It’s the third weekend of the month so St Ives CC Go Ride is on this Saturday, 21 September.
Previous session
At Hinchingbrooke Park, the 30 riders worked on control at slow speed, starting off with a slow bicycle race. We then split into 8 groups, each led by a team captain, with each group attempting to ride around ever decreasing sized squares. The riders combined balance with pumping their pedals trying to keep the front wheel moving round outside each square whilst keeping the rear wheel inside.
Everyone really engaged well in this activity and their balance and control had clearly improved by the end when the riders rejoined their respective main groups (Athertons, Boardman and Cavendish) to battle it out and see who could complete the most squares. This is one of the skills tested in the skill sections of youth MTB championships and more info on this can be found here. It is good fun and can be practiced at home in the garden with cones, water bottles, etc. It is also a great leveller and is something to challenge your parents on! In fact, I can maybe see a parents’ competition coming on at some point … Votes for and against please?
Riders of the week were Dom, Zach and Max for focussing and producing some jolly good controlled riding as a result.
The afternoon session was on the tarmac up at Alconbury Weald where we are lucky enough to be allowed to use some great traffic free facilities. We worked on polishing up starting and stopping and started on some cornering lines, including hairpins. Rhys took a bit of a tumble after clipping wheels on one of the straights and took home some impressive road rash. I am pleased to report that fortunately nothing was broken, he has recovered well and is raring to go. This is a case in point about why it is SO important to wear a helmet and bar ends are plugged as accidents happen when you least expect them.
A time trial circuit at the end demonstrated that technique and skill can overcome strength and gearing in a short race when Sam Trotter scooped the overall win, closely followed by Holly and Jack who were separated by only 1/100th of a second!
Mountain biking
Round 7 of MSG was held at Langdon Hills, where Holly took her first win of the season in Juvenile female on a course that was either going up or down, with very little in between whilst Harriet took 1st in the U9 girls. Molly was at RSR and Sophie was at the track. Also racing were Lotty and Sam H (4th and 5th respectively in U12) and Sapphire (4th in U9). Full results are on http:\\www.timelaps.co.uk
After the first 6 rounds, series standings were
- U9 girls: Harriet (2), Bea (6), Sapphire (12)
- U9 boys : Dom (33)
- U12 girls: Sophie (1), Sam (4), Lotty (8)
- U12 boys: Sam (4)
- Juvenile girls: Emma (3), Holly (4)
- Youth girls: Molly (1), Charlotte (2)
If all goes well in the last round at Hadleigh Farm on 29th September, we should see series podiums for St Ives in all the female youth categories and Sam T was only 7 points off a podium for the boys. Nail biting stuff!! Racer of the year at the 2013 awards is going to be a tough call this time round!
Track racing
One more session to be held on 29 September, and all the riders who have attended sessions this year have been invited to participate in an omnium. Unfortunately this clashes with the final round of MSG and with podium points being closely fought there, which event to attend will be a difficult call to make for some of our riders. Decisions, decisions, eh?
The previous session was rained off, but the attendees got a good length Q&A session (and pictures taken) with Emma Trott. Cool, eh?
Well done to Sophie, who achieved an overall 5th position in the track league in Youth CDE this year, probably the first St Ives youth ever to appear in the rankings? Good to see some red finally penetrating the sea of green that is Welwyn Wheelers! I wonder what we can achieve next year? More info available on www.welwynwheelers.org.uk
Club Time Trials
TT season is now over, with only the (postponed) hill climb. Final placings for the season will be published shortly.
Cyclocross
The cyclocross season has now arrived! Sophie has already got involved and posted a respectable mid table finish in her first race on the full course last weekend. The jump from U12 to youth is a big step so well done to her! This weekend is probably the most local cyclocross race in the Eastern League and is held at Baldock, so a piece of cake to get to. Cyclocross racing is good value, very good fun and you don’t need a cyclocross bike to compete – you can race on a mountain bike. More info available on www.easterncross.org.uk.
Good luck to all those competing this weekend!
Next session
Two sessions again this weekend:
- Mountain bikes: HInchingbrooke Park at usual time of 10am – 11.30 am
- Road bikes: Alconbury Weald will need to be slightly later this week as I am at Ashwell for the cyclocross. The session will run between 15.30 and 16.30
James is away this weekend so numbers may need to be restricted – Please let me know if you would like to come to either (or both!) sessions and I need to give details to security for the Alconbury session to access the site. I will send out more details to those attending separately. Ideally you need to have a road bike to get the most out of this session but not essential. The club has 2 Islabikes available to borrow for the road sessions on a first come first served basis.
Sessions cost £3. Please bring a water based drink, bike and helmet. I would also recommend gloves, particularly on tarmac! As the days are getting cooler (and wetter), wear appropriate clothing!
Future dates
All the dates for Hinchingbrooke Park are on the St Ives CC website so please check that out. Alconbury sessions will generally follow in the afternoons on the same day as Hinchingbrooke, but may be variable due to other commitments. Anyone interested in taking up coaching so we can extend the availability of sessions, please get in touch!
And finally
Good luck to Holly and Molly at the MTB RSR (Regional School of Racing) session on Sunday, ahead of the inter regionals the following weekend.
