The East London club for all kinds of sports cycling

ECCA 50 Beasant & Trangmar Frozen Out

Keen to capitalise on his success in the Counties Festival and his improving 10 time, Patrick set his sights on his first 50 mile event, the ECCA Championship, this year, based on two laps of a circuit on the A1 at Tempsford.



Derek was also riding but no-one else felt like braving the distance.



The weather forecast was dire, with torrential rain and howling winds, but with a 6.30 start, maybe we would be lucky.



At first, it seemed OK, a light breeze and only slightly damp, but as the wind got up, the rain settled in, making the conditions truly horrible, Every finisher was shaking with cold, which makes Dereks time of 2.05.19 a tremendous effort, and Patrick's 2.13.58 very respectable, particularly in view of the number of non-starters, and numerous non-finishers.



The winners time of 1.51.31 was 6 minutes outside his best, so both riders can look forward to further improvements on a better day.

In Memorium - Dave Morris - Good Bloke and Top Clubman

Sadly we lost another member quite suddenly at the end of April, Dave Morris was diagnosed with terminal skin cancer and passed away shortly after.

Dave was a long term member of the club, a member of the Morris cycling family, brother of Dick Morris, frame builder and bikeshop owner for many years at 28, Orford Road, Walthamstow.

Dave worked until his retirement for Gestetner, a duplicating machine and office equipment company, based near Tottenham Hale. He was a quiet unassuming man, know to his family as the laughing Buddha, but always willing to get involved with the club.

In the old days, most club magazines were produced on a Gestener duplicator, which involved typing a stencil, loads of messy ink and lots of swearing. The old Comet/Lea Valley magazines were produced this way, for many years by Arthur Cook, then for 3 years by Lorraine, then Dave took over , until he moved up to Leicester.

He donated an electric duplicator which ran until we moved into electronic publishing, and donated a fun article after my request for more items for the Newsletter.

In short he was a good bloke, great clubman and we all miss him, God Bless and Good Speed Mate.

Team Beasant Strikes Fear Into Festival 7.KM Time Trial

Dateline Monday 7thMay, High Easter.

Lea Valley CC, (Team Beasant) launched its assault on the Counties Festival 7 KM with a 3 pronged attack by Lorraine, Mick and Patrick, with support from El Presidente, (Ian Taylor) and El Pantero Pinko, (Mike Keen).



Braving teeming rain and high winds our glorious quintet, outdid El Simpson, who wimped out of the Festival 2 up25, claiming it was too slippery for his posh wheels.



To be fair, the winning Maldon pair, Neil Harvey & Mark Beattie, did have water pour out of their disc wheels when they took their bikes away from the HQ.



Fastest in the 7 KM was Patrick, Then Mike K, Mike B, Lorraine and El Presidente in his customary lanterne rouge.



The 2 Mikes and El Presidente took a real hammering with gale force winds and a sudden squal with icy hail, reducing them to a serious grovel.



For a fuller Festival report, see the next newsletter.