DLN May 2002

OFFICIALS
PRESIDENT JOHN KAVANAGH 40 Beverley Road Barming Maidstone Kent ME16 9JP 01622 726959	SECRETARY PETE HARRIS 91 Ashbourne Road Ealing London W5 3DH 020 8997 7852	TREASURER JAMES LETT 102 Park Road Kingston Surrey KT2 5JZ

On Sunday the 7th of April another well promoted road race, on behalf of the South East Road Race League by the De Laune, on the Sevenoaks Weald circuit. This was all down to our Ben Neville our organiser who managed to get people out of the 'home for the bewildered' to marshal, namely Roy Savery, Brian Saxton, Tich Shambrook, Alan Rowe and Terry Deeley to mention a few. It was also good to see Kate, Mat and Quil getting stuck in. I hope Ben will have a list of De Laune riders and a full result in this edition of the DLN. Well-done Ben.

How about this for one of the bewildered. Ben asked me if I could use my car for the event. I said that would be no problem. When I go to my car I find I have got flashing lights and a big road race sign on my roof and a two way radio fitted with yards of cable all over the place. I thought I hope the Commissar knows how to use the radio because I don't. I did ask when was the Commissar going to turn up? I was then told I was the Commissar (or one of the three) and I was on my own. Panic did set in. First I wondered why no body was talking to me on the radio (I had not turned it on) and when I did, I was told by the Chief Commissar that I was too near the bunch and could bring the lot down!

Then it started to happen. First my Traffic Master which is fitted to my car, started to tell me I was travelling on the A21 and the traffic was flowing freely! Then my mobile started ringing and it was Dot Fuller asking where the finish was.

By this time the whole bunch had overtaken me and I was in the middle, with people hanging on door handles and asking if I could take the arm warmers? I thought, don't panic Mr Mannering, don't panic.

Did you read the obituary of Ron Hoare by George Wood in the last DLN? Well done George, you did him proud. I remember you telling me he was a very private person and a bachelor. He turned up one-week end and said 'I got married yesterday' and then said no more. You think, because you have met and talked to someone in the club for years, that you know them, but you don't really.

On Saturday the 20th of April we had our OMA supper at the Blackheath Club room. What a good night it was. The normal format of good food, (and plenty of it) Good wine, good company and cross toasting. Thanks Dot for all your hard work in putting it all together. It is not a case of telling people in the DLN that we have a supper but Dot will phone everybody (did you get the phone call?) She is good at that bless her.

Thanks to Bill Miles who wanted to celebrate his 90th birthday by buying wine for us all. It was nice of you Bill. He tells me it is going to buy champagne for us all in 10 years time.

John Dods told everyone, when cross-toasting, about a holiday we went on a few weeks ago. One of the men on the walking holiday attached himself to John and was a bit of a pain in the bottom, as he was the type who knew it all. I thought I would tell him that John was gay and he would then probably leave him alone. Guess what? He then told me he was gay and for the rest of the holiday he was helping John over the stiles.!! I think John enjoyed it.

Our next OMA lunch will be at Brighton on Sunday the 11th of August and not on the 26th of May as previously stated. Contact Dot for more details.

Please, please, do not forget the Fred Peachey Open 25 on the Chilham course on the 7th of July. Malcolm Adams our event organiser will want marshals. If we get enough interest perhaps we can book a table for lunch at the George, at Newnham after the event.

Stop Press. I have just heard that our Mat Goods won the inter club hilly on Sunday, and by over three minutes Well done Mat. He has had a lot of places this year in the first six. He was going to give me the full details but as yet, not a sausage.

Cliff Steel, our membership Secretary, informs me we have two new members. Jack Oscini, who has a road racing background and Graham Clark who is a MTB rider. Welcome lads. I look forward to meeting you both.

Did you hear about Terry Deely, who broke the toilet pan? As it would take some time to get one to match his bath and washbasin, he brought home an antique commode. Carol would not use it. She said it was dirty. Guess what she did? She would go to the toilet next door at Tesco's

Thank you Roy Savery and Brian Dacey for donations to the club, it is appreciated.

Welcome to new members Graham Clark and Jack Osini, voted in at the March and April committee meetings. Still on membership, there have been problems with printing the club membership cards. These should be with you all shortly.

Due to popular demand on clothing, discounts have been approved for up to five more members. This is strictly on a first come, first served basis, so please order quickly.

There is still a lot of discussion at committee meetings on the future of the clubroom and its state of repair. We have had significant problems getting work done recently, but hope to report progress in the near future.

Alan Rowe has filled the office of time trail secretary. Well done, Alan! Ross Fryer is taking over as off-road secretary until the AGM, as James Lyon is moving to Lancaster. Good luck in the move, James.

Finally, if you have any matters for the AGM, please let Pete Harris have them as soon as possible.

James Lyons and myself made the trip to Thetford for the first round of the MTB National Points Series. This is the premier mountain bike series in the country with points accumulated over four races throughout the season. Thetford has become the traditional season opener and the relatively flat course provides extremely fast racing but there are virtually no opportunities to rest. After a couple of weeks of dry weather the seven mile course was bone dry and dusty and if it hadn't been for the wind you could have convinced yourself it was summer.

Being the first major race of the season I didn't know how I would be going (and being on antibiotics for a chest infection didn't help my confidence) but I had a new bike with tubeless wheels (a revelation) and I couldn't wait to get going. I managed to get a relatively good start and went through the first lap in about 30th. I was feeling surprisingly good now and put in my fastest lap for lap two, moving through the fast starters to go through for the last lap in 25th. I managed to pull up a couple of places in the final lap, lose a sprint with someone who had sat on my wheel for half the lap (I need to get out on the road more!), and finish in a very creditable 23rd. As an indication of the relentless nature of the race, my average heart rate was 182 bpm for 1hr 29 mins with a maximum of 196 bpm. The top 40 get points in NPS races so the result sets me up well for the remainder of the series. I had finished 5 minutes down on the winner but am sure that a result well in the top 20 for the series is possible.

James Lyons raced the Expert race in the afternoon. This is one step down from the Pro Elites and they race one my lap than old folks like us Masters. James had a strong first three laps but faded on the final lap to finish in 37th (still in the points). That extra seven miles proved too far for lots of competitors.

The next NPS race is in May in Litchfield and James and I will both be there. With more weight lost and more intervals done, I'm hoping for a place in the top 20.

PAUL BOWEN                                 JACK OSCINI
Flat 2                                                  272c Manchester Road
46 Dulwich Road                               Isle of Dogs
London                                               London
SE24 0TA                                          E14 3HW

I don't know what it is but I keep thinking about some of the old days of the 1950's era. Often dream about the events then, must be my "hard drive going a bit wonky" (I can see you nodding your heads in agreement)

Anyway I thought it might be a laugh to the older members, if we set out a few of the things we oldies remember, here is my list! Please see attachment, I know that I have omitted the great BAR rider of the 1950's, for the life of me cannot think of his name. A bit of nostalgia (The list of things you remember in the 1950's. You are going back. Another 5 years and we could be talking about Ration Books and Sweet Coupons. I think the BAR rider you could not think of was Ken Joy or Vic Gibbons. Kav).

Sturmey Archer gears; Chater Lee cranks, hubs and peddle sets: Bluemels mudguards and accessories: Williams chainsets: Brooks saddles: Reynolds 531 double butted tubes. Double butted spokes: inch pitch chains: cane rims: large flange hubs:

The bicycle repair and frame shop of Percy and Bert Barnard in the railway arches at Brixton. A. S. Gilliot "the shop" for the richer racing cyclist in Atlantic Road. "fleur de Lyse" lugs.

When all time trial riders had to wear black, (Good old RTTC) they were always a Century out of touch. When 99% of time trialists rode a fixed gear.

The "Tour greats" Gino Bartalli: Fausto Coppi: Louison Bobet: not forgetting Tommy Simpson of a slightly later era. Track stars: Reg Harris: Sid Patterson: Russell Mockeridge: Jacky Hoobin: Strom and Arnold;

Gerry Waters (Kentish Wheelers) beating the "Voodoo" (only 3 times winner of the National 50 mile tandem paced Championship" circa 1952? not done before.

Amateur greats: Alan Bannister: Cyril Bardesley: Lloyd Binch: Cyril Peacock: Jackie Tighe: Maurice Ward: Lew Pond: Ron Stretton: Don Burgess: Maurice Jeffries: Dave Ricketts. Road stars: Dave Bedwell: Stan Brittain: The great "Jacko" Alan Jackson. Time trial: DJ Keeler: George Fell: Alf Hill:

The big motor pacing bikes at Herne Hill, Sandy Lane was the "master" behind these.

Mr Panter, "official starter" wore a red coat, had a handlebar moustache, He would blow his whistle then pause a second or two before firing the gun. If you jumped the gun he pulled you back 2 yards, on your handicap.

Austin 5 cwt van, Jowett Bradford van, Armstrong Siddley Sapphire, Morris Minor, Austin A.30. Austin Somerset (my first car) Triumph Renown, Sunbeam Rapier, Austin Atlantic, Morgan 3 wheelers. Bond mini car, BMW Isetta, Heinkel bubble car, Lambretta motor scooter. B.S.A..All of these vehicles were transportation for cyclists at track meetings. My transportation to TT events was either on Jack Killingback's Indian motor cycle and sidecar or in Roy Lockyer's Dad's fabric body Austin 7. The latter had a radiator leak and on one occasion we ran out of water, so to keep it running we all had to "pee" in the radiator at 4 AM in the morning. We barely made the start!

The following should have appeared in the last issue, but did not reach me in time; Dot has not yet got modern day communications and still relies on Snail Mail that took 8 days to arrive. Ed.

Ken & I have just returned from our visit to Suzanne & Mike in Adelaide - great weather, great food and of course plenty of great wines at very reasonable prices. We met lots of cycling friends of Susanne & Mikes', they made us very welcome and we had some good evenings out with them. We also went out to Road Races, one of which we met quite a few Vets who were originally from the UK., they were eager to chat to Ken about the 'good old days' in the UK, one of them actual1y rode the RAF 5 day in 1951 as did Ken, and they all talked of Alan Jackson and The De Laune, which was nice to know, so Ken had a great time talking to them or I should say they did most of the talking about how good they used to be! Anyway it was good to meet them. The weeks went by all too quickly and here we are back again to the old routine. Suzanne and Mike have now gone away to New Zealand for a 2 week holiday - not relaxing of course, but plenty of activity sport, mountain hiking, white water rafting, Glacier walking, and ordinary walking! And whatever else is on offer, and then they return to Aus with winter on the way much like our summer I suppose!

We thought that the original date of 26th May (the usual date) was too near the Blackheath Supper in April, so after many phone calls between Patricia and myself, we have come up with the new date. Hopefully you will now note the new date in your "very full" social calendars! This notice is well in advance for you all - I'm sure that you can all make it. It will be a Carvery Lunch, which is always plentiful, we usually gather together from 12.000nwards for drinks and a chat in the bar, lunch follows at approximately at 1.00 to 1.30.VENUE as the regulars will remember is, Brighton and Hove Golf Club, Devils Dyke. Brighton. Patricia usually includes a map for the ones who are new to the lunch and for those who cannot remember anyway!

We look forward to seeing the usual crowd, plus any other members and friends who would like to join us - I can assure you it's a good day out amongst friends, so don't worry if you will be coming along, you wont be for long - come and join us on the 11th August. DO remember to phone me as soon as you read this or you may forget if you leave it to long…………………… DOT. 01689 851241.

I must apologize for leaving this 'copy so near your deadline but I felt I must write to say that I found the contents of the April issue of the DLN made more enjoyable reading than usual. First of all I must compliment George Wood on his excellent and authorative obituary on Ron Hoare. I well remember Ron when I joined the Club in the late forties and I think it was his prowess at long distance cycling, together with encouragement from Roy Banham, Wally Fraser and Frank Wynne, that made me take an active part in 12 and 24 hour events.

This brings me to the contribution from Jeremy Briggs on his own experiences in last years 24 hour National Championship. My heart goes out to him in all of the misfortunes that befell him during his all day ride. In view of the problems he encountered he did, at least, have all the will power necessary to finish. One thing that really surprised me in Jeremy's article was that the Mersey Road Club 24 was the only event, at this pinnacle of time trailing, that remains in the racing calendar, and also such few entries. Whatever happened to the doyen of them all - the Catford CC 24? I rode this event twice in the fifties and remember well, on each occasion, taking a week off work, about three or four weeks before the event, to ride up one side of the country and down the other and including a 50 or 100 mile time trial in the midlands or the north in the process. I still have the excellently printed start card of the 1951 Catford 24, incorporating the National Championship, showing 93 starters with three from the De Laune- R.Wiltshire, W.Fraser and myself, The winner was Gus Andrews of the Addiscombe CC with 461.25 miles, my own distance on that occasion being just under 409 miles, I am full of admiration for riders that can sustain a speed in excess of 'evens' for a period of 24 hours and finally I do hope Jeremy does another 24 next year and sincerely hope that his fortunes change and that he achieves his goal of 400 mites,

Nice to hear from you Arthur, I also can remember the Catford 24 not that I ever rode it, but marshaled quite a few times. I recall leaving home early one Saturday morning Marshalling/Feeding all day and night, getting home at about 3.30pm on the Sunday going to bed at about 4 pm and waking up at eight o'clock, thinking it was 8 in the evening started getting dressed to go out only to find it was 8 in the morning, late for work!

Also Arthur together with your partner George Starsmeare, myself and Charlie Carlton in 1954 we set the clubs 50 mile Tandem team record of 3:56:23 which we have now held for 48years. Ed.

We had a good turn-out for the O.M.'Do' at the Blackheath Clubroom on the 20th April, there were 45 in all, including a few members who had not attended before, and some of our old friend from the Nomads. Lots of nice things were said about 'what a good evening it was, we all had a great time listening to the cross-toasting and joining in. It soon livened up with friendly insults flying around, started off - of course by our Pres. Kav and it continued throughout the Supper as we all got into the swing of it.

The food was good, and the wine, which was provided by our OLD Member Bill - as you know he was 90 in February, so we all drank a toast to him most sincerely. Thanks Bill, he was as lively as ever with his 'risque' jokes! Good to see our Brighton contingent - George, Phyl and Patricia, they never fail to support the 'DO' and they have the farthest to drive. We welcomed our 'younger' members - Bill Wright, Cliff Steel, Carina and Pete Harris, Quil should have been there to but he did not arrive, we were sorry that Cliff's wife was indisposed, may be next time Carol.

MAX DODS MEMORIAL RUN & BBQ
SUNDAY 28th JULY
Further details contact Malcolm Adams 01227 373045

"This is a free show…. People come out on the roadside all weathers just to watch the giants of the road come through" d. duffield

Plink, plink, plink little April showers. Erm, no actually. It has been nothing but sunshine for the whole month, so I hope everyone has been out enjoying it. The De Laune CC promotion of the South East Road Race League event on the Sevenoaks Weald circuit was a great success thanks to all those who got stuck in. the roll call of honour goes like this: Alan Rowe, Brian Saxton, John Kavanagh, Terry Deeley, Katie Chown, Quil Forbes, Matt Goodes and Roy Savage. A hearty slap on the thigh from Bill Lewis, all the riders and myself for your exploits. Coolest cats on the block award goes to Katie for some excellent driving as Lead Car to keep the roads clear for the lone breakaway (see report) and Terry Deeley for looking so cool on his motorbike in a race marshal's bib. Just like a Belgian classic! An extra thanks to Kav for donating his petrol money to the SERRL/SL fighting fund.

Congratulations to Sophie and James Peckham on the birth of their daughter, Lucy. The De Laune CC youth policy marches/patters on.

Eurosport Well, the last month has certainly been a feast. They come at you thick and fast at this time of year so fasten your crash hats an here we go. The Tour of Flanders was the Tafi show. While the other favourites ummed and ahhed he nipped away from the six man break in the last 4k and stole the show. Next up Ghent - Wevelgem , stone the crows, stand by to be flummoxed. Mario Cippolini (aka the flying zebra) not only attacks from the bunch to catch the break, works like a Trojan to keep it away, but then goes and wins it. A race in Belgium, in April, what is going on? Paris - Roubaix. There is only one wet day in April and it just happens to be today. Yeeeeeesssss! Mud, sweat and tears of joy. Another 30 something gives the whippersnappers a lesson in bike racing. Meeseuw steams away from the lead group (during an ad break!!!) with 40k to go and has a three minute lead by the time he crosses the line. Poor Hincapie comes a cropper thanks to a crashed race car and ends up head first in the ditch next to the pave, thus wasting all Boonen's (man of the match, so to speak) hard work. And all this while David Duffield recites Wilfred Owen First World War poetry. What better way to spend an entire Sunday afternoon is there? Fleche - Wallone almost ended in a bunch sprint up the 1 in 5 wall of the Huy. A small group detached themselves in the last few kilometres and managed to hold the fast closing bunch until the foot of 'the wall'. Aerts proved the strongest. Liege - Bastogne - Liege was reduced to an hours highlights but was still enough to see some classy riding by Bettini and Garzelli from the Mapei squad. They left the others for dead on the last climb then showboated up the final straight with Bettini getting the win.

This was my first Surrey league of the year and what a fine one it was. Blue skies were out and I had a good feeling about the race even before it started. I have raced in Liphook before and thought I knew the circuit. However we made an early left hand turn after 5 miles and the road started to steepen fairly quickly and as it turned a corner we passed a 25% gradient sign post. Although it was only 100 metres long, it was a bit of a shock! It seemed to be impossible to break from the bunch, although I later learned that 3 people had slipped off the front on the 1st lap and these guys were never to be seen again. Didn't surprise me however when I realised that Warrick Spence (Elite MTBer) had instigated the move. I decided that it would be a question of waiting for the last lap and going for it on the climb as the finish was 200 yards over the back of the climb, and I seemed to be stronger than most on the steep section. I worked my way to the front on the last lap we seemed to ride a lot of the bunch off our wheels. There was an attack on my outside and I followed. I was absolutely on the limit at the top of the climb in 3rd place in the bunch and then had the joy of having to change up to the big ring and nail the sprint to the line. I was convinced there would be a surge of riders coming past, particularly as I changed up too early, however managed to hold the rest of them off for a 6th place and 5 more points towards the 2nd cat-Job done.

South East Road Race League De Laune C. C. Sevenoaks Weald, 7 April 2002 At the completion of the first full lap three riders, Chaz Hollosi, Julian Cann (Gemini B C) and Simon Hill (Twickenham C C) had a lead of 15 seconds and a number of riders were just off the front of the bunch and trying to bridge the gap. By the end of the following lap the group had eleven riders and a lead of 38 seconds over the bunch. This group of riders were to stay away for the remainder of the race to fill the first eleven places. With three laps to go Julian Cann managed to extricate himself from the leaders. No doubt with a little help from his Gemini team mates and powered his way to a lone win. 1 Julian Cann (Gemini Bike Club) 2.14.18 2 Chaz Hollosi (Gemini Bike Club) @1.22 3 Simon Hill (Twickenham C. C.)

From the Doctor's couch James Peckham is now back on his bike and training hard. I am currently on the Osteopath's table while the said chap goes through 'The Torturer's Handbook' on my right thigh/hip. Bring on the pain!

Stop Press The Crystal Palace Crits on Wednesday evenings appear to be going ahead this year. The course has been narrowed so that should make it even more hairy. Give me a ring/email for details.

I already have a few volunteers for marshalling, 'The Old Faithfulls', I still need a few more please contact me ASAP if you can help.

Our grateful thanks to Dave Marshall of the Catford CC for stepping in to do the timekeeping.

Wednesday 22nd May at 7.00pm Catford CC 9 miles on course QS/30 Cudham Lane/Green-St-Green Circuit. Contact Dave Marshall 01689-85740

THE LAST DAY FOR COPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ISSUE IS WEDNESDAY 22 May 2002

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

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

Founded 1889