2012 in numbers

2 Nomads stopped for a beer during the final Dave Gudgin of the season. Take a bow, Clive Collins and Nick Hickman.

2 minutes to spare for Jon Traynor and Nigel Wilson when they completed the 465 mile Raid Pyrenean in 99 hours and 58 minutes.

5:09 The time in minutes and seconds by which Michael Hutchinson beat the second placed rider on the Nomads Open 25.

6 free coaching sessions offered to local kids in November.

14 seconds The fastest Brompton unfold of the season from Nick Hickman.

28 centigrade Why did Summer 2012 occur on the day when 8 Nomads rode the Chiltern 100?

28.1 mph Ben Wilson’s average speed when completing the Yorkshire Velo 10 in 21:22 in August.

47 riders rode the Nomads TT course on Boxing Day.

49 riders competed in the Briercliffe 10 series in 2012. Thanks to all the timekeepers and pusher-offs who made it possible.

59:26 The fastest 25 completed by a Nomad this year. Well done Andy Herbert.

98 finishers in the Nomads sportive.

175.2 miles completed by John Harrison in the ECCA 12 hour race.

989 miles cycled by James Gomm from Lands End to John O’Groats in September.

20,914 page views of this blog so far this year!

January 2013 events

Sunday Club Runs (please note the start times below)
30 December 2012, Emily’s Tea Shop, Whitwell 9:00 am

2013
6 January - Langford Garden Centre 9:30 am -  Langford Garden Centre
13 January - Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine 9:30 am - Forest Centre M.Moretaine
20 January - Emily's Tea Shop, Whitwell 9:30 am - note several riders will be attending the Harp Hilly event as an alternative to the club run (see below) - Whitwell Emily's Tea Shop
27 January - Woburn 9:30am


Circuit Training
Hitchin RFC, Pavillion Room. 1945h every Tuesday.

Mini Club Run/ Family and newcomers ride

20 January - Start at10:00 am. Meet at the junction of Purwell Lane and Kingswood Avenue, Hitchin (access to the Greenway). Bring a bike capable of being ridden on off-road surfaces.

If you fancy a ride out from Hitchin centre or want further information, please call Nick Senechal on 01462 641745.
n.b this may be subject to change so as to coincide with the Cross race at Hitchin Boys School.

Saturday training rides
Please check Facebook for details of Saturday training runs.

Off-Road Rides – Thursdays at 18:45.
See Facebook or contact Nick Hickman on 01462 850868 for details and meeting point.

Time Trials
1 January - Beds Road 11.2 mile ‘lottery’ TT
HQ Beds Road clubhouse, Cardington.
Signing on from 10am for 11am start.
For details of how the lottery works, please go to:
http://www.bedsroad.org/Bedfordshire_Road_Cycling_Club_Newsflash_Dec2012.htm

Chiltern Reliability Rides
As a club we are focusing on the Harp Hilly event and there are a number of Nomads already planning to attend this specific ride.

Sunday 20th January - 9.00am Harp Hilly 100km & 55km
Sunday 27th January - 9.00am Team Quest 100km
Sunday 3rd February - 9.00am Hemel Hempstead CC 100km & 50km
Sunday 10th February - 9.00am Edgware RC 100km & 45km
Sunday 17th February - 9.30am Willesden CC 100km & 60km
Sunday 24th February - 9.30am CC Luton 100km & 40miles

For more details, go to:
http://www.lesrvr.com/HarpRoadClub/chilternclassics.htm

Boxing Day 10 - 2012

Hitchin Nomads brought the 2012 season to an end with their annual Boxing Day 10 mile time trial. The event saw clear and dry skies bless the riders. Despite a stiff south-westerly wind a bumper field of racers from local clubs descended upon the lanes around Old Warden. The event traditionally sees competitive time triallists compete against the "old school" riders who bring out vintage bicycles to race against the clock for the 10 mile distance. The oldest bike was from 1902, the newest still had Santa's tinsel attached.

So as to level the playing field a handicap system based on the age of the cycle, the age of the rider and the date they first sat at a desk in Hogwarts is used (I have no idea how the handicapping system works - ask Frank Turner! Ed).

Hitchin Nomads were well represented on the roads and also in the Old Warden HQ - where a festive spread and good cheer were found in abundance. Of the recent Go Ride coaching students Luke Senechal rode the distance in 39.44 and Daisy Doyle rode in at 63.36. The latter receiving the Alan Porter award for ride of the day.

Ben Wilson proved that wheels aren't everything by riding the event on a unicycle...

Ben Wilson

Simon Doyle, Daisy Doyle

Nick and Jane Hickman

Simon Young

Luke and Nick Senechal

Mark Collins, Ann Collins

Results

	Rider	m	s	Final time	Club	Bike
15	Tim Davies	24	53	23:53	IRC
29	Jason Stuart	25	42	24:42	CC Ashwell
42	Mark/ Isaac Anstee	27	2	25:25	BRCC
26	Graham Laming	27	54	25:38	BRCC
24	Ryan Witchell	25	54	25:54	Welwyn whs.
37	Ray Miller	36	6	26:42	V-CC	1910 Chase
32	Justin Layne	26	45	26.45	CC Ashwell
12	Mike Kitchen	38	56	27:02	HNCC	1902 Lea Francis
23	Neil Fraser	28	15	27.03	Stevenage CC
41	Mark Holden	29	49	27:33	BRCC
16	Oliver Cocks	27	59	27:59	IRC
33	Richard Pratt	32	18	29:36	I Cycle
36	Alan Crane	30	17	29:41	Chronos RT
34	Nigel Wilson	31	32	29:42	HNCC
8	Mark Collins	31	20	30:08	HNCC
31	Martin Hall	31	56	30:19	BRCC
5	Roy Porter	37	58	30:58	IRC	1962 Ivor Holms
28	Michael Coomber	31	3	31:03	I Cycle
39	Chris Jenkin	36	54	31:54	IRC
18	Gordon Charlton	34	32	32:16	I Cycle
7	John Meadows	37	36	32:36	V-CC	1958 Maclean
22	Mark Young	34	26	32:36	HNCC
19	Simon Young	33	9	32:45	HNCC
30	Jon Traynor	35	3	33:26	HNCC
27	Thomas Weir	33	41	33:41	Independent
13	Tom Durkin	33	48	33:48	Welwyn Whs.
17	Steve Smith	34	49	34:37	HNCC
40	Des Roberts	38	31	34:41	BRCC
25	Charlie Pugh	34	51	34:51	Freedon Tri
9	Charlie Sampford	35	17	35:17	IRC
11	Nick/Jane Hickman	36	12	36:12	HNCC
14	Nick/Luke Senechal	39	44	37:15	HNCC
1	Cliff Tremayne	46	33	37:57	KCC	1956 Higgins trike
4	Jill Meadows	44	24	38:39	V-CC	1982 Raleigh
6	Chris Northwood	43	28	39:39	IRC	1940 Bates flyer
21	Dave Crane	40	26	40:26	BRCC
10	Roger Akers & Emma	43	51	43:03	T.A.	1956 Higgins Trike
38	Nicola Christanson	46	5	45:41	IRC
20	Simon/Daisy Doyle	63	36	63:36	HNCC
2	Ben Wilson	69	48	69:48	HNCC

DNF Maurice Burton

2012 Awards

The Hitchin Nomads celebrated a year of competition and success with the annual award luncheon. This year's event was held on 16 December 2012 at the Three Horseshoes, Willian.

12 Hour Trophy
John Harrison
       
Dave Gudgin 25 Series - Scratch   
1 James Gomm
2  Nick Hickman

Charlton Hill Climb   
1    James Gomm
2    Andrew Saunders
3    Simon Doyle
       
Fastest 25       
1 Andrew Herbert
       
Hall Trophy 25 - Handicap   
1 Mike Webb
2 Simon Doyle
3 Andrew Herbert
       
Allan Porter 30 - Handicap
1 Mike Webb
2 Jon Traynor
3 Clive Collins
       
Dave Gudgin 25 Series - Handicap   
1 James Gomm
2 Nick Hickman

Fastest On Standard - 10 Miles       
Andrew Herbert
       
Sporting All Rounder   
1 James Gomm
2 Nick Hickman
3 Clive Collins
       
25 Mile Medium Gear   
1 James Gomm
2 John Traynor
3 Nick Hickman
       
Briercliffe 10 Series   
1 Andrew Herbert
2 Andrew Saunders
3 Simon Doyle
       
25 Mile Team Time Trial   
1    Simon Doyle & Andrew Herbert
2    James Gomm & James Spence
3    Clive Collins & Nigel Wilson
       
Allan Porter 30 - Scratch   
1  Andrew Herbert
2  James Gomm
3  Mike Webb
       
Autumn Hilly   
1 James Gomm
2 Nick Hickman
3 Mark Collins
       
Hall Trophy 25 - Scratch   
1 Andrew Herbert
2 Simon Doyle
3 Andrew Saunders  
       
Sharpenhoe Hill Climb   
1 Andrew Saunders
2 James Gomm
3 Simon Doyle
       
Spring Hilly   
1 Simon Doyle
2 James Gomm
3 Nick Senechal
       
Clubman Trophy       
Frank Turner

Geoff Denny Memorial Trophy
Frank Turner

Most Meritorious
Simon Doyle

Thanks to Keith Rapley, Frank Turner and Nigel Wilson for organising the event and for work behind the scenes in terms of working out who won what.

2012 Annual General Meeting

As the Nomads begin to draw a close on their 81st year, the annual general meeting brought the opportunity for club members to reflect on the previous twelve months. Chair and General Secretary Nick Senechal hosted the meeting and was amongst a number of club members to report on progress and to pose some ideas and challenges for the future.

In a year which has seen unparalled success for British cyclists at the Olympics and in the Grand Tours and pro-circuit, the Nomads also reflected on their own acheivements. From time trial and sportives and from Go Ride coaching to an increase in leisure riders engaging with the club, a positive spirit was in the air.

During proceedings James Gomm (Time Trial Sec), Andrew Stevenson (Treasurer), Keith Rapley (Social and Touring Sec) further emphasised Senechal's "feel good" optimism. As part of the future planning for the club a Special General Meeting has been proposed for March 2013 so as to refine and evolve the way the club is run and to discuss how the governance structure can be adapted to map to the increasing demands on the club as part of the work to achieve British Cycling "GO RIDE" status.

In terms of this year's committee was concerned, Neil JJ Fraser was commended for his efforts as Club Captain over the last few seasons. A vote of thanks was recorded. Simon Doyle was elected as Captain for 2013. Keith Rapley, having spent four years as Social and Touring Sec will be taking a step back and Nick Hickman will be sharing the portfolio with Keith in 2013. The remainder of posts remain broadly unchanged although the position of General Secretary and of Treasurer will be up for re-election under the auspices of the mooted SGM.

Key messages from the meeting:
- membership is up
- racing participation is increasing, particularly in open and interclub time trials
- coaching is now a club benefit and is an active part of our outreach work
- the social calendar is full and vibrant
- the club funds are stable and have positive reserves and scope for investment
- the club's social media and communications approach is greatly improved and popular
- 2012 was a great platform to build upon and will be a spring-board for more success in 2013

The Club's successes will be celebrated further at the annual prize giving lunch on the 16th December 2012, Three Horseshoes, Willian. Contact Keith Rapley for information.