Viva le Tour

Originally Posted by Friggertool

A lot of cyclists I know are far too fond of cake

Thats so true, I love cake

Originally Posted by Friggertool

A lot of cyclists I know are far too fond of cake

You can never be to fond of cake

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

I wish I could do that in my race tomorrow

What are you riding capt, RR or TT

2nd/3rd/4th Road Race at 10am. 7 Laps of hell, with a mile and a half climb each lap.

It's a few years since i did any road racing

But will be out tommorow morning with the club

Ah, some closet road racers in the forum then. Good luck Capt Slow, keep it nice and steady, in the first twenty riders. Riding at the back is a mugs game.

Originally Posted by andyalfagtv

Ah, some closet road racers in the forum then. Good luck Capt Slow, keep it nice and steady, in the first twenty riders. Riding at the back is a mugs game.

Done a bit yourself Andy

I'm just downing my big bowl of porridge, hence my unearthly hour on here on a Sunday. I'm riding an E/1/2/3 at Whitwell. I get to ride with some guys from the Team I manage though - but they are going to kick my arse, they told me!

I used to do 10s and 25s mostly (back in the eighties), but tried a few Kent League events. My first ever race was a San Fairy Ann criterium, on non closed roads. Tony Doyle was in the field with (?) James. I couldn't get my feet into the clips, and got shot out the back immediately. I tried to make a comeback (I coulda been a contender!!!!!) in the mid 90s, but I was only there to make up the field. I think I may have got a fifth place in a 10 back in 1980/81 when Sean Yates won (just before he signed for Peugeot), and Tim Stevens and Mick Ballard beat me as well.
The only time I ride the bike now, is when we go over to France.

Which team do you manage VO2 Max?

Sport Beans - Wilier Andy. Grant Bayton was away all day and got 2nd, Dave Coulson got 11th and Ben Luckwell punctured - a shame, as he was giving me little pushes up the hill round the back of the circuit! I got about 25th in the end, I was pleased with that as I'm just building up and hoping to do an OK ride in the National Vets' Champs in Sept.

Ah Grant Bayton, Phil "the engine" Bayton's son if I am correct. Used to enjoy the city centre races years ago.
We still have a couple of vets riding down my way. I don't know if Geoff Wiles races any more, but Reg Smith is a regular at my old club's evening 10s. I think Reg is 63, but he can still knock out a 21 minute 10.

Blimey, could have done with Reg towing me along today!

I never really got into road racing in a big way, because basically my bike handling was sh?te. Straight lines were good, not too many roundabouts, and certainly not dead turns in the road. I even managed to fall off at the beginning of a three man 30 mile TTT. One of the blokes pushing off a team mate, stepped backwards into me, just as I was out of the saddle giving it the big heave ho power start. I got my own back at the end of the race, when the Sydenham Wheelers team (including Bruce Drew), went flying past, and I disengaged brain and chased them, ignoring rules about pacing. Anyway, I crossed the finishing line about half a minute after the Sydenham, but a minute ahead of my team mates, who were non too pleased, and didn't talk to me for a while.

Originally Posted by VO2Max

Sport Beans - Wilier Andy. Grant Bayton was away all day and got 2nd, Dave Coulson got 11th and Ben Luckwell punctured - a shame, as he was giving me little pushes up the hill round the back of the circuit! I got about 25th in the end, I was pleased with that as I'm just building up and hoping to do an OK ride in the National Vets' Champs in Sept.

Max, that must be Ben Luckwell from the bristol area.

I rode in vets nat 1978/79, on the IOM. DNF

Indeed, the very same Ben!

I wouldn't fancy riding on the TT course, too hard! This year is up in Yorks, not too hilly by all accounts though.

On Google streetview:


Tour de France 2008

Originally Posted by VO2Max

Indeed, the very same Ben!

I wouldn't fancy riding on the TT course, too hard! This year is up in Yorks, not too hilly by all accounts though.

1987,Third time up the mountain, hunger knock, no food left, eating the fluff from the bottom of my pockets

remember a couple of my team mates from CC Bowland, Tim Schools and Andy Biggar mentioning Ben from the time they spent in france racing...small world

Also remember crashing on a load of diesel 10 miles from stage finish in Blackpool of the Tour of Lancs, ended up with me and Phil Bayton towing a few lazy t***s back up......even smaller world

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

Thats so true, I love cake

me too, cake (actually food in general) was my downfall

Originally Posted by Mr Dunamis

me too, cake (actually food in general) was my downfall

I was sometimes saved by cake---Kendal Mint Cake.
Also "invented" the intraveinous Mars Bar. And the pink stuff in the bottle was described as blood plasma.

Originally Posted by Nev

On Google streetview:


Tour de France 2008

Cool! Gonna link that up to a monitor while I'm on my turbo trainer in my conservatory in the winter!

Originally Posted by roeburndale

1987,Third time up the mountain, hunger knock, no food left, eating the fluff from the bottom of my pockets

remember a couple of my team mates from CC Bowland, Tim Schools and Andy Biggar mentioning Ben from the time they spent in france racing...small world

Also remember crashing on a load of diesel 10 miles from stage finish in Blackpool of the Tour of Lancs, ended up with me and Phil Bayton towing a few lazy t***s back up......even smaller world

Yup, small (cycling) world indeed! It's a funny thing, the cycling world is small, so you seem to know everyone, and every time you go to say, the Worlds, Ghent 6 or the Tour to watch, you always see people you know!

Was a guy called Tim Gill at CC Bowland while you were there?