TAW VELO

Saturday 16th April saw Taw Velo members helping out with James May's Toy Stories in the race to the finish.  Despite a ridiculously early start, Mike Parker, Adam Paull, Alex Challis and Steve Bloom all showed commitment and determination by staying with the German Teams until the bitter end.   Joss Benyon (aka Noel Edmunds) supported the slowest German train and after a messy fall while holding a second bike, he was forced to leave the show.  Alex and Steve supported the first German train which made it into Barnstaple at around 2.30pm to an excited crowd.  A technical hitch left it stranded 200 yards from the finish but it finally triumphed at the finish at around 3pm.  Meanwhile a very patient Mike and Adam were with the second German train which was facing technical disaster between Instow and Yelland at 4pm.  It was touch and go as to whether they would make it to the bitter end, however their sheer determination and sense of humour helped them to put the pain of their 5.30am start to the back of their minds.  A coffee stop at Fremington Quay just after 5 recharged their batteries, and Alex rejoined the group to show his support.  The 3 of them were determined to stay till the end and carried on with their journey.  KIrsty Webb joined the gang at 6 just outside of Barnstaple, offering homemade flapjack to the weary boys.  The train finally dragged itself into Barnstaple Station to no crowds or camera crew at around 9 o'clock. 

So after around 17 hours on the bikes, the boys deserve a real pat on the back for their sheer determination and a big 'well done' for completing the slowest race in the world! 

Senior Awards for the AGM

To recognise some of the outstanding efforts and achievements of our senior riders in 2010 we have decided to present awards at the AGM across several categories.

The categories will be:

1. Grimpeur (Hill Climber)

2. Baroudeur (Most aggressive rider)

3. Sprinteur (Sprinter)

4. Most improved rider

5. Club Personality of the year

Voting forms will be given upon arrival at the AGM on Saturday and votes will be collected and collated in time to make the presentations at the end of the meeting. Please have a think between now and then of people who you deem worthy of the above awards to ensure the vote collection runs in a timely and efficient manner!

The only stipulations are: We are looking for a different name in each of the first 3 categories (ie a different name for the Grimpeur award to the one you vote for the Baroudeur award). You can vote for someone to win either (or both) of categories 4 and 5, even if you have voted for them in any other category. The awards are for who you think best fits the category throughout 2010.

Please remember that ultimately this is for fun and to recognise the talent we have among the senior riders!

What is Cyclo Cross ?

Cyclo cross is a traditional cross country winter sport for cyclists.Competitors race at high speed whilst negotiating corners, banks and bunny hopping obstacles. Negotiating mud steep banks and low hurdles often forces riders to shoulder their bikes and in many cases the technique can be the difference in winning and losing races.

The racing is fast and furious and lots of fun with the course ranging in length from 2.5 - 3.5 km riders lap the course many times making for good spectating and an exciting atmosphere. Whilst there's an advantage to having a dedicated cyclo cross bike if you want to try out racing bring your mountain bike.

see attached link to a cyclo cross event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDilpEXh27g&feature=related

The South West cyclo cross league kicks off on the 12th September and this year promises to be our biggest season yet with twelve events from beginning in September and concluding in January. Many of the favourite venues return to the calendar alongside exciting new venues including the cyclelogic course at Truro School and the TVRC floodlit course at Silk Mills Park and Ride Taunton. The Shred Supercross, Newnham Park returns, so competitors will be able to compete in two floodlit events in 2010.

The South West cross league is known for its friendly atmosphere and the season kicks off on Sunday 12th September at the popular Plympton Farm course in the South Hams, don't forget the pre event BBQ on Saturday ! The league has been succesful in bidding for sports grants and each event is now branded with South West cyclo cross gazebo's, advertising board, PA and volunteers kit. The league organisers have been working hard during the Summer months to ehance the training of their officials with first aid training and commissaire refresher courses. So its all systems go for the new season. #

Round 1 Sunday 12th September. South Hams Festival of Cycling, Plympton Farm, Marlborough, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 3DL

Round 2 Sunday 19th September. Taunton Vale Cross, Courtfields Community School, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8SW

Round 3 Saturday 25th September. Shred Supercross (floodlit), Newnham Park, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 5BN

Round 4 Sunday 3rd October. West Buckland Cross, West Buckland School, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0SX

Round 5 Sunday 17th October. North Cornwall Cycling Festival, Dragon Leisure Centre, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 1DE

Round 6 Sunday 24th October. 1st Chard Wheelers Cyclo- Cross, Holyrood Community School, Chard, Somerset, TA20 1JL

Round 7 Sunday 31st October. South Dartmoor Cross, South Dartmoor College, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7EW

Round 8 Sunday 14th November. Escot Park, Escot, Ottery St Mary, Deon, EX11 1LU

Round 9 Sunday 21st November. Cyclelogic Cross, Truro School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TH

Round 10 Sunday 5th December South of England Champs, Bicton Arena, Yettington, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7DP

Round 11 Saturday 18th December. TVRC Floodlit Cross, Silk Mills Park and Ride, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6BB

Round 12 Sunday 2nd January (league finale) Certini Cross, Mayflower Sports Centre, Central Park, Plymouth, PL2 3DG

For regular updates and info on the South West league see our website www.cyclo-cross.org.uk

Well done to Alex Challis for achieving a huge amount of miles over the last month!  Another rider that Taw Velo should be extremely proud to have!

See this link for more on this from the North Devon Journal:

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/Alex-clocks-400-miles-grand-tour/article-2726414-detail/article.html

The Annual Club Meeting is to be held on Saturday 27th November at 10am at the Forches and Whiddon Valley Community Centre.  Please can all members make every effort to attend.  There will be some important things to discuss and also some awards to give out.

Following the success of previous trips to the Newport Velodrome there are more scheduled.  The dates are as follows:

Youth Section - 27th October, meeting at Forches Fish and Chip shop at 8.30 am

Adults Section - 20th December (further details to follow)

Please bring a packed lunch, helmet, cycling gloves, trainers and money for bike hire. 

Please also let Jo Shackleton know if you would like a space on 07878840178

If anyone has any ideas for a design for the club kit, please either email to the club website at tawvelo@ymail.com or pass on to a coach, leader or volunteer. 

Designs to be judged and a final decision made shortly after. 

Mystery prize for the top 3 designs!!! 

We have been in talks with Mike and Norman from Bike-It on Mill Road in Barnstaple and they have kindly agreed to sponsor the club by buying in a new kit for us to be able to purchase from them as individuals.  This is fantastic for us as the outlay is more than we can afford as a club and means we can get a quality kit as an ongoing thing from a local shop. 

They have also offered us 15% off any full priced goods in their shop but we need to be able to prove we are from Taw Velo before that discount can be applied.  I will be looking into membership cards but if you have a card from British Cycling that shows you as a member of the club, you may be able to use that for now. 

We are trying to come up with designs for a new kit.  This is NOT compulsory and will not replace the old kit, but will be available for those that wish to buy it when the old one wears out.  Now that we are a club catering for youth, men and women, we need a kit that reflects who we are and where we are going as well as where we are from.  If you have any ideas please please please draw it and hand it into a club volunteer.  We will try to make a decision before the AGM and have the new kit ready for next season. 

I think we will all agree this is a great move forward and will enhance the visibility of the club. Thanks Bike-It!

Taw Velo have decided to unite the 2 groups from the first Sunday in September.  There will still be a group for those that choose to go at a slower pace should they wish to do so.  We think joining the 2 groups will benefit many of the riders' training as well as promote a more united and social side to the club. 

New group time:  Sunday 9am Barnstaple Leisure Centre for all riders. (2 different paced rides still available)

We hope this move won't put anyone off and we still want to promote inclusion for all within the groups.  Please email me or phone if you are unsure. 

Look forward to seeing you all soon! 

Please see the link to read about June's amazing adventure at the Manchester Velodrome!  There are a host of photos on the link, a couple of which can be found in our photos section. 

www.neilsonreeves.co.uk/blog/event_photography_news/2010/june-smith-age-stannah-think-again-fund/