Banbury Star Cyclists' Club

July 2017 newsletter

 

July is with us already and to many cyclists that means one thing, it's Tour de France time. Our "Cycling on TV" section tells you where you can watch it, plus a map of the stages.

As we've already mentioned the newsletter remains the best way of communicating information regularly to all members. So, this month we've added a section called "Members corner", for you to have your say, request, suggestion, idea or opinion on any cycle or club related topic. Our first topic is a member's charity ride.

Please send any comments or proposals to the Press Officer.

email the Press Officer

All previous newsletters are now available to view on the club website and can be viewed by clicking on this link:

Newsletter archives

Presidential musings

Dave Mobbs will be a familiar name to all club members and has decided to stand down as the club's Secretary having been in the position for many years and I'd like to say thank you to him for performing such an admirable role, for so long. Ian Maconnachie has offered to help in an acting capacity until the role is filled formally. I propose we take the opportunity to split what Dave did and create two positions, a Membership Secretary who is responsible for the membership activities which are increasing as the club continues to grow and a Club Secretary who is the outward face of Banbury Star to our affiliated bodies and also helps with our meetings and record keeping. 

On this latter topic I have been given a box of archive material that Ken Hall was given by Eric Smith before his recent death. It contains many old photographs, scrap books, cuttings and minutes of meetings going back to 1903! Banbury Star enjoys a long and proud history and seeing these records reinforces the need for all of us to preserve what we currently do for future generations to ponder over. Therefore we need to decide what we do with all of this and I welcome suggestions from you all.

On the cycling front, Banbury Star entered two teams at the recent 9-up team time trial at Silverstone which was the first outing for the new club kit and has since received high acclaim and I recommend it to anyone wanting to look the part. There's a race report below but there's another chance to ride at Silverstone on Tuesday August 1st when the club will be returning as the Formula 1 track is going to be open to cyclists.

The club has also been represented by members in a few open time trials, well done to those who entered including the Didcot Phoenix Ben Owen memorial trophy event.

Looking ahead to August, the club will be taking part in the annual inter-club time trial competition where we will be looking to defend last year's success when we won the Leiden Plaque. You don't have to be a shaven racing whippet to take part, it's open to all club members.

Finally, I'd like as many members as possible to come to the next Quarterly Meeting on Tuesday 18th July where as well as voting in new Secretaries, it's proposed the club adopts a formal constitution, reflecting how we are a growing organisation and with plans to do even more in the coming years. This is a rare opportunity to lay the foundations for years to come and I'd like as many members as possible to come to the meeting to lend their support.

Paul.

email Paul

Members corner

Star member Joby Mullens will be setting off on Sunday 9th July to ride Lands End to John O'Groats to raise funds for The Gatehouse Project in Oxford. He's planning to do it in 13 days, riding solo on his Trek Series 1.2 bike with just a backpack and staying in pre-booked hostels.

If you'd like to support Joby, find out more about The Gatehouse Project and Joby's story, then click on the link below

Joby's LEJOG page

Members corner is your chance to have your say on any cycle or club related subject. The above is a good illustration of what can be included, but it could be an idea or suggestion for the membership to consider. Names can be withheld if that's your preference. The link below is your contact. 

email the Press Officer

Membership

Banbury Star CC would like to extend a very warm welcome to the following new members:

Gary Barlow, Aidan Daniels, Marcus Edmans, Rupert Rittson and Ben Hawkins.

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.

Join here

OVO Energy Women's Tour - results

Lots of you were out following the 2017 OVO Energy Women's Tour on Stage 3 last month, as it passed through the area. The winner at Leamington Spa was Chloe Hosking (Ale Cipollini), whilst the QOM at both Edge Hill and Burton Dasset was Cecilie Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla). Overall winner was Katarzyna Niewiadoma (WM3) with Alice and Hannah Barnes finishing third and fourth. Full results of all stages can be found by clicking on the link below.

If you thought you saw a lot of motorbikes whilst watching, you were right, around 50 in total to enforce the rolling road closure. Around 28/30 bikes are provided by the Central Escort Group from police riders around the country with experience in cycle race marshalling. NEG, who we use for our road race, provide about another 20 bikes.  

Full results

2017 HSBC UK National Road Championships

The National Road Championships took place on the Isle of Man this year on 22nd and 25th June. For those interested, the results were as follows:

Women's Time Trial                                                                                   1.Claire Rose, 2.Hannah Barnes, 3. Katie Archibald

Men's Time Trial                                                                                                   1.Steve Cummings, 2.Alex Dowsett, 3. James Gullen

Women's Road Race                                                                                             1.Lizzie Deignan, 2.Katie Archibald 3.Hannah Barnes

Men's Road Race                                                                                                1.Steve Cummings, 2.Chris Lawless, 3.Ian Bibby

Steve Cummings became the first rider to complete the double since David Millar in 2007.

2017 Time Trial Season so far

Fourteen year old Toby Heron put in a very impressive display to win the Manners Handicap 25 mile TT, beating his previous best by over six minutes to take yet more silverware for the Heron household following his father Lee's victory in the Friswell Cup event.

Simon Kisley was also on top form to win the 30 mile Edmunds Cup TT on what was probably one of the warmest evenings of the 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:

Simon Kisley wins the Edmunds Cup 30 mile TT. Obviously his new Banbury Star skin suit played a big part in his success. See the "New club kit" section below if you want to order yours.

Time Trial information and calendar
Wednesday results

Cafe of the month

The Cacao Bean

Coffee and Cake Shop

 

Situated on the High Street in Moreton in Marsh this favourite stop serves freshly baked cakes, fair trade teas and barista coffee. A warm welcome is always given and we reckon the cakes are some of the best available locally - just look at their website. Open from 9am weekdays and 10am Saturday, Sunday and Bank holidays. 

 

The Cacao Bean website

Silverstone 9-up team time trial report

A big thank you must go to Mark Boyles, whose enthusiasm and organisation, enabled the club to enter two teams for this big local event on 9th June.

Held on the iconic Silverstone F1 Grand Prix circuit, the club entered a men’s and a mixed team in the 9up team time trial. Organised by Bicester Millennium CC, a total of 81 teams, tackled 3 laps of the windblown circuit, a distance of approximately 11 miles, with the first 5 riders over the line setting a time.

First off were the mixed team, which had to include a minimum of three women, two of whom had to make the finish. Whilst many teams competing dropped riders along the way, they all finished together in a time of 26m 31s, which put them a creditable 5th out of the 18 mixed teams. The men who followed them however weren’t so lucky, losing their strongest rider, Jon Parker, on the first lap with a puncture, and then dropping two riders on the final lap. The 6 finishing riders crossed the line with a time of 27m 45s. Winning men’s team time was 21m 39s and mixed team time was 24m 14s. The teams were as follows and most want to do it again.

Men’s Team. Paul Dean, Jon Parker, Ian Maconnachie, Stuart Quick, Mike Hicks, Geoff Hewett, Rich Collier, Mike Drago, Gregor Kelling

Mixed Team. Lydia Watts, Carmen Hancock, Naomi de Pennington, Tim Butt, Mark Boyles, Lee Heron, Simon Kisley, Ruben Trotter, William Peel-Yates

          

Would you like to ride at Silverstone?

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: 

email Paul

Broughton Castle sportive

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.

Rotary Club email
Broughton Castle sportive website

Ben Owen Memorial time trial report

As explained in our last newsletter, Banbury Star were invited to take part in The Ben Owen Memorial Time Trial Competition, a charity event organised by our friends at Didcot Phoenix CC. Held on Thursday 22nd June the 10 mile team event took place on a bumpy course on the outskirts of Stadhampton.

Ten teams took part and the Star team comprising; Simon Kisley, Mark Boyles, Lee Heron, Keith Barcock and Matt Longman finished in 5th place. Each rider rode individually, with the fastest 4 ride times added for the overall final team time, which was 1h. 33m 40s. All five riders set very close times with Simon setting the fastest time of 23m.17s. The event was won by Fairly United Cycle Team on 1h.28m.32s. 

 

New club kit

The first delivery of the new club kit has been made and received excellent feedback, a second batch is now available to order using Endura's online system for which each club member has an individual log-in.

If there are any items you'd like to see added in the future (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.

Contact Dave Speck
How to order club kit

Bill's Bargain Basement - a few items left

Bill Ord still has a few remaining items of old club kit in stock available at knockdown prices. Amongst the items are are couple of medium tops and a small women/child skin suit. Please have a look at the following link to see what's left:

Old club kit sale

Banbury Star retro ride

We are planning on holding our very first retro ride on Sunday September 10th, to complement the usual 10am ride. Old bikes and clothing will be the order of the day with a trophy available for the best turned-out rider. Double points will be on offer for those sporting an original leather helmet.

To help prepare for this epic outing and help your old bikes get around successfully, Golden Age Cycles will be offering a discounted bike service before the day. Also, for those keen to take part, but who don't have a suitable old bike, Golden Age will have bikes available to hire. More details will follow.

As they did a great job of catering for us on the Cycling Weekly magazine ride, we plan on stopping at the Chandlers Arms, Epwell for coffee and cake.

Club rides

The warmer months are seeing record numbers turn up for our club rides which are:

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.

Club ride calendar

The club blog

Last month saw two further blogs posted on completely different subjects. The first on how a member got into road racing and the second, an amusing story titled "The Cycling Widows Revenge", which is well worth a read.

However, we're now running short of contributions, but know lots of you out there have an interesting story to tell. Surely one of the three members who climbed a famous French mountain recently has something to say. We'd also like to hear from anybody who's raced, or even just ridden on a velodrome.

Read the club blogs

So, please keep the stories, topics, events, rides, opinions and general comments coming. 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.

blogger@banburystar.co.uk is waiting to hear from you

Banbury Star CC social evenings

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.

It's held at the White Horse in Banbury and starts at 7.30pm. The next one is on the 6th July.

Cycling on TV

Bit of a no-brainer this, as the month of July is all about the 104th edition of the Tour de France. The race starts on Saturday 1st. in Dusseldorf, Germany with a 13.8km. individual time trial and runs until the finish in Paris on 23rd. The first summit finish is on Stage 5. Rest days for both riders and viewers are on Mondays 10th and 17th.

Full live coverage will be on both Eurosport and ITV4, with both channels also featuring one hour highlights programmes in the the evenings.

Upcoming events

Social Nights 7.30pm:

  • Thursday 6 July
  • Thursday 10 August

Time Trials: Weekly series every Wednesday evening

Broughton Castle Sportive: Sunday 9th July

Next Quarterly meeting Tuesday 18th July

Leiden Plaque inter-club TT: Monday 28th August

For more details and other events please look at the calendars on the club’s website.

Club rides calendar
Racing calendar

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