Road racing

OOTS road race near Rotherham.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/103109/Out-Of-The-Saddle-Summer-Road-Race#summary

The start will be fast. But it'll then settle one a break goes. So try hang in there, it'll get easier. And then harder at the end as a bridge goes.

Problem is my lift has decided not to go, and getting there is looking increasingly impossible due to no trains that early

Is the evening series at the Lee Valley circuit still running? Can't find anything so presume not but wanted to check

Preview: The Victor Berlemont Road Race. (31st August 2014)

The phrase ‘a new classic’ sounds like the sort of contradiction that is usually only to be found in advertisement copy but it can reasonably be used as a fair description of this Sunday’s event, which certainly has a distinguished past and now looks set for an exciting future.

The Past

If you’ve no taste for history, skip this section.

Victor and Gaston Berlemont, pere et fils, were publicans and owners of the famous Soho pub The French House from 1914 to 1989. Although the pub is best known for its famous literary and artistic clientele (Dylan Thomas, Brendan Behan, Lucian Freud – the list is almost endless), both father and son were enthusiastic sports supporters. Victor was a French speaking Belgian, so it is not surprising that he had a passion for bike racing, and this was passed on to Gaston who was associated with the Southern Velo, and was a vice president of the BLRC.

The race itself was first run, by the Southern Velo, in 1951 and was won by Chris Hooper of the promoting club. It is not recorded whether there were any competitors from other clubs on that occasion, but it is certain that the race quickly became an important fixture and over the next four decades acquired a distinguished list of winners including: Brian Wilcher (Army CU) in 1956, Dave Bedwell (various ‘independent’ teams) in 1960,’62 and ’64, John Froude (Festival RC) 1965, Peter Chisman (Raleigh) 1966, Les West (Holdsworth/Campagnolo) 1969,70 and 71, Gary Crewe (National RR Championship 1972) and Dave Rayner (East Bradford) 1992. The last promotion in this sequence was in 1996.

Thanks to an initiative from Doug Collins a revival came in 2010, with a Surrey League promotion which has now led to a full renaissance as an independent National level ‘B’ event.

The Present

Arising from Doug’s determination to see the race returned to its former status we now have a new organiser who seems worthy of its great heritage. Patrick Kavanagh and his team have put in months of hard work to create what looks as though it will be an ‘instant’ classic. Starting from the premise that while there are a number of events of 70 – 80 miles, there was a shortage of races for riders confident enough to attempt something of the distance of a typical major continental event, say about 100 miles.

So while the organisers were hoping to fulfil a demand, they were actually going into uncharted territory, and there was some fear that the Woodcote circuit with its Chiltern climbs would be seen as too tough for the distance, but this has not been the case and there will be a full field of eighty riders.

Anyone who has tried to run an established race (as this writer has) will know about the amount of work that is needed; to start, effectively, from scratch must be a much greater task. Now a team of over forty people has been successfully brought together and this includes: accredited marshals across the whole course, two neutral service vehicles and three lead cars. Special mention must be made of the co-operation of BT Open Reach and Scotia Gas Networks who have both deferred roadworks on the course just to allow the race to go ahead.

The Riders

Some names to watch.

Dominic Jelfs (Madison Genesis) race no. 2.Winner of the Nic Clark Road race in June,

Tom Neale (Team Corley) race no. 3. Winner of the Thames Velo Elite race in May, Tom is still in the under 23 category.

James Lewis (NFTO) race no. 78. An ex rugby player who carries the nickname ‘Tank’, but won this year’s Python RT event.

Andy Betts( Felt Colborne Hargroves) race no. 77 who always puts in a strong challenge.

And finally Martin Ford, race no.31 (Private BC Member). Although currently unsponsored Martin sees himself as a long distance specialist and is keen to show this talent.

The organisers are also pleased to have an entry from an Army CU team (race numbers 17-22 inclusive).

N.B. It is possible race numbers may be altered since there will be some adjustments to allow for non starters and the insertion of reserves.

The Course

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/2406260-victor-berlemont-memorial-road-race-2014/

Please use this link. We hope that if you’re not racing you’ll be able to come out as a spectator, but we must ask you all to remember that bike racing is always on trial at events like this and with the upsurge in the sport this is now more true than ever. The organisers have given undertakings to the Parish Council in Woodcote that car parking will not cause disruption in the village – please bear this in mind.

This preview should appear elsewhere, but I've posted it here because time is short and it's possible people may want to go out to spectate.

Just a comment on the insurance question while I'm here.

Insurance is really a form of gambling, and if you bet on a dead certainty you will get lousy odds. It is pretty well a certainty you will damage your bike if you do much road racing on it, so after deducting the insurance company's overheads and profits from your premium you can expect to make a loss.

Just a comment on the insurance question...

That is true and I agree with your sentiment but that is simplistic. You are buying some financial stability which might keep you racing. Though that's not much use if you're off the bike injured.

Thankfully it looks like next year i will be getting supplied with a bike! Gerrin! Have a race this weekend which looks likely to be reduced to a handicap, and am then racing on the Great Orme at the end of september, going to get a final few week training build in and try to lose a few kg in hope of going well

http://greatormeroadrace.co.uk/

The Berlemont memorial looks great, wish you every sucess, may come have a crack next year if you have it on again

I've just decided to build up a Chinese frame with used groupset and wheels a lot under a grand .. not going to bother with insurance.

My next question (should be more elaborate) is how to sort the logistics (i.e. transport etc) if you live in a London flat and not own a car or have a driving license?

Cycle there

Maybe try and find regular races at a venue you can ride to with a bag? I ride, or (like most people in my club) lift share.

One of them's just bought a team bus vw transporter!

I found it quite interesting riding home from a full scale rr... hurt almost as much as the race! I know nutters that ride the hilly 80k to the Castle Coombe evening crit, then back - ouch.

I bought a car. It's a stupid money pit but unless trains start running at decent times and stop costing ridiculous amounts of money it's the only way to get to races for me.
I looked into car hire but that became too expensive and removed most of the utility of actually owning a stupid lump of metal.
In Melb I used to ride to almost all my races unless they were 100's of ks away in which case I'd drive or bag a lift with someone.

Do you have a start time handy for this clubman?

Lift share is also a good one, I wouldn't have either of my PBs if I hadn't been given lifts to faraway courses.

You can get to Gravesend by train, even for the evening races if you have a bag. Prepare to be pretty unpopular on commuter trains.

Palace, Velopark, Hog Hill and Hillingdon - easy to ride from central. Weekend road races might be a bit tougher but you can join a club and you'll probably find people willing to drive.

Yeah I was in two minds about joining a club (even did intro runs with couple of clubs) but now it looks like I have to .. nothing against clubs as such

Don't you have to be a member of a club to race? There's always LSGSS.CC.

You don't have to be a club member at all as long as you've got a licence. Jason White won this year's Wally Gimber without being attached to a club or team I believe.

You could do a lot worse than join a club. I was expecting a lot of dickery when I joined Dulwich Paragon. There was absolutely none. Just plenty of people giving up their time to lead rides and offer advice etc.

Riding chaingangs is probably the best training you can do to race.

Dulwich Paragon >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Best club kit by miles.

Not joining clubs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Join a club. Pick them mainly based on kit.

Join an internet club, they're all listed on the stylish kit thread

Join a club that also promotes events and help out as much as you can.