The promotions continue!

Congratulations to Ellie Gilham, who has been promoted to 2nd category!  Keep up the good work, Ellie!

Jo's Comeback Continues

Cpngratulations to Jo Tindley who has been promoted to 2nd cat after less than two months into her comeback season!

Well done, Jo!

Jo Tindley's first win of the season!

RACE REPORT.

 

Ok, here we go, it has been a while since I have done this.

 

Sunday saw my second race of the season at Thruxton, my second race since coming back from a 5 year break. After my 5th place last week I was some what on a bit of a mission. Our team captain Maz wasn’t able to race due to not being very well. I travelled down with Jason, so it was down to Elle and I. I hadn’t really had much of a plan for this, just a bit of a test to see where I am and good training session.

 

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing as we arrived, although being a fair few years since I raced at Thruxton, nothing has changed since my Junior days. I have memories of being dropped on slope up to the last chicane and that it felt like an epic hill back then, but having grown up slightly and being slightly fitter, it seems a mere push to the top. I went to sign on and had a nice welcome from Sue Knight, it is really nice to see every one again.

 

I made sure this time I had a warm up so had a good spin on the rollers with Elle, we both finished our warm ups and headed to the start line. I was also looking forward to trying out my new spangly wheels from Matrix, which the night before Jason kindly fitted Tubs to, with a little help from moi! When I say help, putting the tape on and adding that last little bit of pressure to get them on. Luckily it was tape and not glue, that most definitely would have ended up with stuck fingers and knotted hair, I am some what a bit of a disaster around things like paint, glue well most spillible things really….

 

Anyway, as we sat on the start line I recognised some faces and more of a surprise they recognised me!

We set off nice and steady, I sat on the front for the first few minutes, realising that no one particularly wanted to take the reins I swung off and to the back let some one else sit on the front, wasn’t too far to go as there was only 12 of us. The race pretty much bowled round like Sunday club run, no one doing anything, after 2 laps I was bored.

Last week at Ilton Maz was really attacking and positive, I didn’t quite have the legs to keep up with her, but, no maz meant boring racing! I had to do something, other wise there was no point riding round. As we approached the hill on the end of the 3rd I was getting itchy feet, wasn’t quite sure if I should attack now or wait until the chicane, there was a head wind along the finish straight, knowing this I thought best to attack in the chicane after the hill. Doing so I managed to get a gap, watching my heart rate get higher and higher. As I hit the back straight I had a half decent gap, with no one looking to come across, I wasn’t quite sure what to do at this point. I carried on for 2 laps hoping some one might join me, I couldn’t just stay out here on my own, I then made the decision to get caught ( to be fair I think they would have caught me anyway J ). As I got back in the bunch at the bottom of the hill I was expecting some one to attack, but they didn’t. as we came out the chicane I attacked again, with Nicky Wheeler coming past me, we got a gap, but just not enough to stay away. Again, we got back in the bunch.

 

The race was pretty much like this with a few attempts from a couple of girls, but no one really doing anything. As the laps counted down I was thinking about if I should attack the last lap and put one big last effort in for the line or to wait to the bunch sprint….. I had planned how I wanted to ride the finish as we rode round at the start. I thought about it and made my decision at the bottom of the hill. I was going to wait to the bunch sprint, attack into the chicane and just go balls out to the line from there, might work might not, but that was my plan.

 

With a lap to go the girls picked up the pace, Hannah Manley moved to the back on my wheel, realising that in doing that she was out the back, forcing her to move up. I just sat at the back waiting for the hill where I moved up to 3rd wheel which was Hannah, the bunch strung out a little towards the top, I wanted to be at least 3rd wheel for the chicane. As we hit the chicane the wheel that Hannah was on slowed up, I had to make my move now, not knowing if I could hold the sprint for that long, I just went for it!

 

I came out the chicane in front and just gunned for the line.

 

It was a bit of a shock to have crossed the line so far in front, as I used to suffer something chronic on that circuit.

 

Its really good to be back racing, having such a great team around me makes a huge difference. I am really looking forward to the bigger road races and riding as a team.

 

Jo.

Salt Ayre Crits

My first race of the season yesterday.  I have been looking forward to it for ages, and I have to admit, have been just a tad jealous of other riders competing.  But, I had my new long-sleeved skinsuit and I was looking forward to racing at Salt Ayre, where I used to race as a teenager. 

It was pretty much as I remembered it, although I don't remember the big sports centre being there (it used to be known as Scale Hall, way back when). 

Things started to go a bit awry when it started raining, which is never a good thing as my Oakleys don't do rain.  I ended up having to ditch them, which then meant I was off the back, however I waited for the bunch to come round again and stayed with them - much different to last year when I went into reverse instead!

I enjoyed every minute of it, came eighth and picked up some BC points (I think).  I just need to buy some new Oakleys now - and remember to check that my helmet isn't at a jaunty angle!!!

Training Weekend #2

My first VC training weekend was fantastic! Thrilled to be part of a lovely and incredibly friendly team.

The weekend was kicked off by an embarrassing late arrival by myself at the track, half dressed and barely awake after a night shift. Not ideal - and certainly not the way to impress my any potential teammates! Everyone was very welcoming (from offering me home made flapjacks to general encouragement and only minimal teasing about my state of undress at the track as my leg warmers kept falling down!) and made it a really fun weekend.

Matt Winston British cycling coach lead a fantastic track session at Tameside cycle circuit with some great skills sets to keep everyone focused and with a good few sprints thrown in.

A nice relaxed meal out in San Rocco was the prep for Sunday’s jaunt around Cheshire. With a much appreciated support vehicle (kindly manned by Jan) in tow, we had great weather and clocked up some nice miles, while all getting to know each other a bit better. Slight dissent amongst the ranks with mid ride last minute route change but it all worked out perfectly in the end and was topped off by a team trip to Little chef for a debrief over tea and deluxe hot chocolates!

By Rebecca Heath

Training Weekend #1

Last weekend saw 9 members of VC St Raphael heading towards the

outskirts of Bristol for the first women's team training camp. Women's

captain Maz had kindly offered her (parents) house as accommodation,

and organised a weekend of race planning,getting to know you's and

training rides.

Now I was looking forward to getting together with the girls - a few

chance meetings at Newport meant I hadn't really seen anyone for ages

and I hadn't met Caroline, Nicci, Jo or Ellie before. I was even

looking forward to getting out on a ride with the girls (luxury!!) and

Maz had even promised the first one would be flat. Ish. The 1:9 hill I

drove down on the last leg to her house certainly suggested she was

lying and my poor non climbers legs were going to suffer!

Marianne (well, her parents) had laid on a super lunchtime spread of

jacket potataoes,salads and of course the cyclists' favourite - pasta.

After a quick snack and introductions it was time to get changed and

get out on the roads.

Unfortunately there was still loads of ice around on the roads after

the winter (cold snap!) so we didn't get out for as long as we had

wanted. We rode staedy for a while so we could chat and make friends.

Comedy comment of the day was from veterinarian (I almost wrote vet

and realised in a cycling context that could be misconstrued!!) Nicci

Meadows who likened her love of animal orthopaedics to lego! Nicci and

Caroline (Harding) join us from AW Cycles after they disbanded.

The rest of the ride was largely uneventful - after jinxing herself by

saying the 'p' word, Team Mechanic and Driver Jase quickly jumped out

the car for a wheel change. Oh yeah, and then there was the sheet ice

that saw half of the girls walking their bikes along the road!! The

last climb (what happened to flat?!) just about finished me off so I

suppose it wasn't a bad call to go back to the farmhouse....

Shower and change before discussing the seasons's plan, goals and aims

and then hitting the pub for dinner. Adel (Tyson Bloor) left us after

the meal (part-timer) to go home and watch the Perfs pedals on the

Sunday. I might let her have that one as it is our promotion!! I think

we were all a bit tired when we got back home but we managed to stay

awake long enough to see Maz's house on Casualty (I stayed in the

'drug' room) and take some hot water bottles up to bed!

Luckily for us Sunday was a bit warmer and we got out for a lovely (!)

long ride around the rolling Mendips. I mentioned I wasn't a climber,

right?!

The group headed out at a steady pace, taking turns on the front.

Thanks to Ellie's dad for helping to pull us all along! The first 2

hours or so saw the group make our way towards Cheddar Gorge along

some hilly roads (OK, they were probably just rolling but hey!).

Scenery was awesome, some lovely little descents (my new definition of

a hill is having to do your jersey up on the way down) and awesome

banter.

We rolled into a lovely little cafe before the big C. I would love to

report that we had lovely healthy food but actually the chocolate

fudge cake was pretty damn nice :D Then it was straight out again into

the cold and up the climb!

Jo - who is returning to cycling following a few years out of the

sport - certainly looked as fresh as a daisy powering up some of the

climbs (not jealous at all!) quickly followed by Ellie. Well i think

that's how it went but I was off the back..... not my type of hill. I

should add my thanks here to our only Youth rider, Angie, for snapping

my photo from the warmth of the team car as i grovelled my way up the

steep bit. Thanks Angie!

The pace picked up once we had regrouped and the end was in sight, we

even managed a bit of through and off with a random we picked up en

route! Again, that hill at the end was brutal (give me Cheddar Gorge

any day of the week!!) before we made it back home, 3:45 later.

My legs definitely knew they'd been made to work but it was a lovely

way to cap off the weekend. Can't say how excited I am to meet up with

teh Northeners in a week or so's time, or how excitied I am to get

racing. First entry is already in the post.

By Eleanor Jones

The girls enjoying some well-deserved coffee and cake!

Caroline Harding - enjoying the climb

Nicci Meadows in action

Simply Gorge-ous!

Eleanor Jones tearing up the tarmac!

Ellie Gilham showing the cars no mercy!

Welcome to our new blog!

Welcome to the blog of VC St Raphael Women's Team, sponsored by Waite Contracts and Paul Hewitt Cycles!

Our purpose is to enjoy racing and riding bikes, at all levels, whether it be as an Under-16, Junior, fourth category or elite category rider.  We all take part in road and track racing and time trials, with some of us even dipping in and out of triathlons too! 

We are a mixed age group, from under-16 to Masters, but we all share the same passion - to have a great time whilst racing!

We will strive to keep the blog as updated as possible - with rider profiles and results, together with blogs from different riders giving their own unique slant on events.

For further information about VC St Raphael, please visit http://vcstraphael.com/

You can also follow us on Twitter - @vcstraphwomen

If you have queries, please email either vcstraphaelwomen@gmail.com about the Women's team or vcstraphael@hotmail.com about VC St Raphael generally.