Monday 20th April 

The DCC virtual peloton took full advantage of the beautiful weather with most riders ambling around the route and taking full advantage of the average time rule applied to all those that complete the stage. The biggest challenge being one of navigation with riders suffering from user error!

As expected, the GC contenders went for the sprint segment with our resident mechanic Ash putting in a fine performance! Showing us that the power is still there!! Fine time from Stuart and is Dave M. starting to find his legs? The Captain decided to smash the course picking up 31 PRs, I’m wondering if his target is now the coveted Green (Points) jersey? Great rides from our DCC ladies (George, Abi, Katy and Sharon). The KoM competition showed us that Nigel could be a serious contender if he decided to make this his target. However, there are still some riders to complete Stage 2 (including yours truly) so stay tuned.

Great work everyone!!!

Stage 2 Results to date (Stage 2 closes Saturday 26th April)

Sprint Segment for Yellow “GC” Jersey

	S2 – Sprint	Total
Stuart	00:01:51	00:01:51
Dave	00:01:54	00:01:54
Graeme	00:01:55	00:01:55
Jamie	00:01:55	00:01:55
Ash	00:02:00	00:02:00
Nigel	00:02:02	00:02:02
Paul	00:02:11	00:02:11
Steve	00:02:16	00:02:16
Abi	00:02:22	00:02:22
George	00:02:25	00:02:25
Diesel Dave	00:02:30	00:02:30
Robert	00:02:32	00:02:32
Media Matt	00:02:35	00:02:35
Katy	00:02:44	00:02:44
Sharon	00:02:47	00:02:47

KOM & QoM Stage 2 ) Jersey

	S2 -1st	S2 – 2nd	S2 – 3rd	S2 – Total
Graeme	00:04:35	00:01:41	00:06:16	00:12:32
Nigel	00:04:49	00:01:40	00:06:35	00:13:04
Dave	00:04:57	00:01:49	00:06:59	00:13:45
Jamie	00:05:06	00:01:45	00:07:00	00:13:51
Stuart	00:04:52	00:01:56	00:07:09	00:13:57
Steve	00:05:11	00:01:56	00:07:13	00:14:20
Paul	00:05:35	00:02:05	00:07:51	00:15:31
Robert	00:05:37	00:02:01	00:08:14	00:15:52
Diesel Dave	00:06:00	00:02:19	00:08:12	00:16:31
Media Matt	00:06:06	00:02:23	00:08:21	00:16:50
George (QoM)	00:06:06	00:02:37	00:08:26	00:17:09
Abi	00:06:42	00:02:32	00:09:49	00:19:03
Sharon	00:06:34	00:02:50	00:09:48	00:19:12
Katy	00:07:17	00:02:54	00:09:42	00:19:53
Ash	00:06:51	00:03:19	00:10:34	00:20:44

Green (Points) Jersey

Stage 2 Steve 31 Abi 23 Graeme 19 Katy 18 Dave 16 Diesel Dave 15 Robert 15 Jamie 12 Stuart 12 George 11 Paul 10 Media Matt 8 Nigel 7 Andy 7 Ash 7 Sharon 5

Saturday 11th April 

Suffice to say with over 20 club members completing solo rides (not racing!) in the first stage of the DCC SI tour I’ve been blown away by the involvement.

Thoughts now turn to stage 2 which starts tomorrow but will have a twist! Due to the nature of the course, there are traffic lights and a couple of busy roads to navigate, this will be classified as sprinters stage. Therefore, an average time will be awarded to all riders who complete the stage. So relax and enjoy the ride! However not too much, as there is short STRAVA sprint segment at the end of the stage that will earn you GC time bonuses for the 3 fastest times on the following basis:

• 1^st – 10 minutes
• 2^nd – 7 minutes
• 3^rd – 5 minutes

The sprint segment is the Dog “n” Gun Run (0.78 miles 0%) which starts at Leigh Road close to the finish (38.7 miles into the stage).

Additionally, there will be 3 KOM STAVA segments to go for:

1. St Bartholomew’s Climb (3% 1.25 miles) – this is the familiar Station Road and Church Ride climb and starts approximately 7 miles into the stage leading into Wickham Bishops
2. Try your brakes to Primary School (4% 0.45 miles) – this is the climb into Stisted village and starts approximately 19.5 miles into the stage.
3. Up Bovingdon Road from Church St Bocking (1% 2.22 miles) – long climb on the B1053 and starts approximately 23.5 miles into the stage.

Results to date (Stage 1 closes today!)

Yellow “GC” Jersey

	Stage 1	Total	Difference
Super G	02:29:53	02:29:53
Stuart	02:32:12	02:32:12	00:02:19
Captain	02:35:36	02:35:36	00:05:43
Wendy	02:36:16	02:36:16	00:06:23
Andy	02:38:35	02:38:35	00:08:42
Dave	02:39:09	02:39:09	00:09:16
Nigel	02:41:22	02:41:22	00:11:29
Jamie	02:43:00	02:43:00	00:13:07
Rob	02:43:09	02:43:09	00:13:16
Diesel Dave	02:47:02	02:47:02	00:17:09
Paul	02:57:18	02:57:18	00:27:25
Abi	02:58:11	02:58:11	00:28:18
Robert	03:00:38	03:00:38	00:30:45
Bionic Brian	03:02:00	03:02:00	00:32:07
Karim	03:07:40	03:07:40	00:37:47
Sharon	03:09:05	03:09:05	00:39:12
Media Matt	03:09:58	03:09:58	00:40:05
Ash	03:11:16	03:11:16	00:41:23
Pete	03:24:52	03:24:52	00:54:59
Katy	03:35:11	03:35:11	01:05:18

Polka Dot (KoM & QoM) Jersey

	S1 -1st	S1 – 2nd	S1 – 3rd	Total	Difference
Super G	00:04:30	00:04:25	00:04:47	00:13:42
Stuart	00:05:01	00:04:32	00:04:52	00:14:25	00:00:43
Captain	00:04:32	00:04:39	00:05:17	00:14:28	00:00:46
Andy	00:04:32	00:04:39	00:05:18	00:14:29	00:00:47
Wendy	00:05:01	00:04:41	00:05:10	00:14:52	00:01:10
Dave	00:04:57	00:04:56	00:05:05	00:14:58	00:01:16
Nigel	00:04:42	00:05:10	00:05:29	00:15:21	00:01:39
Jamie	00:04:37	00:05:02	00:05:45	00:15:24	00:01:42
Rob	00:05:26	00:05:03	00:05:52	00:16:21	00:02:39
Media Matt	00:05:31	00:05:28	00:05:37	00:16:36	00:02:54
Diesel Dave	00:05:13	00:05:35	00:06:04	00:16:52	00:03:10
Sharon	00:05:43	00:05:37	00:06:10	00:17:30	00:03:48
Robert	00:05:27	00:05:51	00:06:25	00:17:43	00:04:01
Abi	00:06:01	00:05:28	00:06:23	00:17:52	00:04:10
Bionic Brian	00:05:44	00:05:43	00:06:25	00:17:52	00:04:10
Paul	00:05:19	00:06:11	00:06:34	00:18:04	00:04:22
Ash	00:06:02	00:06:32	00:07:38	00:20:12	00:06:30
Pete	00:08:04	00:06:24	00:06:34	00:21:02	00:07:20
Karim	00:05:33	00:07:52	00:08:35	00:22:00	00:08:18
Katy	00:11:40	00:06:57	00:08:00	00:26:37	00:12:55

Green (Points) Jersey

	Stage 1	Total
Super G	53	53
Abi	34	34
Nigel	32	32
Karim	29	29
Wendy	24	24
Jamie	24	24
Paul	23	23
Matt	20	20
Diesel Dave	19	19
Andy	16	16
Ash	10	10
Rob	9	9
Captain	7	7
Sharon	6	6
Stuart	5	5
Katy	5	5
Dave	5	5
Pete	3	3
Bionic Brian	3	3

 

 

Thursday 9th April

The DCC SI tour has really heated up with new entrants taking advantage of the warm weather conditions and putting in some outstanding performances. Abi’s sub 3-hour ride with over 34 PRs was especially special!

But all the headlines go to Graeme, the numbers speak for themselves (53 PRS)! Graeme trains hard all year round for his triathlon races and it was tremendous to see some of that dedication being played out in Stage 1. Well done mate!

DCC gives a big thank you to all the NHS doctors and nurses, especially our Lou.

Results to date (Stage 1 closes 11^th April)

Yellow “GC” Jersey

	Stage 1	Total	Difference
Super G	02:29:53	02:29:53
Stuart	02:32:12	02:32:12	00:02:19
Captain	02:35:36	02:35:36	00:05:43
Wendy	02:36:16	02:36:16	00:06:23
Andy	02:38:35	02:38:35	00:08:42
Dave	02:39:09	02:39:09	00:09:16
Nigel	02:41:22	02:41:22	00:11:29
Rob	02:43:09	02:43:09	00:13:16
Diesel Dave	02:47:02	02:47:02	00:17:09
Paul	02:57:18	02:57:18	00:27:25
Abi	02:58:11	02:58:11	00:28:18
Robert	03:00:38	03:00:38	00:30:45
Sharon	03:09:05	03:09:05	00:39:12
Media Matt	03:09:58	03:09:58	00:40:05
Pete	03:24:52	03:24:52	00:54:59
Katy	03:35:11	03:35:11	01:05:18

Polka Dot (KoM & QoM) Jersey

	S1 -1st	S1 – 2nd	S1 – 3rd	Total	Difference
Super G	00:04:30	00:04:25	00:04:47	00:13:42
Stuart	00:05:01	00:04:32	00:04:52	00:14:25	00:00:43
Captain	00:04:32	00:04:39	00:05:17	00:14:28	00:00:46
Andy	00:04:32	00:04:39	00:05:18	00:14:29	00:00:47
Wendy	00:05:01	00:04:41	00:05:10	00:14:52	00:01:10
Dave	00:04:57	00:04:56	00:05:05	00:14:58	00:01:16
Nigel	00:04:42	00:05:10	00:05:29	00:15:21	00:01:39
Rob	00:05:26	00:05:03	00:05:52	00:16:21	00:02:39
Media Matt	00:05:31	00:05:28	00:05:37	00:16:36	00:02:54
Diesel Dave	00:05:13	00:05:35	00:06:04	00:16:52	00:03:10
Sharon	00:05:43	00:05:37	00:06:10	00:17:30	00:03:48
Robert	00:05:27	00:05:51	00:06:25	00:17:43	00:04:01
Abi	00:06:01	00:05:28	00:06:23	00:17:52	00:04:10
Paul	00:05:19	00:06:11	00:06:34	00:18:04	00:04:22
Pete	00:08:04	00:06:24	00:06:34	00:21:02	00:07:20
Katy	00:11:40	00:06:57	00:08:00	00:26:37	00:12:55

Green (Points) Jersey

	Stage 1	Total
Super G	53	53
Abi	34	34
Nigel	32	32
Wendy	24	24
Paul	23	23
Matt	20	20
Diesel Dave	19	19
Andy	16	16
Rob	9	9
Captain	7	7
Sharon	6	6
Stuart	5	5
Katy	5	5
Dave	5	5
Pete	3	3

 

Monday 6th April 

The DCC SI tour has lift off with over 12 riders completing a gruelling local solo ride. Kevin showed us why he’s such a poster boy with the ladies by going first but true to say that everyone completed great rides posting some very respectable times. Early days but stand out efforts to date coming from Sharon, Katy, Paul, Matt and newcomer Robert. Don’t worry as you still have time to get involved and post a ride. When will the “big dogs” Captain Cook and Super G come out to play?

Hopefully we will still be able to keep riding and use our 1 exercise a day to complete all future stages. I will reduce the distance going forward.

If you need any more motivation then please note that all SI tour rides will now count towards the prestigious “DCC Most Rides” award and at the AGM we will be awarding prizes for all those that complete the tour!

Results to date (Stage 1 closes 11^th April)

Yellow “GC” Jersey

	Stage 1	Total	Difference
Stuart	02:32:12	02:32:12
Kevin “Wendy”	02:36:16	02:36:16	00:04:04
Dave	02:39:09	02:39:09	00:06:57
Rob	02:43:09	02:43:09	00:10:57
Diesel Dave	02:47:02	02:47:02	00:14:50
Paul	02:57:18	02:57:18	00:25:06
Robert	03:00:38	03:00:38	00:28:26
Sharon	03:09:05	03:09:05	00:36:53
Media Matt	03:09:58	03:09:58	00:37:46
Pete	03:24:52	03:24:52	00:52:40
Katy	03:35:11	03:35:11	01:02:59

Polka Dot (KoM & QoM) Jersey

	S1 -1st	S1 – 2nd	S1 – 3rd	Total	Difference
Stuart	00:05:01	00:04:32	00:04:52	00:14:25
Kevin “Wendy”	00:05:01	00:04:41	00:05:10	00:14:52	00:00:27
Dave	00:04:57	00:04:56	00:05:05	00:14:58	00:00:33
Rob	00:05:26	00:05:03	00:05:52	00:16:21	00:01:56
Media Matt	00:05:31	00:05:28	00:05:37	00:16:36	00:02:11
Diesel Dave	00:05:13	00:05:35	00:06:04	00:16:52	00:02:27
Sharon	00:05:43	00:05:37	00:06:10	00:17:30	00:03:05
Robert	00:05:27	00:05:51	00:06:25	00:17:43	00:03:18
Paul	00:05:19	00:06:11	00:06:34	00:18:04	00:03:39
Pete	00:08:04	00:06:24	00:06:34	00:21:02	00:06:37
Katy	00:11:40	00:06:57	00:08:00	00:26:37	00:12:12

Green (Points) Jersey

	Stage 1	Total
Robert	36	36
Kevin “Wendy”	24	24
Paul	23	23
Matt	20	20
Diesel Dave	19	19
Rob	9	9
Sharon	6	6
Stuart	5	5
Katy	5	5
Dave	5	5
Pete	3	3

 

Monday 30th March

The DCC SI Tour kicked-off last Saturday but not surprisingly due to the “4 seasons in one day” weather we experienced this weekend meant all riders elected to delay their assault on the Stage 1 Bakehouse (50 mile) course. Currently time is on their side but the clock is ticking. Who will be the first brave rider to put down a time? Could be a Purple Combative jersey up for grabs for the first rider!!

Meanwhile the resident bookie declared some interesting odds on the runners and riders. Suffice to say the mind games have started with early favourite Dave M declaring a lack of form!! Still time for other club members to get involved, some noticeable absences not yet declared.

Meanwhile, some information on the Stage/course:

• Stage 1 to be completed by Saturday 11th April
• Start is on Little Baddow Road just before Eves Corner (Tea on the Green)
• Finish is at the end of Mayes Lane just before the mini roundabouts.
• There will be 3 KOM STRAVA segments.

1. The St Climb 1.49 miles 4% this is 17 miles out and starts outside of Pleshey
2. Swansong 1.13 miles 2% this is 40 miles out and it’s the lane approaching Stock
3. Bicknacre rd to Danbury 1.13 miles 3% the last mile before you finish!!!!

Stay safe everyone!!! Stay tuned for developments

Rules

Six stages to be ridden on your own and completed over a 12-week period. Each stage to be completed within the following 2-week window:

• Stage 1 – Saturday 28^th March to Saturday 11^th April
• Stage 2 – Sunday 12^th April to Saturday 25^th April
• Stage 3 – Sunday 26^th March to Saturday 9^th May
• Stage 4 – Sunday 10^th May to Saturday 23^rd May
• Stage 5 – Sunday 24^th May to Saturday 6^th June
• Stage 6 – Sunday 7^th May to Saturday 20^th June

The course will be sent out via WhatsApp prior to the start of each stage window and the STRAVA KOM segments will be identified.

There are the following 4 jerseys to be won / awarded for both the Men and Women after each stage window closes:

1. Yellow (General Classification) – Best overall combined time across all stages
2. Polka Dots (King or Queen of the Mountain) – Best combined overall time for selected STRAVA climbs (KOM) segments within each stage. There will be a minimum of 2 KOM segments per stage.
3. Green (Points) – Points will be awarded for each PR achieved within the stage.
4. Purple (Combative) – Awarded by the Chairman after each stage for the most combative ride.

Individual Stage Winners with the best time will also be awarded.

1. 1. Riders can only attempt one stage ride per window.
   2. STRAVA will be used as the official time keeper / record.
   3. Riders to record ride on STRAVA using the following naming convention: DCC SI Tour Stage 1 (please start / end your Garmin / Wahoo at the beginning and end of the course)
   4. All riders must ride on their own – no drafting
   5. Only open to Club members
   6. The DCC SI Tour committee will publish results during and at the end of each stage window.

Following Government advise to stop all non-essential contact the Danbury Cycling Club will be cancelling all club group rides until further notice. Although exercise is still recommended for physical and mental health it is clear that riding in organised groups is not observing isolation and maintaining separation from others.

If you do carry on cycling outside please remember it is all our responsibility to try to avoid spreading this virus to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

Annual General Meeting held at The Bakers Arms Wednesday 8^th January 2020 (7.00pm)

Attendance: RC (Chairman), KE (Treasurer), MA (Club Secretary), MS, SC, DG, CE, NM, PFn, PFy, GS, KH and GF.

Minutes

• Membership Update – Current Numbers.
  • Paid up members have remained constant at 28 as compared to 2018 (17 in 2016 and 27 in 2017)
• Finance Update.
  • Current balance £572.51 – Ended 2019 with a surplus of £214.53.
  • KE circulated copies of full accounts for review.
  • Further copies available from KE on request.
• Membership Fes for 2020
  • Agreed that membership fees for 2020 will be £5, agreed as a nominal amount for 2020
  • Fees will be for the calendar year, no reductions for part year membership.
  • Members agreed that only paid up club members should have access to DCC WhatsApp group chat.
• Cycling UK / Insurance Renewal
  • Members agreed that the DCC should continue to subscribe to Cycling UK as an affiliated member, this also covers the club’s third-party insurance for group rides. Action: MS to renew asap.
  • It should be noted that the Cycling UK Ride and Event Organiser Insurance covers the club and the following recognized officials:
    • RC – Chairman / Ride Leader
    • MA – Club Secretary
    • KE – Treasurer
    • MS – Ride Leader
    • SC – Ride Leader
    • DG – Ride Leader
  • Therefore, the DCC club insurance does not cover individual members. It is strongly recommended that individual members have their own personal ride insurance. Members need to enter the club code 90095042 on the Cycling UK Website to access the discount.
  • Members also agreed that that the club would become a British Cycling affiliated member where DCC members will be able to benefit from on-going British Cycling discounts. Action: RC to investigate British Cycling membership.
• Website / Facebook / Annual Cost
  • Members agreed to continue with the DCC website and therefore, all domains should stay in place / renewed.
  • Members agreed that the current use of Facebook and STRAVA should remain. It was noted that members should make an active effort to update these social media sites so that the club remains current. Action: MA to link DCC website to Facebook.
• Election of Committee.
  • RC agreed to stay as Chairman for another year.
  • MA agreed to remain as Secretary for another year
  • KE agreed to remain as Treasurer for another year
• DCC Club Ethos / Ride Format Discussion.
  • Lively discussion mostly focussing on reasons why the group is splintering on club rides. It was generally agreed to adopt the following to help prevent splintering:
    • Ride Leaders will look to publish in advance the ride’s course / route on the club’s WhatsApp group message and/or on STRAVA. Club members are encouraged to download the course.
    • There will be 5/6 winter (December to March) courses / routes published that will be seen as default rides.
    • Ride leaders will provide a briefing before each club ride.
    • Respect the Ride leader. If you do not know the course and/or not been able to download the course then do not take the lead and force the pace up. Be respectful to check at junctions and climbs that all riders are together. These are places where the group will typically splinter.
    • Where possible the deployment of a back rider “Sweeper” whose role will be to ride close to the back of the group and look out for riders who are either struggling at the ride’s current pace, lost the wheel, and/or had a mechanical. The Sweeper will seek to either shepherd them back by providing “a wheel” and/or communicate to the front too slow down / stop.
    • Greater communication is required to enable better group organisation. Don’t be shy at letting riders know if the pace is too high or you have a problem. Action: RC to publish DCC guidelines on group riding behaviour and etiquette
    • Recognized that ride groups over 10 is generally more hazardous to ourselves / other road users and also harder to keep together in a single group. Depending on numbers and ability it may be prudent to ride in 2 separate groups. This will be decided at the beginning of the ride.
  • Mallorca 2020 Update
    • Discussion around potential ride destinations / distance
    • Mark to arrange a pub date to discuss and formally agree rides / courses.
  • 2019 Club Awards
    • Congratulations to SC for picking up 2019 Most DCC Club Rides award.
  • Any Other Business
    • • With no further business the AGM was closed.

     

The season is done and it’s been another great year for the club with over 42 riders participating in over 80 official club rides ranging from the regular Sunday social and the mid-week “fast a & punchy” to cycling charity and sportive rides such as Kentish Killers, Spring Lambs, Pedal for J’s, Farleigh Hospice and Isle of Wight. The DCC Mallorca tour was a resounding success making those left at home extremely jealous and it’s no surprise we’re hitting repeat and doing it all again in 2020! Many thanks to Mark for his great organisational skills.

The average cycling speed is always a contentious discussion point (after Kevin’s holiday snaps) on any club ride and it’s no different for DCC. Our average ride speeds have not really changed over the last couple of years, still averaging between 16-18 mph but will vary depending on who turns up on the day. However, the ethos of the club being about a social ride with “no-one getting left behind” still remains true now as it did when the club was first formed. We welcome new comers, beginners and old friends, will be patient as they inevitably improve but there needs to be an on-going level of base cycling fitness to truly benefit from group riding.

On a more serious note we’ve sought to expand our rota of cafes, some meeting with success and some falling below our in-house aficionado’s high standards (naming no names!). New favourites are Coastal Coffee West Mersea (10 visits), Parlour Café Burnham-on-Crouch (6 visits), Bretts White Roding (6 visits) and Greenstead Green Barn Café (4 visits). Blue Egg remains a staple with 7 visits but Bakehouse (too busy) and Fisheries (too basic) are very much out of fashion. Many thanks to Mark, Diesel Dave and Captain Cook for leading the rides, planning new routes and discovering new cafes in 2019.

It’s been a relatively safe year for our members but our hearts broke for Brian who suffered an horrendous crash after only a short time into his mammoth LEJOG ride. We are thankful you are recovering well; we all look forward to riding with you again and we know that 2020 LEJOG completion has your name all over it!

Early in 2019 we selected Bioracer Speedwear to supply our official club kit with the ability to order via an online club shop. It’s been a great success and despite being a small club our total orders came in over £2,500 (this was not solely down to Nick!). Please note we won’t be opening the club shop for some time unless there is a sudden influx of new members.

A famous rider once said that “it was all about the bike”, well yes but it’s also for me about riding with a lovely group of people, great banter and looking after each other on our increasingly dangerous roads.  I’m still looking for that group but meanwhile I’ve loved every single mile (yes even Kentish Killer) whilst riding with DCC and look forward to 2020!  Many thanks.

The Kentish Killer certainly lives up to its name! Lou, Steve, Graeme and Rob representing DCC took on this hard hilly terrain sportive. With 6,700 ft of elevation gain over 70 miles this was always going to be difficult ride but combine driving rain and strong winds and you have bicycle ride on heroic proportions. The pictures only tell half the story!