Nopinz Motip Race Team 2U23L 8
4 12 Archie Cross Bristol RC 2SnrL 7
5 33 Ewan Warren Mid Devon CC 2U23 5
6 56 Irfan Zaman Spirit BSS 2U23 4
7 39 Michael Cunliffe Paceline RT 2Snr 1
8 83 Dom Jackson Foran CCC 2Snr 1

 

Lap 1
21 Ben Stockdale Cotswold Cycles RT 2Snr 7
37 Tom Williams Nopinz Motip Race Team 2U23L 5
56 Irfan Zaman Spirit BSS 2U23 3
12 Archie Cross Bristol RC 2SnrL 1

 

Lap 3
43 Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr 7
21 Ben Stockdale Cotswold Cycles RT 2Snr 5
37 Tom Williams Nopinz Motip Race Team 2U23L 3
83 Dom Jackson Foran CCC 2Snr 1

 

Lap 5
43 Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr 7
21 Ben Stockdale Cotswold Cycles RT 2Snr 5
12 Archie Cross Bristol RC 2SnrL 3
39 Michael Cunliffe Paceline RT 2Snr 1

 

Lap 7
43 Ben Millar Primera-TeamJobs 2Snr 7
33 Ewan Warren Mid Devon CC 2U23 5
12 Archie Cross Bristol RC 2SnrL 3
56 Irfan Zaman Spirit BSS 2U23 1

 

Pos TEAM Points
1 Foran CCC 51
2 Primera-TeamJobs 54
3 University of Bristol CC 67
4 Caffi Gruff 71

Today, a field of 34 female starters women set out on the Stowey circuit to compete for the win.  Thank you to our Sponsors Abel + Imray, NoPinz Motip Race Team, Pronto Bikes and 73 degrees we were able to offer a prize fund of over £1,000.   With £250 prize money up for grabs for first place, and an equal distance to the men’s race in the morning, there was a very strong field of female riders, including previous national road race champion – Jo Tindley.

In the burning heat, the relentless grind up Stowey Hill 8 times over was no easy feat, and the front bunch did fantastically to maintain consistent lap times, ranging from approx. 16-18 minutes per lap throughout the whole race.

The riders finished their first lap as 1 practically complete group, the QOM points at the top of the climb were taken by Jessica Finney of CAMS-BASSO.  This acceleration started what can only described as a form of erosion, leaving a leading bunch of around 16 women as others gradually dropped off the back during lap 2.

By the beginning of lap 3, the front group was 1 minute and 30 seconds ahead of the other riders – a lead which only expanded to become 2 minutes 10 seconds by the end of the lap. During lap 3, rider 37 (Miriam Bullock of Grinta Coaching) from the front bunch was dropped behind the commissarie’s car, but put in an almighty effort to rejoin the front group, closing at least a 150m solo.

Yet despite this effort to catch the pack, Miriam was dropped again from the bunch during lap 4, along with Laura Senior representing team Laka Pedal Mafia RT

 

Yet both put out some hefty power and closed down more than 250m to hunt down the leading riders before yet another bash up Stowey Hill.

In spite of (or perhaps because of) the sheer effort required to rejoin the front bunch for a second time, Miriam was dropped again at the top of Stowey Hill. Having gasped between sharp intakes of breath on the previous lap that she “couldn’t keep up” this chasing for much longer, I thought this could be it for her. But it was not so! They pulled out yet another thrashing effort to rejoin the bunch and – amazingly – were successful at doing so.

Yet on the 5th climb up ‘ol Stowey Hill, Miriam was finally dropped by the leading bunch for good. After showing stellar resilience and pure, grit-teethed determination, it seemed that she had finally blown up after 3 rounds of chasing. But what power and perseverance she left out on that road.    Jessica Finney of CAMS Basso made it 3 wins out of 3 on the QOM – and was guaranteed a win in that competition.

Laura was also dropped on the climb, along with Bianchi rider Tamsin Miller, who’s hopes of success were unfortunately scuppered by a gear-related mechanical as she ground almost to a halt up the steep ascent whilst the bunch pulled excruciatingly away.

Lap 6 saw the leading bunch – now reduced to 12 – secure a 4 minute lead over the remaining bunch of chasers, with Miriam and Rosie Wayland of  FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing appearing to struggle towards the end of the lap.

True to this, the beginning of lap 7 Jessica’s efforts in the QOM competition saw her join Rosie, and Finish Line RT’s Bexie  & Miriam Jessett just off the back of the front of the bunch.

The group worked together to bring back a rapidly extending gap, catching the bunch just on the approach to Stowey Hill bottom, ahead of the final lap.

On the 7th time up Stowey, Ella Maclean-Howell of Tofauti Everyone Active took the final QOM win to finish in 2nd place 1 point behind Jessica.

Lap 8 saw Bexy Dew, off the back of the front group for good, despite her best efforts to try and stay with them up Stowey Hill. Her teammate 51, however, managed to say with the bunch for the remainder of the race, making her and Bexy’s earlier team effort worth while. At this point, the leading bunch had a 6 minute and 30 sending lead on the remainder of the bunch, with 8 riders comprising the group. Team Brother London’s Lucy Lee and Alex Morrice headed the front of the race during the final lap, hinting their intention to maintain such positions across the finish line.

During the final climb to the finish line – one last push up the mammoth (by this time mountainous) Stowey Hill – the group remained together. We waited for someone to pounce – but they remained calm. Only halfway up did the inkling of positions become apparent, with Alex Morrice leading the group by a margin. But by the final corner, the podium positions were clear as day, with Alex maintaing first place, from Jo Tinfley in 2nd place and junior Ella Maclean-Howell of  Tofauti Everyone Active . Lucy Lee slid down the group as they approached the top of the hill, having done her bit to assist Alex in getting the win.

They crossed the line, welcomed by cheering and applaud, and Alex Morrice won her first National road race.

With two riders in the top 10, Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen won the “NoPinz Motip Race Team” team competition.  A battling performance by Amy Marks of Team LDN – Brother UK helped them to second place  with the fighting performances of all three of the LAKA Pedal Mafia RT team Laura Senior, Marie-Louise Kertzman and Penny Colloff secured 3rd place.

All the women did fantastically to set such a high standard of racing on this brutal course in such sweltering weather conditions, and it was a pleasure to witness this safe, powerful race from the commisaire’s car.

Congratulations to every participant – recover well from that leg basher!

Maddi

Thanks to Dave Atkinson of road.cc for the photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vmaLkUvCAu2xWS1n7

South Regional Championship

1st Nicole Coates    Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar

2nd Bexy Dew            Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen

3rd Rosie Wayland   FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing

 

South West Regional Championship

1st Amber Harding  Loughborough Lightning

2nd Tamsin Miller     BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO

3rd Jenny Bolsom    Saint Piran WRT

 

 

Pos Num Name Club Cat
1 53 Alex Morrice Team LDN – Brother UK 2U23
2 46 Jo Tindley Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen ESnr
3 57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J
4 22 Amber Harding Loughborough Lightning 2U23
5 40 Lucy Harris Team Bompod ESnr
6 15 Nicole Coates Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar 1U23
7 34 Sannah Zaman Brother UK-Orientation Marketing 2U23
8 54 Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK ESnr
9 9 Bexy Dew Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen 2Snr
10 5 Rosie Wayland FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing 3Snr
11 37 Miriam Bullock Grinta Coaching 2Snr
12 51 Miriam Jessett StolenGoat Race Team 2U23
13 39 Laura Senior LAKA Pedal Mafia RT 2Snr
14 4 Jessica Finney CAMS-Basso ESnr
15 3 Amye Kellow BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO 2J
16 56 Maddie Heywood Team Watto-LDN 2Snr
17 60 Millie Skinner Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen 2Snr
18 35 Anna Murgatroyd Cowley Road Condors 2Snr
19 41 Marie-Louise Kertzman LAKA Pedal Mafia RT 2Snr
20 7 Emma O’Toole Nopinz Motip Development Team 2Snr
21 32 Bethany Barnett AWOL- O’Shea 2U23
22 42 Penny Colloff LAKA Pedal Mafia RT 2Snr
23 48 Emily Chilton Saint Piran WRT 2Snr
24 58 Charlotte Berry Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus ESnr
25 44 Nicola Lovell Nopinz Motip Development Team 2Snr
26 2 Olive Holliday Avid Sport 2Snr
27 33 Eva Callinan AWOL- O’Shea 2U23
28 20 Tamsin Miller BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO 2U23
29 47 Charlotte Gibson Saint Piran WRT 2U23
30 52 Amy Marks Team LDN – Brother UK 2Snr
31 49 Gabriella Homer Saint Piran WRT 1U23
32 21 Jenny Bolsom Saint Piran WRT 3Snr
33 6 Vivienne Tomlin FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing 3Snr

PRONTO BIKES QOM – COMPETITION

Pos Num Name Club Cat Points
1 4 Jessica Finney CAMS-Basso ESnr 21
2 57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J 20
3 53 Alex Morrice Team LDN – Brother UK 2U23 9
4 15 Nicole Coates Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar 1U23 6
5 40 Lucy Harris Team Bompod ESnr 5
6 54 Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK ESnr 2
7 34 Sannah Zaman Brother UK-Orientation Marketing 2U23 1

 

4 Jessica Finney CAMS-Basso ESnr 7
15 Nicole Coates Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar 1U23 5
57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J 3
54 Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK ESnr 1

 

Lap 3
4 Jessica Finney CAMS-Basso ESnr 7
57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J 5
53 Alex Morrice Team LDN – Brother UK 2U23 3
15 Nicole Coates Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar 1U23 1

 

Lap 5
4 Jessica Finney CAMS-Basso ESnr 7
57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J 5
53 Alex Morrice Team LDN – Brother UK 2U23 3
34 Sannah Zaman Brother UK-Orientation Marketing 2U23 1

 

Lap 7
57 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active 2J 7
40 Lucy Harris Team Bompod ESnr 5
53 Alex Morrice Team LDN – Brother UK 2U23 3
54 Lucy Lee Team LDN – Brother UK ESnr 1

 

NoPinz Motip Race Team – Team Competition

Pos TEAM Points
1 Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen 28
2 Team LDN – Brother UK 39
3 LAKA Pedal Mafia RT 54
4 Saint Piran WRT 83

Bath CC Road Races – Womens National B and Mens Regional A

Bath Cycling Club are hosting a Womens National B (Elite, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Category) and Mens Regional A Road Race (2nd, 3rd and 4th category) on Sunday 7th August 7th on the Stowey course.  The womens race will incorporate the South and South West regional championships. 

The racing takes place on the hilly Stowey circuit with 8 laps and 1300m of climbing it always makes for an exciting, dynamic race.   The details of the route are at

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30629975

Thanks to our sponsors Abel + Imray, 73 Degrees, Pronto Bikes and NopinzMotip Race team we are able to offer a generous prize pot for the womens race with £1,000 worth of prizes and a £250 first prize for the women’s National B Road Race. 

In a sport which has made headlines in recent years for mens races having more prize money than womens races, Abel + Imray are proud to fund the prizes for the womens race, with the goal of helping to develop womens cycling in the region. Abel + Imray are a local firm of patent and trade mark attorneys who champion diversity and inclusivity in everything we do.

The mens race in the morning has a full field of 80 riders and with over 75% of them 2nd category riders and more than half U23 and Junior it should make for a very fast exciting race.

There are almost 50 riders in the Women’s race and we have managed to attract a star studded field including last years National Champion Jo Tindley.  There are riders from the following teams

Abingdon Race Team
Avid Sport
AWOL- O’Shea
BIANCHI HUNT MORVELO
Brother UK-Orientation Marketing
CAMS-Basso
Cowley Road Condors
FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing
Grinta Coaching
LAKA Pedal Mafia RT
Loughborough Lightning
Nopinz Motip Development Team
Oxford University Cycling Club
Portishead Cycling Club
Pro-Noctis – Rotor – Redchilli Bikes presented by Heidi Kjeldsen
Saint Piran WRT
StolenGoat Race Team
Team LDN – Brother UK
Team Watto-LDN
The Ark Cycles
Tofauti Everyone Active
Torelli-Cayman-Islands-Scimitar

Entries are still open for the women’s race – please enter at

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/256373/Bath-CC-Road-Race—Womens-National-B-Regional-Championship-South–South-West-Regions-Mens-Regional-A-Support-Race#gsc.tab=0 

The full race manual and start sheet can be seen at

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lQlLvStP–9pe0MuirFczLUo55v8iqkV/view?usp=sharing 

Bring your cowbells and come and support the men and women riding up Stowey……

2022 Bath Event Dates for your diaries and training plans:

  • 20th March ‘Spring Hilly’ U32R, also confirmed as part of the WTTA Hardriders Series
  • 2nd April Bath 10mile TT on the U375
  • 15th May Bath 25mile TT on the U370
  • 9th October Bath Hill Climb

For 2022 both the 10 and 25 mile TTs will have separate entry and prizes for road bikes.

All the rides are now available to see and sign up on Cycling Time Trials!

As well as the usual call for helpers and marshals that make these events possible, it’d be great to see lots of riders in Bath colours.

As the evenings start drawing in and the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, it’s time to think about some indoor pain. The new season of the Zwift Racing League starts 25 September for 8 weeks. Read all about the ZRL. ZRL runs on a Tuesday night. We also have the option of resurrecting our TTT squads for Thursday evenings.

Register your interest now!

You can read all about our Virtual Racing here.

Bath CC held a very successful Cotswold League road race on July 25th. The race was held on the the hilly Stowey circuit. The 8 laps are only 80kms long but with 1500m of climbing this is always an attritional race. Despite the forecast, the weather was kind to us although warm and humid there was only a few light spots of rain before the race and a little drizzle during the race to keep the riders cool.
Thanks to all the riders for keeping the race safe, there were no accidents and the whole atmosphere of the race was friendly and welcoming. The race was dominated by U23 and Junior riders, they made up 28 of the field but 9 of them finished in the top 12 and 14 in the top 20 – well done to all of them.
Ben Stockdale (Cotswold Trek) was the most aggressive rider and attacked on the first lap and soon opened up a gap of 15 seconds. Over the top of the climb for the 2nd time, Ben was joined in the break by Oliver Hurdle (Southampton Uni) and William Lewis (RE VO LTN). The three riders worked well together and over the next 4 laps they opened up a gap of over 2 minutes over the rest of the field.
Ben won the first 3 of the 4 KOM climbs to win the 73 Degrees KOM competition. But the exertions were starting to take the toll and with 3 laps to go the gap had reduced to 30 seconds. At that point Samuel Tillett (BIKESTRONG-KTM) and Matthew Houlberg (Meudon Pedal Heaven Le Col RT) took their opportunity and bridged across to the break.
Will Lewis couldn’t hold on to the increased pace of the break and dropped back to the peloton. On the final climb Oliver and Ben could not compete with the fresher legs of Sam and Matthew who came to the finish together 15 seconds ahead of Oliver . Sam beat Matthew in the sprint for the line with Oliver and Ben holding off the reduced peloton. David Roper of 24-7 attacked on the final lap and finished 5th. James Alexander (Beeston Cycling Club) won the bunch sprint for 6th place.
Thank you to all the members of Bath CC volunteers, accredited marshalls, NEG bike riders and commissaires for making this event happen. And thank you to 73Degreesbicycleshop for sponsoring the KOM competition.

Normally at this time of year we can meet up on a ride, over a coffee or a beer and have a chance to chat about our plans and goals.  I always find this a fun part of the year an really inspirational to hear what everyone is planning to do, and I am sure adjust my plans and goals to match.  This year we can’t meet up so I thought that I would try and do it virtually, a major Zoom meeting would not work, so I thought that I would create a wall of inspiration.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed and pinned their colours to the mast.  All welcome to contribute whether your goal is to get out on the 25 mile social ride more often or win yet another national champions jersey – please please send me your photo and goals – would be great to have every member of the club on the wall.

Peter Wilson

Me and Janet joined in 81 after moving from Liverpool. I have been Treasurer and President and promoted many TTs for the Club. My proudest achievement for the Club was researching club records and compiling the Record Book followed by the electronic version. There is a VTTA West Memorial Trophy for Janet in recognition of 14 years as their Secretary. Janet won 4 National VTTA BARs and held many National age records. I earned 5 straight BAR Certificates, best place 96th and finished 9th in the National 24. I also have a 100 mile VTTA Champion jersey. I am now really pleased to see how well the Club is doing both as an organisation and for individual performances. My target is to pin a number on and beat evens. If you pass a guy in the old Bath shirt offer him a back wheel.

Photo – Pete in Mallorca wearing Janet’s shirt

 

Janet Wilson wearing the Bath CC “Once” Shirt – this was the Bath CC Club kit from the early 1990s until 2009.

Nigel Sherwen

I joined Bath CC back in 1980 and since then I have joined club runs and eventually was a group leader, with one or two incidents of getting the group lost in the pre-Garmin era!  I also rode time trials, some sportives and enjoyed about six annual club trips to Mallorca, but no racing.  Last April I had a successful operation for suspected lung cancer, but actually it turned out to be lymphoma.  My wife bought me a turbo for my pre operation and recovery.  Paul Dale encouraged me to join Zwift and this has been really enjoyable and helpful in keeping me reasonably fit, particularly in lockdown times.  I have even completed several races, in category D of course!  My wife also uses the turbo as much as me and we managed a holiday in Alicante Province in the autumn where we had great cycling and walking. I do hope to get out on the real road again in April and hopefully another Spanish trip in the autumn if possible.

Aileen Brown – Committee Member

Racing is history for me. My idea of a perfect day out is a sociable ride with club-mates, coming home with tired legs & a good appetite. It’s so much easier to push yourself through the hard bits whether that be burning legs or a block headwind when you’re riding with mates. Normally my goal would be one of the week-long continental ‘Raids’ which average 100 miles & 3000m climbing each day but I’m not banking on a continental holiday being an option any time soon so I’ll settle for club rides, camaraderie, coffee & café.

Andre Mouton

I grew up in a cycling-obsessed home and did my first race when I was 7. 28 years later and the obsession is as bad as ever. My best performances include a 5th place in the U9 South African national road race championships and I once did a week-long UCI stage race (but was mocked by the race announcer over the loudspeaker for finishing so far behind in the first stage). Unfortunately, I have the physiological make-up of an 86 year old woman so I’m well past my prime and these sorts of performances are now only a thing of my dreams. My more recent achievements include a broken femur, 4 pelvic fractures, a crushed vertebra and many uncomfortable hours in the saddle. I’ve temporarily retired from racing but have my eye on a return in 2025, when I can join the masters ranks. My main goals for 2021 are to complain less, listen to my body more and to take time off when I’m injured. On second thoughts, I’ll probably just ride through it.

Andy Hicks – Chairman

I am hoping that COVID restrictions will be lifted enough to make British Masters Cycle Racing events possible at some point in 2021. If events can take place, I will target races within driving distance of Bath, to avoid overnight stays, that include my age group category “H” (75-79). If that is not possible, I will try to do some evening 10 mile Time Trials and a 25 mile TT.

In any case, I hope to participate in Bath CC Sunday & Mid-Week Club Runs

My “Palmares”:

  • Percy Stallard National Road Race Series Champion 2010 in age group
  • BMCR (formerly LVRC) National Road Race Champion 2013 and 2015 in age group
  • Southern Counties Road Race Series Champion in age group (points awarded over 7 races) in 2006, 2011 & 2015
  • 40 individual Road Race wins in age group since 2005
  • National BMCR (LVRC) Time Trial Champion in age group in 2013 and 2020
  • Fastest “10” 22.14 in 2011, Fastest “25” 59.28 in 2015 (finally getting “under the hour” after a 1 hour 1 minute 1 second time at age 16)
  • Winner of “Redmon Gentleman’s 2-Up” with Colin Parkinson in 2015 (narrowly beaten by Michael Hutchinson & partner in 2014)
  • Winner “On Standard” of Southern Counties Cyclists Union “25” 2016

James Dobbin

 

I enjoyed reading all the posts on the Bath CC wall, so was inspired to write mine. I don’t have a recent photo of me on bike, so this one in a canoe is the next best thing.

I’ve found that the Covid crisis has made me appreciate cycling even more and the amazing countryside that surrounds us. Instead of the majority of my cycling being commuting to Bristol on the cycle track, its been wonderful evening rides on roads that are much quieter than usual. My favourite evening ride goes from where I live in Fairfield Park, out to the south via Lyncombe Hill, Entry Hill, Midford, Norton St Philip, Wingfield, Bradford on Avon, Turleigh, Winsley, Bradford, Sally in the Wood road to Bathford and then home, a 25 mile loop.

In the winter I’ve found myself going out biking quite late in the evenings and after a day working at home its so nice to get outside. I remember a ride one eve last November lockdown, I went out about 10pm (zero traffic!) and it was a bright moon and a starry sky. I was biking up the hill towards Turleigh from Bradford on Avon at what must have been about 11pm, I stopped at the top and there was a tawny own hooting in the tree next to me, the valley looked amazing in the moonlight and I thought to myself how cool it was to be out on bike.

I don’t have any amazing ambitions for 2021, but I very much hope to get out with Bath CC for some Sunday rides and nice cafes! I hope to get my Hollies Lane hill time down from 5:39 (the hill up to Charmy Down from Northend). I’d like to get my Bradford on Avon ride time down from 1:18.

Chris Deane – Communications Officer

Into my 5th year of addiction to cycling. As well as loving Bath CC Saturday and Sunday rides, I’ve dabbled in cyclocross and gravel. I have been an ‘avid’ Zwifter since 2017, clocking up almost 55,000km indoors to date. Now I’m longing for some IRL challenges, having already had to cancel 4 overseas trips since COVID struck. The image here is of Jon Corp and me in The Peak District last July when we should have been in the Cevennes and up Ventoux. My long-term goal is to return to the UCI Gran Fondo worlds now I have gone up an age group (60+). It looks like Italy 2022 will have to be the target now. Other than that I’ll ride my bike for any reason as long as keep enjoying it.

Chris Truman

I’ve always cycled, but only became a cyclist 10 years ago, after I turned 40. My goal initially was to get fit, then this progressed to get faster and have some fun along the way. I love the fact there are so many opportunities to get technical with equipment and training – I can change set-up on my TT bike, I can fuse technology with training on indoor platforms like Zwift, I can analyse a whole load of data and I can devise training plans to combat my many weaknesses. I get far too nervous before any kind of race (including the Saturday pacelines!) and 2020 was going to be the year I addressed this by doing more of them! I also fancied a go at cyclocross, and at some point before I get too old I’d like to do a road race. When the world returns to normal I’d like to get round the paceline route with the ultra talented fast boys by optimising my wheel sucking skills!

Claire Phillips

Right now my priority is to remain fit and to enjoy cycling as a release after/ during a stressful week without looking too hard at statistics.
However I do want to keep up with valued cycling friends at BCC when allowed.
For now I’m ticking along with a combination of rides outside plus trainer road and Zwift indoors ( even been racing- who would have guessed!)
Looking to the future I’m hoping to join in with others – 100 milers and weekends away ; short trips away with Peter and the tent and my new gravel bike and I’d love to dream about a group trip to Mallorca in October (??). Then maybe a Europe touring trip next year .. possibly join the Stoyle’s in SA 2022 when our youngest child will have left home..? Lots to keep fit for !

 

 

Dan Miles

 ..my plans will be to cycle up the Hardknott Pass and Great Dun Fell in the Lake District, (not sure international objectives will be any good for a while), going in the summer. Also to ride a total of 25000km in 2021, that’s Zwift km and actual km combined.

 

 

 

 

Dan Soltys

After a couple of years joining the darkside and racing Triathlons, I’m motivated to focus all my efforts on cycling this year. I’ve been based in Bath since I started uni here in 2014, but have only started riding seriously with Bath CC in the last 18 months or so.
This year I have been selected onto the Royal Navy road team so my major goal for the season is the inter-services road race in September (where I will be on domestique duty!). Personally, though, my goal is to upgrade to Cat 2 this year. In the short term, I’m finding motivation through e-racing in the Zwift Racing League and I am looking forward to the upcoming inter-services e-racing champs in March. Can’t wait for a good smash-fest on the Saturday paceline when the covid rules allow us to again!

 

 

Darren Gardner

I started my cycling journey in Zimbabwe when the rugby injuries started to take their toll. I immediately fell in love with the sport and especially racing my bike. I had a long break when I moved to the UK I could not imagine going out in the weather 😂 but eventually I bought a bike and started to ride again and my love for cycling grew stronger. I still try to race as much as I can more for the taking part and helping the team than winning (probably because I don’t have the legs) this year I had an opportunity to sign up to do an organised ride of 8 stages of the Tour de France https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DarrenJHGardner something I have always wanted to do and hopefully raise some money for a good cause! It has already been pushed back until September but I am training for it as there are some big days in the saddle. To keep me motivated at the moment I am enjoying our club racing and riding together as a BathCC team on zwift and as often as I can try to get out into the fresh air and beauty of the Spanish countryside and be thankful for being able to ride and enjoy all 12 of my bikes….. yes 12 of them with one more on order 😂😂

 

 

David Oliver – Club Captain

I have two cycling ambitions for 2021 and beyond.

Firstly, I would like BCC to be a broad church providing a wide range of opportunities for all types of riders from young to old, from social to racing and from short to long rides in a wide range of locations.  I have a number of thoughts to build on what we do already.  They include longer rides from Bath on a Sunday, away days on a Sunday where we drive 30 miles or so to a start point to give access to new roads, long weekends to UK destinations and week long trips to some of the fantastic locations around Europe.  Obviously all of this is dependent on COVID restrictions.

My second ambition is entirely personal.  I do not want to ride every day as I have a lot of non cycling interests and ambitions but I do want to do the things above and I want to be fit enough to ride with the people that I want to ride with and be able to talk to them at the same time!

 

 

David Stoyle – Vice Chairman

I would love to be able to repeat photos like this – so want to focus on my form and fitness to be competitive in masters racing.  So as soon as possible I am hoping to compete in BC and BMCR Road Races, if that is not possible I shall enter a few TTs.

I am also going to make enough time to go on some long bike packing and touring trips, would love to say when or where but that is going to have to wait a month or two.   I have a goal to hit 350w for 20 min FTP test, came up 10 w short last year.  Get out riding on the paceline and break the 1 hr 50minute barrier.

But number one goal is to ride IRL with you lot.

Emily Griffiths

Like many, 2020 put a spanner in to all of my plans from races, to socials to time riding abroad.

Little did I know in lockdown 1, that lockdown 2&3 were going to be much more interesting on a riding front. I was inspired by the Bath CC Royals and their stupendous eracing performances. Dominating the women’s league, showing strength and grit week in, week out, I was keen to see how I could be involved. They welcomed me in to the team with open arms and after just two races, I was hooked.

With many uncertainties still ahead, my goals for the first half of 2021 are to focus on working hard and enjoy the process to improve as a novice cyclist. I will be using Zwift racing to develop my fitness and strength but also my ability to sprint. I’ll be trying to learn the tactics of eracing, so I don’t stop moving when pedalling downhill. I hope to find confidence in my ability to reach my top end power and commit to finishing races strong. I am hoping that all of the above will allow me to keep IRL so that when we are allowed to, I can meet more of the Bath CC community.

If normality returns this year, my season will hopefully include my first 500km Audax, 25m TT, 50m TT and Ironman Wales

Gary Sheppard

I used to be an athlete, racing since the age of 8 I was able to build success to ultimately medal at a National level; but the high mileage mantra in the eighties led to 4 knee ops and eventually to the end of my running days. After a number of years of enforced retirement, my wife encouraged me to join Bath CC, probably to get me out of the house! Initially I started with the weekly club run, exploring new parts of our local countryside and villages, and as my fitness grew I would supplement this with the odd ride mid-week. Then came the introduction of the Saturday Paceline – with this came speed, fitness, competitivity and ultimately a common wish to test ourselves in a real race situation. Since that day in early 2012 I have been racing, sometimes 3 times a week – generally where I can against people my own age, where I have more chance to play a part in influencing the outcome. Immediately I realised how much I love to race, in fact I prefer racing to training but also I found the big difference from running, in that cycling is actually a team sport. The pandemic has given the longest break to racing and so my hope is that very soon we will all be back doing what we love the most, and for me it is to go to races with team mates, discussing and executing tactical plans for the race and to ride as a team doing our very best. The thought of those sunny days to come has kept my motivation up, and I am sure if the vaccination program keeps pace so much of our normal life is just around the corner.

 

 

 

Guy Evans

I am a newbie to the Club joining recently to help push my cycling on. I have enjoyed thrashing round the Zwift races with Bath CC Lansdown and hope to join some IRL group rides as lockdown lifts. I’ll be aiming to join some ‘pacelines’ and long rides with the Club and looking for some cycling specific challenges to push me through the Spring and Summer. Admittedly my cycling goals are closely related to improving my triathlon performances with a view to log a sub 4hr 50m Ironman bike split as part of a sub 9 hr Ironman time and race again this year at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Emma Evans

I still consider myself as a fairly new club member and am yet to meet many of the members ‘IRL!’ However, despite Covid and lock downs I have had a wonderfully warm welcome from everyone at Bath CC, even though I am one ‘those’ triathletes! I was lucky enough to join a few IRL rides just before lock down hit and have gone on to really enjoy Zwift racing with the Royals. I never thought I’d be an avid Zwifter but the online racing has been a lockdown highlight for me, providing my first taste of TTT and a weekly reminder of what suffering really feels like! In terms of goals, becoming an ‘uber biker’ is always the aim, although perhaps not terribly quantifiable! So, this year I’m hoping to build my strength to comfortably keep up on the fast Sunday rides (rather than bringing up the rear!) and nudge a little closer to ‘A’ rider status on Zwift. The carrot has been dangled for the Saturday paceline too – something I’d like to try this year – all with one eye on a podium spot at my next Ironman Triathlon and maybe even Kona one day…

Hilary Oliver – Kit Officer

I was at my fittest, since moving to Bath, in 2018 the year we moved – no responsibilities rented house and no dog! My goals for 2021 are: to post decent times (for me) on the Club’s Strava segments hill climb and sprint; to enter the Club’s hill climb, if held; and to be fit enough to ride with the Ladies group which includes the Ladies Captain including a long distance ride over 3 days and a 100 miler or so. To be fit I need to ride 3 times a week, a “paceline” and 2 other rides of at least 100kms along with running twice a week and weights. Unfortunately, I don’t always achieve this. Another goal, though now 2022, is to ride the “Chase the Sun” (330kms Isle of Sheppey to Burnham on Sea). To be ready I will need to go on the Winter Sun camp in February and to keep up the distance cycling over the following months until midsummer. Can’t wait to get back to group cycling again……..Covid and injuries permitting!

James Plumstead

I’m hoping to do the South Downs Way Double this summer. Will need to start riding big miles again when the weather starts to improve + could probs do with a new mountain bike for the job. Other than that looking forward to getting out of Bath to so done more road / mountain biking further afield with mates (Wales, Exmoor etc) and can’t wait to get out riding with the club again. Fingers crossed things return to normal soon!

John Witty – President

 

My inspiration for two wheels stems from admiration of the Badgers exploits in the TdF during my childhood, when media coverage was a mere shadow of it’s current level. Cemented in ’82, when ‘camped out’ in a prime position to witness him win the sprint on the Elysees, as well as the overall, to a rapturous Parisian crowd. All this seeded a deep routed craving for the high mountains.
So goals for 2021(22) are clearly to get back to some heady heights, whether tarmac’ed {or even ‘gravelled’}, before age and ailments temper those childhood dreams. In the meantime, I’ve ‘discovered’ Zwift, which is so ideal for training in a winter lockdown, especially with the Beast for the East showing its face. I’ve always hated turbo’s with a passion, but find I’m now developing a worrying addiction. So if you’re tempted to ride virtually, do..even those with a FTP as feeble as mine!
But ultimately I’m looking forward to the bliss of cresting an HC col, again, with some sense of style!

Joe Lund

Growing up in the hills of Mid Wales, I became an avid road cyclist at the age of 16. Starting racing at 22, best results included 3rd at Hillingdon and 19th in the Regional Race Championships in Clitheroe. Having made my come back in 2019, I primarily targeted crit races and the hill climb season. Now, I’m thoroughly hooked in the hill climb scene!
2020, as for everyone was a right- off! However, Zwift racing reeled me in and I raced regularly in A events. The Bath Lansdown TTT events were the highlight though and we had real team spirit!

I look forward to competing in 2021 in whatever capacity we can!

Jon Corp

Joined Bath CC in 2012 following having major kidney surgery and realising that my best 🏃‍♂️ days were behind me. It’s been a fun journey and the club is a great foil for developing my love of cycling whilst meeting plenty of other like minded folk. Like most of you, I thoroughly enjoy extending myself whether it’s a Sunday fast group or a paceline workout.

Despite covid, 2020 still turned out well; plenty of sunshine, local solo riding and later trips to Yorkshire Peak District, Mid Wales and Exmoor. BCC group rides worked out really well and it was refreshing to ride with new faces each week.

Plans for me are to keep building and perhaps do some masters racing should the opportunity arise. Hoping to do more cycle trips and would be great to do some team events along the lines of the Wales Velothon…long and hilly. Perhaps I’ll blow off the cobwebs of my unused TT bike ??

 

Jon Hunt

I’ve never done races until we were all locked under house arrest and found Zwift. Now I participate and do very badly. I have two goals: 1) try to not get dropped at the start of most races and 2) a virtual Everest to get that shiny Tron bike everyone nails me with.

Julia Adamson – Ladies Captain

Hopefully before Summer we will get to a place where we can ride in some sort of groups again, and the weather will be kind to us. With this in mind my first goal is to turn around my current pattern of riding which is 3 or 4 times a week on the turbo and once on the road to 3 or 4 times a week on the road and once to not at all on the turbo!

Thinking positively about the Summer I hope I can help to promote a number of activities for the ladies’ section of the club. Some of our old favourites like the 100-mile rides, the Rapha 100, Majorca in October and maybe some new ideas?

On a personal level I hope to get cycle touring over the Summer at least around Britain and develop a more positive attitude to hills!

Julian Broad

I’ll be 58 in July. I started racing as a schoolboy for Bath CC in 1976. I last raced in 1993 then, started riding Audax events up to 2000. My longest ride being a 400k in Wales. I started riding again regularly in Jan 2018. I’ve been living abroad for the last 20 years and I’m currently back in Bath due to Covid19. I can’t see myself racing again as I have a heart condition. However, I do like a bash from time to time. I did the paceline route by myself last November and averaged 31.5kmph. This year, I’d like to get my weight down, improve my paceline time and enjoy some longer rides with the Tuesday and Wednesday groups.

Kai Rüsch

I just moved to the UK a few months ago and joined the club right before the January lockdown, so unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to ride with many of you, though I have started recognizing a lot of names on Strava. I started riding a lot last summer (as I’m sure many did), and have continued here as it’s given a good opportunity to get to know the beautiful countryside around Bath.

The area I’m from is relatively flat, so it’s been a fun, though painful time getting used to all the climbs Somerset has to offer. I’m excited for when travel becomes easier so I can tackle some of the even harder climbs of the UK.

My goals this year are to ride consistently throughout, get experience with group riding (hopefully soon), complete at least a half Everesting and to compete in my first race.

Kim Barfoot-Brace

Here’s a summary of my 2021…

The first part of the year I’m focusing on short distance TTs which is completely out of my comfort zone! I’ve got my eye on Gillian’s records but we’ll have to see if Wales opens up (it didn’t last year) as that’s where the fastest short courses are.

Having just turned 40 I’m now a member of the VTTA and have my sights set on a new national veterans record for 12hr TT in August (I just need to do 274 miles, one more than last year!). I’d like to go for the national title too, but that event is a bit close to another goal (see below!). Hopefully I’ll pick up some 50m and 100m TT PBs/new club records in the run up.

In September I’m representing GBR in my age group at the ITU Long Distance World Championship in Almere. This year it’s unusually a full ironman distance, with a greater proportion of cycling and running to what it typically has…which definitely plays to my strengths. 6 weeks later I’m doing Ironman Portugal, postponed from last year it’s not ideal racing so soon so I’ve got no expectations other than having a special family holiday (my little sister Sophie is doing her first half Ironman the next day).

…all of the above is based on staying healthy and injury free, which is the number one priority 🙂

A real blessing to arise from the carnage of 2020 is the new friendships formed from the Royal Zwift ladies racing team. It’s felt so good to welcome new women to the club, and watch them grow in strength and confidence. We all support and inspire each other equally, and I’m really looking forward to spending more time with them in both the virtual and real world.

Lucie Parsons

I’m still pretty new to cycling having started to ride a couple of years ago, so I guess my main goal for the year is to keep building confidence, particularly riding in groups, and just to continue enjoying getting out on my bike. I’ve only been living in Bath a year or so, so there’s plenty more to explore!

I feel really lucky to have started racing with the Bath CC Royals last year – aside from the fun and challenge of the racing, it’s been great to meet like-minded ladies and get out for rides with them in real life when restrictions have allowed. They’ve also inspired me to take up running again so maybe a shot at a triathlon is also in the pipeline!

I’ve particularly enjoyed pushing myself over longer distance rides and would love to tick off a 300k this year – but hopefully not leaving it as late as my 2020 goal of 200k which I finished on a very chilly New Years Eve! Finally I’m hoping that all being well we can get abroad later in the year, with a plan to cycle tour across to the Alps, possibly to catch the TdF stage up to Tignes.

Luke Belton

I started cycling in 2016 after giving up swimming – and definitely don’t miss the long hours staring at a pool floor when I’m out on the bike! I’ve been hooked on cycling since day one and enjoy the exploring element (and improving the Strava heatmap!) as much as I do pushing myself further and harder. I’ve done a couple of crits and some cross racing, as well as the Zwift racing leagues since joining Bath CC last Autumn – hopefully there might be some more racing in the future although I don’t have any plans at the moment! I’ve done some riding in the Alps/Pyrenees and would love to get back to the mountains this year – possibly as part of a cycle touring trip

Maddi Aldam

Before Covid-19, I was a keen swimmer training for around 12 hours per week. With the closure of pools, I knew I’d have to find something else to keep me fit and occupied, and turned to cycling. I soon realised the physical and emotional benefits of getting out (or staying in!) on the bike, and it has certainly been a sort of refuge during this time of isolation!

At the moment, I do 5-6 bike sessions a week, and have enjoyed a bit of cross training as I get back into running.

Over the last 2 years, I’ve learnt to use cleats (with the occasional topple), survive a 3-hour bike ride (with the occasional flapjack break…) and ride a paceline (with the occasional wrong turn!)

This year, I look forward to entering my first time trials, maybe some races too, but most of all, I look forward to training hard and getting fitter and faster!

Malcolm Treby

I’ve enjoyed spending much of the winter Zwift racing, particularly the events we’ve entered as a team which have brought a real sense of competition. Once we’re into some warmer weather I hope to take those improvements to the paceline and into some racing. In particular I’d like to compete in some duathlons in the summer (I’ve come to cycling from an athletics background) but also find out more about the real world racing scene in general, of which I know little.

I enjoyed finding some new places on the Sunday club rides last summer and hope to be able to continue that too.I’ve enjoyed spending much of the winter Zwift racing, particularly the events we’ve entered as a team which have brought a real sense of competition. Once we’re into some warmer weather I hope to take those improvements to the paceline and into some racing. In particular I’d like to compete in some duathlons in the summer (I’ve come to cycling from an athletics background) but also find out more about the real world racing scene in general, of which I know little.
I enjoyed finding some new places on the Sunday club rides last summer and hope to be able to continue that too.

Luke Buxton

In 2015 I joined the club with a view to getting fitter following a heart attack. And, 26,000 miles later, it seems I may have got the bug.

 

For me the club is about enjoying riding my bike with friends. So no great stretch goals for 2021 – I would just love to get back to club rides and be quick enough to ride with the usual suspects. The lockdown has seen some excess ‘quaffing and gorging’ and the inevitable consequences, despite turbo sessions suffering The Sufferfest. One measurable goal then…. I’d like to see 80kg again by the summer!

 

Martin Aldam

What with one think and another I didn’t race at all in 2020. Very disappointing, not least for me as I was going to make the most of being the ‘youngest’ in my new age category!!! I just hope that skin suit I bought back in 2019 (and never worn) is still going to fit!!

Spurred on by not wanting to get beat by my daughter Maddi, and to justify the endless hours on the turbo this winter, my 2021 racing aims are twofold:

Participate in the TCC monthly segment competition. A great way to push yourself once a month to the limit and afterwards realising, that usually, Mr Pears is still faster!…..but not always!! https://www.strava.com/clubs/TCCSegment
Time Trialling at Castle Combe – 23 event series on the motor circuit, 10 mile TT starting Wednesday 31st March. The aim will be to do one a month.
https://www.dbmax.co.uk/events/kinetic-one-tt-series-race-1-2021/

Paul Dale

For me, Bath CC provides the opportunity to meet people from so many walks of life and to make lasting friendships, all while doing something we love. My goal for 2021 is to be able to be in pictures like this (Majorca) to enjoy that companionship more closely again.

Martin Langley – Mountain Goat and Avid Zwift Racer

No goals as such for me beyond trying to stay fit in the hope that when restrictions ease I can tear up and down some mountains again.

Martin Croxford

My first goal is to ride with others again – really looking forward to a Bath CC Sunday club run, and Audax group riding again.

With the London-Edinburgh-London Audax being postponed to 2022 due to the pandemic, my main goal of the year (lockdown restrictions permitting) will be to complete the Audax Ultra Randonneur award: ten Super Randonneur series of 200, 300, 400 and 600km events in ten different years (I have nine so far).  I discovered the fun and challenge of Fixed Wheel riding during the first lockdown, completing a Super Randonneur series on Fixed in August/September 2020 when restrictions eased.  So my plan is to ride Fixed to achieve the Ultra, with a stretch target of riding the Coast to Coast 600 in Ireland as the final event (if it is on, of course).

The photo is taken at John O’Groats – I’m so pleased I rode LEJOG in 2019 instead of waiting until 2020 (my original plan).  One thing I’ve learned during the pandemic is to make the most of health, motivation and fitness to ride today, don’t wait for tomorrow.

Odette Colyer

I have been a commuter cyclist for many years, but 2 years ago I became really passionate about cycling when, recently after my father passed away, I decided to take on cycling challenge to raise funds for the Alzheimers Research UK. With the significant support of friends, a merry band of cyclists I dubbed the ‘Bath Buns of Steel’, we raised over £7,000 and made it to the top of the national fundraising leaderboard at the time.

Cycling has given me so many opportunities to learn, grow and meet inspiring people. Last year, @KimmyGoGo gave me the opportunity to take part in Zwift races with the Royals. It has been nothing short of a white knuckle learning curve from a technical, tactical and physical point of view and definitely the best distraction from everything else that has been going on. Triathletes, record holders, national and world championship athletes, these ladies are incredibly strong and I have felt so lucky to be have the chance to ride with them.

As for goals this year, I’m a very new member of Bath CC so I’m mostly looking to meeting and riding with other members IRL. I’m keen to train hard and progress enough to try the club’s pace line, and I’m also looking forward to taking on my first races. I completed a 500km challenge last year and I’d like to do that again too. Finally, while travel feels like a bit of a luxury right now, I am also hoping I can persuade some the Royals to go on tour with me for a training camp some time!

 

Matt Brooke

For this season I’m planning to get back into racing after having a few difficult years off the bike. Planning to focus on TTs and maybe the odd crit race. Don’t think I will set PBs this year but hoping to improve throughout the year

Matthew Turner

My goals are pretty simple this year. I want to spend time getting more air on the mountain bike honing the off road skills. I also want to keep having fun with my youngest at the bmx track, run at least one 10km each week and hopefully squeeze in a couple of bikepacking adventures.

Also when we are finally allowed I can’t wait to ride with the good people of Bath CC, I’ve really missed it.

Matthew Smith

Michael Taylor – Off Road Captain

My cycling plans for 2021 started in Oct 2020 with a move out to Austria to work from home and ride big hills. But it got (very) cold and I stopped riding outdoors and started Zwifting (just like everyone else in Bath). I just moved back to the Highlands in Scotland, for the next couple of months, while I’m still working from home. Amazingly, it is much warmer here so I’m looking forward to riding outside again.
I plan on making the most of the opportunities available. To that end, I’ve been converting a van into a COVID-holiday-cancellation-proof cycling van, and I am planning on taking time out to do mega-rides with lots of climbing in France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain this year.
I’ve bought a gravel bike, just like everyone else in Bath, and I am planning to get back to my XC MTB roots with it with some big rides in the UK and abroad. Tentatively, I’ve been thinking about doing the Hope 1000 route across Switzerland one week this summer. Next winter, I plan on getting back into CX racing (if possible!).

This is a photo of me in Austria in November, when it was only about minus 1 degree:

Paul Allen

I had gone in to 2020 with a plan to have a good stab at road racing having got my 3rd cat in 2019 in the melee at Odd Down… but you know the rest! Apart from a savage introduction at Bristol South RR in March, all the racing ended up taking place on zwift and it was actually pretty awesome! It was great getting to know so many more people from the BCC community and the club rides and races have become a highlight on the weekly schedule.

So 2021: In the short term I’m hitting ZRL league which has been a revelation and such a good way to connect and race with my club-mates. If racing IRL goes ahead in 2021 I will certainly do a couple of road races and would also like to tackle some Odd Down crits again (I love those hairpins). I just hope I can still ride a bike in a straight line outside…

Paul Hamnett

I have loved getting into the Zwift racing during the lattter part of 2020 particularly the motivation it provides in a garage ! I miss the European mountains most of all, the suffering and grandeur never fails to create incredible memories. I hope to tick off a few more in ‘21

Peter Phillips

I guess my goals are just ticking over at the moment, using TrainerRoad like I have for the past few years, as that gives a good progressive training plan, but building up more slowly than usual as there are no immediate racing goals. It would be good to get in some vets races later in the year, but I’m also looking at the non-competitive side of things, like touring. I try to get in a reasonable road ride each week, an off road CX ride and one of my indoor sessions on rollers rather than the turbo.

Rich Jacques – Technology Officer

On a personal level, I’m looking to stay fit and healthy in 2021 – maybe even shed a few of those lock-in pounds that crept on while I wasn’t looking.  I’ve made cycling a cornerstone of my physical and mental health routine, so whether it’s inside on zwift or outside on the roads, I look forward to the opportunity to get some miles in.  I’m certainly looking forward to the return of club rides.

When Chris Deane suggested that I give Zwift racing a try, I had no idea that it’d grab me the way it has.  I’m certainly a big fan of the Team Time Trials and the Local Interclub perspective on the competition – really gives me the motivation to push that extra bit harder on the trainer.  So the Greater Glory of BathCC Norfolk has to be a 2021 goal!

In my role as Technology Officer, I’m keen to ensure that as a club we have the tools to stay connected in this difficult time.  Enabling initiatives like this is a great example of using tech to bring us together.

Rob Hill

An ex-rugby player and spending 5 years living in the Alps winter skiing, and cycling through the summer months I’ve been settled in Bath for the last 4 years. I had a go at Ironman 70.3 in 2017 and enjoyed the cycling so much I haven’t looked back. I joined the club in September 2020 looking to push my riding on with the aim to have a go at some road racing in 2021 and have loved it. I’m signed up to the Fred Whitton Challenge for this year and without the racing, this could be a target if it goes ahead. Until then, I’ve been really enjoying the zwift racing. I moved up to the A cat recently which has been a big leap so hoping for plenty of improvement to come this year! Joining the club and racing together through lockdown has definitely kept the motivation high – look forward to more outside riding/racing to come!

Rob Moore

“I’m a poor man’s domestique when it comes to cycling – neither a sprinter or climber but have a reasonable engine! In normal times I can be found in the Fast Paceline Group on a Saturday morning or, if off the bike, entertaining my two young kids, eating pizza in Franca Manca or on family walks in the Somerset/Wiltshire countryside – living the dream!

Last year before Covid hit, my cycling goals were to start getting into racing and move up to Cat 3; also to pull together a team for Redbull Timelaps. I’m hoping to resurrect both goals this year but if we continue to follow the same pattern as last, then I will make do with aiming for either a sub 1h55 Paceline ride in a group or sub 2h solo. I might also have a go at the club Strava segments and get my hands on a glass with my name on it!”

Rob Pears

I grew up on the edge of the North York Moors and cut my cycling teeth on fantastic (& steep!) cycling terrain. I joined Bath CC in around 1987 at the recommendation of Jonathon Schofield. My first race was a 10 mile Time Trial in 1989 where I recorded 25:22. Since then I’ve raced every year notching up nearly a thousand time trials, approximately half of which I’ve won. I’ve also ridden well as over a hundred road races plus getting on for a hundred Triathlons. I have the club records for 10, 15, 25, 50, & 100 miles. The 100 record is 3:32:58 which is also a National Age-related Record. I’ve won VTTA National Championships six times and numerous RTTC National Age group Championships. I was also 10th in the RTTC National 10 mile TT Championship in 2011, the year that Bradley Wiggins won it. In the last 3 years I’ve turned my hand more to Road Racing and have enjoyed that enormously. In this time I’ve won numerous Road Races and have won the LVRC National Road Race, the LVRC National Criterium twice, the LVRC National TT Championship twice, including Covid year, & am still the current British Cycling National Masters Road Race Champion and the British Cycling National Masters Criterium Champion.

I plan to keep racing for as long as I am able. This year I’m not expecting there to be much of a road racing season but hopefully will be able to race in a few Time Trials

Sam Duffy

Training has been going really well, I changed my strategy this year to incorporate more Z2 and not 4/5 Z5 rides in a week 😅 I’m doing better power than I’ve seen at this time of year before, and matched my PB 20 min all time power just a few weeks ago. My goals for this season are probably going to be hill climbs, I’ve only ever competed in one, in BOA, and hope to take on Andrew Feathers KOMs in Bath in training before the season begins toward the back end of this year. I would say anything that comes in between now and then in terms of racing will be a bonus! I just really look forward to riding outdoors more and with others. As good as zwift is for bridging the gap, it will never replace that feeling of tarmac beneath your wheel, and the wind beneath your wings.

Sam Smith – TT Captain

 I’ve been a member of Bath CC since 2014 after taking up cycling as a change from competitive running. After soon getting hooked on criteriums and dabbling in road races I moved my training focus onto time trialling, initially this was to help improve sustainable power but I realised that TTs have a great appeal themselves.
They’re friendly, unintimidating, offer plenty of bike/position tinkering and usually a plethora of cakes at the finish (pre-covid anyway).

This year I’m focusing on improving my short distance times for 10 and 25 miles as well as entering some the West District Hardriders series. I enjoy these distances and the training is easier to fit in around other commitments. Although after a few beers I’ll probably convince myself another 100 miler is a good idea, just like last year…

The structured training has been a great distraction in the crazy year of 2020/21 and it helps keep motivated though the dark winter months.

I also enjoy cyclocross racing, of which my performance is more average, but at least I don’t have to do hurdles or remount a TT bike!

If I’m not on my bike, I’ll be out walking my labradoodle called Kevin.

Sevim Sandwell

I like to achieve 100miles ride by the summer. I like to take part in charity ride which is events industry related, helping creative freelance people who has not had income almost a year.
The most I have cycled so far is 40miles. 😬🥵
Also I like to take part in London Prudential Ride. Aiming for London Classics medal!
I am also looking forward going out with Friday rides more. So enjoyable, I love it every time we get together.
My aim in the future to go even longer rides, LEJOG, London to Paris. Not sure what else there is
Hope you are well.

Stuart Gold

I’ve been a member of Bath CC for around 8 years.

I was a swimmer, then a triathlete before I realised, the part I enjoyed the most, was the cycling.

I work at the RUH, so this year has been busier and harder that anything I have ever experienced before.

Zwift racing really has been an essential part of maintaining my physical and mental wellbeing throughout the last year.

My goals are pretty tame, I would like to get a bit more competitive in the B category racing (I am an occasional member of the Belgrave team and would like to get round in the paceline group IRL, when that is allowed.

I am really looking forward to my favourite club ride to Tintern in the summer and meeting up with some of the people who I have been racing with on Zwift.

Simon Thomas

You can safely say I am the lantern rouge of the pace line, I don’t really care though, for me it’s about trying to get faster and improve my skills. I am not particularly good at cycling but I love it, it’s all about getting out there what ever the weather and living in the moment. Hoping to do some timetrials this year….

George Taylor

I’m new to Bath CC – I live near Cirencester but work in Bath – I’m 2nd claim with Performance Cycles and Gannet CC (life long member!). I’ve been riding since 1986 after being inspired by TDF on World of Sport!  I have done quite a bit of road racing – managed a 5th place in the West Midlands Junior Divisional Champs back in the day.  I have done quite a bit of cross and have completed the 3 peaks cyclo-cross 4 times. I also enjoy the track, riding at Wolverhampton, Reading and Newport.  More recently I’ve been doing quite a bit of Audax – haven’t gone further than 400km yet – but have been doing a round the year randonneur (a 200km ride every month for 12 months!) until it was interrupted by lockdown. I had hoped to get back into RR in the vets league last year but 2020 didn’t quite go to plan. Goals for the next 12 months or so are:  complete a round the year randonneur and do some road racing and see how that goes after a few years off!

 

 

Simon Williams

For me, 2020 was about getting back to fitness, after juggling the past few years of busy life with two young children. Lockdown has helped a lot.  I started on Zwift and haven’t looked back. The fitness and social aspect of this has been fantastic and has brought another dimension to the club, as well as some good power gains!  I’ve been a member of Bath CC for over 10 years. It’s amazing to see the breadth and depth of the club grow during this period of time, despite my fitness varying dramatically throughout! My best Bath CC memories so far have been the Velothon Wales or Ride London Team rides, where let’s be honest Bath CC dominated the top few places. These events were ridden at full gas on closed roads, with the pinnacle being riding down the Embankment and The Mall on the Bath CC train. That said, it’s still hard to beat a disciplined dry club run to Cheddar or Tetbury with a little bit of chop.  My goal for 2020 or 2021 had been LEJOG 1400, a ride that would have pushed me to the physical and emotional limits – c300Km a day. This will be my first attempt at a long distance endurance event and eating competition.  Aside from this, I want to keep my gains coming and ensure that I am able to ride consistently at the standard that I know I can.

 

Steve R

I joined Bath CC three years ago, shortly after moving to Bath. Both new to cycling and a giant human, I’m far too unstable on a bike to race (imagine the carnage!). Instead, I tend to build my season around a couple of big sportives in the UK and Europe.

This year, I’m planning to ride the Fred Whitton, which, like so many other events, was cancelled last year due to COVID-19. I’m also plotting some mini-adventures on two wheels to do if we’re still facing restrictions on organised sport in a few months’ time, including the King Alfred’s Way, a sparkly new 350km off-road bikepacking loop that passes pretty close to Bath

Stuart Curtis

X Pro Elite multisport athlete – Olympic and long distance Triathlon. Highlights – raced the world and Olympic champions in international races – 3rd in Abudahbi Tri , 1st Windsor Tri, Manchester commonwealth games trials , National team Club relay Champion. All a long time ago driven by a passion for racing and competition. Currently i enjoy keeping fit and have a new toy to play – Zwift on line racing🤘😁. i am looking forward to Group club rides this spring and possibly do a sportive to substitute the Fred Whitton Challenge ride which was postponed 2020. Would be great to do a Bath CC team challenge . Look forward to meeting you all again on the road – stay safe

Tim Hill

 I’m a newish member of Bath CC, joining during lockdown one in May 2020. My uncle (Andrew Cessford) is a member and had been encouraging me for quite some time to come out on a group ride and give the club a go. I’ve been a competitive triathlete for about 10 years and for much of that time have trained solo on the bike. After the first round of restrictions were eased I joined the club on a few of the Sunday group rides and really enjoyed them. It was great getting to ride with other people and being made to feel so welcome. The coffee and cake stops were an absolute bonus too. My main goal for this year is to be become a stronger rider. I did get the chance to ride a couple of the Saturday pacelines last year which offered a fantastic workout and really tested me. I’ve just invested in a smart trainer and joined fellow club members racing in season two of the ZRL so the opportunities to push myself are coming thick and fast!

Tom Williams

So far my winter training has been going great and I’m feeling very strong and motivated to start the season. For 2021 my sights are set on road racing. I would like to get some experience under my belt and then target the junior national races. I am also keen to race in Europe whenever possible. Once the road racing season is over my eyes will be set on defending my Junior national hill climb title at Winnats pass on October 31st. Along side this i want to race some cyclocross towards the end of the year.

Victoria Randall

What to do with 2021 following 2020?!

2020 held great plans. A trip to New Zealand for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships! It would be fantastic to go back to New Zealand, but they will not have me and the race has been moved to Utah for 2021. It remains to be seen whether America will have us come September, and that would require me learning to swim again . . . (even if we are allowed to fly there).

My job will keep me busy. Last year’s workload has slid into this year and is likely to fetter grand plans.

And so . . . sense dictates that this year should be the year of “local” happenings. Turns out that leaves a lot to look forward to. I moved to Bath from London in December 2019, but it has been tricky to see much of this great corner of the country. I’ve invested in a gravel bike for off-road and bike packing adventures. I am planning expeditions to the Forest of Dean, King Alfred’s way, Land’s End on the GB Duro routes, and Salisbury plains. I have my fingers crossed for the Cotswold Cross at the end of March – most likely my first “event” of 2021.

Other local plans include Tour of Wessex, the Castle Combe TT series, and the Zwift Racing leagues with Bath CC Royals. I’m also hoping to get a campervan to make the most of South West staycations.

I’ve upgraded my Canyon Aeroad to take on Fred Whitton in May – eek!  I’ll also have to find some time for running . . . and cider making.

I look forward to seeing you all out on the road or trail and kicking my butt around the paceline. In the meantime, ride on, virtually.

Here’s hoping n+1 does not apply to lockdowns.

PS. Above all, I want another engraved Bath CC tumbler . . .

Will Duffy

I started training and racing in 2019 gaining my second cat licence and was planning for a full season racing last year. So now just still hoping to get a full road race season in what ever that is going to be in the future.
Also hoping to do some more hill climbs towards the end of the year if there is not much racing this year.

Llewelyn Jones

I’m a relatively new member to Bath CC having been with the club for just over a year. Goals for this coming year are quite simple, as I now have more time during the day. I would like to continue to keep enjoying my cycling as I have done so since the days of competing as a juvenile/junior well over 45 years ago – so it’s fair to say that I’m not expecting any jumps in licence categories, or more PBs unless of course I choose to enter a 24hr TT, which to be honest just isn’t going to happen! On a more serious tone, one of my cycling goals for the year would be to improve my fitness and performance at the club’s Saturday paceline workouts once of course we’re permitted to do so again. And if at all possible, I would with the lifting of Covid restrictions, like to compete in a road race again, probably at one of the British Masters Cycle Racing events.

Brent Rees

We moved to Bath in late 2019, but I only started riding with the club late last summer due to a combination of winter and lockdown. I’ve only managed a handful of group rides in that time, all of which have been excellent, even the humbling experiences of adjusting to the much steeper gradients around our new home. Before moving I spent a few years riding with a club in Oxford, usually doing long weekend rides rather than racing, but did manage a 9-up TTT around Silverstone which was great fun. The summer months would be all about the Tuesday night chaingang where my target each time would be to get dropped closer and closer to the end of the course. I’m glad to say that the last few times I did make it to the end with the front runners (well, within in sight of anyway!). So my targets for this year are not dissimilar in nature – I would love to make it round the paceline loop without blowing up over Kelston, and also in less than 2 hours would be nice. I’m going to have to remind myself what riding outdoors looks like first though. It’s also looking increasingly likely that I will invest in a gravel bike in the next 12 months, so any recommendations welcomed!

Hopefully you found something to give you some extra inspiration.  If your own story is missing, don’t hesitate to drop a line to David Stoyle.

 

 

 

The second round of the series took the competitors to France and a fast Team Time Trial around the roads of France. The flattish course favoured the watt monsters over the lightweight climbers.

92 of the 101 BC South teams managed to finish and a total of 419 riders enjoyed a hard ride and a bit of fun.  There were some very close results on a course that demanded concentration and keeping a tight formation for the entire race.

Full results and standings are https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS_8rGTfwoBKA_xYOTAy-BFN4qG1sQtHCi6uJsc-xOmUYdPeQeM_LSMmFKGFS_qVEVj7qGrLLJTeDoe/pubhtml

 

Women’s – All Categories

It was very tight at the top of the A Category women with Bristol Flyers taking the win over Bath CC Royals by 9 seconds.  In the B Category Bristol also took the win with the Bristol Swifts too strong for Sotonia and Njinjga in 2nd and 3rd. SASPDQ were easily the fastest C Category team.

 

Position Team Cat Time Zone Lge Riders Time Gap Local League Points
1 Bristol Flyers A EMEA W1 1 5 35:48 0:00 20
2 Bath CC Royal A EMEA W1 2 6 35:57 0:09 19
3 Bristol Swifts B EMEA W1 2 6 36:20 0:32 18
4 Sotonia CC WB B EMEA W1 3 5 38:46 2:58 17
5 Njinga CC Ladies B B EMEA W1 3 5 39:05 3:17 16
6 SASPDQ C EMEA W1 2 6 39:14 3:26 15
7 Sotonia CC WC C EMEA W1 2 5 40:09 4:21 14
8 Njinga CC Ladies C C EMEA W1 2 5 41:00 5:12 13
9 PCC Panthers C EMEA W1 3 6 41:59 6:11 12
10 Bath CC Cavendish C EMEA W1 3 4 43:33 7:45 11
11 Navy Cycling Women B EMEA W1 3 6 44:03 8:15 10
12 PWCC-LD D EMEA W1 1 6 45:23 9:35 9
13 Njinga CC Ladies D D EMEA W1 2 6 48:00 12:12 8
14 Sotonia CC WD D EMEA W1 2 5 48:59 13:11 7
15 AVID W B EMEA W1 3

In the women’s overall competition Bath CC Royals and Bristol Swifts are tied for 1st place on 38 points.  The Bristol Flyers moved up 2 to 3rd place.

Men’s/Mixed A Category

Bradford on Avon Keevil won the TTT in an incredible time of 31minutes 48 seconds to average 47.7km/hr.  They were 33rd out of the 1572 teams in the competition.  Team Tor were only 7 seconds behind  and 73 degrees a further 23 seconds back.

Position Team Cat Time Zone Lge Riders Time Gap Local League Points
1 BoA Keevil A EMEA E2 6 5 31:48 0:00 20
2 Team Tor 2000 Kalas A EMEA W1 1 4 31:55 0:07 19
3 73 Degrees A A EMEA E2 5 6 32:18 0:30 18
4 BRC 1 A EMEA E2 1 6 32:37 0:49 17
5 Nopinz Motip RT A EMEA W2 3 4 32:43 0:55 16
6 Bath CC Lansdown A EMEA E2 1 6 32:47 0:59 15
7 Sotonia CC A A EMEA E2 8 6 32:49 1:01 14
8 Bikestrong-KTM A EMEA W1 1 6 32:54 1:06 13
9 CDRC Apple crumble A EMEA E2 5 6 33:21 1:33 12
10 Navy Cycling A EMEA W1 1 6 33:22 1:34 11

In the overall standings.  Team Tors consistency is paid off and they move above NoPinz and into 1st place.  BoA are rewarded for their win, moving up 4 places to 3d.

 

Men’s/Mixed  B Category

The B Category is incredibly competitive – with just 65 seconds separating 9th and 28th place.  There were 4 teams finishing on 35mins 42seconds

Bath CC Camden were victorious in the Men’s B Category over Navy Cycling B who just held off COPZ in 3rd.

Position Team Cat Time Zone Lge Riders Time Gap Local League Points
1 Bath CC Camden B EMEA E2 1 6 34:02 0:00 20
2 Navy Cycling B B EMEA W2 3 6 34:24 0:22 19
3 COPZ B EMEA E1 1 5 34:25 0:23 19
4 PWCC-B B EMEA E2 7 6 34:33 0:31 18
5 PCC BBB B EMEA W2 6 5 34:50 0:48 18
6 TCG Pussy Galore B EMEA W2 3 6 35:07 1:05 17
7 Team Tor 2000 Kalas – B B EMEA W1 5 4 35:11 1:09 17
8 PCC B2 Bombers B EMEA E2 4 6 35:13 1:11 16
9 Njinga CC Kalulu B EMEA W2 3 6 35:21 1:19 16
10 Bristol Road Club 3 B EMEA E2 6 6 35:22 1:20 15
11 BoA Tinhead B EMEA E2 6 5 35:30 1:28 15

Royal Navy hold on to top position, Poole Wheelers moved up 3 to 2nd

Men’s/Mixed C Category

PDQ C were the standout performance in the C Category, but this is a very competitive division and 3 teams finished on 38’13” – keep pushing to the end.

Position Team Cat Time Zone Lge Riders Time Gap Local League Points
1 PDQ C C EMEA E2 1 6 36:42 0:00 20
2 GDW C C EMEA E1 3 6 37:30 0:48 19
3 RMACC 45CDO C EMEA E2 1 6 37:48 1:06 18
4 TCC-C C EMEA W2 2 4 37:54 1:12 17
5 TCG Chew Mee C EMEA W2 2 6 38:09 1:27 16
6 PWCC-C C EMEA E2 3 5 38:12 1:30 15
7 Bath CC Norfolk C EMEA E2 1 4 38:13 1:31 14
8 PCCC C EMEA E2 1 4 38:13 1:31 13
9 SRAMcc C C EMEA W2 3 6 38:13 1:31 12
10 Army Cycling D C EMEA E2 2 5 38:22 1:40 11

Gillingham District Wheelers C Team moved up one place to 1st overall to overtake Poole Wheelers.

Overall Club – 3 Best Teams

In the best 3 teams competition Bristol RC move up into 1st position from Poole Wheelers.