A second place in the Gravesend round of the SERRL league on 20th Sept gave James Browne the final points he needed to secure a coveted 2nd Cat racing licence. We all know how hard you have worked for this James… Well Done!

Sunday 16th September saw the first of Norfolk Cycling Academy’s coaching sessions at the Airport Park and Ride Circuit. Louise Marsden and Beth Coley tried the ladies only session and got the chance to practice their cornering technique under the guidance of local British Cycling coach, Russell Parkins. Both riders said they enjoyed the session and found the coaching really useful. Beth added, ‘today was very good for understanding the line to take through a corner and full of top tips about how to keep my speed up.’ The next Norfolk Cycling Academy session is on Sunday 30th September, details can be found here
In a few weeks Louise Marsden, Beth Coley and Erica Howe will be representing VCNorwich in their first women’s only, closed circuit race at Hillingdon. Good luck ladies!

Club members who have supported a VCN night at the Belgian Monk before will know how much fun they are, and it’s a fine chance to put down a layer of fat to keep us warm in the winter with plenty of beer and a main meal from the Dubbel Deal menu. The night is booked for Thursday 4th October for 6.30pm. The meal is £5.50 and we need to confirm numbers and orders before the 24th September. Check out the menu below and then if you have lost the email with all the details contact info@vcnorwich.co.uk to confirm your choice and payment details …. See you there…

1. Mature Cheddar and Red Onion Quiche and Fries(V)
2. Cheese Kroketten and Fries (V)
3. Mussels Mariniere and Fries
4. Wild Boar Sausages and Mash
5. Steak and Belgian Beer Pie, Fries and Peas
6. Gehaktstaaf and Fries
7. Scampi and Fries
8. King Prawn and Crayfish Salad
9. Vegetable Kroketten and Fries (V)
10. Belgian Meatballs and Fries

What could be better… after a summer of awful weather the day of the ToB sportive dawned fine, clear and still. Several groups of VCN riders were out, more than 40 in all with some taking the train to Ipswich to ride the 203km Pro Ride whilst the rest rode out from Norwich to the Great Yarmouth start and the 97km Challenge Ride. Almost everyone rode a sportive PB for their season in what turned out to be a perfect sunny day. The club spirit was inspiring and it was great to see so many VCN members setting an example in group riding. The Pro Ride fast group were even treated to a police rolling road block through Great Yarmouth as the boys in blue practised their technique for the Tour of Britain proper which started the next day!

There will be no official club ride this Sunday 9th September. But many VCN members will be meeting at the Showground on Sunday afternoon to cheer on the pros at the finish of the Tour of Britain stage 1 finish… as well as sample the entertainment on offer and enjoy the late summer sunshine. Come and join us there.

Saturday 8th September 2012

A VCN “fast” group is planning to leave the start at Christchurch Park, Ipswich for the 200 km Pro Ride by no later than 8.00 am.  This group is open to all VCN members.

Info from the Tour Ride organisers suggests we may have to register & collect transponders at the start, so please aim to get to the park at about 7.30 am so we can all get away by 8 am.

The larger the VCN peloton, the better the ride, as we are hoping to average 20 mph, similar to the Norwich 100.  Don’t forget club kit!

Any queries for the Ipswich departure group, email robstronge@vcnorwich.co.uk

We will also be running a club group on the “short” ride from Great Yarmouth. This one will leave Norwich from Heartsease roundabout at 8.00am prompt to ride to the GY start for 10.00am where we hope to meet other club members to ride at “middle group” pace (17-18mph). As above, lets see everyone in club kit.

Any queries for the Great Yarmouth group, email chairman@vcnorwich.co.uk

Ever wondered how you get to the Sunday cafe and back?  Wonder no more.  Thanks to sterling work by Owen Marsden and James Browne you can now view typical Sunday Club Ride routes on the VCN website.  You can also download the .gpx for use on mapping devices such as a Garmin.

Click HERE for the VCN routes web page.

The last VC Norwich Evening Ride will take place this Thursday 30th August 2012.

With the nights drawing in fast, next week there will be insufficient time to get everyone around and back into Norwich before dark, especially if someone has a puncture.

This of course does not prevent people from organising their own evening rides, but they will not be official VCN led rides.

Many thanks to everyone who has participated in the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday rides and made them so enjoyable.  They will start up again next April 2013.

Despite a busy schedule of Olympic preparation and competition, as well as
collecting an honorary degree form the UEA, Emma Pooley still managed to find
time to drop in unannounced and ride with VCN fast group on Saturday. It’s not
every day we get to ride with our favourite olympic medallist, world champion
and podium placed rider from the grand tours…It’s always a pleasure to see you
Emma and good luck with the rest of the season

We will shortly be putting in an order to Castelli for more stock of Club Clothing for 2012/13.  So you need to get your orders in now.  Click on the photos of kit below for more details.

In addition to adding to the stock of short sleeve jerseys and bib-shorts, we are taking orders for the Winter/Spring/Autumn items, such as the bib-tights, thermal long-sleeve jersey, gilet & winter jacket.   We DO NOT hold stock of these, and Castelli require us to order of at least 10 of each, so if you want them you must order now for this winter.  

Our sponsors Norfolk Motor Group (NMG) and Pedal Revolution have kindly agreed to continue their sponsorship of the club.  So the kit design will remain the same.

Order now by clicking here