I’m very interested in going on some of your club rides. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction of some details on:

- When and where your club rides are?
- What sort of fitness levels are required?

Thanks in advance, James

British Cycling Grass Track racing Event with prizes, based on the track Omnium event at the 2012 Olympics. Fixed Wheel Track bikes available for hire for those experienced riding fixed wheel; otherwise bring your own bike for the free-wheel racing. Please also bring: helmet, gloves and water bottle. Register on the day to race, cost £4.00 under 16, £8.00 adult rate (age 17+).

Kind Regards,
Kasra Gharaee

Hounslow and District Wheelers Road Race Preview (2012)

Next Sunday (18th March) sees the 42nd edition of the Hounslow and District Wheelers Peter Young Memorial Road Race.

This is one of the biggest sporting events in the Surrey area, and one that can be watched for free just by standing at the roadside. The status of the race and the quality of the field seems to increase every year, and for 2012 there is a full field of eighty riders (plus reserves) which includes twenty seven elites (i.e. professional standard), twenty seven first category riders and twenty six second cats.

While it’s impossible to predict a winner, there are some names to watch out for. Marcin Bialoblocki (Node 4 Giordiana Racing) who carries race no. 1 was second in the event last year, but could so easily have been the winner, since it looked as though he was going to dead-heat with his team mate Jeff Williams who was actually given the verdict. In 2011 they were both riding for the Motorpoint team, run by former champion Phil Griffiths, which dominated the race. This year the Node 4 team is another Griffiths outfit, but Bialoblocki has only one supporting team mate, so outright domination seems less likely. However, Marcin’s form is good as he showed by coming second in the Jock Wadley Memorial Race last Sunday.

Nic Hutchings (CS Grupetto, race no.5), made a good showing last year against the strength of Motorpoint. Without team support he did a lot of work at the front of the chasing group and finished honourably in eighth place. He also has good form at the moment having taken fifth place in the SERRL road race two weeks ago. He has Matthew Theobalds (6) as team support.

The Hounslow will be hoping for a good performance from their second claim member Wouter Sybrandy(63). Wouter is always a strong contender and brings with him a powerful five man team from Team IG – Sigma Sport which includes Simon Gaywood(59), another rider who has had a number of good placings in this event in recent years. Wouter commented: “This race, with its deceptively demanding course, is hard to win. It’s difficult to get away on the big circuit, but equally difficult to be fresh enough to do much on that tough finishing circuit.”

Two outsiders, Davids against Goliaths, are Gabriel Martinez (VC Meudon, 8th reserve) and Flavio Zappi (Zappi’s CC, 80).
Martinez has recently been notable as a time triallist, and generally it’s roadmen who are successful at winning time trials rather than vice versa. However, so far this year Martinez has ridden two time trials and won them both: clearly a man pinging with fitness. Surely the doyen of this field, Signor Zappi came back into cycling in 2008 after a twenty five year lay off. He is a former Italian pro and one time bearer of the green jersey in the Giro d’Italia – he lost it to a French guy called Fignon. In spite of a bad crash last year he is still scoring British Cycling road race points and hopes to regain his first cat. licence this year. Let’s all raise a glass of his native Tuscan wine to wish him good luck!

Full details of the course, which lies between Chertsey and Chobham can be found on the club website: http/www.hounslowanddistrictwheelers.co.uk
Go to ‘open events’ and click on Peter Young Memorial Road Race.

I haven’t been able to get down to some of the mid week rides as my lectures get in the way!

Are there any eve/night rides happening? I’ve got my big lights in Oxford now.

Thanks

Ben