June is almost upon us and at long last we have some decent cycling weather to enjoy.
This fourth edition of our newsletter is again packed with news and information about the club.
We've yet to receive any feedback on its content or suggestions on what other items you might like included. As we've said before, not everyone is on Facebook, so the newsletter remains the best way of communicating information to all members.
So, please send any comments or proposals to the Press Officer.
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Also, please note that all previous newsletters are now available to view on the club website and can be viewed by clicking on this link:
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There's more about the club's annual road race below but I'd like to start by saying a massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the successful delivery of such an amazing event. We've received very complementary feedback from racers, team managers and British Cycling on how well organised it was - something we can be really proud of. Looking back to the dark days of January we didn't even know if it was possible to run it this year and it's testament to the commitment of so many club members who volunteered their time and efforts over many weeks working together that allowed us to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat, even with the odd curve ball lobbed our way on the day. The planning for 2018's road race has already begun along with something else that the club hasn't done for a while. Watch this space for more details.
We take full advantage of the warm, longer evenings for some of the longer time trials, having already completed the first 25 mile race in absolutely perfect conditions. All members are invited to come and try their hand at time trialling, it really doesn't matter what level you cycle at, just turn up and enjoy the fun.
Our membership continues to grow rapidly as word about BSCC continues to spread and this is reflected in the popularity of the club rides, it wasn't that long ago that a busy club ride saw six turn up! Having large groups on the road does give us certain "challenges" and the ride leaders are doing their best to keep everyone safe and minimising the impact on other road users.
Thursday sees us hold June's social evening at the White Horse pub in Banbury, please do come along for a drink and chat.
Finally thank you for those who have provided feedback on their thoughts about club life and possible suggestions. Now the road race is over these will be collated and reviewed but it's never too late to give your views.
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Banbury Star Road Race 21st May
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Warm and sunny weather at last arrived in time for the club’s annual road races. A capacity field of 80 riders for both men’s and women’s races enjoyed dry roads and some great racing on the three lap, 45 mile course.
The men’s race for Category 3/4 riders, sponsored by the Chandlers Arms, Epwell, was the first race. This got off to a fast start and ended with a great sprint finish. Gregory Fitzek (Cowley Road Condors) took the win, followed by Tony Kiss (Absolute Black Racing Team), who stole second place from a surprised Jonny Morris (Derby Mercury RC) right on the line. Local riders Billy Leason, Daniel Marron and Leon O'Rourke ( all Shutt Velo Rapide) finished fifth, seventh and eighth and Matt Watson (Team Milton Keynes) eleventh. The KOM (Edge Hill climb) went to third place man Morris. Special mention must also go to Star member Stuart Quick who gallantly rode in the club's colours.
The women’s race, sponsored by Banbury’s Broadribb Cycles, is essentially Round 4 of British Cycling’s Women’s Team Series. However, leading positions are still strongly contested with another sprint finish going to 2015 winner Nicola Juniper an elite rider who had just returned from injury. Georgina Penchaud was second with Tamara Davenne third. Juniper’s team, Team Ford EcoBoost, took the overall team prize, with SunSport Velo second and Cycle Team OnForm third. The QOM went to Lauren Dolan (Liv Cycling Club).
Almost a full page report was featured in the Banbury Guardian.
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Banbury Star CC would like to extend a very warm welcome to the following new members:
Andrew Neale, Richard Sinclair, Andy Garlick, Rhys Martin, Scott Craig, Melvyn Seale, Jonathon Ward and Dickie Ivins.
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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The 2017 OVO Energy Women's Tour once again passes close to Banbury on Friday 9th June when stage 3 passes through Tysoe and Kineton before the QOM is contested on the Knowle at Edge Hill. There's no respite as the women then race along Camp Lane after which they turn left to descend Warmington Hill, up the Warwick Road and then yet more QOM fun on the slopes of Burton Dassett before the relative calm of Fenny Compton.
No doubt Banbury Star members will be present to watch how the professionals cope with the lumps and bumps we know all too well.
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The cold northerly winds of early May didn't dampen the enthusiasm of club members and friends turning up in large numbers for the Wednesday TTs. 45 started the Athlete's Race which saw Suzy Patience (aero kit) break her own course record. In keeping with the tradition of the event being non-aero, Darren Alexander of Team Cherwell became the first person to complete a club time trial on a folding commuter bike!
We've just held the first of the year's interclub time trials with the A5 Rangers on the K4/10C1 course out at Tysoe and then we entertain the speed merchants of the Mercedes AMG team from Brackley who will no doubt be bringing some F1 technology to the 20k race on 26th July.
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:
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The Duke at Clifton
The Duke has recently reopened after a period of closure and is another public house which warmly welcomes cyclists. Their barista coffee and cake/pastry £4 offer was a great success with a recent club ride visit and complete with several photos the club even featured on The Duke's Facebook page. Their postcode is OX15 OPE.
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On Friday 9th June, Banbury Star will have two teams representing the club at the annual 9-up team time trial organised by Bicester Millenium CC on the Formula 1 course at Silverstone.
Ninety teams have entered the three-lap, eleven mile race and the unique opportunity to experience cycling on a perfect surface.
Regular practice chain gang sessions have been held around our 20k TT course to hone the skills needed for riding in close proximity at speed.
A full report and photos will appear in the July newsletter.
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If you've missed out on entering the 9-up event at Silverstone or are put off by the speed, but would still like to ride the circuit another time, the club are going to offer spaces on an open evening planned for Tuesday 1st August. The course will be open to pre-registered cyclists from 1730 for two hours and the price is only £5 per rider. It's free for U15s but they must be accompanied by an adult.
Any bike can be used and there are no restrictions related to riding in groups or singly as it's not a race.
If you are interested in this please email Paul:
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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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Ben Owen Memorial time trial
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Our friends down at Didcot Phoenix CC are organising a charity time trial on Thursday 22nd June and have invited Banbury Star to take part.
The Ben Owen Memorial Time Trial Competition will be held on the CC118a 10m course starting on the outskirts of Stadhampton, with a turn at Watlington and finishing on the Chalgrove bypass.
Each team will be of 5 riders (each riding individually), with the fastest 4 ride times aggregated for the final team time.
Both Men’s and Women’s competitions will be held, and we can enter teams into one or both categories.
Please see the Facebook group for more details on entry.
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The new club kit is now available to buy and the first batch is just about to be delivered to those members who took advantage of the early bird discount deadline.
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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Bill Ord has been very active in selling the old club kit that was held in stock to the extent there's very little left.To see what he has available (at knockdown prices) please have a look at the following link:
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Banbury Star member Brian Reid who also owns the Golden Age vintage bike shop has proposed we hold our very own local L'Eroica retro-ride, so giving everyone the chance to dust off their oldest steeds and outfits for a club ride sometime in September. It's still in the planning stages and more details including a fixie-friendly route will be published in the coming weeks.
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We've enjoyed large numbers of riders on club rides during May:
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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We've now had seventeen blogs from members posted on our website since it was relaunched. These have covered a wide range of interesting cycle related stories and comments, but we'd still like more please.
Last month we had two block busters from Dave Pittman and Jon Parker/Carmen Hancock on two epic rides. June kicks off with another blog from Moria Goodway, who explains how and why she got into road racing.
As mentioned before, there are no real rules for writing a blog, the ideal length we think is between about 600 and 1500 words, plus if possible a photo.
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So, please keep the stories, topics, events, rides, opinions and general comments coming. We know several of you have already had some newsworthy cycling adventures this year, so let's here about it.
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.
We return to the White Horse in Banbury for the June social night which starts at 7.30pm on the 1st June.
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Following on from the excellent coverage the club received in Cycling Weekly, the Banbury Guardian are also providing us with some good weekly publicity and reports. A good preview of our annual road race was followed by almost a full page report on the race itself. An obituary on Eric Smith, written by Brian Reid, was also featured on their sports pages.
We've also managed to get some coverage of members participating in other clubs events, so please keep pressofficer@banburystar.co.uk informed. Please provide us with some basic information like the name/type of event, location, distance, your position/time, number of riders taking part and the winner's name.
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A pre Tour de France favourite for a lot of the teams and competitors is the Criterium De Dauphine, which takes place from the 4th to 11th June with live coverage of all the stages on Eurosport.
Again, it is more than likely that Quest TV, which is Eurosports Freeview service, will be showing highlights in the evening.
Also, as mentioned above the OVO Women's Tour of Britain visits our area on 9th June. The tour runs from 7th to 11th and ITV4 will be showing three hours of live coverage every day, plus an evening one hour highlights package.
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Social Nights 7.30pm:
- Thursday 1 June
- Thursday 5 July
Time Trials: Weekly series every Wednesday evening
OVO Energy Women's Tour stage 3: Friday 9th June - Edge Hill
BMCC 9-up TTT: Friday 9th June - Silverstone
Next Quarterly meeting Tuesday 11th or 18th July
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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