Category Archives: News

Sunday Club Ride 08/05/16

QuantockView-200This week we are trying something new! Please all meet at the Weston Train Station for 8.50am ready to catch the 9am train to Taunton. We arrive in Taunton at 9.30am and then cycle back to Weston via the Quantocks. The train ticket is £8.10. They may not let us on so as a back up plan we will be cycling to Enmore and back. Please click on the link below for Locomotive cycling action! https://www.strava.com/routes/4897628

Ride Report – 1st May 2016 : Once around Glastonbury Tor

This May Day, Weston Wheelers Cycling Club had Glastonbury Tor in its' sights for the regular Sunday morning ride. Nine riders departed from Priory School and headed out of Weston-super-mare via the quiet roads through Bourton and West Hewish, before turning east towards Congresbury. Taking a southerly track, the group warmed up on the climb into Shipham, before enjoying the rapid descent into Cheddar. Heading south, the club enjoyed rapid progress through Clewer and onto Rodney Stoke, where they briefly joined the main road toward Wells, as far as Easton, again taking to the quiet roads of Somerset. This first section and the subsequent route into Glastonbury forms one of the Weston Wheelers Time Trial competiton courses. And, although riding as a group, the individual riders were intent on setting a good personal time for the 30 mile Time Trial. As they headed south-west away from Easton, the riders encountered a stiff headwind that somewhat spoilt the possibility of breaking any club records, but the level and, in places, arrow straight roads allowed them to get into a good rhythm, making short work of the track into Glastonbury. Entering Glastonbury the riders were treated to a display of floral head dresses, as is traditional for May Day and were inadvertently ushered onto the roads closed for the Glastonbury Road Run. The novelty of using closed roads was not wasted on the riders, but they cleared the course rapidly and headed toward the Tor. Although not long, the ascent up and around the Tor, is a good test for anyone's legs. Having spun their gears up the road around the tor, the group reassembled at the top before heading down the other side and setting off iin search of a cafe. Unfortunately, the Road Run crowds dictated that the club abandoned any hope of a reviving beverage and the decision was made to continue on the return leg of the route. More by luck than design, the group found themselves passing a cafe near West Hay, as one of their number suffered a minor mechanical problem. Whilst most of the riders enjoyed a momentary respite and refreshment, a demonstration of puncture repair was given by one unfortunate member of the club. The concensus of the group being that 'coffee and cake' was a fairly civilised way of waiting for a puncture to be rectified. With innertube replacement and inflation completed, the group set off again across the Somerset Levels and onto Brent Knoll. At Brent Knoll the riders split into two groups. One heading home and the other heading out on a 'bonus' segment, in preparation for the Somerset 100 charity ride being held on the 15th of May. Skirting Loxton, the course now took the riders into Winscombe, before turning towards Puxton, where they turned south and passed through Banwell. Now on the homeward stretch, the riders ascended into Hutton and onto the Weston-super-mare seafront. Now down to four riders, a diminished group took the old toll road into Kewstoke and returned to the start point. The longest distance covered by the riders on this ride measured 90 miles with a total ascent of 2100 ft, the shorter route was just under 60 miles. More information about the Weston Wheelers can be found on their website http://westonwheelers.cc

Weston Wheelers – Competition Update

Here is an update on the current state of the various Weston Wheelers club competitions - as of 1st May. Remember you need to notify the Competitions Secretary of your entries. Also, don't forget you gain points, towards the Points Competition, just for having an go at a competition segment.
             Competition                                     Current Leader              Current Best
  1. Three Piers Challenge.                 Pete Gillespie                   1:07:58
  2. Glastonbury Tor Time Trial           Duncan Robertson           2:15:56
  3. Taunton Time Trial                       Duncan Robertson           1:33:18
  4. Bleadon Hill hill climb                 Rob Heathcote                      3:38
  5. Accommodation Rd Sprint           Ben Nicholas                         2:40
  6. Rob Special Time Trial                 Andy Bremand                  1:56:14
  7. Brean – Burnham Time Trial       Duncan Robertson            1:06:50
  8. Wednesday Night SRC TT            Dave Hamer                         27:37
  9. Points competition.                     Duncan Robertson           38 points
Details of competition routes, details etc on website. Any club member who wants a link to the webpage, please contact me. If anyone believes they have a better time for any of the competitions,  please use the webform on the WW website to record the result.

What no Cake!?!

  This week’s ride was planned by route designer extraordinaire Ben Nicholas Leaving from Priory School at 9.00am the weather was sunny with a 6 degree chill in the air and a 12mph breeze. We headed out though Banwell with a slight detour as the road to Sandford was closed. Once back on track we headed for the big climbing challenge up Burrington Combe. There was a definite drop in temperature when we reached the top of the Mendips, but we soon warmed up as we headed on towards Wells. Joining the A39 we enjoyed a fantastic descent into Wells reaching a top speed of 43mph. We then re grouped and headed out to Wookey Hole, on to Draycott and then turned left for Wedmore. Next we had our planned and well earned tea and cake stop. Alas cake was off the menu which left us wiith the rather questionable gingerbread. Once refreshed we continued with the final leg of the route which was mostly flat taking us through Mark and Highbridge and then onto Brent Knoll. Finally we headed back to Weston via Lympsham and Uphill and along the sunny seafront. This week’s ride totalled 56miles, climbing 2300 feet with an average speed of 15.9mph. A big thanks go to Andy B, Ben, Patrick, Duncan, Dave H, Phil, Neil, Jason, Paul,Wayne, Pete and a hearty welcome to new members Laura and Alex. The wheelers are currently taking on new members. We Meet at Priory School on Sunday 9.00am and Wednesday at 6.00pm. For more information please visit www.westonwheelers.cc