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.