PTW

Comments please ......

You go first!

???

Where to start ! not only are we lacking numbers on the racing scene (I for one am guilty), but we seem to be lacking in support in the marshaling and organising activities (not guilty).On that note ,I defy any one involved in the club to name more than 20 club members off the top of their heads, which equates to a 5th of the 2007 membership figures, this in mind, if only a 1/4 of these race then you're looking at 5 people representing the club, that sounds about right.

ophelia noccas.

Agreed Isaac, you have highlighted the problem, but we need to talk solutions! Myslef and Martin E have been given the task of encouraging people to race, and it was discussed at the AGM 2 years ago that members should be encouraged to race or represent their club at least three times a year. I am pleased to see that the younger element in the club, James Lewis & Jon H have been doing more than their fair share, and both of them have been getting glory for the PTWCC. I myself have tried to race when I can, (although I could try alot harder I admit!). Perhaps we need to push it a bit more on this website, publicise up coming races a bit more, write up reports, take pictures and glorify those who do go out of their way to race a bit more. I would say that this is where our publicity officer comes in, but contributions are welcome from all club members. It is also a good idea to form a 'posse' to travel to races, as there is nothing worse than driving 50miles to a race on your own, racing, not talking to anyone and coming home and wth no recognition of your efforts. Take it from someone who knows! On the other hand, with a group of you having a laugh, race days can be great fun.
Just some thougths, further suggestions welcome!

Well, as a newcomer to the club, and to competitive cycling in general, I'd have to say that road racing has without doubt the highest barrier to entry of all the disciplines. In Cycling Plus the actual sprinting part at the end of the race is described as a 'specialist skill' and not for the faint-hearted, the implication being that unless you know what you're doing, don't even try. In all likelihood you'll spend your first few races blown off the back, and then there's the logistical effort of getting there and back which, for someone who rarely has the use of a car, aren't trivial. And that's not to mention having to pay Danegeld to British Cycling.

I also do a fair amount of rowing, and there are some comparisons to be made. Dismantling and towing 50 foot long pieces of fibreglass across the country, before reassembling them and getting crapped on in the first round by some spotty teenagers who just happen to go to a good school is totally dispiriting. Which is why so many rowers go to such great lengths to avoid the white heat of senior competition. They've now invented Junior, Junior Novice, Veteran and Veteran Novice categories in addition to the standard Novice and 5 Senior categories just to try and reduce the sport's barriers to entry.

In comparison, time-trialling is an easy, safe and straightforward sport, and very motivating as you gradually see your times come down. You can easily get carried away and actually start to do some training. Well once in a while. Track cycling is just a pure thrill, but it's about as practical as speed skating. Which leaves sportives/audax/touring. I think it's no surprise that sportives are so popular these days. They generate that special feeling of being an 'event', and you can take it as seriously as you want to. No wonder that it's sportives that are managing to motivate the greater chunk of middle Britain off its back-sides.

That said, I'll definitely try to do a road race next year, God knows why I will, but I guess I need to know how they work.

To be honest I think its pretty pathetic that only 5 people did road races last year (me, James, Davey C and Andrew Ev and dai abbott). Considering all the people who come out on a Saturday ride - quite a few of which are pretty good cyclists but won't racce cos they don't want to look like losers if tehy don't win I for one find this annoying especially when I'm racing as the sole member of the club against a load of people in teams (same club) and due to their team tactics, win.
It makes me lose motivation totally - oh yeh people have also said to me -mentionoing no names - that if you race this club is a joke and you'de be better to go anywhere else.
Jon

I'd like to address the two posts above:

1. Bill - agree completely, RRing is one of the most difficult sports to break into. You either have it or you don't in a race, if you lose a wheel you are out the back within the first mile. However, having said that there are plenty of RRs that allow the novice plenty of time to adjust. See the Aber H'caps for example. You get to race with people your own level, and anyone with a modicum of fitness can hang in. These are a great way of easing into racing. Really there is no excuse not to try these out. When I see how many of us get round the Presidents I cannot see why they can't get round a similar course a few miles further out.
THis can be built upon to try more challenging races, or you can stick to these types of events, it is up to you. Either way it is getting PTWCC jerseys in the field.
I do agree with your point about sportives. Similar to running which is popular becuase you can have a 'race within a race' or a race against yourself, these allow novices to experience the thrills of a RR and not have to worry if they are droppped. I do see these as the future of getting people involved in cycling in the UK.
There are no excuses however not to take part in TTs, the only person your really race is yourself! As Bill says it is highly motivational, and non pressure.
Taking the above in then there are plenty of opportunotys for PTW members to air their jerseys. I have seen how fit some of our members are and all we ask is that you 'take one for the team' every now and again. Christ knows I got my share of kickings in RRing this year!
2. Jon H - completely understand your frustrations, unfortunatley our demographic is quite different from the clubs who may criticise us, and therefore I don't think we can quite compare the two. However, as sen above I don;t think there is any reason why people can't enter at least three events of varying discpline throughout the year. If you can think of any further ways we can encourage members other than the ways I have set out - please do!

Jon Harris wrote

To be honest I think its pretty pathetic that only 4 people did road races last year (me, James, Davey C and Andrew Ev)...

I for one find this annoying especially when I'm racing as the sole member of the club

Perhaps the four of you could ride in the same race and then you wouldn't be on your own.

Some good comments there guys and how nice to move away from this nonsense about the Magic Dragon team (mass participation) award. When we wanted to win it we did, and it was so very easy wasn't it? But the appetite is not there now and quite a few people in the club are very much dead against it so why force the issue?

Davey is right. We've got youngsters to be proud of and some just a little bit older(!) that we can be equally as proud of. So why worry?

I think Isaac Kite, in an earlier thread, reminded us all about club rule number one. "To promote the sport and pastime of cycling." I take that to mean that we have licence to race when we want to and/or to enjoy a bash to the cafe when we want to. Vive la difference!

1. track cycling is purely for the thrill??--- naht . track racing is one of the hardest as you could be one of the fittest there but if you dont use your head basically your not going to win. and if you come to the club track session then you will see what i mean
2. road racing side i admit it is poor but i know that s half of you can road race because when the presidents road race is on about 25 members or so entered it and as long as you can ride on a wheel and are fairly fit then you will be in there until the end when they start sprinting then you need to use your head.
if you want to get into it just ride a few crits to start off as if you do go out the back then you know you will be on your own not for long
3. time trialing i think is fairly strong in the club

I think there,s a few points that a few of our members are missing. The lack of numbers racing is due to other distractions i.e, work, family commitments,weather etc. Now the average age of the 20 or so members I can name is roughly 40, most of these people raced and competed in other sports at a very high level when they were footloose and fancy free,THEN, other commitments are accrued,work, family, bills,etc, so in my view these people have no reason to justify themselves and feel pressured to race AND for those people who say the club is no good for racers, should come out on a saturday ride, take a look around them and maybe find a little bit out about the company they're riding in,ie,Commonwealth riders,ToB riders,Ras stage winners,Welsh tt champions,Welsh track champions,National swimmers,District runners,District rugby and soccer players,Welsh league soccer players, the list goes on and if you need an answer for those few who knock P.T.W.C.C. Jon, the only words you need are "they've been good to me". That said, it all seems to go 'round in circles, take Mr Stroud for e.g done all the work, family,bills nonsense,starts getting under Mrs strouds feet and thinks, I know I,ll get back into cycling. So when all these forty somethings get to that stage all you teeny twenty somethings will be doing the forty something bit !


Norma Stitz ( just for you Will)

Isaac - agreed. It's apoint I've made earlier, those clubs racing, I'm think ing those in the Cardiff area, and will have a higher proportion of 'footloose and fancy free' young racers. I don't think we can compare ourselves to such clubs. We are trying to encourage those who race, especially the younger crowd the best we are able.
Issac has a point regarding people's other commitments - as I start to move into the part of my life where the effects of stressful job, social/family commitments/career etc start to take over I am finding it hard enough to get out on the bike never mind race. But, and it's a big but, I'm sure all of us can fulfill the Martin's suggested criteria of 3 races/events per year. Kev - you (to the best of my knowledge) have done at least one (the Dragon) and possibliy the PResidents. Also pretty sure you did Alf's 10? And you have more excuses than most (youung family, physically demanding job etc) so if you can manage it why can't others? (myself included!) I only just scraped into the 3 events per year!
THese events do serve as a 'shop window' for the club, and is our chance to generate a bit of publicity for the club. Surely that falls within the ambit of RUle 1 - promoting cycling etc?

I would like to point out that I managed to get on the
2007 BBAR Mens 2 Distance table., along with a few other PTW members.
This is my first year of open TT races and feel quite chuffed with what I managed to achieve. I feel I have flown the flag for PTW this year, and am raring to go for 2008.

Check out the link for further details.

http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/bbar_tables.asp?EventID=50&Yr=2007#50

Hi everyone.

I try to keep up to date with events at the wheelers since I left Port talbot a few years ago and it is dissapointing to see no PTWCC riders on the results let alone on the start sheets. When I was racing I had such a good time, meeting people from other clubs, personal rivals, PBing etc, the one thing I miss about cycling is going racing, getting together with other club members, young or old, we would race all over Wales and sometimes around Britton and the stories and experiences will last for ever.

Maybe the club is going in the other direction thesedays and members have a hard time fitting in cycling around their lives but I would encourage everyone to get involved in racing at some level. When I started it was about getting around the course then it moved on to times then beating rivals and it grows as far as you want it to go depending on your ambition, there was never any presure from anyone in cycling about winning and loosing everyone encouraged and congradulated eachother and had a good time.

When I moved on to road racing I never finished a RR in my first season doing it as I got dropped with in the first few miles of the race, but through racing handicaps and crits I learned to be able to sit in a bunch and ride through to the end (most of the time I would attack and blow big time but thats another story). As it was mentioned earlier in the thread the aim of the club is to promote cycling and encourage others to try, Its difficult to do this when the good people around the country give up their spair time to organise and marshal in a race and they get so little riders responding, when I was racing it was difficult to get marshals as everyone wanted to race.

To the young guys in the club, dont get dissheartened by these teams in the RR's you will become better riders by learning to ride on your own and knowing who's wheel to follow. Build relationships with other riders who are lone riders, do this and you get riders more willing to work if one of these "teams" get a rider up the road.

Finally, and because Im making myself feel old, Port Talbot wheelers is a fantastic club and one I was lucky enough to be involved with, evryone helped eachother and the support I got was fantastic, I hope to see the Wheelers back up there with the rest of the country competing and maybe getting some champions in the process.

Nice posting Jonners and never forget you'll always be a 'fat jockey'.

maybe we should call the club the retired cyclists club

Jon Harris wrote

maybe we should call the club the retired cyclists club

Do you mean people like John Willy and the OP who have retired and should be leading the way with riding, racing and organising or people like myself who are keen cyclists but appear to be 'retired cyclists' simply because they just can't get out at the moment due to the stuff that Isaac mentions.

There's a line in ET where Elliott says to one of his friends, "This is reality Gregg".

Since doing the hugely enjoyable Tenby weekend I've done about 12 miles on my bike. What's got in the way? Work, rain, work, family, rain, work and now this weekend (when the forecast looks really good) I urgently need to apply silicone to the back of the house because we've got damp coming through to the kitchen and back bedroom. I've done my thing for this year and next year house and home come first!

"
Do you mean people like John Willy and the OP who have retired and should be leading the way with riding, racing and organising or people like myself who are keen cyclists but appear to be 'retired cyclists' simply because they just can't get out at the moment due to the stuff that Isaac mentions."

The second bit. But it was a bit tongue in cheek

What letter?

Click on the "News" box on the clubs homepage for John Willys letter.

What a load of c**p there are a load of reasons that members of PTW don't race basically the age of the club has moved on where members for whatever reason have no longer got the interest in racing generally even pros' retire and the club needs to attract far more younger riders to continue the racing scene within the club and not expect people that are in their 40's, 50's and even older to still have the same commitment as they did when they were in their prime. As for myself i raced for well over 10 years time trials and road races and i enjoyed all that i did but times change and responsibilites with it and as for Johnny's comment about being on a start line on his own how familiar that sounds to me because many a time i entered races where there were going to be quite a few team mates with me only to find that i was the only PTW there on the day. Another reason for not racing in our club is people are always looking to give you a kicking if you fail or don't do a good ride but they are not so quick to give you any praise if you do a good one.

The provisional racing calender is up on the WCU website: www.welshcyclingunion.com

It also includes the MTB, Sportif and others, so see if you can pick 3 events out of that lot!

Does John race then? I know he doesn't do club rides for fear of getting a kicking