The past month has had lots of news, mostly small items, and nonetheless important ones, whilst we’re all waiting for spring to arrive and all doing what we can to keep active this is what’s going on.

We’re pleased to say that the MOD and BMCC have approved and signed an agreement license for 2005 use of the RAF Weston on the Green perimeter track. Times are between 19:00 and 21:00 hours on each occasion, on Tuesday evenings from 5th April to 13th September (both dates inclusive) and on Thursday evenings from 12th May to 18th August (both dates inclusive). Come wind, rain or shine, try to make this date, as it’s a great opportunity not to be missed as we all suffer the elements, good or bad, together on this superb local track.

A full programme of events (time trials and if someone will take on the organisation possibly some road races) is being arranged. Full details of the events, and the rules/guest fee arrangements for the Time Trial Series, will be included in the April Newsletter and posted on the Club’s website.

We’re delighted to say that Ian Franklin, on behalf of, Speechmark Publishing Ltd., has again sponsored BMCC to the tune of £250. Thank you Ian, for your continued support.

Eight BMCC members went down to Newport indoor cycle track for a three hour coached session on the boards. It was a brilliant time and we all came back exhausted and smiling. Thanks to Simon Hudd for his faultless organization. If you haven’t tried track cycling before – you should. Just ask Ian Owen, Gary McCready or Ian Avery This was there first track session and all came away very impressed with the day. Ian Owen excelled by winning the final session against 24 riders taking part in ‘Devil takes the hindmost’. There might be another venture, to Newport, in about April/May if time/logistics permit.

The club has agreed with Junior co-ordinator, Bob Gill, about a series of events at RAF Weston on the Green, on 10 of the 15 Thursday evenings starting in May, promoting junior time trialing and cycle coaching. We’re on the look out for various BMCC members to spend 10-15 minutes, on these nights, to talk to the juniors about different areas of the sport. Other BMCC members still have use of the track during the junior sessions. More details to be in the April newsletter.

Eight BMCC members are off training in Majorca, on the 12^th of March, along with twenty seven other like minded souls form nearby Milton Keynes/Hemel and North Bucks Road Club. We should all be fit (to drop) on our return as previous visitors tell us.

Some of the more recent rides have been a little ‘mixed’ shall we say. Some good some……….not so good. Yet given that we’re using new routes, that take time to learn, and ‘trying’ to implement a structure for all………….please be patient through the transitional stages. A little time is all it needs.

Please consider your personal situation for insurance cover whilst cycling. In this almost blameless society, that we live in, you’re more likely to have someone claim against you than the probability of you making a claim on average. Some of us are covered, through having personal membership of BCF (British Cycling Federation). There is RTTC (Road Time Trialing Council) coverage of BMCC members (over 12 years of age) whilst competing at RAF Weston on the Green. We highly recommend you look into this as you never know what’s round the corner……………………

We had an interesting evening, in the hands of our resident timekeeper John Taylor, on the 22^nd of Feb. With a hands on approach John had us timing ‘imaginary riders’ so we could grasp the notion of working a complex stop watch, then most importantly of all, work out the correct split and lap times for the ghost riders. Thanks for your patience John!

Tony Pearce brought some samples from a ‘new’ club kit supplier, based in Portugal. He’s in negotiation with a view to seeing what they can do to what cost and time scale.

*The next Club social meeting is March 29^th, 7.30 for 8pm at Wendlebury Village Hall.

If you haven't yet renewed - and many of you haven't - please do so without further delay.

Don't forget - membership includes access to ALL Tuesday night club events

at Weston airfield ABSOLUTELY FREE, for the WHOLE SEASON. What a bargain!

I look forward to a deluge of envelopes next week!! Andy Murray

The Club Forum continues to see a lot of traffic from members and it’s an excellent place to post your news/views etc. Not only is it fun to read various comments why not try to amuse others and post your observations.

Ask any co-ordinator for advice or to offer help and don’t hold back as we really need your involvement and commitment.

Wendlebury Village Hall, 7.30 for 8pm Tuesday March 29^th

The BMCC Chairmans Lunch

So far only about 20 members and partners have booked - we ought to be able to get the numbers up a bit even at this late hour.

Even though it’s only March there’s plenty of open events becoming available to enter. If you’re interested just ask around the membership, look in Cycling Weekly, or better still contact:

The well-kept secret of BMCC is how well Jen Tebbutt is doing in her Road Racing. She managed to amass enough points, last season, for the elite road/track female category. She’s currently 14^th in this ranking, racing with Team Luciano-Look and also with a Dutch women’s racing team. Jen has just begun racing at 2005 events, in the UK, before she embarks abroad to race in Holland. Jen and her partner Stuart organised the superb BMCC road race for 3/4/J and also including a women’s race last June on the nearby Quainton circuit. Plans are afoot to hold a similar event in July of this year. We wish Jen the best of luck in the 2005 season.

Question:  I'll have a great week with solid rides and even new personal bests, but the next week, due to weather, family, work or lack of motivation, I just go through the motions. What's the key to training more consistently?

Answer: The recreational roadie who juggles career, family, and other responsibilities

with "serious" cycling has a higher HQ (hero quotient) than pros who do almost nothing but ride and recover.

It's a real challenge to fit the bike into our busy lives, especially when we can't justify cycling the way we justify duties for job and family.

We can't say we ride to make money or to achieve fame. We ride because it feels good, it makes us healthier and it satisfies a deep need for challenge and competition, if only with ourselves.

So you have to accept that some weeks are going to be better than others.

During the fortunate weeks, it's easier to get on the bike and easier to go fast. Then the weather turns bad, the boss tosses three more projects on your desk, the washing machine breaks, and it's your turn to drive the kids to their own events.

Pros schedule "down" weeks into their training. Typically they increase their training load for three consecutive weeks and then back off mileage and intensity by about 30% during the fourth week.

But most of us can't predict when we'll be off the bike due to life's many responsibilities. It probably won't be the ideal fourth week of a carefully planned monthly buildup.

So simply write off the loss of cycling time and believe that it's actually an advantage to miss some rides. You'll be fired up and eager to make the most of it when you do have time to ride again. And your body will be more recovered, too.

"Never be afraid to join in, ask questions, provide answers, create events and most of all enjoy yourself with BMCC."