https://ajaxdinner.eventbrite.co.uk

It’s time to get the gladrags on and celebrate this year’s activities and achievements! This year’s annual dinner and prizegiving is on 23 November at The Discovery, Celyn Ave, Cardiff CF23 6FH

Tickets include a three-course dinner, and we will be issuing a range of awards to members (racing and non-racing) to celebrate their achievements. The trophies are being polished and voting will be underway soon for the eagerly awaited prizes!

Partners are welcome – this is our big social of the year, so it would be great to see as many people there as possible!

Adults £28/Juniors £23 – book your tickets online, or you can pay Reg in cash each Wednesday at Maindy between 6 and 8. Places are limited, so please book ASAP to guarantee your spot.

We hope to see you there.

It was an odd day…
Everything I normally do in my morning routine I either didn’t do, or did arse backwards.
I put my socks on wrong foot first (first time ever. its ALWAYS right foot first subconsciously ).
I got on the turbo trainer from the left instead of from the right…

The weather for the final round of the Celtic TT Series was bleak, not dreadful or the worst I’ve TT’d in, but bleak.
However, the mountain top fire signals had been lit many weeks previous and the messengers on horse back had been run ragged to send out the call to all Ajax far and wide to answer the call to help the club slay a Dragon.

The call was heard!
Many red, white and blue were in attendance to answer the call and give their all for roughly 20-30 minutes of battle.

“It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing… such a little thing…”

#cough, ok enough of the Lord of the Rings

Sunday was the final round of the Celtic TT series. The weather was bleak but not awful, the wind was as low as it could be for Wales and the rain didnt come down anywhere near as hard as the forecasted yellow alert implied it might.
Helen Jones punctured as soon as she left the car park and a fellow tester in the car park came to the rescue with a spare front wheel.
Helen Jones then, along with a few other riders had to suffer the indignity of having to stop on the race course while a large (herd?) of cows decided to meander from one field, across the road and then into the adjacent field in their own sweet time!!

I went off the start well (albeit with the typical loss of form as the season is almost done) and was hitting PR’s on the strava segments on the way out.
Sadly the rain had loosed every tiny bit of grit, wood, detritus in the road and about 1 mile from the turn onto the A40, the tiniest sliver of wood forced me to abandon with a front wheel puncture and a 10 minute walk in cleats to the turn where no marshall was waiting and then a 30-40 minute wait in the rain until my knight in shining lycra, David Medhurst came to my resuce and picked me up \o/

However, everyone else managed to get around the course and put invaluable points on the board for the club:
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-results/19139#anchor

5	David	Medhurst	Male	Senior	21:37	138
10	Niall	Foster	Male	Vet	22:18	123
15	Toby	Hopper	Male	Senior	23:32	108
18	Rob	Jones	Male	Vet	23:57	99
33	Kevin	Lavelle	Male	Vet	26:14	54
37	Stephen	Davies	Male	Vet	27:00	42
38	Ian	Llewelyn	Male	Vet	27:07	39
39	Haydn	Griffiths	Male	Vet	27:38	36
41	Helen	Priest	Female	Vet	28:53	30
43	Suzannah	Minns	Female	Vet	28:54	24
45	Chris	James	Male	Vet	29:09	18
47	Bernard	Brown	Male	Vet	30:15	12
48	Nia	James	Female	Vet	30:48	9
DNF	Leon	Evans	Male	Vet		0

We had enough riders and enough points that we held or slim advantage over Bynea and came away 2019 Celtic TT Series Team Winners to win back the gorgeous Dragon Trophy!!

Course records fell on the same day with Michelle Lee posting from PDQ Cycling posting a 22:50, Chris Gibbard from Bynea breaking the mens course record with a 19:53, only to be beaten 40 seconds later by the eventual winner David Griffiths with a new new course record of 19:41!

Thank You!
To every Ajax rider who answered the call and raced, from me personally, thank you so much, we wouldn’t have won the trophy without you!!
If you want to take part in more rounds next season then by all means please sign up!! Tom and I could really use the help!! 😀

Thank you once again!
Leon.

Wednesday night training at Maindy begins again on 18th September. These sessions are held every Wednesday from 6 until 9 pm throughout the autumn and winter. These sessions are coach led training sessions, and normally consist of chaingang sets with recovery periods in between, with groups divided by ability (beginners and improvers ride from 6 til 7.30, with faster groups from 7.30 til 9).

These sessions are open to members and non-members (£3 and £5 respectively), but if you’ve not ridden with us before you’ll need to attend one of our induction sessions at 6pm*. Induction sessions will be held on 18th Sep, 25th Sep, 2nd Oct, and then the first Wednesday of each month.

For the first three weeks, we’ll also be offering some skills and group riding training alongside induction from 6-7.30.

Full details of the programme for Wednesdays can be found on our rides page: https://www.cardiffajaxcycling.co.uk/weekday-rides/ or on our Strava event for this ride: https://www.strava.com/clubs/2140/group_events/579435

We hope to see you there throughout the winter.

*First timers with Elite 1st,2nd or 3rd cat licences do not need to attend induction, but if you fall into this category please make yourself known to the coach in order to understand the way the session works.

David Jarrom writes with an update from the cyclocross season opener. Photos by Rob Goldsmith and Nic Pow

It’s September already. For most cyclists, a time to start winding down a little after a busy summer, and maybe time to start thinking about taking a break after a season of racing. For a certain breed though, it’s the business end of the year: cyclocross season.

2019 is my 14th season of racing cyclocross, but even as a devotee who returns to it every year, I appreciate that it is the absolute marmite of cycling disciplines. My advice is try a cyclocross race, at least once. You may find the whole idea of racing what it essentially a road bike with grippier tyres round parks and fields, whilst occasionally being forced to dismount and push or carry the thing over unrideable obstacles, baffling, bizarre and hellish. Just as likely though is that you’ll be hooked on a form of bike racing like no other: fast and furious off-road racing that rewards not only fitness and power, but also technical skill and good racecraft. It’s also a uniquely accessible form of bike racing, suitable for all abilities and with compact courses that offer plenty of opportunities to cheer people on when you’re not racing yourself.

One of the other blessings, some would say curses, of cyclocross is the sheer variation in conditions as the season arcs from the tail end of summer (fast courses on bone-dry ground) through all of autumn and into winter (expect anything from frozen solid ground, to snow and ice, or several inches of mud). The season opener was typical of this, with plenty of blue skies and warm sunshine: there was even an ice cream van in attendance to reward the kids (and big kids) with something sweet post-race.

Tredegar Park is a new venue for the Welsh League, nestling at the very east end of Newport. The course was dry and predominantly flat save for a couple of just-about-rideable ramps, making for a very fast race. The main thing that kept speeds down was the relentless bumpy ground, baked hard by the recent dry weather.

After a packed morning of racing for under-16s, a new format this year saw the women race first followed by the men. A healthy sized field lined up for the inaugural women-only race, including 3 in Cardiff Ajax colours. Claire Hoskins took a commanding win for Cardiff Jif (who also did a sterling job of organising this round) and also took the V50 win – second V50 was Liz Webb for Cardiff Ajax. In the V40 category Suzie Warren came home 7th and Chris Byrne 11th.

On to a packed men’s race, with well over 100 lining up on the start line. Seniors and juniors set off first, followed by veterans in a separate start a couple of minutes behind. Lining up on the 3rd row, the charge down to the first corner, completely unsighted over bumpy ground, was something I was glad just to survive! I slotted in a few places behind Tom Dye and within a couple of minutes we were together. On a fast course, ‘cross can almost resemble an off-road criterium and there is definitely an advantage from working together, so Tom and I set about doing just that, managing to reel in a few riders ahead of us over the next couple of laps. Our teamwork came to an abrupt end on lap 3 though, when Tom’s rear wheel popped out of the dropouts, costing him a minute or so and leaving me racing solo. Despite my best efforts to reel in riders ahead (including teammate Mike Webb, last seen up close overtaking me into the first corner), I made little impression and came home just outside the top 10 in 11th place. Mike took 9th place and Tom recovered to finish 14th. Steve James (Hope Factory Racing) outsprinted Ben Nott for the overall win.

In a very busy veteran men’s field, containing no less than 12 Cardiff Ajax riders, the best-placed V40 Ajax rider was Brian Kiernan in 31st place. Paul Harvey was the best-placed V50 Ajax rider was Paul Harvey, coming home 17th with Miles Brown just seconds behind after a mid-race puncture.

Round 2 heads to Builth Wells this coming Sunday, for what looks like more sunny racing weather. Those of us thrive in modders will just have to be patient……

Nia James writes of an Ajax trip across the border for culinary delights. They’ll be another chance to ride 100 miles and eat cake on 6 October…..

To the uninformed or uninitiated the prospect of a 100 mile ride to a village called Hill might not be particularly appealing. 

Fear not. The route from Maindy to Hill, near Berkelely in Gloucestershire (and back) offers one of the most benign century rides you’ll get in these parts. Rolling, with no major climbs and a total elevation of around 1000m, it’s a great route and one I’d highly recommend to anyone wanting to pop their century ride cherry.  

And talking of cherries, these will most definitely be on offer when you get there as the lure of Hill, when ridden on the first Sunday of the month during the Summer, means The Most Amazing Cafe Stop Ever, in the form of the Hill Cream Tea in the Village Hall.

The teas, run by the local WI group, have turned Hill into a Mecca for local cyclists. On the appointed day of the month expect to see several large groups heading to, or from, the fantastic refreshments. 

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The cakes are, quite simply, awesome ! Set out on a series of trestle tables which stretch from one end of the hall to the next, the choice of home baked delights is endless.  It’s impossible to decide between the lemon drizzle, Victoria sponge, banana loaf, ginger cake, tiffin, fruit cake, all manner of shortbread based delights, pavlova, cherry Bakewells, treacle tarts,  flapjacks, and so on ! I defy anyone to walk out with a single slice. 

Those with a more savoury tooth can enjoy a delicious homemade sausage roll and/or Scotch Egg. All washed down with a tea of your choice or a cooling glass of squash. 

The facilities at the Village Hall are super. There are a couple of (spotless) toilets at the back, a drinking water tap and (I hope you never need it) a defibrillator which a number of us have helped fund through the buying of raffle tickets on a previous trip! 

Our trip to Hill on Sunday 1 September was thoroughly enjoyable. Twelve of us set off from Maindy at 0900. Our route took us down the flats, through Newport and across the Gwent Levels. A quick stop at the Co-op in Magor it was then on to Chepstow via Portskewett which makes for a welcome variation on a ride to Chepstow but without denying anyone the joys the descent towards the garden centre.  

We took a right turn into Mathren and up the most challenging, but short, climb of the day. Past G’s wedding venue, St Tewdric’s House, it was then across the old Severn Bridge and into England. There’s a cycle path on both sides of the M48 bridge which makes for a fun ride and spectacular views of the Severn Estuary. Once in England, it’s less than 10 miles to Hill via some easy to navigate lanes.  We travelled just over 50 miles on the outward leg.

The Hill Cream Tea is is very well set up for large groups of cyclists: there’s plenty of bike parking and lots of seating in the field opposite, and, in case you need a bit of shelter, in the bus stop ! When we were there a large group from Newport Social Cycling was just leaving. We passed groups from Bristol and Swindon clubs too. (Not sure who the chap I saw sucking on a gel was riding with or whether that was before or after his entry into the hall…. ?!) 

After an enjoyable exchange of cake reviews sitting in the sun we head to Berkeley, around 5 miles away, before turning for home (and resisting the lure of seconds at the Village Hall !). 

A strong headwind meant for a tough crossing of the Severn Bridge on our return leg. But we were thankful it was in block form with no gusts or crosswinds which can make the Bridge quite frightening when you need to lean into the wind to stop your bike becoming a kite. Been there. Hated it ! 

Mathren. Five Lanes. Magor (and a final stop at the Co-op). Steelworks road and back to Cardiff by 1700 having clocked an average of almost 15mph, despite the wind. 

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A delicious day out with a sweet group! 

Marie-Antoinette would have approved our outing so we’re off again:  weather permitting, the next Ajax Cream Tea Pilgrimage will be on 6 October. Cakes cost £1 each. Please ensure you bring cash.  Further details about the ride to follow.  

You can find out more about Hill Village Hall by consulting their FB page. And if consuming more calories than you expend is your thing, look out for the  LVIS Audaxes for 2020. Entry usually opens on NYE for these popular routes which include a stop at Hill and several similar cake laden locations along the way !  

Let them eat cake, indeed.

All members, friends and family are welcome to join us for our annual summer barbecue. This will be held at the Butchers Arms, Rhiwbina on 31st August from 4PM.

Food is FREE thanks to the support of Rob Berry, club member and proprietor of R.J. Berry’s Quality Butchers.

We hope to see you there!