CYCLE CLUB BEXLEY

Wednesday 21st. April.

Well, great start to the series this year with a cancellation! Weather looked dodgy all day and it was wet in the morning, but the roads dried by early afternoon and we even saw a bit of sun. The forecast was not promising however but we thought we had cheated the weatherman as the start time got closer. Not so! A cloudburst at about 6:30 pm sealed it's fate. Apologies for those who turned out, but it would have been a cold, wet ride and we would have worried about your safety.

Wednesday 28th. April.

The series did get under way tonight all be it under a cloud! A generally dry and even sunny afternoon gave way to the threatened cold front arriving just before the start, but at least the rain stayed up there for the evening.

Fourteen riders entered on what was not an easy evening but some good rides resulted.

As ever, please mail me with any corrections except anything concerning times!! On that the timekeepers decision is final no matter how fast you think you were going

Wednesday 5th May.

Another day threatening a cancellation. Heavy rain in the afternoon had only ceased an hour or two beforehand and it was touch and go as to wheather it would return. We had 15 riders, not including yours truly as he already had had two soakings during the afternoon, once on his trike and once walking the dog, and did not want to risk a third!

Wednesday 12th May.

A rather cold, overcast, evening caused by a north wind blowing down from the North Sea. This had the effect of easing the ride to the turn but impeding the ride back to Farningham. Despite this 21 riders came out to support our event. Many thanks to you all. Perhaps it was the prospect of a dry evening at last, as, no rain has been forecast for the coming few days.

Wednesday 19th May.

At last! Somthing like a summer's day to produce some good rides. A few clouds came over in the evening but temperatures stayed up, the wind stayed down and many people improved. Twenty riders turned out including the largest contingent from our own club for some time. Well done Reg Smith for producing the best winning ride for some time.

Wednesday 26th May.

Writing a week later I seem to remember a cold wind out to the turn and just a head wind on the way back. Not an easy evening but at least it was dry and we still some good rides.

Wednesday 2nd June.

An overcast but warm evening. The headwind was stronger on the way back but generally it was a fast evening with some good times for those who entered, but no sub 23 minute rides this evening giving .

Congratulations to our junior, Wayne Herron, who at long last achieved his short term ambition by clocking a faster time than me, an ageing trikie. Look out the rest of you. He has you in his sights.

Wednesday 9th June.

A pleasant evening once again although there were a few spots of rain for the later starters. It was a bit harder out to the turn this week.

Good to see John Healey out this week with his tandem partner practising for his holiday in France. Is this the start of his big come-back?

Wednesday 16th June.

A bit more breezy this evening which may have slowed the times a bit. The end of the recent warm spell was just beginning to make itself felt so the air was not too heavy.

My trike was out of action as I broke the tri-bars while riding the TA "50" on the previous Sunday. I stripped town my touring bike and rode that instead. I took off the mudguards and saddlebag but left the lights on which drew a few aspertions on my speed!

Wednesday 23rd. June.

The second cancellation of the year occurred tonight. A rainy and windy morning gave way to an even more windy afternoon. Very unseasonable weather for June. Although still cloudy, it was dry and we went to the start to see if anyone would turn up. The difficult decision of deciding whether it was safe to run the event did not crop up as no-one had turned up by 7:30.

Apologies to any latecomers who hoped for a ride. We hope we did not upset you by disappearing promply.

Don't forget that there is no event next week. Tom Wakefield will be donning his pinnie and cooking up some luverly grub at our annual bar-be-cue at our clubroom. You will be welcome to come along and sample his cuisine from about 7:30 pm. All we need is the sunshine.

Wednesday 30th. June.

Well, we were not as lucky as other years with the weather for our mid "10"s series BBQ. It was a bit overcast and a shower did interrupt proceedings, but by that time most had demolished their tucker.

However, the big upset befell our master chef, Tom Wakefield. He was out as usual in the morning with the wobblers, but on the way home he decided to throw a wobbly of his own. Steaming home on his trike he had to stop to attend to a second impact puncture. He pulled into rather a glass laden and generally littered layby to mend it, got off and bent over his trike to get his spare out. The next thing he knew was being picked up from the ground by a passing motorist with a few more impact puctures to his face. He had passed out for some reason. He had to go to hospital for a check-up and have his face cleaned. All seems well now and the last I heared both Tom and Trike are recovering well.

Big panic around the club in the afternoon of the BBQ however. Tom, being Tom, insisted in still coming down, but Brian Debonnaire, who lives nearby, put his foot down with a firm hand and told him to stay at home and rest. Brian filled his car with the raw materials for the evening and brought them to the club while Mick Morris kindly stepped in as Gary Rhodes for the evening.

All went well in the end, and a good social evening was had by all.

Wednesday 7th. July.

We start the second half of the series this year in the same way as we started the first half ; a cancellation.

The day started fine and bright, but the weather forecast fortold us that we would not have an event today, and they were not wrong. Very high winds, unusual for this time of the year, got up from about midday, and by late afternoon driving rain added to the branches and trees that were flying about.

A good evening to stay at home! Luckily the Cricket Club were at the clubroom, so I did not even have to come out to open the clubroom up for no visitors.

Wednesday 14th. July.

After two washouts and a club BBQ we managed to get back to the "10"s tonight. It was a damp, cold, morning and it looked as if we may have had to have another cancellation. It gradually became warmer during the day, and the clouds rolled back to give us a sunny evening. It was a little windy, but it must have helped the riders as the times were generally faster than normal.

Good to see an old friend Peter Nichol riding tonight. Perhaps this will be the start of a comeback in the Nichol family. We must not forget Richard Goodchild either, riding a few more events this year. Lets hope he gets his eight events in.

Well done Chas for yet another win, and thank you to all for your continuing support.

Wednesday 21st. July.

I was unable to make it out to the "10" this week but the results were duly returned to me ready for me to update this page. Twenty riders shows that our event is well supported with or without a trike at No. 1 to catch as an incentive. Seem to remember a warm but sultry evening which probably made the air a bit heavy to breath.

See that Reg Smith held the flag up for the veterans this evening, but congratulations to all and thank you for your support.

Wednesday 28th. July.

Another warm sunny evening for our event made a little but unpleasant by the livestock flying around at this time of the year. Those airborn bugs seem to make for your eyes and mouth!

Some good times again this evening with Gary Birch, at last, securing the No 1 position that has eluded him up until now. well done Gary.

Wednesday 4th. August.

Well, I thought it was a slow humid heavy evening where there was not any help in any direction until I listed the results below. Seems as if I was the only one that slowed down! Gary Birch did the fasted time so far this year beating Reg Smith by 3 seconds. It is not the event record ( and course record if the course is not used by any other club) I have been asked what this is and I have been told that a couple of 20's have been recorded in the past. As soon as I have more details I will post them on the site. It is certainly the fastest since the website was set up in 2002. Anyway, well done Gary for a fantastic time.

Only two more "10"s to go. Don't forget that these last two will start at 7 : 00 pm. The week following is our hillclimb and freewheel contest, also starting at 7 : 00 pm. This is a fun event (at least the freewheel contest is) open to allcomers, and there is no entry fee. we look forward to seeing you.

Wednesday 11th. August.

Another warm evening with some threatening clouds looming along the course. The rain held off however, apart from a few spots, to give a pleasant evening. It was hard out to the turn as usual, but it seemed a bit easier than last week on the way back.

Another win for Gary with a 1,2,3 from the Gemini BC. A puncture probably prevented Reg Smith from spoiling this result.

Apologies for the late write-up this week - my computer had a problem that I have only just cleared. Hope I am not too late to say that next week is the last "10", and it starts at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday 18th. August.

The last evening drew in only 13 riders. Perhaps the threatening weather put people off this week. It was dry but the past week has been very wet after a long dry spell. I understand there was a srong headwind to the turn, but the return leg was not easy.

I did not ride myself as I had developed a painfully stiff neck. I would have had to stop and turn my whole body to look left or right. This would tend to affect my time somewhat. It seems that the process of ageing is not going to make an exception for me!

Many thanks to all riders for their support again this year, but don't forget that you may ride our hillclimb next week followed by the freewheel contest, and all free of entry fee. We look forward to seeing you.

Wednesday 25th. August.

Not a very promising evening for our hillclimb. In the middle of a very wet second half of August the rain was lashing down most of the afternoon, and with no respite at 6:30 pm it seemed as if it would be rained off. It did stop though, and 8 CC Bexley riders turned out, and so the event was run. The freewheel contest was cancelled however as the road was considered too wet and dangerous for this event.

We had no guest riders, which was not surprising considering the conditions. We hope we have better weather next year. Thanks you everybody for your support. Those who have won coffee mugs will get them as soon as we can get them to you. See you again next year?

Hillclimb results are as follows:-