2 more events this Spring

Hot on the heels of Olly and his Spring in the Peak Audax info, and without wishing to detract from what will be a great day out on the bike, can I offer the following events for your delectation?

First up, and also run by one of our own merry band, Jason Miles, comes Hit the North.



Held on 12th February, I am told entries are almost full for this cross/29er/mtb extravaganza. So hurry!

A new course this year, evenly balanced so as not to favour cross nor mtb, this 2 hour ride/social/race (delete as applicable) offers 2 hours of unfeasibly good off-road fun, with a laidback Northern vibe including local delicacies in the form of Uncle Joe's Mint Balls and a full brass band to play you round the venue. Highly recommended and easy to get to using the Manchester motorway network.

Details for Hit the North are here

Secondly, by way of an advance heads up and plug for my own informal ride, back by popular demand - the Ronde van Oost Lancashire. Born out of the frustrations of not being able to get to Flanders every year, this pays homage to the cobbles and feel of the classic Ronde van Vlaanderen, but without the need for a boat (for UK Belgians at least).





This year it is on the same day as the Ronde Sportive, Sat April 2nd. Turn up, ride, and enjoy the pave. Last year we had 35 or so - this year I am expecting considerably more...

Details here

And big thanks to Duncan for the artwork for the Ronde poster. Class.

I have a dream!

I suppose that riding a bike is all about dreams. It's what gets me out of the door on a cold, damp and dark morning in January. The possibility of improving form as the weather improves. Imagining the sun on my face and the wind on my back. I would imagine most of us have memories of exceptional days and dreams of rides to come.

One dream for me is a ride in the national hill climb championship. This year it is on a relatively local course. Long Hill near Buxton.

http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/training/long-hill-climb-buxton-cc/

One which is not totally unsuited to someone of my build. (Tall, some might say powerfully built, others might just whisper of cake or beer...)

In order to ride I need to be part of a CTT affiliated club. (I've got the paperwork for this and would be happy to stand/share the cost.) Is there anyone else who would like to ride an occasional time trial or hill climb? Is anyone brave/stupid enough to share the dream of riding the national?

Possible Belgian Northern Ride...

This might be a good chance to meet up and enjoy a ride.

I'm organising an Audax event in March. There's a choice of two routes, both are mostly traffic free lanes, with plenty of climbing. I usually get a whole range of riders, from those looking to race and make it a very hard training ride, to those content to take it steady, enjoy the cafes and make it back before it goes dark. (Mudguards and beards are no longer compulsory for Audax!)

Spring in the Peak Audax events. Saturday 5th March:

A choice of two routes, (please state if you have a preference.) Both are hilly and scenic rides on some of the best roads in the Peak District. Rolling start between 8 and 9am.

Stanage Surprise takes in the climbs of Abney, Longstone Edge, Cressbrook, Peveril and Stanage.
Details at http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=11-25

Roaches Revenge takes in the climbs of Longstone Edge the Roaches, Crowdicote and Abney.
Details at http://www.aukweb.net/cal/calsolo.php?Ride=11-170



Any one fancy giving it a go?

Here we come.....

Yesterday Carl Nelson and myself had our first 'proper' 'Belgians outing in our new kit a the Lady of the Manor 'Cross race, near St Helens. Both of us were, I guess, quite pleased with our performances - but not half as pleased as we were with out new kit. Here is a shot taken of us - Carl on the left - just before we went to the start and here are a few more pics of my and my family at the event (including my budding, soon to be a 'Belgian, son Angus aged 8) at the event. Here we come Belgians....Phil Haygarth

30 Jan - Something in the Soft South?

http://www.cxsportive.com/

So, it's the New Year and the 'Cross season is all but over, so what next?

Well, Spring Classics come to mind and this little taster promises to whet your appetites. I guess it'll make a change from the turbo and DVDs.

Halfway between Reading and Oxford, on the edge of the Chilterns, 80km on mixed roads/tracks.
Not too testing, no real Bergs or Muurs but a nice easy leg stretcher on pleasant lanes and tracks. It's my weekday 'patch', the roads are of true Flandrian quality and the off-road sections will be test your bike handing, albeit for only a few 100m at a time. If you squint a bit you could almost be on t'other side of La Manche.

Plenty of flinty gravel on the lanes and if it keeps raining like it is now 'gloopy' would describe the off-road going, along with polished roots to keep you on your toes (or put you on your backside).

Tyre (and tube) choice could make or break the day.

Hope to see some other Belgians there, I'll be in the brand new strip, can't see it staying that way for long.

John

Hannah's Todmorden Video

Excellent stuff from Hannah - her first time filming cross! Check out her other excellent videos including Paddy doing all that MTB stuff on his Ragley in Lee Quary (which starred on the Ragley Bikes home page for a while) and Wharncliffe Woods

Todmorden Cyclocross 2011 from Maia Media on Vimeo.

National Cyclo-cross Champs - Derby

Team Here Come the Belgians is for me absolutely all about loving riding, whether it be cross, road, track or mountain bike. And it's definitely not about how fast you ride - there are plenty of elite teams and clubs out there to satisfy that sector of the market.

However, it is worth pointing out that many of us take racing, particularly cross, quite seriously. And some, snuck amongst our midst, are quite good at it.

Both of them are way too modest to post anything themselves - indeed they disguise themselves with other kit whilst racing to draw attention away from from their exploits - but there were two Belgians racing at the forefront of a National Champs last weekend. Whilst they ride officially for other clubs/teams, we will claim them as our own.

Dave Haygarth has been riding at Elite level for many years before succumbing to Vets status this year - top ten 3 Peaks finishes, crit wins in gruff Northern towns, a North West Cyclo-cross League title a few years ago, and long time member of an all conquering Wheelbase Cycles cross team.





Gary Lingard apparently rode for the Gary Fisher mountainbike team in a past life and on a different continent, but of late has been upsetting the established order of Veterans British Cyclocross races in his first season as a Vet.





Dave produced a 'solid' ride on a technical and tricky Nationals course at Derby in the Vets race, just outside the top 10, coming home in 12th.

Gary nearly produced a big upset, spending much of the race in 3rd spot, before a late charge by former professional Chris Young nudged him out to 4th. Too quiet to make a fuss, it is fair to say that the media machine at British Cycling has overlooked Gary all season, favouring the old-guard that have been familiar faces for some time. That will change.

Anyway, congratulations to those two for stellar performances. And we look forward to seeing them off-duty in a Belgians shirt sometime soon.

Tod Cross

For me Tod cross has a lot to answer for
1. the pain in my thighs from Sunday
2. the cost of a cross bike and sets of wheels
3. the cost of a road bike
4. a turbo trainer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. a new wardrobe of cycling kit

Of course I cannot blame the above entirely on the Tod cross race - Crossjunkie must accept his role in the above.
Just over two years ago over a few beers Al suggested a gentle race just down the road that would be quiet and ideal to ride my mtb as the organiser was Chipps from Single track. MM as a lined up to sign on with over 100 others I stood behind some guy in full GB kit!!! A lamb to the slaughter.
However there have been some positives
1. a cross bike
2. a road bike
3. a turbo trainer - haha only joking
4. two stone lighter
5. some very nice team kit
6. meeting some great people who like getting muddy
7. Jo's cakes
A viral infection put pay to much of this seasons cross races so it is with a distant gaze my sights are set on next season. My aim is to get a little lighter and to try and do two races per month.
Soon the Uncle John will be stripped down and off for a fresh paint job (the frame is looking a touch battle scarred)and the road bike will be taken down from its hook ready for some Sunday morning rides - mm I can smell the coffee already, though I am getting an urge to try some mtb racing again.
So I hope that 2011 will be a great year for all HCtB members and I look forward to meeting you on the road or cross course.
Oh and if Al ever suggests a quiet race that will be fun you have been warned!!!!!

Just in case anyone missed them... here's the link to the recipe for the 'Tod Brownie'... the long version of the name is 'Baileys Irish Cream and Belgian Chocolate Brownie' - which takes longer to say than they do to make... just click on the name to get baking.

Tod Cross

Nick, Rich, Mark FM, Alan (Crossjunkie) and Mark Turner chew the fat after a tough Tod race.

They were aided and abetted in various forms by Dave and Phil Haygarth, Andrew McHugh, Steve Cavell, Carl Nelson, Jason Miles, Richard Seipp (see here), Simon Fox and Sunny doing his taptiming thing. Oh and soon to be Belgian and visitor from Dublin, Greg May and his partner Pauline.

Duncan did the artwork for the posters and cunningly didn't ride, and Jo Allen took photos with her spangly new camera.

All in all, I suggest that is a pretty good turn out at a single race, for an outfit that 18 months ago had 2 members. Pat yourself on the back Dunc - it was you that dunnit.

The Cobbles of Doom didn't disappoint and Dave H had a good crack at winning the magnum of Blue Chimay in the Vets. Alan and Rich's end of season celebrity deathmatch was a bit of damp squib as Rich had a technical early on the first lap and dropped significant time to Al who wasted no time in disappearing off. Inconclusive result there - to be revisited at Hit the North?





http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanglebads/sets/72157625738880276/

Race reports and vids here

Happy New Year to all and may 2011 be as Belgian as you wish for.

Here Come The Belgian(beer)s- Update

To all those who were interested in a sample for purposes of appraisal and criticism, I have 6 bottles of the first batch which will be drinkable as of Friday, so e-mail me through the blog with your address and I'll get them out over the weekend. First come first served.

Some notes, It's turned out more of a Dubbel than a strong brown, with a ruby red colour and 8.5% abv. It was fermented for 5 days and cool conditioned for 2 weeks. It was then re-fermented in the bottle for 2 weeks. The head isn't all I'd hoped, and the nose is a bit un-subtle, as I let the fermentation get a bit wild...

For those of you who miss out, or fancy another go round, a second batch was bottled today after a month of cold conditioning and more is being brewed in the next 10 days.

A Lap and a Half.

One way or another, I was going to Todmorden Cyclo-Cross.

The original plan was to do what I normally do, and take pictures. I packed my cameras and related things as usual.

My lad Tom was coming to race so we packed his bike and race wear too.

I wasn't planning on riding. I've done little on the bike recently, and the prospect of finishing as tail end charlie didn't really appeal. Still James said there was room for my bike in the car as well, so I chucked it in along with my shiny new HcTB top, which till yesterday had not been worn in a race.

I assisted in laying out the course, and was quickly lured by it's mix of off camber grass, the cobbled climb and what surely must be a fast swoopy descent through the woods.

Tom and I marshalled the first race of the day at the foot of the cobbles, and I guess it was then I decided I'd have to enter, if only to see if I could get up those cobbles in the saddle.

Tom raced his socks of in the under 8s and came away with a prize bag of sweeties. (Picture courtesy of Steve Makin.)




The vets and ladies were next and along with a large number of others I lined up for the start. Taking a respectful position near the back.

The siren went, and we were off. Race fit or not I was passing people as we headed across the field. On to the off camber grass I continued riding in a sort of speedway style with my rear tyre a foot further down the slope than my front wheel. So far so good.

As I approached the bottom of the cobbled climb, I slowed to a track stand awaiting the riding line round the corner. Once negotiated I was riding up those cobbles. Traction was marginal, and torque had to be finely controlled. Several times I thought I wasn't going to make it as the rear tyre slipped away. Each time though a guy behind who I guess was also still riding shouted something which spurred me through the temporary loss of momentum. Cheers from my mates shouting "Go on Rich" were fuel too. As I crested the climb I felt good. It was a race, and I had just passed a load of people. Yeah.

In oxygen debt partly from shouting "Rider" whilst climbing the cobbles, I let the bike roll down the hill avoiding the brakes to pass a few more before completing the first lap. I was full of confidence. Knowing that if I carried on as I had on the first lap, that whilst I wouldn't be challenging for the top spots, I would finish, I guess up in the top half of the field. All good.



(Pic courtesy of Jon Wyatt)

Heading round the field to the woods I passed a couple more riders and then into the woods. Then a familiar clatter followed by a skidding rear tyre meant only one thing. Derraileur spoke interface.

Yes, It's happened before, so I knew that by bending a couple of things (steel frames rock) and I'd be under way again. And so it was. Except not for very long. As I approached the cobbles for a second time, moving the derraileur back up the cassette, there was an encore. Except that this time it was terminal. Said derraileur was now pointing 180 degrees in the wrong direction, and the hanger was mangled. A lap and a half, and my race was over. Gutted.



Well not really. I had an ace day out and saw load of friends I haven't seen for ages. In fact that many, that other than shooting some video I didn't take any pictures at all.

Postscript - Thankfully with some large tools and brute force I have fixed the hanger. Though the mech has had to be permanently retired.



See you on the start line at the Three Peaks.

Rich.