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

The Little Book of Pain

While many might be sitting indoors sheltering from yet another episode of gales, you could do worse than acquire this wee gem by Simon Warren. Its his book of the top one hundred greatest UK cycling climbs. Each is marked out of ten and arranged geographically
with pictures and profiles so that you can lie awake at night imagineering your way up the likes of Buttertubs ((8/10), the Cat and Fiddle (only 4/10) and the awesome Rosedale Chimney (10/10) where you can find yourself holding your handlebars and stem with the rest of the bike somewhere else altogether! With Peth Bank, Winters Gibert and Carlton Bank also featured we think you should make an early and local start to these. Its going to make a great bible for 2012 and Gothic's everywhere will without doubt be pictured on top of some of these beasts. Bet you can't guess what gets 11/10! Yes, there is one......

Whitby: Our Spiritual Home?

Ah...Whitby in the winter wind. Our spiritual home, perhaps?

Spooky...

A timely reminder to catch up with the 1986 Ken Russell directed movie 'Gothic'. Who can forget Gabriel Byrne or Timonthy Spalls performance, and, of course Alec Mango as Murray and Linda Coggins as the Mechanical Turkish Woman. Wonder if she was any good with an adjustable spanner and a twisted derailleur? If you can't get hold of a dvd why not try and see the 1781 Fuseli oil painting entitled 'Nightmare' on which a scene in the film was apparently based. While we're on the subject Thomas Dolby did the Soundtrack (to the film not the painting) ...yes, he of the 'She blinded me with Science' hit starring Dr Magnus Pyke. Why not check it out.  

National TLI Cyclo Cross Champs, Gateshead

 
There aren't many riders who would have helped themselves to a hot toddy the night before the big cycling event of the year. After a cuppa and a good splutter this morning I declared myself fit to race in the National Cycling Cyclo Cross and loaded up the car for the 20 minute trip to Gateshead Stadium. Although dry with a clear sky it sure was windy when we arrived and there were around 70 competitors of whom I think there were two ladies (so if you'd been there you might have won a bronze at least).
The course had been changed from that a month ago and with a huge headwind up the steep hill things were tough. Coupled with my cold, needless to say it wasn't my best performance, but now I've said it.  From the start it was head down and eyeballs out for an hour, brushing past gorse, guiding the tyres through the ruts, avoiding impaling yourself on the posts, trying not to be marker-tape whipped with odd strands blowing around furiously, pushing the bike up the hill every lap and taking the other three quarters to recover. I tried to ride with my legs out at an angle in the latter stages to relive the fatigue as the leaders came past me again. Show offs! Just wait till I've got my Gothic Jersey on - it'll be
worth a good few laps. 
I beat the winner to the finish line (so got to start my last lap) and so rode the lap casually knowing I'd only been lapped twice (or was that thrice). Another event successfully completed although I had to stop on the penultimate lap to sort out my gears.
I had arranged to sell my old 653 Joe Waugh frame to a bloke there so left with a little less metal and a few more quid in my pocket. Sorry to see it go but hey life goes on. The course wasn't too boggy so I retired to the pub for a pint with the team photographer rather than spray the bike down. More civilised I think you'll agree. I doubt I'll win a medal but I think it's complementing my running fitness so all good stuff ...

SC Gothic New Sportswear

Those lads at Velotec have crafted something dramatic and mysterious and we like this a lot. Here's the club livery (well at least the draft design). If you're interested in getting your hands on these cool garments you'll be wanting to email me at the above address to express your interest. We're based in the north east of England but that shouldn't put you off. Once you've got your hands on this gear you'll be one of the gang wherever you are.  The order will go in soon so best not hang about....