A New Members Perspective
My association with the BCC began in the middle of last year. After a run in with my rugby club I decided to pack in the pain and go back to cycling. I wish the pain had really stopped. I had ridden events with and knew some people at the Beacon and Warwicks, but I was not completely happy with what I knew and was looking for something a little bit different. As some of you may know I am a techy by trade and spend most of my time on the internet. While on there one day apparently working on a project I found the BCC web site. I was impressed. There are very few cycling club web sites available. After a few emails I found out that some members frequented the Warwicks 10' of an evening. I agreed to meet having ridden this event several times before and was familiar with its location.
My first encounter was with Richard (or Todger as I later found out) and I think Brian was there as well as Alistair. Alistair would not have noticed me. I was the guy about 3 minutes in front that he passed after about 6 minutes. I did not have time to say Hello.
I also ventured on some Sunday runs. The first one I went on gave me heart as after 40 miles I felt good. A couple of weeks later after being caught out with Bob, Wilksey and Pic on my own, I was not feeling quite so confident. That ride is still the quickest I did that year in my training diary . There was also the throwing up incident. Again Bob was involved and Wilksey. I had taken some biscuits to eat on a ride and they did not sit well on the stomach . Ian took the sensible option and had left us to it after an hour. 30 minutes later I was decorating the hedgerows. Many thanks to Richard for seeing me home that day when I was in all sorts of trouble.
The rest of the club runs I enjoyed, I was even 2nd at the club hill climb. I have managed to get to know some of you a bit and in November I parted with my money and joined the club. Soon after I went missing for a month, geographic reasons. My family live in the South, my girlfriend's live somewhere near Scotland, well Yorkshire, but when you come from Plymouth anywhere north of Birmingham gives me frostbite. Much Christmas mileage was done, but all in the car.
This year has been great so far .The weather has been not unkind, well it has been a sod, but that has to be expected. Thanks to Dave for sorting some out cracking routes, though the more often we avoid Gorcot the better. The turnout has been good and I have really enjoyed these first few weeks and even been christened with a ridiculous nickname. I have also been to Manchester to ride the track and loved it. I cannot wait until we go back. I recommend it to anyone. I am joining the throng, or is it thong, in Majorca next week, which should be cracking.
Finally, and you can hold me to these. Pic ( I really should know his real name) asked me a couple of Sunday's ago what my targets were for the year. I hadn't even thought about it, so here they are. A sub 23min 10' (unlikely), to get as close to the hour for a 25' as possible and to have a stab at road racing and the track, both of which I have never done before. I have even arranged a helper for the club events already, but she doesn't know it yet. Since writing this originally I have now ridden the track so one objective down to those who are keeping score.
Last Update 03 May, 2000