Clothing Arrival

The new shorts and tops have, at last, arrived. Tracksuit tops expected later this week. Roll up....Roll up...!

Bedlington Cyclo Cross

Bruce and MacDonald turned out for today's round of the NECCL cyclo cross league at Bedlington's Gallagher Park. The sun was up and the course was twisty turny and the excitement started early as Stu snapped his chain. 'It was the sheer power' said an onlooker.....

May from Edinburgh Velo won from Burridge and Gibson. Both Goths finished well down and frazzled, but happy to have had mixed it with some very handy riders.  Much work lies ahead!! 

Jane T & Craig Du have arrived

A big welcome to Jane T & Craig Du. We'll be seeing them in the lanes this autumn....Craig's been ripping it upon Strava (Strava.com) recently.....Keep it dark, Keep it Gothic.

Druridge Bay Cyclo Cross

Morpeth Druridge Bay Cyclo Cross -Round 4:
The race format has changed a little from last season. Here's the rundown...

• 11:00hrs - Juniors, Veterans and Women - 40 mins - £10.00 on the day
• 12:00hrs - Youths - 30 mins - £5.00 on the day
• 12:45hrs - Under 12, Under 10 and Under 8 - 15 mins - £1.00 on the day
• 13:30hrs - Senior Open - 60 mins - £10.00 on the day

Those who aren't members of British Cycling will need to pay an additional
£3 day membership charge or join British Cycling for just over £1 a month.
These details are subject to change, so check back regularly.
Any major changes will be included in the news feed,
and posted to Facebook and Twitter.

• Date: 07/10/2012
• Race Venue: DRURIDGE BAY COUNTRY PARK,
  RED ROW,
  MORPETH,
  NE61 5BX
• Host Club: Northumbria Police Cycling Club
• Organiser: Jonathan Caisley
• OR SEE THE CXNE Website

Colomba Chemo Classic Sportive

A popular, local and affordable (£15) 65 miler in November- The ride starts between 8-9.30am on Saturday, 10 November 2012 in the market town of Richmond. The ride HQ is at Richmore Cricket Club on Hurgill Road. Initially following the Swaledale road before crossing into Wensleydale and passing through the Dales towns of Leyburn and Middleham. From Middleham the road climbs steadily up the beautiful and tranquil Coverdale before descending the fearsome Park Rash, then Kettlewell, before heading up Wharfedale the ride takes in Buckden and climbs up through Cray. This is rewarded with a long descent into Bishopdale before turning off to Thoralby for a feed stop. Then on to Aysgarth, taking in the splendid view of the falls as you cross the river Ure on the way to Carperby before sweeping down to Redmire. 
From here the road heads upwards over the top of Grinton Moor and then dashes down to the village of Grinton and over the river Swale. From here you can take the easy road down back down Swaledale to Richmond, but if you still have energy left in the tank you can tackle the tough ascent out of Grinton to Marske and then up the final climb of Clap Gate before plummeting back home to Richmond.  All in all a fine route of about 65 miles of undulating road. See details at British Cycling or http://www.colombachemoclassic.org.uk/index.php

Last Call for the Bellingham Blast

Bellingham Blast
An 'exciting' event is being staged in England’s greatest wilderness area for cyclists keen to challenge themselves on a combination of forest roads and picturesque country roads! Kielder Water & Forest Park and the Northumberland National Park will provide the stunning backdrop for the first ever running of the ‘Bellingham Blast’ combining a 61 mile circuit of transfixing terrain for serious bikers into the heart of Kielder, cyclo cross bike, mountain bike choose you bike and take on the Blast !!!
HQ
Heritage Centre
Station Yard
Bellingham
Northumberland
NE48 2DF
Sign on open from 8.00am
-ENTRIES AT www.SIENTRIES.CO.UK
£18

JC MiniDiggers

Its great news. We're delighted to announce that club member John C has agreed to sponsor the club this year with an option for next year also. John's firm, JC Minidiggers, is an excavator hire business and we're excited to have JC on board.

Hellooo Newbies

The stork is in the air and we're excited about taking a new delivery of early Autumn members - Welcome to Mike W, Ian C and Phil F. ....Phil's based in Dundee and our most exotically located member yet..............How big can this thing get?......
(Subject to acceptance; other cycling clubs are available,just not as stylish)

White Horse Sportive- Don't Delay

29th September - from Velo 29 - The White Horse Sportive- With one month still remaining to the White Horse Sportive, there is still plenty of time to enter, plan your preparation and get fit for this great new Sportive.
There are routes for the beginner at 15 & 25miles, mostly flat on quiet country roads to the 63 & 77mile routes, both of which are a major challenge! The 77m has 4 catergorised climbs, 3 of which are at least 25% gradient!
You can enter on line or even on the day. Full details are available on the Velo29 Events site.

Club Clothing

New additions to the sporting wardrobe?
Order forms & sizing tables coming your way (by email) with forms which will get you some excellent discounts from Steel Cycles.

Announcing new sponsor JC Minidiggers

We are pleased to advise that Leeds club member John C has agreed to sponsor the club over the next year or two via his company JCMinindiggers (.co.uk.)

Gothic Saturday Ride

Meet Chantry, Morpeth at 9am Saturday for a steady 35 miles around Northumberland

Gothica-The New Batch

The New batch of Gothic Jerseys have arrived (at last). Call me if you're due one or want one.

Lee Signs up

Welcome to Lee S, our newest member.

Faces of the Cyclone

Some sharp shots taken by Stu B. Results and split times are on the Sportident website and a range of official photos on the marathon photos website.

Virgin Money Cyclone

There was a good turn-out yesterday for the Virgin Money Cyclone. The long course for this sportive around Northumberland is 104 miles long with 7800ft of ascent. A couple of shorter events were organised as well. The route takes in Rothbury, Otterburn Bellingham and Wark and some perky climbs peppered along the way.
Blessed with reasonable weather, club members had a good day out although every body had their own tale of derring-do and the trials and tribulations that come with a chunky bit of mileage.

No doubt more reports to come with the results soon. In the meantime some snals (thanks Mrs M). Well done all.

Ken Laidlaw Sportive

For those who fancy a day out this August. The Ken Laidlaw Sportive is based in Hawick and taking in the Scottish Borders. Its on the 19th August.  There are two routes. The long course is 104 miles in length with 10 good climbs and 2400m of ascent; the shorter is 46 miles with 5 climbs and 1557m of ascent. Details at:

http://www.kenlaidlawsportive.co.uk/index.html

Lal White

An interesting story of someone you might never have heard of
http://www.cyclesong.co.uk/lals-story.html

Rockin' in the Lakes

Stuart B flew the flag for 'the Gothic' at today's Salomon Mountain Festival Keswick Triathlon. There was nothing easy about the bike course.
Summer made an appearance, which was nice, as the place fairly heaved with 'outdoor' types doing sportives, triathlons, openwater lake swims, trail runs and other stuff. Nice one.    

Calling all Mountain Bikers...

Starting on Monday 21^st May Barnesbury CC are organising the first weekly MTB league to be held in SE Northumberland. The league which will run for 10 consecutive weeks will include races for youths as well as senior riders. Racing will start at 6.30pm (youths) and 7.30pm (approx) for senior riders at Gallagher Park, Bedlington (closest post code NE22 7LA) – access is adjacent a detached house opposite Tesco car park.  The senior sprint league will start at 7.30pm (or after the youths have finished). The weekly race will last for 40 minutes based on a short lap of around 2km around the pit heap area. Cost is £6 per race. Registration closes at 7.15pm. Riders must compete on a recognisable mountain bike. No cross bikes allowed.

Classy Time Trials

This on the Vags. Website:

...The 57th edition of Tyneside Vagabonds Mountain Time Trial in Northumberland sees a rematch between last year's top two riders - 2011 MTT winner and National 24 Hour record holder Andrew Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Wheelers) returns to defend his title against Rapha Condor Sharp professional Richard Handley who finished just 22 seconds behind in second. Also challenging for the top spot will be the Blumilk.com riders, former winner John Tuckett and man-in-form Jon Sturman who recently defeated Andrew Wilkinson in the Teesdale MTT.
Other former winners of the event are also riding this year. With a field of 82 riders this year, the race is once again one of the biggest events in the North East time trial calendar. Due to roadworks in Rothbury, the course has been amended to start and finish just outside the town, but retains the classic route over a shortened 45 mile course through the Northumberland hills. The racing in various age and ability categories will be hotly contested.

(Should be a good one to catch).

Also A reminder about a tasty event next month:  The N&DCA - Stay Classy / Well Handled RT 10 mile time trial is on soon - its promoted for and on behalf of Cycling Time Trials under their rules and regulations. The event will count towards the 2012 N&DCA BAR (Best All Rounder Competition). This event will be run on the 15th June at 7pm on the M101 course, and headquarters is the Bebside working men's club.

(We're not in the N&DCA (yet) but if you think we should, let us know..and soon)

This weeks spectacle

Want to pick up a race while your out and about?....The 55 mile Ballantyne Memorial Trophy Road Race should go ahead on Sunday and will start at Mitford Cricket Club at 10.30am. Riders plan to go west on the B6343 to Dyke Neuk.
The 55-mile route will also go via Hartburn, Scots Gap, Cambo, Harwood Gate, Elsdon,  Bilsmoor, Hepple, Sharperton and Holystone and back. More than 50 riders have already signed up for the race and others can do so on the day.  Parking restrictions apply at Mitford.

Goth Action

SC Gothic riders were in action again this weekend. There's no stopping them. Les C rode in the Wansbeck CC 21 Hilly time trial where he finished in a solid time of 1:1:08 in pretty changeable and, frequently, cold, wet and grizzly conditions. Jon Sturman won in 46:38 and seven seconds ahead of team mate Tuckett. (Some photos found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/34070057@N06/sets/72157629503530788/ but the camera man arrived too late to get Les...next time.

 
Further afield Lorna Mac (pictured) rode her first 10m T.T. in Cambridge in the British Universities Champs. She clocked 34 minutes and despite the weather said she enjoyed it. 

Wash Day Blues

 Bah. What duff weather. Why not take advantage of the breaks in the rain: throw your Gothic Jersey on, mount that 14 gear racing machine and go for a paddle.  There's the Wansbeck M21 time trial on this afternoon. It goes from Belsay via Bolam Lake, Scots Gap, Rothley, Cambo and back to Belsay. Kicks off 2pm.
Gosforth RC run the Sloan Trophy Road Race on the Stamfordham Circuit on Sunday. A merry four lapper on the same circuit used for the 2011 National Championship. Starts 10:30am. Nip along and give some support.
If your not quite right or need a little beauty treatment, consult our newest member Suzanne (Details on facebook).

Big Hello

...and its a big HELLO to new members Ian S, Rosie and Les G. Looking forward to 'hooking up' I think is the modern parlance!
-Email details and mobile phone numbers are on the way so that we can all catch up with each other.

Ryton Tri. 2up Time Trial

Gordon D and Allymac took part in the Ryton 2up 18 mile time trial on Saturday. The course goes from Ponteland up to Gubeon across the Whalton and Belsay and back down to Ponteland. Around 40 teams were booked in to race with former British road race champion and ex pro John Tanner and his teammate Colin Humphrey (Sportscover Altura RT)  the scratchmen (fastest and off last). The lads acquitted themselves well, staying upright throughout and not finishing last, crossing the line in 29th place in a time of 51:15. The fastest time was 38:43 so room perhaps for improvement!
(Photo by Stuart B ©)

How to ride fast on your own

A compact guide to triathlon's trial by bike  -
Nice article and interview with Michael Hutchinson, super time triallist on the BBC sport site. The letters following the article are just as entertaining (well, almost!): Link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mattslater/2011/07/a_compact_guide_to_triathlons.html

The rise and rise of the Goth

New Members
The old order of Gothic welcome new members Gavin D, Julie P and Willie C.
We've had wall to wall rain in the last week but its Spring out there so might be seeing you on the roads and trails.
Jerseys
The stock of Jerseys has now pretty much been exhausted so we'll have to get some more ordered for those who are beginning to see the light out there in bike land.
Events
Allymac and Gordon D. are threatening to take the time trial world by storm this weekend on the roads of Ponteland and Whalton in the Ryton Tri 2-up time trial. Why not pop out this Saturday afternoon to feast your eyes on the spectacle. Don't forget your klaxons and cow bells...
Meetings etc.
We may be getting an informal get together later this month so keep watching this space.
There will be an email coming round shortly with some safety information. There could also be an invitation to stump up for the next part of your cycling gear, maybe shorts.
In the meantime, if you are up to something interesting or want to report on a recent ride, event or have some news or perhaps share a nice recipe or knitting pattern, drop me a line
Happy riding and remember....Keep it dark!

Club Clothing & Jerseys

We have a limited number of jerseys left from this current batch. We're as happy as a bat in the dark about the interest since the launch - just to say its 'first come, first served'. Once we're out of stock, more will be ordered but there might be a delay (as its a 10 jersey minimum). ....and sorry kids, not quite ready for the junior goths (yet).

Shorts coming soon....so get your orders in for these little beauties as well.

Cycling Time Trials Affiliation

Confirmation (as per Stuart comment in the last entry) that we've been accepted to the North East England District. Email from Peter McGrath Below:
Hello Phil/Alastair,

'I have contacted as many members of the NE District Committee as possible.... There is a significant majority in favour of accepting both EMC and Sporting Club Gothic into membership of the North East District of CTT.  I am emailing you to let you know that it is OK for members of both clubs to enter and ride in our events in future'.

Best Regards,
Peter

- Welcome also to the Early Morning Crew (EMC); not to be confused with BMC. Link is at http://www.facebook.com/earlycrew
Their jerseys are swell but not quite as Dark as the Gothic.

Who let the Goths out.....

It was a cracking day for a steady 25 miler through the lanes as some of the lads donned their gear and stopped the traffic in the town. Expect to see more of this in the next few months. Keep it dark....

Training at Newburn

For anyone that fancies a bit of road training catch up with this blog.
http://www.22stonecyclist.com/chain-gang/
Newburn training chain gang at the Industrial Estate, Wednesday evenings I think. Need lights and mud guards or krud catcher if wet.
Can you believe that there's two new clubs now in the area. What fun we'll have comparing kit.

Derwent Dash Reliability Ride - April 15th

Derwent Dash

Sunday April 15th 2012: There are 2 rides to choose from

Ride A – 55 miles – 1 stop -  http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/27976880

Ride B  - 87 miles – 2 stops - http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/28019716

From Blaydon both rides travel along a route to Edmunbyers where both rides stop for first break.
Ride A then does a shorter loop to return directly to Blaydon
Ride B then does a longer loop into Weardale and returns back to Edmundbyers for their 2^nd stop before returning to Blaydon.

Entry is open to all and will cost £12
Team and Club riders who wish to ride as a group are advised to send their entries in as a group
When filling your entry please make sure you select the correct ride and speed group.

Closing date 31st March 2012

For more info please email timhagan@blueyonder.co.uk 

derwentsidecc@googlemail.com

100km Kilhope Grimpeur Event

Houghton Cycling Club are promoting the 100km Kilhope Grimpeur audax on Sunday 25th March 2012.  The event starts in Lanchester Co Durham and takes in a route around the North Pennines, including, Blanchland, Allenheads, Nenthead, Killhope, Weardale, Crawleyside and back to Lanchester (102km). 

There will be a "window" type start between 8.30 and 9.00am to spread the field out, which will help with congestion issues on the road and at the cafes/controls.  There is food laid on at the finish, included in the entry fee of £6, (£8 if not an Audax or CTC member).
You can enter the event by following the link : http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-265/
Entries close Saturday 10th March.   No Entries on the day.  Best get your entry in sharpish.

Captain Cook Challenge Sportive 2012

Popped down to the North York Moors for the hilly 60 mile Captain Cook Challenge. There was 4500ft of ascent over Kildale and Commondale and maybe other dales. The weather deteriorated through the ride from rain to snow with some riders abandoning and others like me left questioning their sanity. The feeling in my fingers and toes have returned and the bike's been cleared of slush, ice and salt and is resting in front of the fire.  Finished in around 4 hrs. There was a welcome break at Castleton where tea and cake was rustled up. But the jersey got out there, so nice one. GOTHIC!!  (Photos at www.cyclesportphotos.com)

Ready to Launch

Meeting organised for Tuesday 28th 7.45pm. Jerseys arrived. They'll all be wanting one shortly.
Press launch imminent...

Its here....

Are you ready............?

Something Dark's Coming...

SC Gothic......Something Dark's coming !! 02/13/2012 08:53	1223 Komorniki / k.Poznania (PL)	Pick-up	GB • NE1 • 1550	888	98 136
02/13/2012 08:53	1223 Komorniki / k.Poznania (PL)	Consolidation	GB • NE1 • 1550	888	98 136
02/14/2012 22:54	1052 Best (NL)	Hub scan	GB • NE1 • 0055	52	09 136
02/16/2012 00:19	0022 Oldbury (GB)	Hub scan	GB • NE1 • 1550	55	136
02/16/2012 05:41	0203 Gateshead (GB)	Inbound	GB • NE1 • 1550	594	136

Any one for a time trial?

Time trialling is an accessible way to test your speed and fitness on the bike. It's a race against the clock. Normally riders start at intervals a minute apart. You can’t draft and there are riders in front of you and behind you. Some will pass you. The events tend to be fixed distances of 10,25,50 or 100 miles and there are also 2 up’s for duos and 3 ups for trios (or 3 in a team). These are good fun as long as your teammates are around the same ability level as you . Courses are on public roads and are either'out and back', using a roundabout to turn halfway, or circuits with consecutive left turns. Normally to ride an 'open' event you need to be a member of a Cycling Time Trials (CTT)-affiliated cycling club, though some 'club' events just allow you to turn up and ride on the night.

The time trials handbook containing most of the UK’s open time trial events is published this month and if you want a road time trials event handbook click on this link. www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-GWd4BftDVM%3d&tabid=36

The season starts traditionally in March. If you want to see what’s available click on this link. 

www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mCtpI7ryoyQ%3d&tabid=36

There are a few local races and a number in Cleveland North Yorkshire and over the Pennines around Carlisle.   SC Gothic should be affiliated by then to the CTT and if you’re thinking about riding a time trial remember to send in your completed entry form well in advance.  Remember, some events in Scotland may also be within your radar so keep an eye open for theses as well. We’ll get some links up on the side of the website soon.  

New Event - Morpeth Duathlon

I’m reading about a new event organised by VO2max. Described as ‘an exciting new event in historic market town, Sprint and Standard events in a beautiful region. The run route takes in the River Wansbeck and gorgeous Castle Gardens and past the iconic Clock Tower. The bike routes are fantastic, taking in the lovely little Northumbrian villages of Mitford, Meldon and Walton provide a challenging and varied bike leg which will be an instant success’.
Choose from either 3kmrun;25kmride,3kmrun or the longer 5:34:5. Its on April 9^th.  Costs £25 for BTF members, £30 for others. Age limit and conditions apply.
Later events by VO2 in the area are the Newbiggin Triathlon in May and the QE2 Woodhorn Tri in June. Information on www.vo2maxracingevents.co.uk/Events