28th May Newsletter
It looks like it’s going to be another fabulous weekend for cycling, thanks to everyone who has volunteered to lead rides this weekend. With the summer approaching and people being busy we really do need more people to offer to lead rides. If you would like some help with stepping up to do it please speak to myself or Gavin, thanks.
I’m away next week but looking forward to seeing lots of you at the K20 event on 7th June. It should be great with 36 of us signed up to do it.
Velopark track day Saturday 30th May
We now have 3 spare spaces if you could mention it please on an email before the weekend?
Colin's diary no longer works for Saturday and unfortunately both Roger and Tim are not fit to ride.
If anyone is interested, please contact me on brian.tidey@gmail.com or call 07849-108221 and I will send all details to them.
A Message From Our Safety Officer Pete
Where we have periods of high temperatures, the club recommends the following extra precautions should be taken on rides:
1. Good hydration is critical. Take two bottles and ensure you are drinking at regular intervals throughout the ride.
2. Good pacing is essential, your heart rate will be significantly higher in the heat. Try to ride smoothly and if necessary, rides can be shortened or ridden slower than usual.
3. If anyone is suffering with the heat on a ride, it is essential that the group are aware and the ride leader can take appropriate action. If you are the one suffering, please let people know; heat stroke can take effect very quickly and be lethal.
4. Always wear sun tan lotion and ensure this is applied to all exposed skin.
5. When stopping for any period, such as at a cafe or for a puncture or mechanical, consider seeking shade. If you are in the full sun, it is advisable to wear a hat.
Thanks to Andrew, there are now Oxted CC accounts for Instagram and Threads, an alternative to X.
We will be testing to see how this might broaden the club reach and membership.
The accounts are both @oxtedcc
Ride reports and pictures will be added. If you are okay with it, as you follow the accounts you can be tagged in these posts.
Please search for and follow them.
Please like, comment, and repost.
If you create posts about OCC rides or events etc, please tag OCC.
Invite to collaborate.
OCC Surrey League Road Race 17-5-26
OCC hosted a Surrey League race, our contribution to being a member of the road racing league.
We had 25 fantsatic volunteers supporting the event at the HQ and on the course. With over 40 riders in the peloton and supporting cars and motorbikes it made for a brilliant spectacle on our local roads.
Glyn Durant who organises the Surrey League observed that OCC had delivered another excellent event.
The results are here ….
https://www.surreyleague.co.uk/
While cycle racing is generally a young person sport it’s never too late to start. The race was for veterans with prizes for 40-50 , 50-60 and 60+. Austen has no plans to come out of retirement, however, he is more than happy to talk to anyone interested in road racing.
Thank you again to our fantastic volunteers.
Ride Reports
T4 ride to Milk Churn Saturday 23rd May
The sunshine came out with attitude to warm us up on the way out and cook some of us on the return. With a great turnout of 13, we split into two groups with Martin leading the keenest and Brian leading the more moderate T4.
Martin faithfully followed his technology to take his group on a deviation via Bletchingley adding some extra miles and passing the slower group who had stopped for Nick Mann’s handlebar reset after a pothole (he stayed upright) and unfortunately Nick also punctured near Gatwick.
Pete marshalled us through the level crossing at Warnham and Marcel did more than his share of towing on good roads thereafter leading to the Milk Churn at Rudgewick for their legendary cheese toasties. All went well on the return via Forest Green, Capel and Salfords with the main challenge being the mercury rising up to 32 degrees.
Sensibly, Nick peeled off at Newdigate then Marian and Russell Dixon turned for home at Woodhatch all still clocking up over 70 miles. Marcel, Rob. Ian and Brian continued back via the Blindley Heath including some hop based fluid for the fortunate.
A great social ride 71 miles @ 16.5 mph.
Karen’s T1 Report - There was a huge turnout for the bank holiday Monday T1 ride to Four Elms, so I was very grateful to Norman for volunteering to lead a second group.
My group consisted of me, Pinsara, Michaela, Alastair, Casey and Andy, while Norman led Jeremy, Michelle, Suzanne, Gilly and Tony.
We headed south through Old Oxted, Broadham Green and Crowhurst, then turned left towards Edenbridge. After skirting the northern edge of the town, we made our way to the Elms Café at Four Elms. With temperatures climbing towards 32 degrees, finding a table in the shade was essential. Mostly iced drinks were ordered, along with plenty of pistachio croissants. Norman’s group soon joined us, and their cake of choice seemed to be cinnamon buns. Photographic evidence suggests that, by then, a few of us were doing a very convincing impression of a beetroot.
For the return leg, we rode back via Pootings and then looped around Itchingwood Common before the inevitable climb up to Oxted, which felt even more of a slog than usual in the intense heat. As we made our way back, people gradually peeled off for home, leaving just a handful of us to stop for one more drink at Nero’s before finally heading off.
It was fantastic to see such a great turnout on what must have been one of the hottest Oxted rides ever. In total, we covered 26 miles at an average speed of around 11.5–12 mph.
Three reports from Russell:
Saturday's Dorking TT: Myles and I rode East Grinstead's early morning Dorking 10 G10/42. A friendly field of just eight (the BEC CC afternoon event had soaked up 31 triallers). East Grinstead's Russel Cottingham ran the whole thing; sign fixing, sign on, timekeeper and pusher-offer. Perfect conditions, hardly a breeze, very little traffic, smooth road surface. Myles finished in a truly incredible 21.39; he hadn't even ridden this course before! Age adjusted that's 20.40 - if he'd ridden the Bec, that would have placed him in the top 5! I was pleased to finish in 26.13, age adjusted 24.22.
Sunday's T4 to Ryarsh - five of us rode Roger Ardley's anti-clockwise route which works well, lovely cafe of course. In the photo, Stuart, me, Mark Clark (trying his first T4) Marian (she's taller of course, slipped off her chair!) and Myles. Around 53 miles, c15.5mph, 3385 feet of hills.
Tuesday's Horne TT Round 5 - Another perfect evening if slightly warm, 18 riders from 6 clubs, 5 from OCC including David Whitcombe, first time at Horne this season. Jeremy was a little off his best, he's been doing more endurance rides, not ideal for TT'ing. David was next with 28.31, Martin worked hard for 28.15, Richard 28.08, getting faster and I got just under 28 minutes.
Malcolm Paterson gave up his ride to marshal for us, thank you! We would really appreciate some help from some non-trialler club members, it's a short season!
Time Age adjustedRussell HicksTT bike00:27:5400:24:03Richard BushellTT bike00:28:0800:26:16Martin HarrisRoad00:28:1500:26:47David WhitcombeRoad00:28:3100:28:31Jeremy LovelaceRoad00:31:4600:31:38
Have a great weekend,
Richard