Gallery

Fortunately, the icy conditions we'd seen since Christmas had warmed a bit, so there wasn't any danger of slipping on ice. But on the other hand, the roads were distinctly damp and there was a very strong and blustery wind from the south. As Steve Abraham was calling in on the time trial (and riding it) as part of the first day of his attempt to beat Tommy Godwin's mileage record (follow his progress here), we had the presence of CNN and BBC Local News together with a large number of cyclists, many of whom decided to take part in the race. 

The new course devised by Tony Farmborough and Bryan Scarborough was being used for the first time, and this turned out to be something of a blessing, as there was much more space for people to meet and park near the start than at the assembly point for the earlier version. We'd scheduled Steve to start as #1, with NBRC riders starting behind him, though the #2 spot was left vacant. Out on the road, the starting section was really quick, with a stiff tailwind. Of course once we turned left at the first RAB, things got a bit twitchy in the wind, particularly for those riding with aero wheels (such as my H3).

It got a little bit more twitchy after the second roundabout where riders turn left to join the main Stoke Hammond bypass, indeed at that point I not only had to dodge a sizeable diesel spill, but found my front wheel being wrenched violently from side to side. This soon passed, but really one needed to pay close attention and try to predict when the gusts might be worst. The new course's turn is one RAB further along that the earlier version of the course, and while this additional section is quite short, it's uphill and (today at least) into the teeth of the wind. After the event, riders were complaining about how slowly they completed that section!

Round the turn, and we had a nice tail wind along the bypass before turning right to retrace to the finish. The final RAB sees riders doing a right turn. This did concern some people on safety grounds, but in practice it seemed fine - riders just need to keep an eye out for traffic and move into the right hand lane in good time. The final stretch was tough, into the wind to the finish.

All in all a tough morning for a time trial. I think most of the riders felt for Steve, who by the time he started the time trial had already covered 116 or so miles.

I'm looking for photos of the event and of Steve's ride. If you've any you'd like to see on this website, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

More photos below the results table!

Results 

Timekeepers: Bryan Scarborough & Tony 'Desperado' Farmborough (NBRC)

Pusher off: Dick Selley (NBRC)

Route Signs: David Price (NBRC)

A gallery of 24 photos from the start, taken by Neill Boddington: 

A gallery of 26 photos from the start, taken by Jeff Hathaway: 

Cyclocross is a form of cycle sport traditionally undertaken in the winter months. It's profile in the region rose in 2014, as Milton Keynes hosted a World Cup cyclocross round. Dave Goodhew races cyclocross during the winter, and has submitted 10 reasons to ride cross. 2014-15 was his first season, and he was really learning as he went!

1. It is a race but drafting is not part of it so your race isn’t over if dropped like in crit and road races. So have a mini battle every race to gain places or not loose places.
2. This is for all abilities, often one third of the field will lap the other riders.
3. It starts at 2pm for senior races, you can lie in.
4. The central league races have all been fairly close to MK, two races have been at the bowl.
5. This is an hour at threshold pace; this will keep fitness over winter months.
6. You are never cold because you are at threshold heart rate.
7. You will crash and will have to crash to learn the limits. Most crashes are slow speed onto mud so much less risky than other forms of racing.
8. You will gain skills, from riding to bike maintenance you will become more excellent.
9. You can buy another bike, club cyclists like buying bikes. Please note I bought a second hand frame from eBay and used old road bike parts. Looking after your bike and using good tyres is probably the most important.
10. It is fun and a relaxed atmosphere

More information at the British Cycling website.

See also the central cyclocross league website for details of cyclocross events.

Reports on 2015-16 Cyclocross events

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David Price sent in these photos of Dave Goodhew riding in the recent Central Cyclocross event promoted by Welwyn Wheelers at Stanbridge Lakes. There are eight photos - click to see gallery.

Twelve NBRC members were in Spain for a few days of good weather riding and training. Not to mention beer, coffee, cakes and so forth. here's a small photo gallery lifted from our Facebook Page.

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Here's a set of photos sent in by Tony Parks. The first three show him in action some years back in cyclocross. The fourth picture shows him in action a couple of years ago - note the excellent aero position he races in (you can compare that with the fifth picture, which was taken in the 1980s before modern aero bikes). The final two pictures were taken in 2014 (by Davey Jones, Cambridge CC) during a particularly wet 25 mile time trial.

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