2008 Cycling Season: how did you see it

[Toks]

Goals: Be a decent 3rd cat, win a race, make 2nd cat, go under the hour, help peeps

Training Approach and Philosophy

Ride moderately hard as much as possible for 1-2 hours

My Best Races(RR or TT) My win at Goodwood, Ras Stage race in Wales and the Beachy Head Classic

My Worst Race (RR or TT): ACC 2/3 Back In April, quite dissapointing

Best Long Rides or Sportivs - No sportivs: the Paul Tunnel led unofficial London to Brighton and back ride Any longish ride with Hal

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year
None stand out really

Best ACC Road Racer: Easy - Michelle ........ and of course Adam

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: The smilin Assasin baby

Best Sportive Rider Hal with Paul on Pearson in 2nd spot

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Pendleton, Hoy, Wiggins, Romero et al (GB Olympic Track squad); Nicole Cooke (Worlds and Olympics); Adam Cotterell and Jon Heaton Armstrong (Beachy Head Classic); Mark Cavendish (TDF) and Colin Roshier (in Hillingdon VET Races)

Favourite Club Rider This Year John, the one who takes the JFF group

Seasons Low Point: Poor tactics in early races, not winning at Palace

Most Improved RacersLoads Michelle, Adam, Hal, George, Dominic, Steve B, Andrew G, Dan, Kieran, Snoopy Doug, Antloony, Mark, Keith, Me, etc (in fact well done everyone)

Favorite pro riders. Contador and Cooke

Most improved Club Riders: Not sure, let me know

Best Forum Bits: Club Run and Race Reports

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should've won at Rusper and at Hog Hill

Stand out quotes Cambridge CC rider during our race winning break at Rusper. 3 laps to go - "everyone do a minute on the front, yeah" ; penultimate lap "sorry, I'm really struggling guys, can I sit on the back" Last lap "......... ........."

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Lisa Scarlett

Kings and Queens of Pain Anyone You 24 hour nutters

Who went missing this season You know who you are

[Michelle]

Will have to have a think a bit more about this one, deserves more than a quick 5 mins in my lunch break

[Alan M]

Goals: Stay injury free, regain confidence descending, stay fairly local but do more miles, cope with steady 19 group and occasionally B training group, play at Herne Hill

Training Approach and Philosophy : enjoy the ride, balance longer mileage with peak efforts, get better at hills by trying harder, stretch more and core strength work in pilates

My Best Races(RR or TT) Only one roadrace, my first with ACC Bs, felt comfortable - finished in bunch, only one TT, President's 10, removed 1 minute from PB doing 25.32

My Worst Race (RR or TT): N/A

Best Long Rides or Sportivs - Only one this year with SWRC, got a gold for my age group

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year - Rainy day in Mallorca

Best ACC Road Racer: Steve battled well and agree with Toks

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: John the old'n, Bridget for doing her first 2 TTs

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Nicole Cooke, Mark Cavendish, Hoy

Favourite Club Rider This Year - Robbie dread - always good humoured and gives it all

Seasons Low Point: Losing stamina and confidence in wet weather descending on return for South America, running out of water on the anllio verde in Madrid

Most Improved Racers Loads Michelle, Adam, Hal, George, Dominic, Steve B, Andrew G, Dan, Kieran, Mark, Keith, Toks

Favorite pro riders. Armstrong

Most improved Club Riders: Anthony - quite probably A race material in the future

Best Forum Bits: I did like the Toks win report and I enjoy Adam's capacity to never not respond!

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should have done a vet race, competed at Herne Hill more, maintained my 4 of my 5 kilo weight loss at the beginning of the season

Stand out quotes: "The only thing he has read in the last few weeks is a menu", Jo commenting on Ian if I heard her correctly!

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Robbie

Kings and Queens of Pain: seeing Mark M complete the A race stood out

Who went missing this season: not sure but pleased that Tim (Liquigas) is back

[Toks]

Actually Sean, you made me think. The whole GB track team should be on my list of Best Riding I witnessed. I'll change it

[Jon H]

Goals: I didn’t set any

Training Approach and Philosophy:Didn’t do any training, just rode when I felt like it and raced

My Best Races(RR or TT): ECCA 100; my only PB this year

My Worst Race (RR or TT): Epsom 25; I got worse when everyone else got better on a float day

Best Long Rides or Sportivs: 1st; Big day out in Mallorca including Sa Collobra, Puig Major & Col de Soller. 2nd; Riding up and down Mount Evans in the Colorado rockies

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year: See “Worst Race”

Best ACC Road Racer: Toks for his string of back-to-back podium finishes

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: That George fella

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Cavendish in the TdF

Favourite Club Rider This Year: Don’t know

Seasons Low Point: The night Eddie keeled over at the clubroom

Most Improved Racer: Snoop Doug

Favorite pro riders: Don’t really have any

Most improved Club Riders: Not sure

Best Forum Bits: Adrian’s puns

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should've gone under the hour at least once

Stand out quotes: Can’t think of any

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Ian Pringle in TT mode

Kings and Queens of Pain: Our 12-hour TT team

Who went missing this season: Rich V

[Antloony]

Goals: To just work myself up through the groups on the club run which I achieved

Training Approach and Philosophy: Training...me...ha ha.

My Best Races(RR or TT): The Club RR

My Worst Race (RR or TT): My first try at Palace which ended after 10 laps with me couging my lungs up for half an hour.

Best Long Rides or Sportivs: Easily the ride to Rye, 151 miles closely followed by the L2B with Toks, George, Steve B and co.

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year: Trying to destroy my face by slmming it into the back of a car in Brighton

Best ACC Road Racer: Toks and Adam and not forgetting Michelle

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: George

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Brian who I just pipped on the line to win the club B RR

Favourite Club Rider This Year: All you guys but a big thanks to the guys in the training group esp Steve B and Stu for keeping me going and telling me to stick at it and a big thanks to Mr for all his invaluable help and advice since day one of joining the club.

Seasons Low Point: Breaking my hand and being off the bike for a month.

Most Improved Racer: Adam, Michelle. Toks, Hal, Steve B.

Favorite pro riders: Cavendish, Hoy.

Most improved Club Riders: ME. How can I not say me. Gave up smoking a year to the day (6th oct) and started cycling last nov. Got dropped on my 1st ever club run by the 17's. Come a long way since then.

Best Forum Bits: Race reports, do enjoy having a good read about peoples racing experirences.

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should have trained more in the summer (what summer)

Stand out quotes: Thought of one, some one shouted out during the club RR from within the bunch 'go faster at the front'....

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Marco on his BMX in the club TT

Kings and Queens of Pain: again the 12 hour nutcases and Sylv for his mentalist off road marathon races.

Who went missing this season: Andy (woody) be he reappered again after a 3 month lay off only to vanish again

[Toks]

Oooo sorry Snoop you're definitley one of the most improved riders . What No training Jon? Can I loan your power tap then

[kieran]

Goals: make 3rd cat - did

Training Approach and Philosophy: None really, better on the road not the turbo, do it because you want to, not because you think you have to, it's your hobby not your job!

My Best Races(RR or TT): getting 3rd at Palace after jumping across to a break

My Worst Race (RR or TT): no crashes but getting in the top 10 (maybe 5) at 1st Palace only to have judges mess up the results.

Best Long Rides or Sportivs: my 2 sportivs - Tour of the black mountains = 3 punctures, ROFLs = rain, so no awards here.

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year: See see previous

Best ACC Road Racer: Well, has to be Stu, defending ACC champ.

[b]Best ACC TT Man and Woman:[/b] George

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Nicole Cook, closer to home, Adam organising things in the ACC A race.

Favourite Club Rider This Year: Everyone!

Seasons Low Point: Failing to improve much in peformance over the season

Most Improved Racer: Adam, Toks, Hal, Steve B

Favorite pro riders: Mr Wiggins

Most improved Club Riders: Not sure

Best Forum Bits: Adam's modesty, the various slagging matches between Adam, Mt PVT and Stu, Toks v Mr Green, etc

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should've tried a TT, done more track.

Stand out quotes: Can’t think of any

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Don't know - all the bikes look cleaner than mine! (apart from Paul Hs and Stu's)

Kings and Queens of Pain: 12-hour TT team, Marco on the BMX for the 10 TT, can't have been comfortable.

Who went missing this season:

[-Adam-]

[quote="Alan M"]Best Forum Bits: I did like the Toks win report and I enjoy Adam's capacity to never not respond!

[-Adam-]

Goals: Win, get to 2nd cat, 22min 10...

Training Approach and Philosophy

Ride my bike, enjoy it, and ride fast when it counts.

My Best Races(RR or TT) 50th Place at the London GP, the most fun I had all year despite miserable conditions. Oh, and the weekend double was pretty cool.

My Worst Race (RR or TT):Erm, difficult, it's between two. Redhill CC RR at Bletchingly, but my own fault for riding to Brighton the day before. And although this might suprise you Toks, the Beachy Head Classic was a bad day for me, I should have made that break.

Best Long Rides or Sportivs -De Ronde van Vlaanderen, what a day. 11 hours on the bike, 275km, 17 bergs, more pavé than I care to remember. Big fat Belgians overtaking me. Waffles. Beer. A few pro sightings including the now world champion, Ballan. What more can you possibly want from a day on the bike?

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year Getting dropped by Paul and Stu riding over a bridge somewhere near Brighton on my single day Flanders prep 210km marathon. But having recovered enough not to let Stu drop me on the return up Box showed it was do-able...

Best ACC Road Racer: TOKS! No one else comes close, I'm sorry everyone. But Toks has shown this year that he knows how to ride a race, if only he had more time to train he could be properly decent rider. (more so than at present obviously!)

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: Mark McLaughlin for letting me beat him, finally.

Best Sportive Rider I would't know, but Lisa Scarlett's brave attempt at Flanders deserves a mention. I could count on one hand how many other girls I saw on the long route.

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Tough one, there's a few. Cancellara... all year. Sastre on Alpe'd'Huez. Stijn Devolder and Tom Boonen in April. Steven Burke on the track, it's too easy to pick all of them. Cavendish at the Tour, but not at the Olympics, especially the stories about him storming out the velodrome after without even talking to his partner Wiggo. Ben Swift in the U23 world championships. Pete Williams at the BUSA RR Champs. Oh and when Michelle finally won at Chertsey!

Favourite Club Rider This Year Alex P.

Seasons Low Point:There have been a few, the step up to 2nd cat for one, in April (No doubt the step to 1st will be even tougher). Getting dropped at Palace the week before the Jaunts . August was a shocker too. But for every low point theres a high point, and you can't be on top form all year. So low points are inevitable, it's riding through them that counts.

Most Improved Racers Michelle, Dominic, Steve B, Kieran and Keith

Favorite pro riders. Dodgy ground, but still Boonen, and now Devolder also.

Most improved Club Riders:Alan, last man standing on the return from Brighton in August. Top man.

Best Forum Bits: Any argument I can get stuck into

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should've won... Dunsfold RR in March, Jaunts Stage 4 in June, Chertsey Handicap in July and Chertsey Elite/1/2s this past Saturday! What a season it would have been then!

Stand out quotes Edgar Medellin, ''I've got no legs'' (at 30km to go) ... (500m to go) he launches the attack that nearly cost me the race. Cheeky.

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Someone with a white bike, with white handle bars, saddle and stem. Wearing a white helmet, white sunglasses, and white oversocks painstakingly cleansed with half a tub of vanish super white after every ride. Need I say more? (Well, there was a quote from someone regarding modesty )

Kings and Queens of Pain Anyone Anyone who rode all season without ever having a DNF to their name, who can lay claim to that?

Who went missing this season Tim Liquigas... again? Actually come to think about it he's still missing from 2007!?!?!?

[Andrew G]

Goals: PBs at all TT distances . It doesn’t even seem weird getting up at 4:30am anymore.

Training Approach and Philosophy: Training Not sure I understand the question. Philosophy is to always enjoy my cycling.

My Best Races(RR or TT): Norwood Paragaon 25, good weather and got my PB down to something I consider respectable (for now). The 12hr was also a really enjoyable race

My Worst Race (RR or TT): Old Ports 10 when I punctured less than half a mile from the finish and was going to beat 24minutes for the first time. The SCCU 100 where I lost time fixing a broken spoke and then suffered with the heat and couldn’t eat for the last 20 miles = poor time and general disappointment.

Best Long Rides or Sportivs: Rye and back (a great 150 miles of B roads in great company (will be repeated more than once over winter – Rye in the new Brighton). Oh and how could I forget the all dayer in Italy with Rob where we took in the Cippo, San Leo, and the hills around San Marino - that was a fantastic day.

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year: See worst race.

Best ACC Road Racer: Toks and Michelle.

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: George, with honourable mention to Dominic for so many sub-hour 25s this season.

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: George and Sylv in the 12hr. First 12hrs for both yet smooth all day, and nearly getting a new club record and both beating the Holy Grail of 240 miles.

Favourite Club Rider This Year: No discrimination, you’re all lovely.

Seasons Low Point: The sad loss of Eddie and hearing of Keith’s illness after he was in such fine form the day before when out helping George. So glad to see him smiling back at the café the other week.

Most Improved Racer: Michelle, Snoop, Toks, Steve B, Hal, and the resurgence of Mark the spinning tester.

Favorite pro riders: Cancellara, Ballan, and Flecha.

Most improved Club Riders: Ant, with honourable mention to Paul Dewis now strong on the flat/in the wind as well as scrawny quick up the hills.

Best Forum Bits: In general pretty much anything Adrian writes, and Jon Hemming’s quick one-liners. Race and ride reports are always a nice way to while away a day at work.

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Not really a should but would like to have done more than 5 races at Palace. I may be crap and get dropped but they’re good fun. Realistically it was just difficult as with the extra, and longer, TTs I was doing this year my legs would have been even more useless than normal on the hill so rested them instead. I can be sensible occaisionally.

Stand out quotes: Not really a quote, but Sylv at the 12hr prep chat were he appeared to be quite content to hide food in the bushes and keep nipping off to scavenge in the hedgerows.

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Mike and his Hetchins. Posh plastic just can’t compete.

Kings and Queens of Pain: Anyone who’s slid down the road collecting gravel this year, so probably Marky Mark and Ivor for frequency .

Who went missing this season: Missing or just temporarily misplaced?

[Marek]

Goals: Enjoy riding the bike and when racing try to get some decent breaks going.

Training Approach and Philosophy

A couple of spin sessions, a longish ride at the weekend and a bit of weight training. 5 pints of lager one day mid week and a couple of bottles of red at the weekend.

My Best Races(RR or TT) 9th place at Dunsfold at the beginning of the season. It was the best and worst race as it was so hard but so cool to be in a break away from the gun with Paul H and knowing that Sylv and Stu were in the bunch helping to control the race. It rained for the whole 110km but coming over the line at the finish in the points felt like a real achievement as it was so hard.

My Worst Race (RR or TT): Beachy Head classic was not good for me. After coming back from a lay off from the racing I should not have entered this. The pace was far too hot for me and the hill was about a mile too long, I think it was about a mile. Has to be the earliest I have been dropped in a race for a long while.

Best Long Rides or Sportivs - I really enjoyed the Dragon Ride as was feeling quite good and put in a good time. But as I am a flatlander it has to be the Tour of Kent, this is a very well organised event and had a good battle with one of my buddies for the honours up the final climb, he beat me, but we had an awesome ride that day.

Worst Ride/Sportiv Of the Year: The Marmotte, I won't go into details.

Best ACC Road Racer: I think that Toks has come on a big way this year and shame he did not ride the ACC road race, his ride in the Beachy Head Classic was very good, it was a tough race and he finished well up there with the main guys. Early season I think George would have had the honours though, he bagged some points in a seriously hard 1,2,3 race on a very tough circuit. On an overall season though I think that Toks probably gets it.

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: George, his times are just awesome and this is his first season of proper TT'ing.

Best Sportive Rider: Keith Lea, he rides hard and fast forever, absolutely awesome ride at the Marmotte, a seriously good time very impressed. (and jealous).

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: At the early season race in Dunsfold there were a few riders in the break who were uber strong, Gareth McCullogh of Medway Velo and Andy someone from Fit For, mega strong.

Favourite Club Rider This Year: All the guys in the training group, all have weird and whacky senses of humour, or something that relates to humour. Paul H makes me laugh, especially his exceptional fashion taste and his sparkling cheery persona. Stu is just awesome, the stories of bikes falling apart and training rides ending up in crashes and bouts of cramp do make me giggle. Michelle and Keith are great, Keith and I have had some real good training rides over the year which have been fun. Dan is hilarious with his awesome hang overs and stories of going out on the town night before the club run, when most of us have been tea total.

Seasons Low Point: Marmotte knocked me back a bit, but should have known better than to enter that stupid event. Otherwise have enjoyed it all, in fact although have not raced as much have really enjoyed the year as have always had something to enter or people to ride with.

Most Improved Racers: Toks

Favorite pro riders: Cancellera and Magnus Backstedt.

Most improved Club Riders: There are probably loads that I don't know, but I have been impressed with Antloony for his perseverance, just wish he wouldn't whinge so much.

Best Forum Bits: Stu and his tales of woe.

Racing/Riding Could of's and Should ofs: Should have ridden faster on the Marmotte. Could have entered more mid season events.

Stand out quotes: I can't remember, but this weekend Paul Hone 'I should have been on the podium' in relation to the World Duathlon champs in Italy in his first year of doing Duathlon, now that is ambition, awesome.

ACC's 'Blingiest' Rider: Anyone else but Paul H.

Kings and Queens of Pain: I am going to give this one to myself and Paul H for the breakaway on the first corner of the Dunsfold race in the pouring rain against some decent 2nd cat riders. That was seriously hard.

Who went missing this season: Paul H and George disappeared off the road race scene early season, but apparently will be making appearances in early season 3rd cat races next year. Watch out 3rd cats, you will be in for some serious pain.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Snoop Doug]

Goals: Nailed 'em - not tough enough then eh...? Seriously - missed the 12hr just wasn't fit enough but about the rest

Training Approach and Philosophy: Write down your goals, Regular training to fit in with the rest of life, keep a diary.

My Best Races: Breaking 1.05 in the Norwood Paragon 25 having started the year on 1.11.10. My 1.06.14 in the Worthing 25 was my best placing in the field and my most in the zone race

My Worst Race (RR or TT): The ESCA 50. Stinking cold, mega sore shoulder - I really shouldn't have done this one. Crap course, orrible breeze, PB by 40 odd seconds never felt so bad

Best Long Rides or Sportivs - Hell of Ashdown scared the knickers off of me and the SCCU 100 this year was a feat of endurance in the heat.

Best ACC Road Racer: Michelle, inspirational and what a laugh to boot. Great stuff. The Shadow is good value too Aww what the hell, yer all great

Best ACC TT Man and Woman: Dominic nails this for me. I love the way he gives 2 fingers to modern technology and just gets out there and goes v v fast. Brilliant, what an example. Some of his post race expletives are straight out of the top drawer - ha haaaa

Best Sportive Rider: Super Hal (you should get a cape and some outside pants......)

Most Impressive Riding I witnessed: Keith Coffey. Awesome tester, just effing awesome.

Favourite Club Rider This Year: Gawd knows - been so busy rallying the troops for marshalling or testing I've hardly been out. Actually - my vote goes to Grahame. Good guy, rock steady, makes me laugh and I trust him. For the Ladeez - it's gotta be Jo - for the same reasons - cept she's not a guy of course

Seasons Low Point: Laying a lawn after the SCCU 10 and crockin my shoulder (I'm still having bl00dy physio on it )

Most Improved Racers: Stacks of people. Michelle , Adam, Hal, George (nutter), Dominic, Steve B, Guru Paul, Andrew G , Dan, Kieran, Sylv, Toks, Antloony, Mark McL, Keith, Me .....bit like the Oscars - c'mon then - who is missing. Ooo - mustn't forget Marco's imperious cornering on the Holmwood, tip top

Favorite pro riders. Nicole Cooke, she's got guts, ability and humility - all the blokes can go and fiddle with 'emselves far as I'm concerned.

Best Forum Bits: The flippant stuff I kinda like. Also - the few reports where someone really pulls a rabbit from the hat and mixes in some good pain stuff and humour too.

Kings and Queens of Pain: Jim Burdett - his comments after the ESCA 50 are priceless - hilarious

Who went missing this season: Anyone who didn't volunteer to help out. It's in da roolz kids, don't make me work so damn hard on this next year eh

[Toks]

Great stuff, interesting how differently we all see things. Come on peeps keep em coming

[Sylv]

Season's not quite over