The East London club for all kinds of sports cycling

Results: ECCA Hill Climb & ECCA 3-up

The weekend of 22nd & 23rd of October was remarkable for the splendid weather, but also for the numbers of Lea Valley-ites taking part in events.

Report by Sean Kerrigan.

Scarlett Parker (pictured) started proceedings on Saturday afternoon by his ride in the two stage ECCA champsionship Hill Climb. Just three seconds down after the first 'run' up the hill at Little Baddow, Scarlett pullled back one second on James Ward (Cambridge CC) in the second leg to consolidate his sliver medal. Third man was the Eastway manager, James Cocker, another nine or 10 seconds adrift.

Back at the HQ afterwards Leslie Everest read out some tributes to Zak Carr, the 2003 & 2004 winner of the hill climb, and in the quiet moments afterwards everybody recalled their own memories and stories of Zak.

On Sunday Scarlett was being picked up by John Summerhayes for more hill climb masochism while eight other Lea Valley riders were getting ready to take part in the ECCA 3-up time trial at Bicknacre.

The 3-up

We had three teams taking part in the event, but with Tim Liu missing one team did an unofficial 2-up. Shortly after our first team started, another LVCC team became a two. Patrick Beasant, still recovering from illness, couldn't stay with his partners and opted to let them ride at their own pace or ..... at least Ian Bailey's pace. Third man Gideon Burrows did extremely well to stay with Ian, and even helped with the occasional turn at the front. The guys managed a creditable 1hr 10 and both enjoyed the sporting course.

The 'old boys' trio of Dave McCarthy, Les Methven & Sean Kerrigan did a good warm-up with Dave organising the team in the best method of changing lead rider - it felt slick and efficient but of course 'all went to pot' when we started the event proper. Nevertheless we were the only LVCC team of three to finish intact and returned a 1hr 16.

Our last team to start, the fast pairing now of Derek Trangmar and Robert Simpson did a superb 1gr 01 which would have been good enough for third place and medals but unfortunately not permitted in a 3-up, where you need 3 starters and 3 finishers.

Day two of the Hill Climb

Scarlett's trip to the North Downs was not as successful as Saturday's outing but was useful training for the National. In the morning's Catford event Scarlett managed a mid field placing but then cramped badly in the Bec CC event in the afternoon. Hopefully Scarlett has had enough rest to recover and do himself justice on the Rake ... by the time you read this we should know.

A fortnight in Provence



Sean Kerrigan remembers changing landscapes, a Quadrathon, and parts of Le Tour during a cycling tour through French countryside.

Click here for the full feature.

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Some winter reading


Don't get dismayed as the dark nights close in!

Pass the time by reading. Here's a collection of past cycling related articles by member and journalist Gideon Burrows (pictured), just to keep you going.

MPs re-live cycling 'nightmares', BBC News, 15th June 2004

Get on yer bikes!, New Statesman, 5th April 2004

Less Cycling = Fatter Kids, National Bike Week website, 6th April 2004

A bicycle made for two, New Statesman, 8th December 2003

Leave your comments, responses, or your own musings on two wheels below.

90 RPM: Club Newsletter


The latest edition of 90rpm, the LVCC Club Newsletter had been published.

Download it here.

Issue 2005, No 3 features:

  • Scarlett's reflections on the language of cycling
  • Trevor Whittock tells you all about him in About Your Clubmates
  • Results and club reports
  • A full club diary, from now until the New Year.
Leave your comments, ideas and suggestions by clicking comments below.

Wednesday Before Worker

I tend to do an early morning ride on a Wednesday morning, before work... usually go from Whipps Cross Hospital out to Epping and back, along the main road.

Works out about 23 miles, riding while the sun come up.

Just wondered if anyone was crazy enough to join me some day, from about 6.45am, back about 8.15am.

Be nice to have some company, if anyone is crazy enough. If you are, drop me a line.

Gideon.

Eastway to move to Rammey Marsh

The Eastway, meeting venue for Lea Valley Cycling Club and one of the foremost off-road cycling circuits in Europe, is to be moved from Leyton to Rammey Marsh (see map) in Enfield.

The temporary move is part of plans for the London Olympics. The London Development Agency made the announcement on 5th October.

A 1,500 seater velodrome is to be built on the Eastway site, which will remain a top class cycling venue after the 2012 olympics.

Gareth Blacker, director of development at the London Development Agency, said: "In the long-term the Games will be a real boost to the sport of cycling with the construction of the VeloPark.

"Meanwhile, Rammey Marsh is an ideal site for temporarily relocating the Eastway Cycle Circuit. It is large enough to accommodate a road circuit, mountain bike and cyclo-cross trails, allowing safe cycling in a traffic-free environment."

A full story can be viewed at BikeBiz.com

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What do you think of the move to Rammey Marsh?

With the Eastway moving miles up the Lea Valley, to make way for the olympics, is this the best situation for local cyclists and club members? Should a better venue have been found? Did you feel 'consulted'?

Share your thoughts, debate and ideas by clicking on comments below.
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Last call for Ghent Six Day



Time is running out to book your place on the Ghent Six Day club trip to Belgium.

Read this exciting report of the 1997 trip by Sean Kerrigan.

The trip takes place over Friday 25, Saturday 26, Sunday 27 November
(Return home on Monday 28)

We are booking two hotels, which are adjacent to the velodrome.

The picturesque town centre of Ghent is just a short walk away, with its many restaurants and bars that are open all hours. We will be traveling independently in our own luxury 49 seat coach - the more people who book, the cheaper it gets!

For more information, or to book your place click here