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16/08/2010 - MILESTONE FOR MICK IVES
In 1958 a very young Mick Ives,riding for Warwick Cycling Club and only in his 2nd season of cycling, won the Lichfield C and A C 25 between Lichfield and Burton on Trent in a new course and event record time of 58 mins 35 secs.
In those days the course was held on roads far different from todays,there with 3 dead turns where riders had to turn around a marshalin the middle of the road.
This weekend Ives returned to the same venue to compete in the Mercia C C Open 25 ml event, the course had changed over those years, --no dead turns now--, just 1 flyover-,on an out and back course on the Burton By Pass.Nevertheless Ives, now 71yrs of age , 59 mins 28 secs, less than a minute slower some 52 yrs after he set the record.
Ives is now in his 54th season of nonstop cycle racing.During that time he has won 5 World Cycling Championships, 69 British ones,and over 1,250 Open Events.

16/08/2010 - VIEW FROM THE BACK OF THE BUNCH BY A ‘B’ CAT RIDER TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE EFG’S
LVRC TEAM VELO CLUB NOTTINGHAM RACE REPORT

VIEW FROM THE BACK OF THE BUNCH BY A ‘B’ CAT RIDER TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THE EFG’S

The Team Velo club Nottingham road race was held on the flat Flintham course on Sunday August 15th over 6 laps and 38 miles. Thankfully the dreadful weather in the week had given way to bright sunshine with nothing more than a gentle wind.

I am new to LVRC racing and have decided to enter a few EFG races this year to see if I can survive and to try and get some proper race experience, before moving to the CD races next year. As usual I took up my customary position towards the back of the bunch although I am always vigilant of what is going on in terms of attacks and counter-attacks.

As soon as we came out of the neutralised zone two riders attacked but it was early days and the peloton quickly closed them down with little effort and that was to become the order of the day. Attack followed attack with Chris Gunter, George Minion, Ken Cowdell and Phil Etches all prominent. From my position at the bank though you could sense the bunch respond as soon as any decent gap had opened and they were closed down within a mile or two.

I had my eye on two of the potential threats, these being Don Parry and Mike Allen and I was happy to sit behind them in the knowledge that they were unlikely to let any break go too far down the road before they got the bunch working to close it down. Unfortunately for him Don Parry was forced to retire with illness after two laps.

The side wind on the long straight before the left turn up to the finishing line was getting stiffer and this is where the peloton momentarily split in two with two laps to go as Ken Cowdell put in some hard efforts but the chasing bunch quickly closed it down as his umpteenth attack faltered. The bunch was pretty much altogether with only a couple of riders having been dropped.

With every move being neutralised the bunch was together at the bell and the race was on. With half a lap to go the bunch watched Chris Gunter drift off the front for about the fifth time but on this occasion no one responded, all eager to save his or her legs for the sprint. Brian Sunter then kicked hard and joined him 100 yards up the road but still the bunch watched them go and watched them go.

By the time the bunch responded it was too late and, as we swung left 600 metres from the finish we were sprinting for third place. With the wind directly behind us Martin Hackley kept the pace high as we all jostled for position. I had managed to creep forward and get on Phil Etches wheel but John Downing fancied a bit of that and I was gently squeezed out of the way. I had intended to kick from 300 yards but there was no room on the outside and I had to wait for Phil Etches to kick before any room appeared. But it was to no avail, Phil Etches kick gave him enough daylight to grab 3rd place, behind the escapee’s Chris Gunter and Brian Sunter, who won their respective groups. John Downing got 4th, Martin Hackley 5th and Mike Allen passed me just before the line to grab 6th. I had found myself under geared when we kicked and a gear change caused me to lose some momentum but I was still happy with 7th place over the line in what is only my 4th LVRC race.

12/08/2010 - MKCA & LVRC CRITS RACE LEADERS WITH ONE MORE RACE TO GO
MKCA & LVRC CRITS AT THE BOWL 2010

THESE ARE THE LEADING RIDERS IN CATEGORIES AND RACE POSITIONS AS AT RACE 11 ***** ONLY 1 MORE POINT SCORING RACE REMAINS *****

A
Tim Carter 15
Campbell Noon 14
Paul Bird 8

B
David Watson 13
Ian Goold 9
Adrian Cox 8

C
Jim Moffatt 27
Paul Freeman 9
Mick Dredge 7

D
Ralph Keeler 26
Cliff Dixon 5
Alan Duncan Jones 5
Ian Cooper 3

E
Martin Hackley 27
Dave Woods 14
Don Parry 12

F
Bob Richards 24
Murray Kirton 18

G
Gordon Batcock 6
Ken Haddon 3
Stuart Walters 3

10/08/2010 - TOO CLOSE TO CALL IN DUNTON SERIES WITH ONE RACE TO GO
With just one event to go, on the 19 August the competition is wide open for a number of Categories. In Cat A Steve Murrell and Richard Somerset are tied on 9 points but Martin Ryan is not out of it on 7. In Cat C Dominic Gabellini leads Steve Barnsley by just 1 point and simiarly for Cat D where Chris Edwardes leads Richard Kemp by a single point again. Things are even more tight in Cat F where Dave Burwood and Dave Whybrow are equal on points as are Roy Godbeer and Chas Wilde also equal for the H's.

04/08/2010 - LVRC CYCLO CROSS CHAMPS
LVRC CYCLO CROSS CHAMPS REMINDER

The LVRC Nat Cyclo Cross Champs on same course as the Nov event is on Sunday 19th December--there will be Championships for All LVRC age groups.
The course use will be suitable for Cross or Mt Bike, --Expert or Novice--it will have several fast sections, some small hurdles, and if wet some muddy sections, No technical sections--there will be no gridding at start.--there is an excellent Cafe on site, may be small charge for Parking--Can ride Stratford Cross only 10 mls away , following day ?

Reminder ---the the UCI World Masters Cyclo Cross Championship is on Saturday 22nd Jan 2011.

Mick Ives