Acorn Newsletter August 2001

Acorn Newsletter
April 2013
Sherwood Cycling Club
President: Mr Frank Beale
Web site:
www.sherwoodcc.org.uk
Forum: https://www.sherwoodcc.org.uk/forum
Editor, Ed Ward, 52 Shearing Hill, Gedling, Nottm. NG4 3GX Tel. 0115 9615477 edwinward@virginmedia.com
Another new member this month is Julian Richardson.
CLUB RUNS
Sunday runs meet at 9.15 a.m. from 7 April at Lowdham War Memorial.
Wednesday runs meet Lowdham War Memorial 9.15 a.m.
Saturday Runs meet at Lowdham 10.00 a.m. (20-40 miles with a café stop).
Follow this link for the location of the start point for all Club Runs. Please be prompt.
Recent bad weather has meant some runs have been shortened or cancelled.
*** Note the start time on Sundays is earlier from 7 April. ***
CLUB NIGHTS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AT ARNOLD VICTORY CLUB
Club nights and open Committee Meetings are held monthly on Mondays from 7.30 p.m. at the
Arnold & District Victory Club, Church Drive East, Arnold. The next meetings are 29 April and
20 May. Click this link for a location map.
REX ROBINSON’S BIKE SHOP – Tony Kirk
Last week I tired of finding a solution to a gear selection problem on my recently
acquired old Mercian. It was running Campag gears that would not select all the sprockets due to
the parts being from a different era i.e. not compatible. After asking around it seemed the only
solution was to buy new mech.
A friend John, whom some of you will know, an all weather, all year cyclist but one who does not
like to tinker with spanners suggested I try Rex Robinson cycle shop near Carlton Square on
Burton Rd. He goes there and was full of praise.
Looking at the window its lack of shiny lightweight gear caused me concern. In I went and met
the owner Ray. I explained the problem - solutions were offered. Left the bike, collected later that
day. Job done. He put the bike up on the stand explained to me what he had done and why. Paid a
very reasonable bill. The next bit people who know me will find unbelievable, I returned to the
shop next day with a bottle of wine. (I am usually tighter than a ducks bum.)
[The original Rex Robinson was a Vice President of Sherwood. The shop doesn’t carry a lot of
spares and isn’t open every day. Ed]
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This article is taken from the Autumn 1992 edition of “Chainline” a magazine produced quarterly
by Alan Fletcher for 4 issues.
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FIRST 20-MILE CIRCUIT TIME TRIAL SUNDAY 17 APRIL
The first event of the season on a chilly
morning was won by Mike with Ian not far
behind.
Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
PT
PT
PT
With no previous rides in the series, no
handicap allowances were given.
Craig Watson did the timekeeping.
The following Sunday was worse with snow
forcing a cancellation of the second event.
Mike Hankin
Ian Hales
Andrew Thompson
Paul Ward
Philip Staniforth
Matt Hemsley
Conor Williams
T. Hibbard
Jim Wilson
Amanda English
Time
52:36
53:58
55:29
57:49
58:34
1:00:11
1:02:33
54:12
56:32
1:06:44
Acorn
Points
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
FORTHCOMING CLUB EVENTS
The next 20-mile Circuit Time Trials are each Sunday with the last one on 21 April. Start time is 9.00 a.m.
from the large lay-by on the A6097 north of Oxton Island. Two laps of the counter clockwise circuit using
the A6097, A614 and B6386 to Oxton Island where left again on the A6097 to finish at the start lay-by. If
you wish to ride a private trial over just one circuit, let the timekeeper know when you sign on.
Course maps are on these links Circuit TT Circuit TT
On Sunday 5 May we have the 26-mile Oxton Bank Circuit starting at 9.00 a.m. on the B6386 near the
A614 junction. The route is Oxton, Southwell, Upton, Hockerton, Kirklington A614 and details can be
viewed on this map.
Evening tens are each on Tuesday from 9 April from the large lay-by north of Oxton Island on the A6097.
The first 3 events have a 6.45 p.m. start and from 30 April the start time is 7.00 p.m. The course Northgate
Island, A614 to turn at Longdale Lane traffic island, back to Northgate where right onto the A6097 to
Oxton Island and straight on to finish after 0.6 miles. Any kit can be left in my boot at the start and will be
taken to the finish. Course map is here.
No entry form is needed but you must sign on and pay the fee of £3 (50p juveniles) unless you have paid
for a Season Ticket (£40).
Juniors (under 18) must have a completed Parental Consent Form – one form will cover you for all our
Club Events.
LONDON 2 PARIS BIKE RIDE FOR ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH 17-21 JULY 2013
As a new member of the Club and, for the last couple of years now, of a growing band of mid-life crisis
cyclists often referred to as ‘MAMILs’ (middle aged men in Lycra!), I have now taken the plunge and
committed to a 325 mile slog from London to Paris over 3 and a half days to help raise funds for Action
Medical Research - www.action.org.uk and I would be most grateful if you would consider sponsoring
me, to help ease the plight of children and babies who suffer disease, sickness and disability.
Action Medical Research began in 1952 and has funded more than £100 million of medical research
helping save thousands of children’s lives and changing many more. Action Medical Research have been
instrumental in some of the most significant breakthroughs in medical history, beginning with the UK
polio vaccine in the 1960’s that has protected millions of children from this disease. The charity focuses on
life-threatening pregnancy complications, reducing pre-mature births and improving care for sick babies,
research into life threatening infections like meningitis and septicaemia and improving the quality of life
for children with disabilities.
Please find the link below to my sponsor site and I would very much appreciate any support you can give
but please don’t feel obliged as I know a lot of you support a number of different causes. Please follow this
link for more information: www.action.org.uk/sponsor/philipmead
Thanks, Phil Mead.
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MARGINAL GAINS, LOSSES AND WINTER RIDING
I’m sure you will have all heard of Dave Brailsford’s “marginal gains” helping Team GB and Sky
to much success. On the road, many of the technical changes only produce a “gain” as long as no
rivals copy them. The “gains” are also usually accompanied by a “loss”.
Having helmets without vents give a significant aerodynamic advantage and have already been
copied by other teams, but how uncomfortable will they being climbing a col in searing heat?
Close fitting race capes also reduce drag but are more difficult to put on and remove. Aero wheels
are faster but more difficult to control in wind and more prone to sliding in the wet. Skinsuits in
road races present lower drag, but how do you carry food without pockets?
Higher performance equipment has also crept into riding at all levels. Back in the sixties on
winter club runs many rode a single fixed gear, used heavy tyres (32mm), carried saddlebags (for
spare clothing, tools, spares etc) and used a big poncho type cape to keep dry in the rain.
The fixed wheel used to reduce maintenance; I smeared all the non-contact metal parts with
grease and didn’t clean the bike all winter – I just oiled the chain regularly. You can’t get away
without regular cleaning on a multi-geared machine. The wide tyres allowed us to go off-road
(before MTBs were invented!). Capes kept us reasonably dry and you could have dry socks or
gloves available in your saddlebag.
Gradually some riders made marginal gains by not having a saddlebag or by riding gears or using
narrow section tyres when they hit the market. If you didn’t adopt these gains you suffered, so
eventually everyone streamlined their bikes. It did mean we stopped going off-road and without
saddlebags Youth Hostel Weekends faded away.
The process is still going on with some riders dispensing with mudguards or carrying spares.
Carbon frames and even aero wheels also pop up now and again on winter bikes. It all makes for
faster (or easier) riding but any advantage gained is only until the others do the same and there is
usually a loss for every gain.
EVENTS IN NOTTINGHAM 2013
A new City Centre Race sponsored by the Dairy Council is being held on Sunday 26 May and has
been dubbed “Milk Race returns” – although a single circuit race is much different to the two
week stage race of 20 years ago. Details of the course and times are not yet available but will
eventually appear on http://www.themilkrace.com/.
From Friday 21 June to Sunday 23 June the Cycle Live Nottingham Festival sponsored by E.ON
is taking place with racing at the Embankment on the Friday evening, a Family Ride on Saturday
and the Great Nottingham Bike Ride on the Sunday. http://www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk/
CLUB MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Have you paid your 2013 subs yet? Over 70 members have but a lot are overdue! You can get a
form from the website or from me. I’m quite willing to pass on any renewals given to me.
----------------------------------------Contacts: (click on name to e-mail)
Secretary, Trevor Adams, 16 Glendale Close, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 4FD Tel 0115 9614415
Treasurer, Martin Edjvet, 5 Fourth Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham NG7 6JB Tel. 0115 9620572
Membership Secretary, Robert Godfrey, , 8 Danehurst Drive, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3GA Tel 0115 9614504
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