DLN Mar 2000

OFFICIALS
PRESIDENT MIKE PEEL 56 Bourne Way Hayes, Bromley Kent BR2 7EY 020 8462 2505	SECRETARY KATIE CHOWN 28 Ewhurst Road Crofton Park London SE4 1AQ 020 8690 3874	TREASURER STEVE CARTER-SMITH Winchelsea Upper Hartfield East Sussex TN7 4AN 01892 770245

The Club athletes took part in the 20th running of the London Marathon on Sunday 16 April in what turned out to be ideal conditions. Star of the show was Nick Kinsey who finished in 149th place (out of 32,000) in the tremendous time of 2h 35m 41s. John McConville did 3h 3m. Dan "Rhino" Haynes, for the second time, ran for Save the Rhino Fund. I saw Dan when I got to the 22mile mark, he was at the 13th mile, and at that time I think he was lying 3rd in the Rhino challenge. At the time of writing I do not have his finish time. Can you imagine running 26.2 miles in fancy dress?

Yes, I did finish my 20th London, 22 minutes faster than last year, in about 3,100 position in 3h 21m 14s so I was quite pleased. Now, if I could improve another 20 minuets next year…

Good to see the old Club name in the "Comic" - James Lyon, Ross Fryer, Bill Wright and Dan Haynes take a bow.

The Club Web Site seems to have gone down quite well. It has been updated already and contains the latest fixtures including the Inter-Club events between the Sydenham Wheelers, Catford CC, 34th Nomads and us. As I said last month if you want to see your articles, results, photos, details of useful links etc etc send them in.

The OMA function at Blackheath Harriers was held on Saturday, 8 April and although the numbers were down, due to holidays and clashing engagements, everyone that attended had a good time and as usual a long chat.

The Club Prize Presentation takes/took place at the Clubroom after the Good Friday meeting. - I hope you are/were there!

Those of you racing members with access to the Internet may like to check out a new website at www.spareseat.com. It is a car pooling system that puts riders who live close to each other and who are travelling to the same race in touch by email. It is free to use and you just need to enter your name, postcode, email address and the race name, location and date. The aims of the site's providers are to reduce the numbers of cars on the road, to reduce costs for riders and for riders to make new friends. Sounds like a very good idea to me.

Welcome to SpareSeat, the easy, cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel. We are a non-profit making organisation that aims to put people, with similar needs or desires, in touch with one another.

All you need to do is go to the relevant section and submit a few details. We will search our database and send you the e-mail addresses of other people that match up. We will not pass on any other information.

We are not a dating agency, please don't try to use the site to that end!!! Please choose from the following catagories.

· Commuting - A list of "Neighbours" you've never met who make a similar journey to and from work.

· Football Fans - A contact list for fans wanting to reduce the cost of travel to away fixtures.

· Cycling & Running - A list of cyclists & runners for training and travel to races.

· Other - Going clubbing; travelling round Europe; looking for fellow art lovers, ornithologists, bridge players etc etc. If they live nearby and have the same interests, why not get together?

Many thanks to all who helped out with the SERRL road race at Sevenoaks Weald. The event passed off smoothly, the bacon sandwiches went down a treat (cheers, Senor Forbes) and I went home tired but happy. Unfortunately, the next two races have been cancelled due to no club stepping forward to promote them. The theory behind the league is that if each club promotes one race, there should be races every week, but smaller racing 'teams' which are unable to promote unaided and riders unwilling to help are leading to big gaps in the calendar. Please bear this in mind when next years' race comes around, or those gaps in the racing calendar will be getting bigger. Talking of gaps, as the SERRL has a reciprocal membership agreement with the Surrey League, I am proposing that we extend our free race entries to cover Surrey League races. Check out the website at www.surreyleague.co.uk for this seasons' dates. They appear to have a 3 week closing date as opposed to the SERRL 2 week, so the more organised amongst you must phone or email me 3.5 weeks in advance to get your free entry.

Tense, nervous, headache? Legs a little sore? Life getting on top of you? Been marathon training with silly weights on your back??? The next night of amazingly FREE massage takes place at the clubroom, Thursday 11th May, 08.30 onwards. Enjoy.

The following might of interest to De Laune CC newsletter...... Southwark Cyclists are looking for any photos or memorabilia to help produce a history of over 100 years of cycling in Southwark. This will involve history of bike shops, utility cycling (to/from school, work, wartime) and sports cycling. We would like to borrow old photos and take copies - ideally with description if known of who or what in any photos with a year/date of when taken. Southwark's Local Studies Library are keen to keep these copies of photos once this history is produced.

Photo's can be sent to Southwark Cyclists, 228 Great Guildford Business Square, 30 Great Guildford Street, London, SE1 0HS. But please give your name and address so that we can return photo's. Call 020 7403 0329 for more details.

I'll also post you our latest newsletter in case anything is of interest to you.

Dear all,

Can anyone help me out? I am in need of a 2nd hand laptop PC in order to run the Beastway Mountain bike Series, which starts May 17th.

The one that has just given up the ghost was at least 10 years old, with less than 1MB memory and a 20MB hard disk, so anything with this kind of spec upwards will do the job.

I'm willing to pay anything between £20-£300, so if you have one, or know anyone who has a WORKING laptop (none of your "it only needs a.......") please let me know ASAP.

Many thanks
Bill Wright

Not very impressive so far but can only get better, have not ridden new sponsored frame yet as I am still waiting for new equipment to arrive.

We have a date for the next O.M.Lunch - this will be on SUNDAY 28thMAY at The Brighton & Hove Golf Club.

Same venue as last year - hope for some better weather this time so that we can at least see the lovely sea-view! We hope that you will try to support this event so put the date in your diary and then phone me soon!

Sorry - forgot to mention the price - £13 each. Carvery Lunch arrive around 12.00. for drinks and chats.

8th April - was another good evening at The Blackheath H.Q. we were due there approx. 7.00 - George & Pat beat us all and arrived early - too soon for Pres. Mike to greet them, he was a little behind time, due to unforeseen circumstances "trouble int kitchens", I think someone blew up our dessert which was supposed to be Banoffee Pie, but Mike and Stack managed to scrape it off the ceilings & walls, so we had it with custard!! I'm sure you will get the real story off Mike. Anyway - we were all hungry by 8.00. and couldn't wait to get stuck into a very nice meal this as usual was accompanied by various good natured cross-toasts which kept us all laughing (the wine helped of course).

It was good to see Matt & Michelle Goodes making their first appearance at a mainly O.M, 'Do', they seemed to be enjoying themselves, so maybe they will join us again along with maybe a few other 'young ones'. Oldies are a sociable lot and never leave anyone out in the cold. Finally decided to make our way home around midnight I think! after yet another successful & sociable evenings for those who couldn't make it for varying reasons - sorry you weren't there you missed a good one. See you at the Brighton 'Do'.

Dogs and bikes we know do not mix
We would all be happy if they only chased sticks.

Now we all know as we ride through country lanes,
They shoot out of gates, going like trains.

Barking like mad and gnashing their teeth,

We're forced to sprint or we will come to grief.

For many years I have escaped unharmed
but last week gave cause for me to be alarmed.

I suppose it thought it would take a gander (pun intended)
and across the road it started to meander.

now I slowed down to avoid our feathered friend
but what happened next for me was nearly the end.

for it stopped in the middle of the road and raised its neck
and with sideward glances my progress it intended to check.

it made a sort of a hiss, which I admit was a change from a bark
but I became concerned, being new to this lark.

maybe I should have stopped and confronted this oversize duck
but the look in its eyes told me it couldn't have cared a fig!!

somehow I managed to avoid the old git
and with a bit of luck by some motorist he'll be hit

for all day he will have slept in a ball of fluff,
that at the dead of night he will do his stuff.

the rattle of the wheel will be heard throughout the night
and your lie awake cursing the little mite.

but if you do have a wheel in the hampsters cage
introduce him to the cat at a very early stage.

leave the door open, so he can wander around
and the cat will solve your problem ,I'll be bound.

Katie reported that she has received some information about a National Youth Week in Norwich on 13-19 August organized by Stan Turner. Any young rider of any cycling discipline aged 11 to 19 is welcome and the week cost £225 and includes all accommodation and food. Katie also reported that she has information about ABCC coaching courses if anyone is interested.

We welcome one new ordinary member this month. Clifford Steele, 73 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15, telephone number 0171 639 2630, date of birth 07/4/1966. Mike reminded us of the prize presentation on 21 April at the Clubroom. The cost will be £5 each.

Katie reported that the World Track Championships are at Manchester Velodrome on 25-29 October. Mike also reminded us of the Good Friday meeting on 21 April. It promises to be a good event.

It was reported that the dates for Club events published in DLN were wrong. They should have been:
14 May Novices 25 G25/18 (Pease Pottage)
16 July Fred Peachey Open 25 G24/45 (Broadbridge Heath)
2 September OMA 10 Q10/22 (Harrietsham)
3 September Autumn 25 G25/18 (Pease Pottage)
1 October Hill climb GH41 (Titsey Lane)

Redmon CC Hilly 73.8 mile TT on 14 May on GS/499. Crawley Wheelers are organizing a '10' on 20 May on G10/57 (from Horsham to Crawley). It is a benefit event for a Crawley Wheelers member, Dave Harmer, who is now confined to a wheelchair after being involved in an accident with a car whilst on his bike. He is saving for a racing wheelchair and the aim of the time trial is to raise money to help him do this. John Double (ex-De Laune) is organizing the event.

Off-Road Racing:- Dan reported that James Lyon came 10th and finished his first expert race on the Welsh series. Ross won the 3rd round of the Herne Hill series, Bill came 2nd in the last round, and Dan came 4th in the 1st round, and 4th in 3rd round. Dan also reported that the off-road week in Keswick is 3-10 June. He has organized a six-bedroomed house for £280. There are a couple of places available. Mike reported that Bill is at a cyclo-cross date fixing meeting. Bill is proposing that we organize the London Cyclo-Cross Championships at Eastway this year. He is hoping that Evans may provide some financial assistance.

Hope you like this month's cover girl, who knows we may have her featured on page three in a future issue. Ed.

THE LAST DAY FOR COPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ISSUE IS WEDNESDAY 14th JUNE 2000

THIS SHOULD BE SENT TO:
MARK BALLAMY
41 MAYES CLOSE
WARLINGHAM
SURREY CR6 9LB

Phone & Fax 01883 627809 - e-mail mark.ballamy@virgin.net

De Laune News March 2000 No. 813 -71st Year

OFFICIALS

De Laune News March 2000 No. 813 -71^st Year