A familiar figure in Eastern tricycling events for more years than most people can remember Albert Saunders, founder member of Cycling Club Breckland, died on Monday 28th April after a long illness aged 87.
Albert enjoyed riding his tricycle and regularly attended the Eastern AGM and luncheon,as well as timing Eastern events, until a few years ago. He presided over a cycling dynasty which continues to the fourth generation.
Albert's funeral is at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday 14th May 2008, at Earlham Crematorium in Norwich. Family flowers only, but donations if desired to East Anglia's Childrens' Hospices or Shipdham Surgery please, c/o Co-operative Funeral Services, Watton Thetford, IP25 6AH.

Our sympathies to Margaret and all the family.

Have you seen the successes achieved by our world paralympic champion David Stone in the recent Tour in Spain? There is an excellent report on the British Cycling website, under Disability News (which can be found in the list on the left-hand side of the home page.) The report is the second item of Disability News, on the Tour of Bizkaia.
www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/EventReports2008/20080504_tour_of_bizkaia.asp

This is a reminder that entries for the World Tricycle Championships on 15th June 2009.
Entries close on 12th May 2008, this Monday coming.

We have received a good number of entries, including some new paralympic riders from France, Belgium and Holland; however, we are hoping for a record field and look forward to receiving more entries by the deadline of May 13th. Entry forms and information are attached to this notice, and Andre's website www.3wielweb.be also has a good deal of interesting information.

All competitors will receive a free colour booklet setting out the history of the World Tricycle Championships!
Contact Rogeralma21@aol.com for further information.
Entries to
Roger Alma, 28 Lansdowne Gardens, Llantarnam, Cwmbran, NP44 3GB.

Telephone: 01633 861266

Entry Forms for downloading:
Microsoft Word : World Tricycle Championships Entry Form 2008.doc
Adobe PDF : World Tricycle Championships 2008.pdf

Geoff Booker continued to show the rest of the field a receding view of his broad gauge machine as he whipped it around the streets of Ixworth on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. The chasing trio, Jeff Jones, Roger Akers and Mick Madgett finished in that order after a fine piece of working together. Ian Mackenzie managed to keep in front of Ferg Muir and Ian Matthews swept up the finishing straight with Martin Badham clutching at his coat-tails. Gawain Akers and Greta Spiers completed the field on a warm day. Then it was back to the HQ for tea and cakes. Results 2008 Results and Criterium League positions have been updated. Photos of this event are on http://www.mphotography.co.uk/ and in our own Criterium 2008 Gallery courtesy of Emma Kirby.

Carl Saint continued his high speed introduction to tricycling with a clear win in the Mike Dixie Memorial '10' with 21:28, the third fastest ride ever (behind Glen Longland 21:05 and Steve Brown 21:14). On a near perfect morning on the fast V718 Course on the A63 near Hull there were records and personal bests galore. Carl's ride was an event record and Les Dawson also set a Vet's age record with a remarkable 26:55 at the age of 81! Dave Keene was runner up in 21:53 and Jenny Noad winner Nick Wood was third in 23:05. The tandem event was won by Charles McCulloch and Richard Bailey of Shorter Rochford RT in an Event and Course Record of 17:45, the Mixed Tandem event was won by Mark & Liz Johnson, also in an Event and Course Record of 19:57 and the Tandem Tricycle event was won by Jim Hopper and Andy Eagers in 21:39.

The Mike Dixie Handicap Trophy went to Andy Such of Scunthorpe RC with a net 17:28.

Andrew Nye took fourth place and increased his lead in the Tricycle League, for which this was the 6th counting event, followed by Adrian Hills and a fast closing Jim Pitt.

Thanks to Event Secretary, Martin Purser for his fine set of photos from the event.

Dave Keene was again in a class of his own when he won the Eastern Region '25' near Sleaford on Saturday in breezy conditions on a challenging course in 1:01:52. The ride was also good enough to take second handicap. Andrew Nye was another of the travelers making a long weekend of it at Peter and Gwyneth's May Day Weekend in Lincolnshire and took second place, narrowly failing to beat 'evens" in 1:15:08 and took third on handicap. Completing the top three was Jim Pitt whose 1:16:08 netted to 1:01:08 to win the handicap prize. Photos from the event can be found on Steve Foreman's www.lincsracephotos.co.uk website. The weekend continued on Sunday with an enjoyable saunter around the Lincolnshire lanes for a Pace Judging Competition, where Ferg Muir achieved the remarkable feat of riding three trikes in seventeen miles to within 3 minutes of his target time! The webmaster's family came an honourable second. On Monday four left for the North and the Mike Dixie 10's and another four went south to Ixworth for the Criterium Championship.

The sun is shining, it's a Bank Holiday and it looks like a great weekend in prospect for TA members. It all starts on Friday when people start to gather at Peter & Gwyneth's for their Mayday Camping Weekend. On Saturday Dave Keene makes the long trip from the West Country for the '25' on a sporting course near Sleaford, but no likelihood of records, so he can warm down with Sunday's Pace Judging Competition and a pub lunch.

Dave then moves North for the 22nd Mike Dixie '10' where he is again off scratch in the solo event. He faces stiff competition from new tricyclist Carl Saint, provided he successfully negotiates the two turn roundabouts! Carl's first two 10's were 23:18 and 24:01. Also riding is last year's Jenny Noad winner, Nick Wood. They are joined by thirteen other trikes, two tandem trikes and 14 tandems, so motorists on the A63 are due for a rare sight. Could Glen Longland's long standing Competition Record of 21:05 be under threat. The event starts at 10.01 am. Watch this space!

For those who prefer tight turns and short sharp climbs every mile, then the National Criterium Championship is being run, also on Bank Holiday Monday, at Ixworth. There is racing all afternoon, with trikes scheduled for 1.55pm. A great days spectator sport, or if you get carried away then entries are being accepted on the line.

A brisk south westerly breeze failed to slow Geoff Booker as he returned to riding in straight lines to win the Thames Valley '25' on Saturday 26th April. His 1.7.08 was enough to take first on actual and handicap and move him up to third spot in the Time Trial League. Andrew Nye improved by almost 7 minutes from the South Western '25' two weeks ago to take second on actual and handicap (1.7.47). Clifford Tremaine was third with 1.13.55 and Jim Pitt 4th with 1.15.02, but his handicap time of 1.9.35 was good enough for third on handicap. The full result is on the 2008 Results page. The Time Trial League Tables have also been updated, with Andrew Nye remaining in the lead 13 points ahead of last years winner, Adrian Hills. It looks as if this will be more keenly fought for under the new rules with all todays five riders in contention.

Another foul day for time trialling saw Dave Keene win the South Western Region '25' on April 12th by almost quarter of an hour in 1.3.41. Andrew Nye continued his tour of the regions for second place in 1.18.25 and Jim Pitt third in 1.20.08. Not surprisingly, Dave also took the handicap award but with Jim Pitt second with a net of 1.7.08 beating Andrew Nye into third in 1.7.25. The full rsults are on the 2008 Results page. This was the fourth event in the Time Trial League and confirmed Andrew's position at the top of both the Actual and Handicap tables.

Details have been added to the Activity entry for the Tor Team 2000 Tricycle criterium on 7th June. A good warm-up before heading for Belgium. Ian tells us that they need a minimum of 8 riders to make a race, so sharpen up your hub nuts and get entering. Directions, including a map are available here:DirectionstoMerryfieldAirfield.doc.

Although some means of dismounting are less graceful than others.
There were two such instances recently in the East:
Arriving at the start of the Stowmarket & District CC Hilly 20, East Captain, Ferg Muir intended to dismount opposite the timekeeper, put his foot down and rolled into a ditch.
He claims a culvert was camouflaged by long grass.

More details of the event itself on the East Region pages:

At the CC Breckland club 10 the other day, Martin Badham arrived after a hectic 20 mile thrash after work and in dismounting managed to tip the barrow over and knot his calf with cramp. I am still trying to work out which came first.

The main requirement of these less than dignified dismounts is that they should be performed before the largest possible audience!

In both cases there is no photgraphic evidence. (Shame!)

The first event in the Tricycle Criterium League was held in Victoria Park, Leamington Spa on 12th April. With some barrowboys supporting the Tricycle League in Somerset the entry was down to thirteen with ten lining up on a brisk bright morning. After watching Jeff Jones warm up in a bike race we inspected the chicanes added too spice up the course and followed Captain Greta to the first bend, then the dogs were let loose. A group of five kept together for the first lap or so before Geoff Booker launched a sprint that left everyone but Jeff Jones trailing in his wake. Martin and Peter worked together until Roger joined us with Ian and Ferg behind, and then Gawain, Greta and Emma. Emma is a new member who has been attending these events as a spectator during 2007. Unfortunately she had a couple of little spills as she rode around and can claim to be a proper trikie with a graze on her elbow as a result.
The order of the event stayed much the same with the three groups working away and the others riding to finish.
Geoff finally launched another sprint that gained him top points in the competition with Jeff Jones second. The next group crossed the line Roger, Peter then Martin and finally Ian, Ferg, Gawain, Greta and Emma.
After the event a club-run rode to Radford Semele to meet car assisted members for lunch at the White Lion. Results 2008 Results and league positions have been updated. Pictures taken by the apres-criterium runs leader Steve Walker at Criterium 2008, and a few on the www.britishcycling.org.uk website. If anyone has others please send to Martin Badham.

The Nelson Wheelers CC 'Circuit of the Dales' 50 was held in near freezing conditions on Sunday, but at least the snow held off until the riders had finished. Fastest trike was Geoff Booker in 3:05:22, meaning that Geoff took over the lead in the 2008 Tricyclists Time Trial League by 1 point from Andrew Nye. Second fastest in 3:20:35, winner of the Ed Green Memorial Trophy for the fastest trike on handicap with a net of 2:10:35 and also the new leader in the 2008 Tricyclists Time Trial League Handicap competition was Malcolm Walters. Roger Alma, Peter Holland, Martin Badham and Adrian Hills also braved the elements, although Adrian failed to finish. The full result is on the 2008 Results page. There is a fine set of photos of all the riders including Malcolm (left) to see and buy at Martin Henson's www.cyclingimages.co.uk website.

The weather provided real hardriders conditions as it was very cold, very windy and rather damp for the Thames Valley Hilly '30', despite being held almost a month later than last year. Ralph Dadswell's winning 1:36:11 was 8 minutes slower than last year but still 25 minutes too fast for runner up, Geoff Booker. Andrew Nye was third and the only other rider inside 2 hours. Jim Pitt was the clear winner of the handicap with a net of 1:17:45, followed by Malcolm Waters and Andrew Nye. See our 2008 Results page for the full result. Andrew Nye took the lead in the 2008 Time Trial League on both actual and handicap.

T. A. cycle clothing was discussed at the NEC and Jim Hopper and I were given the task of approaching manufacturers for quotations and arranging the procurement. We are currently in the process of doing this. We will only be ordering cycle tops to keep things simple. The design agreed was for crimson and gold tops featuring the TA logo and plain black shorts. A sample is shown on the left. The size of the logos is fixed and it will therefore occupy less of the jersey on larger sizes. It would be really helpful if members wishing to order any would contact me just to express an interest at present. Once we have agreed a supplier I would then contact those interested to place orders. E-mail me at trikingpursers@btinternet.com
Alison Purser

The East Region 25 was held on March 23rd 2008 on the Bressingham - Thetford road in Norfolk. There were ten entrants. Peter Holland had the advantage of knowing what was on the way e-mailing his apology for not starting from underneath 2 inches of snow, and it's still pouring. Despite the misgivings of some present the event started in the snow and eight hardy (mad) souls lined up for the timekeeper with two deciding part-way round that enough was enough. Ian Mackenzie storming round to win in 1:27:57 and take 1st handicap. Photos.
In the supporting events (medium gear and Pre1980 spec 25). the starters were a far lower percentage but John Malseed teetered around the course on his Ordinary in two and a quarter hours. Full results in the 2008 Results.

Ian Finch was the fitting winner of the first event of the season. The number two start position was dedicated to his father and our President, Bill who passed away on 10th January. Ian overcame a strong wind, rain and even more impressively the event organiser and scratch rider, Marl Vowells to win by over three minutes in 1:9:17. Mark was second with 1:12:20 and Roy Canning took third with 1:17:36. John Hastings took the Handicap award with 1:3:43. Full details are on our 2008 Results page.

In the Winter 2008 edition of the Gazette we plan to publish a “Tricycling Through the Year” centre section of photographs.  (A similar feature was published in the Winter 2006 Gazette.)  For this year’s edition we invite members to submit photographs for inclusion.  We need photographs for all the months of the year, covering as wide range of tricycling activities as possible, from racing, though touring to carrying out repairs.  There will be a prize for what we consider to be the best contribution.  You can send in your entries at any time, the deadline being the deadline for the Winter Gazette.  We will need pictures from 2007 for November/December.  For the rest of the months the photographs should be taken in 2008.  Please indicate the month in which the photographs you send in were taken and suggest a caption for each.  We can copy prints and return the originals.
 
Roger and Myra Alma

David Heighway does not wish to act as event secretary for the 2009 World Tricycle Championship in St Marsault. There is an excellent team of organisers in place in the French village where the Tricycle Association has enjoyed hospitality since 1998; however, at the February meeting of the National Executive Committee no one could be identified to take David’s place and it was decided that, out of fairness to the French organisers, if no one came forward to take David’s place by the time of the May NEC meeting this year (2008), the race would have to be cancelled. This would be a great disappointment to the people of St Marsault and great loss to the Tricycle Association. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Honorary Secretary, Norman Fenn, as soon as possible.

Entries are beginning to come in for the World Tricycle Championships this year, including new competitors from France and Belgium. Details of the races planned and the social activities of the weekend can be found elsewhere on the TA website, on Andre Van Bosbeke’s Belgian website www.3wielweb.be and in the TA Gazette. Entries must be in by May 12, but early notification of your intention to ride or support would be very welcome, to help our Belgian friends organise camping and other accommodation.
Contact Rogeralma21@aol.com for further information.

The 2008 National Criterium League starts on 12th April with the Victoria Park Criteriums. Full details and the organiser's address are given on the British Cycling website Victoria Park Criteriums. Allow plenty of time for signing on due to the large fields for all events. Geoff Booker faces stiff competition this year as Jeff Jones has just joined the Association so is obviously aiming for a first year win. Greta is again offering accommodation over the weekend from Friday evening and a club run on Sunday but we must have 12 entries for the event to go ahead and these must be in advance as entries are not allowed on the line. See the Winter Gazette for full details.

On the Mayday Bank holiday on 5th May we have the National Criterium Championship.

On Sunday 22nd June at 4:20pm we have the Horwich Carnival Criterium near Bolton. These is a fantastic day out with events for all ages, running, bicycling, tricycling and even ordinaries racing over a tight triangular closed circuit with a significant hill each lap.

To whet your appetite we have created a Criterium Archive with reports from all last year's races.

All the events are listed at the bottom of this page.

Tricycle Association President Bill Finch passed away on 10th January 2008 after losing his year long battle with cancer.

His funeral was held on 24th January and was attended by his family and many friends from the South Eastern cycling community including our Chairman, Brenda Jackson and many of Bill's TA friends.

He will be missed by us all.

Please note that the South Eastern Region '25' and AGM shown in the Gazette and CTT Handbook as 14th September 2008 has been moved to 21st September to avoid a clash with the Jenny Noad / Stan Spelling Weekend.

The menu for the North Eastern Regional Lunch at Easingwold has been released. Whet you appetite here.

With these words ringing in my ears I left my mother's house in Sudbury to meet up with the Eastern Ford Storming detachment. This was to be a shallower version of February's tour of the fords around the Box valley in South-West Suffolk.

First I met Dave Huffey at Lavenham church and we descended to "Sweetmeats" where the proprietor was greasing his trumpet slide. We climbed the stairs to the cafe and the sax-man, son of the trumpet player and brother of the guitar player. This morning he was more involved with preparing the tea-cakes and coffee. Ferg arrived soon after us, and we were just reaching the bottom of the cafeteaire when Adrian Hills rolled up for the latest part of a hectic weekend taking in the Glendene Cycle Jumble and the Thames Valley hostel weekend at Milton Keynes before a few hours sleep and then driving over to join us.

Refreshed we rode out of Lavenham to Frogs Hall Road, when we arrived at the ford the frogs were hibernating, but a gentleman was washing his car in the stream. After several passes and Fergus B DeMuir getting upset with us for not riding through in a pack we headed, initially back to Lavenham but then off to Preston St Mary and Monks Eleigh. Just off the lane was the second ford on the entrance to a farm. This time we satisfied the director with a formation ride in both directions. The forecasted rain began as we set off for lunch at the Wheelhouse in Naughton. I stopped to put on my cape, thinking that I would soon catch the others up but the next hill descended into Monks Eleigh, coming from such a direction that I couldn't recognise where I was and started bashing on the way to Hadleigh. I soon realised that I was wrong and returned, recognised the junction and made for Chelsworth and Bildeston, getting to the pub where Paul Willsher, Alan Nye and Roy Proctor were sampling the brews. John Purser arrived and still my erstwhile companions had not got there. They arrived shortly having taken a different route from Chelsworth, soon followed by Jill Cole and Tandy, and then Geoff Morse. Soup and Huffers (Baps) were dispatched and we headed for home about three.

The forecast had been decidedly wet, so we were lucky to get away with a fairly dry day. Most of the rain fell while we were in the pub.