Your 2005 Cycling Season: How was it for you!

[Toks]

My cycling goals were to get a 2nd cat license and get Gold at the etape. The year started off in back in January with a brutal 7 hour epic with Marek, Dave, Max and others. I think Marek's Christmas turkey was laced with E.P.O because he was quite literally killing us all. I bonked after 3 hours and made my way back to N.london on my lonesome... My year officially ended last sunday with me winning my second clubs' (Islington CC) hill climb by just 8 seconds. Here's how I felt about my 2005 cycling season

Best Race: 4th at crystal palace

Worst race: getting dropped at eastway after 20mins (stupidly thinking I could ride a criterium from the back)

Best Cyclosportiv: The Etape, Addiscombe Surrey hill Tour

Worst Cyclosportiv; A hilly one near Oxford I did with maria, ajay, ninder, huw and Tim

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: Tim Liquigas, easily

Most improved ACC riders: Robbie, Simon H and the cute lady with the Brummie accent (sorry can't remember your name)

Worst crash: Box hill, The bike slid out on some leaves

Best crash: the other day i hit a dozy pedestrian lost my balance, fell in to some bags of rubbish and finally bashed my shoulder on a lampost

Worst Day on the Bikei bonked on a wet, cold pre etape ride up the col' aubisque and of course the one with Marek in Jan

Best Club Run He he! the one where I outfoxed an unfit Rob Fallon to win the Charlwood sprint back in Febuary

Racing regrets: Not going with the winning break away at Goodwood in my 3rd race of the season.

Best racing Quote Tamar said "how many laps you gonna last?" when i first raced at Palace. I managed six before i got dropped

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed Elite riders Gary baker and Warrick Spence piloting a successful breakaway at eastway

Best NON ACC ride: John Ibbotson Fit For ride back in Febuary

Best time trial: the Jack and Jill 10mile TT. I rode with Jane Toyne we came 2nd, great Fun

Worst time Trial Did a hilly 10 a few weeks later and blew so badly that I nearly fell off the bike.

Best cafe stop In Nay, France on a lovely summer's day myself and the soon to be married 'Super' one enjoying cakes and coffee.

Best ACC Racer Philip Watkins

[Ian A4size]

Best Race:I never raced in anger this year- i just have to accept i was not good enough.(too many pies ) Tho i did enjoy the 2 up

Worst race: Never beating the shadow for the cafe sprint!

Best Cyclosportiv: TOSH

Worst Cyclosportiv; TOSH- ouch a lummox like me should have pulled a sickie

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: Dead heat between D.Lombari and Tim liquigas- and they both have hair!

Most improved ACC riders: Big Robbie, Sean, Mark(on the de rosa)


Worst crash: Double somersault/ twist / pike followed by a roll in the hedge and into a 3ft ditch on a clubrun,i opened my eyes to see a face peering thru the undergrowth enquiring as to my health- hows the bike i asked! 3 broken spokes, cuts bruises and grazes for me

Best crash: Take your pick of any on the final ITT on the Tour de France

Worst Day on the Bike,Going out on a "19" clubrun and completely blowing up, spat out the back and dropped.When I finally got to the cafe (with Chris who waited) Rob Fallon said what happened to you, were you taking the p@ss? No that was my best shot i said .You are going down with a cold he said, next day bang down i went.

Best Club Run- hammering along with a good crew avg 22mph to the cafe


Racing regrets:Not warming up enough at any of the TT's i did this year.


Best racing Quote:

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed:

Best NON ACC ride Ride of the falling leaves

Best time trial: Gradually knocking off the seconds and some minutes from the evening 10s- it is absolutely knackering.

Worst time Triall. my first at the Horsham / Broadbridge heath ( where we do the thru and off) We start at the rusper road and climb a small hill, my HR was about 184- only a minute into the trial. Ouch.

Best cafe stop: Never had a bad one yet, Charlwood for value, Abinger for silver service, Penshurst for Bacon sarnies, the cafe today in newdigate- top cake and coffee.

Best ACC Racer :Toks- great reportage/P Watkins- for results/Jakie M.S for just keeping getting back on. Tamar for her TTing, RRE for his TTing and anyone else i have forgotten due to ribena(merlot) consumption.PS stop press- Lisa S for her TT results as well, i have not had the courage to do that yet but she still avgd over 20mph!

[Marek]

Best Race: I think I came 7th at the Rusper race which was my second to last race of the season. It was my best race because I felt fantastic at the end, I was a bit disappointed with the result because I should have won, but the feeling of being fresh and on top of the world at the end of a race does not happen often, it was only due to the arduious training in Switzerland I had done the week before that I felt so good, shame cannot feel that good on the bike all the time.

Worst race: The worst race that I finished was over in Milton Keynes where the pace was so high that I got dropped on about the 4th lap of 20. Eeek, it was a long race on my own, got lapped about three times and it rained near the end.

Best Cyclosportiv: Autumn Epic (only one I did)

Worst Cyclosportiv; Autumn Epic (bonked after 90km and then felt awful for the remaining 40km)

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: Tim Liquigas is in my book as well, although if Rob Fallon was a proper ACCer I think he might get it.

Most improved ACC riders: Simon Hazeldine, Tim Liquigas, Carl Walker

Worst crash: Both of them in races First race of the season and about mid season, both hurt a lot but thankfully no lasting physical damage just mental.

Best crash: No such thing in my book.

Worst Day on the Bike: Autumn Epic, it was horrible, too much pain for my liking too many hills grim.

Best Club Run: I really enjoyed some of the riding earlier in the year with Dave Findlay, Carl Walker, Max Ramirez and Simon H. Did a long route over the winter which was always meant to be slow but every week someone else felt fit so we always spent the winter going fast trying to keep up with whoever was in form.

Racing regrets: Not winning at Rusper and going too early at Goodwood and not being able to hold off the pack.

Best racing Quote:

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed was Sean Yates at one of the Handicap races (Kitsmead lane) where we were being pulled up a long drag at 30mph into a headwind, awesome.

Best NON ACC ride: A couple of good rides recently with EGCC

Best time trial: No such thing

Worst time Trial 2 up TT at Handcross with Max pulling me and me with a hang over having to get him to slow down so that I can keep up.

Best cafe stop in Shere a couple of months ago with Gavin B and a couple of others excellent cake and toast and coffee etc, and Gavin's Banoffee pie looked good although he paid an arm and a leg for it.

Best ACC Racer John Sadler

[Rob]

marek rocks

[Maria David]

Best Race: 10th in Women's National Series Race @ Goodwood - also the Westminster Crit - really exhilarating racing up Whitehall and down Embankment with all the crowds etc.

Worst race: A women's team series race - 75km in the pouring rain @ Horton cum Studley (Oxfordshire) on a twisty, bendy course that had some dodgy descents + a stinking climb.

Best Cyclosportiv: La Vencoise (based near Nice included col de Vence) - I was 4th lady. The organiser treated me like royalty because I'd come all the way from London !

Worst Cyclosportiv; The Yorkshire Tour - being blown to kingdom come while going up Holme Moss - I had to walk up the last bit, and down the other side too - never felt so scared on a bike.

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: If you mean in bike kit, we all look as cool as each other in the yellow attire I s'pose - when not in bike kit then it has to be Signor Lombari.

Most improved ACC riders: Lisa Scarlett, for getting evens on her 1st 50M

Worst crash: It was more of an embarrassing crash - 2 lines of traffic stopped to give way to Jayne Toyne and myself as we took a right hand bend through Tadworth - I took it a bit too fast and hit the deck. An older man came to help me out, with a "u alright young lady, you really should take care."

Best crash: --

Worst Day on the Bike : Yorkshire Tour - having had the stuffing knocked out of me on Holme Moss, I was too shaken to ride my bike much further. Was all set to saunter down to Glossop, catch the train back to Sheffield, thus missing out the climb over Snake Pass. I eventually ditched the train idea, after some coaxing from a kind soul from Walsall cycling club.

Best Club Run : dunno - I suppose any one which I did when it was warm and the sun shone !

Racing regrets: Not learning to gallop.

Best racing Quote : My sister sister's advice on how to ride faster - "imagine you're chasing Brad Pitt's butt"

Most Impressive Riding - Brett Perez's spirited sprints for the line, esp @ Crystal Palace.

Best NON ACC ride: A couple of the ones with Dulwich Paragon from Crystal Palace Parade

Best time trial: I only did the Jack an Jill 2-up, and now when I look back on it, it was fun (sorry for all that shouting David).

Worst time Trial --

Best cafe stop : Out riding round the Yorkshire Wolds/Howardian Hills with some folk from Clifton Cycling Club - we stopped on the A1079 between York and Beverley. There's a garden centre that has a great cafe, with massive variety of big delicious cakes. And you get more for your money oop North.
Also Fanny's farm shop is good - I especially liked the Tree House, which a group of us made use of during the John Ibbotson ride.

Best ACC Racer : Jackie Morgan Smith, for her falling down and bouncing back up stain power !

[Rob]

Best Race: 2nd...handicap world champs(i have had 1st places..but they didnt mean much)

Worst race: westminster..started wrong..ended quick!


Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: without a doubt KEITH KNIGHT

Most improved ACC riders: not sure! sorry

Worst crash: i havent crashed racing...but i did crash decending the glandon..was funny more than anything else

Best crash: racing up boxhill, my gear slipped....i crashed GOING UP HILL

Worst Day on the Bike : THERES NO SUCH THING!!!

Best Club Run : any fit for ride

Best time trial: army 3 day..moved from 17th to 7th with a great tt

Worst time Trial -- only doen two, and they were both excellent

Best cafe stop : fannys last winter with me john and neil

Best ACC Racer : well theres john who does one major event a year...phil w has been pretty top......urm....lets give it too....john, cos he wears white oversocks and has a top tan!

[Toks]

Maria, Rob, Ian, Sean and Marek great stuff! common the rest of you lets have some more, start posting

[Maria David]

Actually, I've just remembered - I did do an individual tt - and it was my 1st one, my last one and my worst one !

I'd got up at stupid o'clock am to do a "10" along the A4 near Maidenhead. I was carting down the road, giving it my all in the final 500 metres, hoping to do around 26mins.
When I came to the final roundabout, I followed a sign that read Maidenhead 10 turn right.

Raced round the roundabout, trying to dodge an irritating queue of cars getting into a car park. I then found myself back at the start area and there was no finish marshall/time keeper..... they then told me I should have gone straight on at the roundabout - the sign I'd seen was for parking for people attending the Maidenhead 10km running race !
I was gutted !!

[David Lombari]

Target for 2005: To try to get fitter, to gain more racing experience and start scoring some points, to continue to enjoy my time on the bike.

Best Race: Either of my two seventh (!!) places at Hillingdon in July.

Worst race: My final capitulation down the Palace. And Chertsey in the rain.

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: Chris Scarlett, though it?d be nice if he actually paid for his kit!

Most improved ACC riders: Jo M and Robbie?.Dreaddy Merckx!

Worst crash: Austria. Crap hybrid, thick gravel, downhill, 3 days in hospital, 6 weeks off the bike. My worst ever. Bloody stag weekends! At least I wasn?t on Connie.

Best crash: Austria. Austrian nurses, 2 weeks off work watching the Ashes, having coffee mornings ?Sex and The City? style.

Worst Day on the Bike: There is no such thing but commuting on a glorious sunny day knowing you can?t just turn around and ?head for the hills? would come close.

Best Club Run: All of them, but particularly Brighton, May Bank Holiday and Sierra Nevada.

Racing regrets: That I didn?t do enough races, that I rode (but didn?t finish) Palace more than Hillingdon.

Best racing Quote: ?But you?re quicker than Chris Scarlett aren?t you?? Maria?..to ME!!

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Paul Tunnell at Chertsey, the black bloke in the Phonak kit on one of the club runs.

Best NON ACC ride: Fit-For to Arundel, Ibbo?s café ride to Fanny?s (though wished it?d never had happened).

Best time trial: Such a thing doesn?t exist, only differing levels of worstness!

Worst time Trial: The only one, Jack and Jill?the tinnitus still hasn?t subsided. Glad you thought it was fun Maria! Nice meal after though.

Best cafe stop: Any but on top of Sierra Nevada in the sun and snow stands out. And any made at Chave Do Douro at the top of South Norwood Hill?mmmm, paste di creme.

Worst café stop: For the lack of quality coffee, Charlwood?..sorry.

Best ACC Racer: Respect to anyone who has the balls to do it.

Targets for 2006: More time on the bike, more racing, Gran Fondo?s, Cunego to win the Giro, Spurs to get back into Europe and Italy to win the World Cup.

Best motto read: (on a bike in Italy) ?Brucia il grasso non la benzina???Burn fat, not petrol?.

[David Lombari]

Whats the Galaos?

[Grahame]

Best Race: Winning the Beastway team race with Sylv, Simon, and Richard.

Worst race: First Beastway of the series.

Best Cyclosportiv: N/A.

Worst Cyclosportiv: N/A.

Coolest Looking Addiscombe rider: Alex.

Most improved ACC riders: Robbie or Sean.

Worst crash: On Porcupine Rim in Moab in October - a stupid, lack of concentration over the bars moment resulting in a couple of bruises and scrapes to me and a bent derrailleur hanger for the bike (easily replaced).

Best crash: A slow motion topple sideways whilst trackstanding behind guests on a ride whilst guiding in Colorado in July, just a slow fall into a lovely, soft pile of leaves no injuries, no damage, just a load of giggles all round.

Worst Day on the Bike: First day in Colorado - 8 mile climb at altitude whilst jetlagged. Antibliss. Still better than a good day in an office, though.

Best Club Run: the one after I got back from Colorado and was comfortably sitting in the front 6 of the 19 (really 21+)mph group all the way round and still had enough breath to hold conversations. Even though I got the sprint very wrong and kicked about a mile too early - must remember which corner its after.

Racing regrets: Getting my tactics badly wrong at the club road race and not just hanging in the pack - instead I had to try to be near the front and chase down every break for the first 15 laps, then I bonked and packed.

Best racing Quote: "I'm not taking it seriously this year" Sylvain at the first Beastway before tearing the legs off just about everybody.

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Liam Killeen winning a race in Breckenridge, Colorado, pounding the locals and elite US racers into the ground on 4th July to REALLY upset the commentators.

Best NON ACC ride: Porcupine Rim (with Upper Porcupine Singletrack) in October.

Best time trial: Don't do time trialling - I think it's the cycling equivalent of trainspotting.

Worst time Trial: See above.

Best cafe stop: Eclecticafe in Moab - a surprising whole food oasis in a culinary desert.

Best ACC Racer: Sylvain Garde - UK singlespeed mountainbike champion.