We are looking at putting a team together to enter the Ras De Cymru this year (27th Jun-1st Jul)

This is an epic 5 day stage race where you are based on campus at the Univeristy of Wales, however racing happens in and around the nearby Brecon Beacons.

The race is open to 2nd, 3rd and 4th category riders.

Teams can be a maximum of 4 riders and we would want to enter as strong a team as possible.

If you're interested please contact me.

More details are available at http://www.cadencecycleracing.co.uk/rasindex.html

Gavin

What a morning. Arrived at Thruxton (Kieran, Ieuan and Ben) where the course was under attack from a strong wind, but a bright sky. The U!2 were off first, a smaller field than normal but most of the leading riders there. For the first time Ieuan was in the first line of the grid, Ben back in line three. Ieuan got an OK start rather than his normal bad one, about 7th into the first corner. Ben got a good start and surged past the younger riders. After lap one Ieuan had got into 5th place and Ben was tracking just behind some of the more experienced riders even though he was on a Mountain bike whilst they had cross bikes. Next time round Ieuan used the long start/finish straight to make his way up to third. Ben still working hard to keep his place. Ieuan tracked 2nd place all the way round to the beginning of next start/finish straight where he accelerated past the rider in second. For the next couple of laps, Ieuan and the other leading rider kept changing places and leading the race. Then a crash, but not for Ieuan. the other rider went into a sharp corner, clipped Ieuan's back wheel and fell. Ieuan now in front on his own, but with his friend from Southdown Velo gradually catching him up. Meanwhile Ben now in about 7th place. Ieuan was faster on the straights, his friend closing in the corners. Ieuan led into the last corner and sprinted to the line for a well deserved victory. (Keith - no arms up until after the line). Ben followed up with a fine 7th place, meeting his goal of not being lapped and first mountain bike home.

Ieuan Woods - photo courtesy of AE Photo's

Next up Kieran. on the second line of the grid, he skillfully lined himself up right behind the fastest rider so as to get a good start. Kieran started well on his long course (the race was only 3 laps). At the end of lap one Kieran was 12th with a big gap to the rider in front, but being chased closely behind. At end of the next kieran had dropped the rider behind but had closed the gap a bit to the rider ahead. Kieran was gaining on the uphills, losing on the downhills. However, knowing it was the last lap he put everything in and sped past the other rider and finished 11th.

Well done all of you.

This is an open request (begging letter) for all those well-endowed (equipped) cyclists out there.  Any chance of borrowing a (hard cover) cycling case such as I could use on a plane ?  Am planning a trip to Les Pyrenees in 2012 and we fancy flying rather than the long hard slog to the sun (no, we are NOT going to ride down there either .... )

There are six of us going so if there happened to be more than one club member prepared to lend us a case we'd be extremely delighted.

We are planning to be away from the 14th July until the 22nd.

Any chance chaps ?

Mark Stevens

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