News

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Paris-Brest-Paris – 1200km – Keith rides again!

Club member Keith Griffiths is no stranger to long-distance bike rides, but even though he’s done PBP before, a 1200km bike ride is a challenge for anyone. Even more so since he’ll only get the odd hour of sleep here and there on the way, but no overnight stays (because there isn’t time!).

Keith is riding the Paris-Brest-Paris 2023 audax, starting this coming Sunday 20 August. It’s only held every four years, and has rigorous qualification requirements, so even getting to the start line is an achievement in itself.

Paris-Brest-Paris is a randonnee and not a race, but even so there is a time limit of 90 hours to complete the ride.

You can follow Keith’s progress through the randonnee control points via the official website . Keith is rider number i026.

Keith will be talking about his audax experiences at the upcoming Club Night on Friday 29 September, and no doubt he’ll be recounting some stories from PBP. Make sure you come along to hear all about it.

Good luck Keith!

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Changes on the Committee

Announcing a change in FCCC’s team formation.

I would like to formally thank Danielle Millar for the year she has given to me and FCCC on the Club Committee as the General Secretary.

She is going to take a sabbatical with an intention of helping us again in some shape or form in 2024.

Many of you will know Danielle from her weekly spins at the Club Time Trials, her attendance at Club Nights or her participation in the annual Hill Climbing Challenge.

I will miss her dedication, patience, calming influence and behind the scenes support. Thank you, Danielle xx

As part of this change, Danielle and I are very grateful to announce that Hannah Lucas has agreed to take on the role to provide me/FCCC with a seamless change that allows Danielle to step down gracefully.

Many of those regularly riding in mid-pace will have met Hannah since she joined the Club this summer. She carries a welcome abundance of enthusiasm for cycling!

Please join me in thanking Danielle for her work at FCCC and to welcoming Hannah into the role.

Paul Hosemann ( Chair)


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FCCC CLUB TT 12.5M – HCC257 – THURSDAY 17 AUGUST AT 19.00HRS

The next Club TT is on the HCC257 course (follow this link for the course map), starting in the Star Hill lay-by on the A30, on 17 August 2023 at 19.00hrs.

This is a change from the originally-planned HCC255b, to give more variety and because we’ve had to cancel several TTs on HCC257 in the past. This time it looks roadworks-free (fingers crossed!).

Club TT events are open to all.

Entrance is free to club members and £5 to non-members (payable at sign-on).

Sign-on is from 20 minutes prior to the start time and will close 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Riders are encouraged to park away from the start and then ride up to the start area.

Helmets, front lights and rear lights are now compulsory to participate in any TT event – make sure you have them all or you will not be able to ride.

There is no pushing-off.

We are using the Resultsheet app for live results this year – you can view these in real time by saving this link to your mobile device’s internet browser.

Or easier still by scanning the QR code below to your device.

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FCCC CLUB TT 8.5M – HCC255a – THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST AT 19.00HRS

This week’s Club TT is on the 8.5 miles HCC255a course (follow this link for the course map), starting in Hartley Wintney, on 10th August 2023 at 19.00hrs.

We have had to switch to our backup course because, yet again, there are scheduled to be roadworks on the A30 near Hook on this date, and the unreliability of whether these roadworks happen or not means that we would rather be safe and decide on the course now than have a last-minute change.

Club TT events are open to all.

These are “turn up and ride” events but field sizes will be restricted so entry is on a first come, first served basis.

Entrance is free to club members and £5 to non-members (payable at sign-on).

You are asked to park and then ride up to the sign-on area. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN MORTIMER CLOSE AT THE START AREA. We have had complaints in previous years from local residents and do not want to give them any cause to complain.

Please endeavour to park in Hartley Wintney away from the sign-on area and then ride up to sign-on (this will close 5 minutes prior to the start time).

Sign-on is from 20 minutes prior to the start time and will take place in the road adjacent to the finish point marked “B” on the course map referenced above, approximately 150m due south from the start point “A”, where the signs for MILDMAY OAKS are.

Helmets, front lights and rear lights are now compulsory to participate in any TT event – make sure you have them all or you will not be able to ride.

There is no pushing-off.

We are using the Resultsheet app for live results this year – you can view these in real time by saving this link to your mobile device’s internet platform: https://resultsheet.app/rsd/1691233070444×629962728317386800

Or easier still by scanning the attached QR code to your device.

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Tonight’s Club 10 Championships Results.

Well done everyone for coping with the completely unexpected early start of overnight roadworks that weren’t supposed to start until 8pm, and particular kudos to Tony Green and Giles Short who were forced to take a diversion adding 0.7 miles to their ride.

Congratulations to our 2023 champions:

Ladies Champion – Ruth Jones

Mens Champion – Aaron Borrill

Veterans Champion – Aaron Borrill

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An Audience with… Keith Griffiths ~ on Friday 29th September 2023

It has been an absolute pleasure to host the series of an “Audience with …” for the FCCC Club Nights during this past twelve months or so.

Guests ranging from the formidable End to End in under 48 hours (Dick Poole), to our South African Cape Epic and UCI E-world Champion Cyclists (Shawn Mitchley and Aaron Borrill, respectively), to the former UK National Champion guest (Richard Prebble) and to the most latterly Meet Team GB (Kendra and Jez Hall, Eliot Digby-Jones, Ruth Jones and Morag McDowall).

Each time we meet these guests we are greeted by humble people with huge achievements in cycling with fascinating stories to tell.

This person is no exception. He told me he doesn’t get out of bed for anything less than 200 kilometers. He’s not joking.

With rides like ‘Paris-Brest-Paris’ or ‘London-Edinburgh-London’ these distances speak openly for themselves. He competes in what we know as ‘Audaxes’.

It is an ultra-sport like not too many others.

In privately preparing for meeting him, I’ve come to learn that Audax means “courageous, spirited, foolhardy, presumptuous and rash’.

Well, we can find out if that is true when we meet our next guest who has kindly agreed to give up his time to come talk with me at the Club Night on Friday 29 September 2023 at our usual venue.

Paul Hosemann (Chair)

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FCCC CLUB TT 10m Championships HCC216a – THURSDAY 3rd AUGUST AT 19.00HRS

The next Club TT is now confirmed as the 10 mile HCC216a course (follow this link for the course map https://www.plotaroute.com/route/198873), starting in Franklin Avenue, Hartley Wintney on 3rd August 2023 at 19.00hrs. 

Club TT events are open to all but eligibility for the club championship trophies is restricted to FCCC first claim members only.

Entrance is free to club members and £5 to non-members (payable at sign-on).

Sign-on is from 20 minutes prior to the start time and will close 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Riders are encouraged to park away from the start and then ride up to the start area.

Helmets, front lights and rear lights are now compulsory to participate in any TT event – make sure you have them all or you will not be able to ride.

There is no pushing-off.

We are using the Resultsheet app for live results this year – you can view these in real time by saving this link to your mobile device’s internet platform:

https://resultsheet.app/rsd/1690994569573×489895438785445900 Or easier still by scanning this QR code to your device.

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CLUB TT THURSDAY 3RD AUGUST

Our scheduled event for next Thursday is the Club 10 Championships on the HCC216a but frustratingly there are, yet again, scheduled roadworks/road closures on the course so we are likely to have to relocate to the reserve course HCC255a (8.5 miles).

We will make the decision by Wednesday 2nd August and publish it on our website, club Facebook page and the members Facebook group.