2010

24th August
An additional round of the SCS TT series was squeezed in and, in windy but dry conditions, Richard Mardle of Felt-Colbornes RT set the best time of 24:33.  Full results here.

23rd August
Terry Gradidge returned to action at Upavon.  The race was very challenging, high blustery winds meant that survival was only for the strong or the wise when echelons formed.

Terry proved to be wise, and contested the bunch sprint, finishing in the low teens.

10th August
Another sunny evening for the sixth round of the SCS TT series saw SCS's Lee Aston  with the best time again, in 24:04.  Full results here.

13th July
The fourth round of the SCS TT series was blessed with cool dry weather after a rainy day.  The best time was set by SCS's Lee Aston in 25:42.  Full results here.

3rd July
Jim Peters, Martin Howe and Ken Edmonds braved La Marmotte, probably the most difficult French sportive, with 5000m of climbing over some of the classic Tour de France cols.

Martin's previous experience of Alpine climbing stood him in good stead, as he completed the ride in 9hrs 17mins.  Jim would have bettered that time by a distance, but succumbed to heat exhaustion on the Alpe.  He lost well over an hour before arriving about half an hour after Martin.  Ken took the sensible option, riding very conservatively to finish in just under 12 hours.

16th June
Lee Aston recorded a PB of 22:11, coming 10th at the Severn Road Club TT.

15th June
Third round of the SCS TT series on a course slightly shortened due to road works.  Best time was recorded by Mark Hanby of Chippenham Wheelers with 22:08.  Full results here.

6th June
Martin Howe and Ken Edmonds warmed up for the Marmotte by riding the Dragon Ride sportive in South Wales, Martin finishing in just under 7 hours, Ken taking 8 and a half (with some long tea breaks!).

3rd June
Lee Aston and Terry Gradidge were in a very tough race at Castle Combe, but were prominent in breaks at the front of the Cat 3s before losing out in the bunch sprint.

2nd June
Lee Aston came 6th at the Severn Road Club TT with a time of 22:31.

20th May
Terry Gradidge was our representative at the Castle Combe summer series event and, in a very fast race, was 12th in the bunch finish.

18th May
Second round of the SCS TT series.  Best time and new course record holder was our very own Lee Aston with 23:56.  Full results here.

13th May
Lee Aston was our only representative at the second round of the Castle Combe Summer Series.  A fast paced Cat 3 race of 60+ riders in a strong wind kept the race together but also kept the E/1/2s at bay while they ate up the 4ths.  Lee played safe, avoiding trouble in an excitable finish with a late sprint to get into the teens.

25th April
Six club members rode the White Horse sportive - always a good warm-up at the start of the season and a good indicator of form.

After the usual brisk start on a flat opening 40km, the big groups fell apart on the first big hill at Broad Town.  But Jim Peters pressed on to finish with the 5th fastest time of 4hrs 29, despite going off course for a few km and a fall!  He was closely followed by Lee Aston and Terry Gradidge giving SCS three riders in the top 32.  Ken Edmonds, George Shaw and Peter Kirmond rolled in an hour later.

20th April
First round of the new SCS TT series.  Best time and first course record holder was Matt Dunsbier of BAD Tri with 24:34.  Full results here.

4th April
The WTTA Hardriders Spring Hilly TT was made even tougher by the strong wind, but that didn't deter Lee Aston, who came in with an excellent 11th place, and Terry Gradidge, who came 21st, out of 45 starters.

21st March
70 riders lined up for the Omega Cat 3 race at a windy Thruxton.  Terry Gradidge was involved in an early break, but missed the race-winning 9-man break shortly after that came back together.  After another attempt to go clear of the bunch, he eventually finished 22nd.

6th March
Lee Aston and Terry Gradidge were at Upavon again with similar results to last month, Lee choosing the wrong wheel in the bunch sprint and drifting to 23rd and Terry just out of the points again in 14th.

27th February
On a wet and freezing day almost half the field packed before the end, including Terry Gradidge, our sole representative.

6th February
After another cancelled event last week, both Lee Aston and Terry Gradidge were at Upavon for the second running of the Winter Series on a cold windy morning.

Lee was prominent at the head of the field in the early stages again.  Three riders eventually got away, and Lee lost position before the bunch finish, where Terry just lost out to gain 15th place, Lee finishing 21st.

31st January
The SCS TT series is confirmed as part of the West DC schedule for 2010, on a new course starting and finishing close to the Cross Hands pub at Old Sodbury on the A46.  The first date is April 20th.

23rd January
At the third attempt the Upavon series kicked off on a cold Saturday morning, with Lee Aston as our only representative.

He put in a strong performance, cresting the uphill section in pole position on several laps, but with nobody else willing to contribute, the crucial break never developed.  Another attempt at a solo break with two to go was eventually reeled in on the bell.  Forced to lead out the bunch finish, he mistimed his final effort by a few metres to be swamped on the line for a disappointing 11th place.

2009

4th November
The main outcome from the AGM was the intention to run a new TT series next year, most likely on a new route adjacent to the A46.

A hill climb will also be organised at the end of the season.

We will also be organising a trip to Newport Velodrome for a track night in the New Year.

...

9th July
A pleasant if windy evening at Castle Combe saw a very competitive race driven by the elite Rapha and Sports Beans and VC Montpelier teams.  The elite group caught both 3rd and 4th category groups soon after halfway, and both Terry Gradidge and Dave Osbourne of SCS were then dropped by the fast-moving lead group.

The event was eventually won by Grant Bayton of Sports Beans after a breakaway by him and Darren Lapthorne and Tom Southam of Rapha over the last three laps.

1st July
Lee Aston was the first SCS member to attend the Severn RC Evening 10 TT this year on a very hot evening, which attracted a large field of over 50 riders.  His ride of 23:09 scored him an excellent 8th place, won by Simon Haward of Severn RC in 20:54.

28th June
Several SCS members ventured over to the National Road Race championships at Abergavenny, where Simon Baynes took these photos on the climb up the Tumble.





Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome leading the race, with Sugar Loaf hill in the background.


Mark Cavendish and eventual winner Kristian House lead the main chasing group.

26th June
Another hot evening and Lee Aston ventured north to the final event of the VC Montpelier Leisure Lakes Circuit Series at Cheltenham racecourse.  This short 2km course contains a short sharp climb each lap that split the bunch of 40 or so instantly, leaving many riders struggling in the all-category event.  Lee's power kept him in contention in one of the chasing groups, and he finished with a creditable 20th position, won by Perry Bowater of CC Giro, who also took the overall series title.

...

14th June
Over 1500 riders of the 2500 entry list rode the Gran Fondo route of the Dragon Ride, 190km with 3000m of climbing, and traditionally used as a training ride for continental sportives such as the Etape and Marmotte, as it includes several alpine-style long climbs.  Among them was a contingent of 6 members of SCS.

Benefiting from a recce the week before, most were acclimatised to the task ahead and were intent on preserving their energy for the hills to come, especially as the organisers had added three extra hills in the first few kms.  Except for Jim Peters, who was a man on a mission, and disappeared into the distance as soon as the road pointed upwards.

The ribbons of riders on the hairpins of the Bwlch and Rhigos climbs were a magnificent sight to match the countryside and the splendour of the following rapid descents.  This was followed by the tiring false flats of the first crossing of the Brecons, which claimed a casualty as Adam O'Loughlin succumbed to a knee injury and was forced to retire.  From the halfway feed station it was time to relax and use the many fast groups to preserve energy on the descent to Neath before the stiffener up to Cimla and the last big climb up the Bwlch again.  From the Bwlch it was back up to top speed for the return home to Pencoed, with a great final stretch of 8kms with a pleasant tailwind.

Jim finished with an astonishing time of 6:24 for 62nd best time - putting this into perspective the fastest time was 5:47 by pro rider Dan Lloyd of Cervelo Test Team.  Lee Aston weighed in with 7:05 to finish in the high 300s, and Ken Edmonds, Ed Stevens and George Shaw rolled in close together just over the 8 hour mark for positions in low 1000s.

...