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Welcome to our third newsletter of the year, which is again packed with news and information about the club.
Our regular features will continue, but we'd welcome some feedback, or ideas relating to any other items you'd like included. Also, it is worth remembering that less than half of our members are on Facebook. Therefore, the newsletter is the best way of communicating details of any proposals, ideas, rides, holidays etc you might have to all members.
So, please send any comments or proposals to pressofficer@banburystar.co.uk
This month will see our British Cycling Road Race take place on Sunday 21st. This is by far our biggest event of the year and your help, if possible, is requested. See below for further details of the event.
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I'd like to start by saying a big thank you to the new officials who were recently elected and who bring many years of both life and cycling experience to the club. I know they will work tirelessly behind the scenes to help transition Banbury Star into a modern club and help keep our upwards trajectory on track. In particular, the two Club Welfare Officers give us compliance to British Cycling, governmental and local council policies for our existing U18s and dependant adults, and will also enable Banbury Star to develop a future junior section with the introduction of the Go Ride scheme that will help attract the future cycling stars from our town's youngsters.
The creation of a club constitution may not sound the most interesting of topics, but is necessary for a club with ambitions for growth and expansion. In the coming months a draft will be compiled and subsequently released for comments and ultimate adoption.
Of course it's what happens on the bike that really matters and I'm encouraged by the increased numbers we are seeing for the weekly time trials and the club rides, it's great to see faces new and old reappearing after the winter hibernation.
We've got some fantastic events planned for the next few months and our focus now shifts to the road race next month which will, with a lot of effort, be even better than last year's success.
I've recently asked for some feedback on club life to further improve the Banbury Star experience. If you've not yet replied but would like to add anything (it could be about the rides, our ride leaders and officials, the time trials etc. it will be treated in confidence!) then please do email me.
Lastly, I received some news last week which was the sad death of our oldest member, Eric Smith who was part of Banbury Star for many years and remains the holder of the Banbury to Reading and back record which he set in 1952. The club will contribute to an article for the Banbury Guardian about Eric's life and I will also post details regarding the funeral arrangements when they become available.
Paul
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Banbury Star CC Road Race 21st May
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The annual Banbury Star CC road race will be held on Sunday 21st May with a similar format to those in previous years: we hold two races during the day, one in the morning for eighty Category 3/4 men and a second in the afternoon for eighty Category Elite/1/2/3 women.
Both races are composed of three laps of a course just north of Banbury that features an ascent of the Knowle at Edge Hill, some very fast flat sections heading along the Stratford and Warwick Roads and into Horley and some even faster downhills making for a total of 45 miles.
Banbury Star is well-regarded by both British Cycling and the competitors for our professional race organisation and, as always, the success of the day is entirely predicated on the availability of volunteer help either with sign-posting the route the day before, helping in the car park or kitchen, marshalling out on the course or driving a British Cycling commisaire around during the race.
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John Tustian is co-ordinating the volunteer effort so if you can spare any time, whether it's an hour or the whole day he'd like to hear from you, anything you can help with is greatly appreciated.
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Banbury Star CC would like to extend a very warm welcome to the following new members:
Stephen Goddard, Joanne Abbott, Sam Wootton, Rebekah Pawley, Simon Bull, Toby Heron, Chris Tunstall, James Bossi, Andrew Wallwork, David Gawn and David Broome.
And to all those who previous members who have renewed their membership this year, welcome back!
Please remember to present your card as proof of membership when using the 15% discount members receive at Broadribb Cycles and fill in the details on the reverse and finally bring the card with you on club rides.
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What a month April was for our time trial: four Wednesdays and four evenings of cold northerly winds but even this didn't stop a huge turnout that was 25% higher than 2016 which in itself was a club record. Billy Leason showed his dominance in this discipline, winning each of the K4/20 course events.
We make full use of the lengthening evenings during May to start our longer TTs, the 25 mile thrash along the Warwick Road competing for the Friswell Cup will be held on Wednesday 24th.
The following week sees Banbury Star being joined by our friends at the A5 Rangers for the interclub TT on the new K4/10C1 course designed by Mark Boyles which we introduced successfully last year.
Full results of the season to date can be found by clicking on the link below.
It doesn’t matter what level of cycling you aspire to, or what road bike you have, please come along and have a go. And remember the club loan bike can be used if required.
For more information, including downloadable course maps, results and the all-important marshal roster, please follow the link below on the club’s website:
More information can be found by reading Keri Williams's recent blog where he gives his Top 10 TT tips.
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Cycling Weekly anniversary ride article
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Banbury Star entertained Cycling Weekly magazine back in March who came out with us on a club ride as part of their "Ride With..." features.
The edition with us came out on April 27th with four full pages about the club, the ride and the people.
This article represents the culmination of a lot of work by many members and is a fantastic advert for everything we do and aspire to be.
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At our last quarterly meeting the following members were formerly proposed, seconded and voted into these positions:
Neil Richards - Treasurer
Dave Pittman and Brian Reid - Club Welfare Officers
Roger Gollicker - Press Secretary
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Wyatts Garden Centre
Or Wyatts Farm Shop, as it is sometimes referred to, is situated at Great Rollright, near Chipping Norton and features on a number of BSCC routes. The excellent Conservatory Tea/Coffee room serves a fine range of delicious homemade cakes, scones and desserts. It's open daily from 9am (10am Sundays) and cyclists are always made to feel welcome.
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Please note, whilst we declared The Chandlers Arms as our favourite cafe last month, subsequent listings are in no way ranked.
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The Broughton Castle sportive is our local event, organised by Banbury's Rotary Club in conjunction with Banbury Star and will be held on Sunday 9th July.
As always, four routes will be on offer ranging from a 5.5 mile family fun ride all the way up to a 100 mile challenge in the deep Cotswolds. There are plenty of well-stocked feed stations on the routes and a free BBQ at the finish.
All proceeds go to local charities, this isn't a commercial event so please do try and support it. Entries are now open on the sportive's website. If you are not riding but would like to help run the event on the day. the Rotary Club would like to hear from you.
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The new club kit is now available to buy and the first batch is currently being made for those members who took advantage of the early bird discount deadline and will be sent out in the coming weeks from Endura's factory in Scotland.
Each member will have received an email directly from Endura that contains your personalised log-in details.
It goes without saying that the kit can still be purchased and the range will be extended in the coming months to add yet more items.
If there are any items you'd like to see added (e.g. caps, gloves etc) or have any questions please contact Dave Speck.
As always, new members will qualify for a £20 refund from the club when you make your first purchase of kit.
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Bill's Bargain Basement - old kit for sale
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With the launch of the new kit, Bill Ord volunteered to take over the selling of the old kit and has made a tremendous effort in using his best Del Boy skills to move it on to new owners. To see what's left (at knockdown prices) please have a look at the following link:
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As the club grows we are seeing record numbers turn up for club rides and the recent ride leader training has allowed the fast ride to be resurrected once more:
10.00am Saturday: easy café ride.
9.00am Sunday: fast ride
10.00am Sunday: intermediate café ride.
All rides now start at Broadribbs Cycles.
The club's website has a full calendar of each ride planned for the coming months, including a downloadable Garmin map.
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Whilst there are no real rules for writing a blog, the ideal length we think is between about 600 and 1500 words. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, as our last blog by Dave Pittman at over 5000 words illustrates. Our next blog will however top even that at 7000+ words, but then it is about a cycle craze called "Everesting" and well worth the read.
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Please keep the stories, topics, events, rides, opinions and general comments coming.
blogger@banburystar.co.uk is waiting to hear from you
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Banbury Star CC social evenings
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The club holds a social evening on the first Thursday of each month which is open to members past, present and future to meet up, talk about cycling and generally put the world to rights.
The May evening moves from its traditional venue in town and up the Oxford Road to be held at the Banbury Beer and Cider Festival at 7.30pm, entry for which is open to all and only £1. The three-day festival is held at the Territorial Army centre adjacent to the Morrison's Hill traffic lights.
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After making Cycling Weekly big time - what next?
Well the club recently had a very productive meeting with Steve Smith, sports editor, at the Banbury Guardian. As well as giving us coverage of our weekly time trials and previews for our larger events, if space permits, he's happy to do a bit more. That is, the activities and results of members racing elsewhere. So please let us know what you've entered and how you did throughout the season.
Also, if you've done something like an epic charity ride, or ridden Lands End to John O'Groats, there's a good chance we can get some coverage for you and the club.
Please keep pressofficer@banburystar.co.uk informed.
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The first of the Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia, will receive full and exclusive coverage on Eurosport from 5th to 28th May. This is the 100th edition of the Giro, which will feature the Monza racetrack and iconic Stelvio Pass.
In addition, Quest TV which is available on Freeview, will be showing highlights every evening from 10pm.
Also, don't forget the UK Tour Series ten town/city based events take place throughout the month of May. ITV4 will feature a one hour highlights package the night after each event. It kicks off at nearby Redditch on 9th May with a 5.30pm start for the women.
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Social Nights 7.30pm:
- Thursday 4 May
- Thursday 1 June
- Thursday 5 July
Time Trials: Weekly series now underway every Wednesday evening
Tour Series Race 1: Tuesday 9th May, Redditch town centre
BSCC Road Race: Sunday 21 May - NOA Pavilion
OVO Energy Women's Tour stage 3: Friday 9th June - Edge Hill
BMCC 9-up TTT: Friday 9th June - Silverstone
Next Quarterly meeting Tuesday 13th June
Didcot Phoenix CC Team TT: Thursday 22nd June
Broughton Castle Sportive: Sunday 9th July
For more details and other events please look at the calendars on the club’s website.
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Follow Banbury Star on social media
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