tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66405715998547713242024-03-14T15:09:35.101+00:00Royal Air Force Cycling Association BlogTim Bowdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14012822807903755456noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-86990553911955271302014-07-28T10:04:00.001+01:002014-07-30T14:50:21.330+01:00RAF Victorious at 2014 IS 24HR
Simon Harrison - Photograph courtesy of Alex Laws
So the dust has settled (there was a lot of it) and the RAF team and supporters have returned to camps various to recover. 26/27 July saw a fantastic weekends racing at the 2014 Interservice 24hr mountain bike champs held at Bontrager 24:12, Newnham Park Plymouth. Great results for the RAF teams not just in the Interservice category Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-44795719805265617382014-07-23T10:15:00.000+01:002014-07-23T10:16:19.805+01:002014 Interservice 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships - Bontrager 24:122014 Interservice 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships - Bontrager 24:12 26-27 July
This weekend sees the RAF Mountain Bike Team competing at the Bontrager 24:12 24hr Mountain Bike event incorporating the 2014 Inter-Services Mountain Bike Championships. The event at Newnham Park in Plymouth is run on a Le Mans style multi-lap format with teams and soloists aiming to complete as many laps asAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-25299497286876821482014-06-20T20:51:00.002+01:002014-06-20T20:51:13.375+01:00Double CSR DH points at Bala
Pro-Team style pits
The Bala round of the Pearce Cycles DH Series always offers something a bit different. This year Bala played host to 2 races, the first on the high speed “Nationals” track and the most recent on a track offering a mix of old and new. Adding a bit of spice to the event for all Services riders was the fact that it was a CSR Double Points round.
Still not convinced about Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-29461089463655687912014-06-10T13:33:00.002+01:002014-06-10T13:33:57.766+01:00RAF DH Team at the World Cup
Massive Fort William crowd makes this event special.
Last orders are called in a well known real ale pub on Sunday night in Fort William when in walks Greg Minnaar (current World Champ), Steve Peat (former World Champ), Rob Warner (DH Legend), Josh Bryceland (DH bad-boy), Stu Thomson (mtb film-maker) and the obligatory entourage of media types. This could get messy...
RAF DH Team in Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-48894046551602468912014-04-05T12:24:00.001+01:002014-04-05T12:24:50.783+01:00RAF DH Team BDS Debut
The RAF DH Team made its debut at the British Downhill Series, Rd1
Antur Stiniog, on the weekend of 29 Mar 2014. And what a debut! The team have
now proved beyond any doubt that we are capable of competing at the very
highest level.
Following on from the DH Team’s success during the 2013, we were
lucky enough to be invited to race the BDS series by event organiser Si Paton.
Sgt Nick “Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-61571973663425408932013-12-09T17:41:00.001+00:002013-12-09T17:41:41.902+00:00Inter-Services Downhill Champs 2013
This year the Inter-Services
Downhill Mountain Bike Championships were held over the 22nd - 23rd
October at Revolution Bikepark in Wales, and the event saw higher levels of
attendance by service personnel than ever before. Organised this year by the
Army, this standalone event in which 60 competitors took part is a clear sign
that Downhill Mountain Bike racing is going from strength to Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-27202210466989235992013-09-25T13:33:00.000+01:002013-09-27T10:04:19.154+01:00RAF Downhillers at the Megavalanche.
(Words, Photos, Jerseys and Riding by Kris Benson)
The Megavalanche is a mass start downhill endurance mountain
bike race set in the beautiful resort of Alpe D’Huez. It is one of the most
demanding but popular races of the calendar, attracting up to 2000 entrants
including elite riders and competitors from around the globe. The main race
departs from Pic Blanc (3300m) in groups of Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-13118199094846066632013-09-20T12:19:00.000+01:002013-09-20T12:19:50.572+01:00RAF Win the 2013 CSR DH Series
(Andy Lochhead was on it before his season-ending crash at Innerleithen)
The RAF have won the overall Combined Services Racing (CSR)
Downhill series for the first time since 2010. Indeed, the top 3 positions were
secured by RAF riders in what was a very eventful 2013 season.
The CSR DH series consisted of 10 rounds this year
comprising the Pearce Cycles and SDA DH series. Riders Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-60443739677741296722013-08-27T10:06:00.003+01:002013-08-27T10:07:59.861+01:0012:12 Torq In Your Sleep Race Report7 RAF riders raced the Torq In Your Sleep 12 hour race over the August bank holiday weekend, held at Minley Manor annually the event is growing in size each year and pairs superb organisation with a brilliant course and great atmosphere.
The RAF contingent was made up of 2 mixed pairs (Fie Innes & Russ Holman, Lou Robins & Martin Pearson) and 3 solo riders (Mitch Webster, Si Harrison Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-59389793822080945952013-08-23T09:17:00.000+01:002013-08-23T09:27:54.441+01:00RESULT: Altura Nutcracker XC Round 6 - Dales Bike Centre, SwaledaleSaturday 10th August saw 5 RAF riders compete in the final round of the Altura Nutcracker XC Series. This was touted as a challenging finale to what has been a well organised series racing on some of Yorkshires toughest terrain. The event was based out of the Dales Bike Centre in Fremington, Swaledale none of the RAF riders knew what to expect having never ridden at the venue before. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-66823247740424219922013-07-02T18:10:00.000+01:002013-07-02T18:10:28.860+01:00RAF Downhill Team Training Event 2013
Blazing sunshine, a bone dry downhill track and efficient
uplift. This rare combination provided the perfect backdrop for the 2013 RAF
Downhill Team training event.
Ex
World Cup racer and current UK Gravity Enduro Champion, Neil Donoghue, provided
world class training for 16 racers from the RAF Downhill Team. Over two days at
Antur Stiniog, North Wales’ most extreme purpose built Bazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14994792282126684325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-24050721837509978852013-05-02T22:06:00.001+01:002013-05-02T22:06:28.502+01:00BMBS Round 2 - Victory for RAFCC
Despite the location for Rd 2 being at the end of the earth the hunger for points ensured that Fie Innes and Russ Holman made the epic journey South to Redruth.
While the accommodation in Chasewater was something of an eye opener it still proved to be significantly better than some of the Barrack Blocks the RAF has to offer.
Hoping that the journey South would provide some sun rather SiHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980202214791819696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-19621638082563603992013-04-10T21:37:00.001+01:002013-04-10T21:37:11.647+01:00UK Gravity Enduro Series – Round One, Afan, South Wales
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SiHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980202214791819696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-7008342257472168022013-03-25T22:16:00.002+00:002013-03-25T23:26:11.547+00:00Sherwood Pines, BMBS Rd 1 Race Report
The met office was warning against all non essential travel, well as fas as we were concerned getting to the season opener was definitely essential travel!
There's a course under there somewhere
Most of the team met at Martins on Saturday nigh for a pre race pasta party and more importantly a bed that didn't involve putting up a tent in -8. Reports from those that had been over to pre SiHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980202214791819696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-55561006502658526382013-03-19T21:22:00.003+00:002013-03-19T21:26:18.667+00:00Whyte to Support RAF Team for 2013 Season
RAF Cycling is delighted to announce a new partnership with Whyte Mountain Bikes for the 2013 season. A number of the team will be racing aboard Whytes 29 CS bikes with hopefully more to follow in the near future.
Having just taken mine for its inaugural ride I can safely say that it is a very stable and very fast bike. I demoed a number of 29ers last season and was distinctly underwhelmed, the SiHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980202214791819696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-84519234297916687082013-03-19T10:05:00.000+00:002013-03-19T10:05:42.605+00:00Race Report - Midlands XC Rd 1 Cannock Chase2 RAF Riders were out on Sun 17th Mar racing the opening round of the Midlands XC Series. Russ Holman raced in Sport aboard his brand new (and very bling) Whyte 29-C Carbon hardtail while Martin Pearson competed in the Expert category.
A pre-ride of the course revealed very muddy conditions with approximately 40/50% of the course being suited to mud tyres and 50/60% suited to an Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-76991138511229967712013-03-19T09:56:00.000+00:002013-03-19T09:56:21.090+00:00RAF CA XC MTB Team Performs Well in Early Season EventsThe 2013 MTB season started well for the RAF CA MTB Team at the first round of the Welsh XC Series held at Margam Park on Feb 10th. Horrific conditions of driving rain and thick mud meant that about 50% of the lap was running. Dan Lewis took the Elite victory while Martin Pearson came home 3rd in Expert with both wishing they'd stayed in bed.
3 RAF riders raced Round 2 of the Welsh Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609231694419096386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-69875909111628749672012-04-12T03:02:00.001+01:002012-04-12T03:07:52.146+01:00Former RAF Officer Secures Silver In WorldsFormer RAF Cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel, added silver in the individual pursuit to Britain's World Track Cycling medal tally as the final session began in Melbourne.Houvenaghel, one hundredth of a second outside her personal best in qualifying, finished behind Alison Shanks of New Zealand in the final.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-87420119826841340862012-03-16T14:48:00.001+00:002012-03-16T14:54:35.165+00:00RAFCA Has Flying Ambition in 2012After a break of nearly 20 years away from the sport he once dominated as a child, Matt Haywood is back for more. At the tender age of nine, Matt became interested in BMX racing, riding for Barnstaple Bandits BMX Club, racing mainly at local and regional level. Once in his teens his performances began to improve whilst riding at Regional level. Matt went on to become No 2 in the South West RegionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-25509041078079668112012-02-25T16:17:00.002+00:002012-02-25T16:27:23.247+00:00RAF Active Magazine runs development story.Sqn Ldr Matt Tope reports from RAF High Wycome on the RAFCA Development Initiative.Click on the title to read the finished aticle.For more stories and past editions of RAF Active Magaizine please visit http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafactive/Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-41137728995410233932012-02-25T16:08:00.001+00:002012-02-25T16:15:04.122+00:00Dan Lewis flies to Wessex winDan Lewis (RAF CC) secured a deserved victory in Behind the Bikesheds January Jaunt, final round of the Wessex League staged at the Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire on Sunday.Lewis, 35 and from Swindon, crossed the line around 42 seconds clear of his nearest rival after steadily building up a good lead over a testing course.Lewis was one of several riders to hit the front early in the race. But Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-83870163218061170802011-11-25T20:23:00.003+00:002011-11-26T10:07:41.496+00:00“the picture of Sam Jones in mid-crash tells the story of his broken pride, far better than I can”This weekend, the group was made up of Sam Bennett, Sam Jones, John Summerton and John Eaton from RAF Coningsby, with Andy Harrison from RAF Scampton. The drive over was concerning to say the least. We forged our way through thick fog which showed no chance of clearing. Parking up in Hope, we set off for the first climb of the day. Passing through Castleton, we climbed up the old A625. This pieceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-57445058669982136722011-11-09T19:46:00.004+00:002011-11-10T20:17:03.135+00:00"first lap saw Dan Lewis take a tumble as he led into the arena"GWR Floodlit SeriesSubmarine Rugby Club Swindon 25 October 2011Finally the weather has turned to what cyclo-cross racing is all about in the winter as with a heavy down pour just 30 minutes before the race the dry course was turned very muddy and sticky in places to test the riders and bikes to the limit.A reduced line up of 32 still consisted of a very strong field of riders with Matt Woods, Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-64785806018302965822011-11-09T18:18:00.004+00:002011-11-10T20:18:25.761+00:00RAFCA Member Martin Jones trials StravaWhen looking to track and monitor your cycling progress it is quite easy to quickly become overwhelmed by the vast array of options that are out there. Let me introduce you to Strava.www.strava.comStrava at its core is another website/app that enables you to track your ride and relating data. You sign up for a free account (premium option available), download the app to your smartphone or garmin Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6640571599854771324.post-91634096144916774012011-11-08T21:08:00.006+00:002011-11-09T18:27:31.200+00:00"My speedo touched 27 mph, Mel Sears was still happily in the wheels"Read about how a small team of friends from RAF Benson enjoyed cycling in the ChilternsThe Build upPaul Bucknall, the team leader took care of all pre-ride administration which involved liaising with RAF Benson Physical Education Flight and booking suitable accommodation along the route. We (the riders) had to have the correct fitness level to complete the ride of some 180 miles over two days.TheUnknownnoreply@blogger.com