Friday Night Wattbike League is back!

Filed under: General — Tags: , , , , , — Steve Marshall @ 5:25 pm

Friday Night Wattbike League

Race start for Lichfield

Friday 5th January saw the return of the Friday night Wattbike league at Friary Grange Leisure Centre. The Wattbike league is based on the type of racing commonly seen at indoor velodromes and provides 5 different events for each competitor to participate in. Riders are split into 3 groups of 10 riders.

The first race of the evening was the 500m time trial, Chris Stilgoe blasted to the fore with a 33.25 second ride ahead of Beth Clayton’s time of 34.39; David Beattie made his first appearance at a wattbike event and came third with a 34.85 ride.

In group 2 Neil McDonald’s time of 30.83 ensured him of the win ahead of Steve Clarke in 31.02. Tony Wrighton’s 31.32 earned him third place. With both groups having such close finishing times between the top 3 riders all eyes turned to Group 3 to provide similar racing. Clearly, Ian Beard had not read the script so far and powered away to win in 26.31 seconds. David Hirons 27.63 gained second place but was still 2 seconds clear of Steve Clayton who finished third in 29.95.

Race organisers in a cruel streak according to the riders then imposed the distance races as the next event. Normally left to the end of the evening, this promised to turn proceedings upside down. The sprinters could find themselves too fatigued to gain valuable league points, although the riders who preferred the longer distances could suffer even more in the later sprint based events.

Group 1 also had to contend with an extra kilometre, being made to ride 3 instead of the normal 2. Beth Clayton showed her form by winning in 4.20.62 with Chris Stilgoe second and Alison Holmes coming through to third. In group 2 meanwhile Rob Cox continued his good form in the distance races to secure first place in 4.08.86, Tim Challinor was second and chris parlour took third.

Group 3 race over the 4000m distance, Matt Gee’s ride of 4.56.86 secured him first place and a new event distance record. Steve Clayton finished in 5.06.17 with Graham Birch taking third.

A short respite in the evening’s races allowed riders time to recuperate whilst the teams were decided for the next event: The Team Sprint. Each rider completes in turn 250m their cumulative time deciding the placings. Organisers try to team riders together with the aim of creating an evenly matched race. Debbie Capewell and David Beattie took the honours in Group 1, giving Debbie her second team Sprint win in 2 weeks. In Group 2 Tony Wrighton and Pat Staite won whilst in Group 3 Ian Beard and Phil Kelly took the honours

The Devil race, with pre-determined distances used to eliminate the last rider to reach it, guarantees fast and furious racing in which tactics are all important. Alison Holmes did enough to ensure she wasn’t eliminated in any of the sprints and finished ahead of Beth Clayton in second and David Beattie in 3rd. Tim Challinor proved the stronger rider in Group 2 ahead of Chris parlour and Rob Cox. Matt Gee, Steve Clayton and Graham Birch finished in that order for Group 3.

The 500m Handicap event, the last of the evening, sees riders set of at intervals dependant on their times in the 500m time trial event. If the handicapping is done well it should see all riders crossing the line together. It does however rely on the riders not holding back in the first event, as if they would consider doing so!

Anne Robinson held on in Group 1 to win ahead of  Alison Holmes and Debbie Capewell. Pat Staite took the first place in Group 2 but was hotly pursued by Tim Challinor and Rob Cox. In Group 3 meanwhile Ian beard proved to be the 500m specialist taking the final event  despite being set off las with a 5 second deficit. Ian Simms took second and matt gee 3rd

By the end of the evening Alison Holmes and Beth Clayton tied for first place overall in Group 1, Chris parlour and Tim Challinor also tied for the top place in Group 2. Group 3 was more decisive as Ian beard took the overall ahead of Matt Gee and Steve Clayton.

If you would like to participate in this event which is open to anyone to do so please contact Nigel Capewell on 07768 560932 or Phil Kelly at the leisure centre on 01543 308842. Full results and details are available on www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/wattbikes

Para-Cycling Track World Championships

Filed under: General — Steve Marshall @ 12:53 pm

Ben, Gary and I were at the World Cup this weekend doing 200m races, we saw some pretty impressive times and peak power scores. No power score quite matched David Readle from the GB Blind and Visioned tandem who showed us a picture of his peak power on his phone – a staggering 2180W!

We were very impressed and we wish David and his stoker Simon Jackson all the best in the BVi tandem for this weekend’s Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Manchester!

Cycle Show Time Trial Results

Filed under: General — Tags: , , , — Steve Marshall @ 11:28 am

Cycle Show

Hello to everyone who raced on the Wattbikes at the cycle show. It has been an extremely busy few days since then however I am now back in the office and able to post the results of the Cycle Show. There were some exceedingly quick times and close races across all 4 days of the show. There will be full results posted on the site soon from our records, however take a peek at the final leader table below.

Everyone who entered goes into a prize draw to win a trip to Lanzarote with Sports Tour International. Keep an eye on your mailbox for details on this. The prize for winning you may ask??????? Glory…  just good old fashioned glory!

Male

Catergory Name Time
Over 60 Peter Williams 00:32.18
50 – 59 Michael Fier 00:28.55
40 – 49 David Andrews 00:27.70
30 – 39 Jason Prior 00:27.21
Open Phil Williams 00:27.56
Under 18 Joe Moore 00:30.12
Under 16 Adam Finch 00:31.00
Under 14 Noah Smith 00:32.50
Under 12 Tom Lye 00:34.41
Under 10 Tomas Barnett 00:45.6

Female

Catergory Name Time
Over 60 Zanna Heighton 00:45.94
40 – 49 Ruth Hamilton 00:37.68
30 – 39 Nicky Hjerpe 00:35.84
Open Tanya Gibbs 00:34.80
Under 14 Ella Dobson 00:42.72
Under 12 Mabel Dalrymple 00:46.22
Under 10 Michaela Lysakova-Ivanova 00:42.08

England Football team prepare on Wattbikes for South Africa

Filed under: General — Tags: , , , — Steve Marshall @ 11:25 am

England at South Africa

Wattbike

Yesterday, Ben joined the England Football team for some of their training for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. Ben meet the team at the Altitude Centre, a group of sports scientist who have trained many top sporting teams, most recently the Great British Lions Team before their tour of South Africa.

Ben provided Wattbikes for the fitness testing during the sessions at the request of the Altitude Centre scientists as they needed reliable and consistent results on cadence, power and performance . The team underwent various tests designed to measure physiological and mental performance in similar high-altitude conditions as the team will find in South Africa next year. Protocols such as ramp tests and co-ordination tests were undertaken under varying altitude conditions simulated through masks feeding different oxygen levels during exercise.

Players from teams already using Wattbike equipment, such as Manchester United, updated Ben on how they train and are tested on the Wattbikes in their clubs as well as their peak power performances. We would tell you how powerful the players are, but we wouldn’t like to give the opposition any help….

See the Wattbike at LIW and the Cycle Show

Filed under: General — Tags: , , — Steve Marshall @ 11:40 am

Cycle Show Earls Court

Over the next couple of months we are going to many shows around the countrty. The two largest ones being Leisure Industry Week (LIW) at the NEC Birmingham from 22-24 September, and the Cycle Show at Earls Court, London on the 9-11 October.

We are going to have a large presence at both events, and at the Cycle Show there will be a 500m Sprint Challenge in association with Sports Tours International and Wattbike. There will be over a dozen Wattbikes for attendees to race and improve their technique on. Prizes will be on offer to competitors, and the race is a free-addition to the entry price to the show.  To register your interest in the Cycle Show go to this link. It comes thoroughly recommended!!

In addition to this at the NEC for Leisure Industry Week we will be on the Wattbike stand and the British Cycling stand, so there will be plenty of opportunity to see us there. However, if you cannot make either of these events, please call us on 0115 945 5454 and we will point you to the nearest place or event to experience the power of the Wattbike.

Mayor of London Skyride

Filed under: General — Steve Marshall @ 9:46 am

Ben, Simon and Gary were down at the Mayor of London Skyride this weekend, the last of the 5 large Skyrides across the summer. The 15km route started on the Mall and took in Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment, St Paul’s Cathedral, the City and the Tower of London. The sun shone and cyclists arrived in their droves from all over the capital and beyond.

There were lots of celebrities and sportsmen who joined cycling-enthusiast Mayor Boris Johnson. One of the athletes to race on the Wattbikes was Olympic champion Jamie Staff and we got him to race over the same flying 200m distance Chris Hoy did in Glasgow. Jamie showed why he was a world-class sprinter by hitting over 2000W in the 200m race which he completed in an astounding 8.96s, beating the previous best seen by Chris Hoy of 9.30s. Lots od other families and individuals challenged the time and over 600 people competed across all ages.

The big question is though…..is 8.96s going to remain the 200m record for long?

Tour of Britain

Filed under: General — Steve Marshall @ 8:49 am

Stage start at the Britannia Stadium

Stage start at the Britannia Stadium

This week has been a very busy week! We have been at 2 of the stages of the Tour of Britain, the Mayor of London’s Skyride, and the ISAF Sailing World Cup Series.

Stoke-on-Trent

On Tuesday we joined the Tour of Britain riders and organisers for the start of the Stoke-on-Trent stage at the Britannia Stadium. The crowds grew for the start of the race, and Ben and I were there to show the crowds their cycling style and get them measured on our Peak Power board. We had lots of participants at the Britannia Stadium from local cycling clubs to hordes of school children enjoying one of their first tastes of competitive cycling.

Once under way, we moved into the Stoke City Centre to carry on the activities in the events area shared with bicycle-powered Scalextric cars, Extreme mountain-bikers and a collection of the weirdest and wackiest bikes we’ve ever seen. The crowds kept on coming and there was lots of good scores including a 1338W from Lyme CC’s Ian Crooks and a very impressive 1179W from 14 year old school boy Brad Simpson.

London – Final stage

On Saturday, we were on the track side about 200m away from the finish lane for the final stage of the Tour, a great spot to watch the tour riders sprint past at the indecent speeds of over 30 miles per hour. When not enthralled by the peleton screaming past we had around 300 cyclists doing races and testing their peak power. The sunny day brought out the competitive nature and lots of people came back for several goes and the top power of the day was in the 40+ category of 1653W.

Good luck to ASDA Pedal Power’s Andy Bond

Filed under: General — Tags: , , — Steve Marshall @ 12:59 pm

As you read Andy Bond is on his way from Land’s End to John O’Groats, a voyage which has been supported by Wattbike. The ASDA president and CEO has set up a route that takes him to 21 ASDA stores along the journey that is over 1000 miles in distance. Each of the stores is joining Andy in raising money by getting staff and customers to use Wattbikes in store and raise money for the ASDA pedal power cause  and get more people out on their bikes. So keep an eye out for the Wattbikes as the ASDA stores, and see if you can beat Andy and top GB athletes.

Good luck Andy! We are sure that all the Wattbike training he has been doing over the past few months will put him in good shape for a quick trip!

Sir Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar do battle on the Wattbikes at Skyride Glasgow

Filed under: General — Tags: , , , , — Steve Marshall @ 11:02 am

Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar showing true Scottish grit during racing

Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar showing true Scottish grit during racing

Sir Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar were the Scottish Olympic medal heroes encouraging the people of Glasgow to pick up their bikes and join them around the city streets on British Cycling’s Skyride Glasgow this Sunday 23 August.

With lots of activities on offer the Wattbikes took centre stage in the busy Skyride Active area in the middle of the scenic Glasgow Green. Hundreds of people came and raced the flying 200m race on the Wattbikes to give Sir Chris and Ross a record to beat. Despite some very gallant attempts in the over-40 and under-40 categories few got close to the two Olympians. Halfway through their packed day, the crowds amassed ten deep around the Wattbike arena as the two Scottish cyclists jumped onto the Wattbikes in their shorts and jeans with celebrity TV-presenter Gethin Jones.

After just a few minutes warm up and practice, the three men challenged each other to competing over the 200m flying lap course. With a fantastic display of power and efficiency, Chris Hoy took just 9.30 seconds to cross the finishing line in first place posting a new World Wattbike record in the process! Not only was it the quickest 200m yet seen on a Wattbike, but it was at a cycling efficiency of nearly 80%, which is extremely impressive for such a short sprint!

Ross Edgar and Gethin Jones were not far behind either, but it definitely looked like the 3-times Olympic-medal winner could take that time down a touch with his next performance.

Ross Edgar and Gethin Jenkins race in behind a distnictly unsatisfied Chris Hoy

Ross Edgar and Gethin Jenkins race in behind a distinctly unsatisfied Chris Hoy

The crowds duly kept the Wattbike team very busy throughout the whole day and they were a massive hit with families, and cyclists of all ages and abilities. Take a look at the Skyride Glasgow photo album as well as the Skyride website for all details. A big well done to everyone who took part, and made such an effort. We look forward to seeing you at Skyride Leicester and Skyride London!

A group of young cyclists follow in the Olympians pedal turns

A group of young cyclists follow in the Olympians pedal turns

Wakefield Triathlon Club promo day

Filed under: General — Tags: , , — Steve Marshall @ 4:01 pm

Written by Robin Clough, Wakefield Triathlon Club secretary

Wakefield Tri Club members getting the public started

Wakefield Tri Club members getting the public started

On a sunny Saturday in July, Wakefield Triathlon Club was invited to exhibit at a 2012 Olympics connected event organised by Wakefield Council. The theme of the day was to encourage shoppers in the busy Wakefield Cathedral precinct to eat healthily and take up exercise as well as picking up life-saving tips from St John’s Ambulance. Other exhibitors included the Wakefield Wildcats who occupied the stall next to ours.

The WTC stall was manned by volunteers from the club who mingled with shoppers and handed out leaflets about the club. The centrepiece of the WTC exhibit was two Wattbike exercise bikes. The bikes are high-tech and endorsed by British Cycling (see www.wattbike.com for more details). Passers by were challenged to complete 300 metres on the bike in as quick a time as possible. Best times were displayed on a Top-Gear-like leader board and there were categories for Men, Ladies and Children.

Everyone that had a go got a swim cap, and those that broke a record were awarded a WTC T-shirt. Determined WTC triathletes competed with the public in the quest to get the fastest time of the day. Given the relatively short distance the endurance fitness of the triathletes didn’t really come in to play. In the end honours were even with a member of the public getting the men’s fastest time but Vic Burrows-Bilton managed to achieve the best ladies time of the day. Vic happened to be looking after a stall for Pugneys further down the precinct. All in all the day was a great success and certainly helped raise the profile of the club.

Many thanks to those that volunteered to help man the stall, mainly: Phil, Alison, Tony, Bill, Robin and Greg. Extra thanks to Greg who spent all day on the stall as well as helping to ferry the bike too and from Nottingham.

Wakefield Tri Club members practise at the start of the day

Wakefield Tri Club members practise at the start of the day

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