News
Members recieve our PDF newsletter, ride diaries and e-mails of upcomming events. Please feel free to email John Vessey for more information.
EMBC Go-Ride Day Out @ the South West Cyclo-Cross League
2007-12-04
Escot Park, 25 November 2007
It was a great morning, bright dry and a lovely sun shining.
The grounds of Escot Park were very beautiful and peaceful until we turned up with some very excited, enthusiastic young EMBC riders - Sam, Jack, Matthew, Benjamin, Oliver, Kiera, Capabilaty-Jack and Bow-Jango.
Sign on was very friendly and helpful; every one had their great looking orange and black club shirts on and most had chance to ride the course first.
The start for the Under 12's was 10.30 am and consisted of 3 laps: Sam and Jack on the front line, Oliver in the next row, with Matthew Benjamin and Kiera on the back row.
They were off - Sam in second place, Jack following close behind, up the road to the first off-road hill climb with switch back taping, before they entered the farmyard and were out of sight. They were on the down slope crossing the small bridge to the sharp turn by the gate, then on the section coming back towards the start; the going rutted with long grass, so quite hard pedalling. A nice easy gear here helped keep the speed up before the long straight back to the road and another switch back tape section aimed at slowing riders down on the road entrance before pedalling out fast on the road for the second lap.
The pack had split up, Matthew was pedalling well with Benjamin looking very cool; Oliver looking like he was enjoying the experience and Kiera smiling away despite being covered in mud.
They all worked hard on the second lap and were heading for the third, when the leader finished in a very fast time. So any one behind him now got pulled off - race finished.
Sam came in close behind the leader, followed by Jack, then Benjamin not far behind.
Matthew was next, then Oliver, with a crashed front mudguard, followed by a smiling Kiera who looked like she wanted to go again - mud included!
Capabilaty-Jack and Bow-Jango rode later in the Youth race at 11.00 am; this involved a longer lap race.
A chocolate bar and drink was presented to all the children.
EMBC results were as follows:
Under 8's Kiera 5th
Under 10s Matthew 3rd, Oliver 5th
Under 12s Sam 2nd, Jack 5th, Benjamin 9th
Youth Under 14s Bow-Jango 1st
Youth Under 16's Capabilaty-Jack
Well done to all!
Southwest Cyclo-X League 2 more dates: Bicton 2/12/07 & Ashburton 16/12/07.
More details can be found on http://www.cyclo-cross.org.uk/
ANOTHER BIG WALES WEEKEND
2007-10-22
Brechfa Forest
Our Map-Meister Chris has done it again. Despite miles of dark but flowing tarmac reminiscent of that utopian night ride singletrack with a few unexpected bends thrown into the pot, we finally arrived at our destination somewhere in the middle of Wales. Little did we know at the time that for the next day Chris had planned, with the aid of expert map-reading, planning and knowledge of the area, the most outstanding piece of singletrack I have yet ridden in this country.
After of couple of superb ales brewed in the Hotel’s microbrewery, we retired and prepared for the following day.
We parked next to the remotest chapel in Wales and the first climb of the day hit our half asleep legs brutally, forcing us to try and retain traction on a steep, loose and uneven track. After some time we reached the top and were rewarded with a fast downhill section that claimed our first pinch-flat victim of the day. This neatly took us onto one of those grassy pieces of singletrack were the noise of tyres is deadened and everything seems calm and peaceful. The grass gave way to solid singletrack that hugged the left bank of a slightly gorged valley taking us over rocky outcrops and around some large boulders, still gradually easing us downhill. The singletrack flowed albeit with a couple of rude interruptions.
The pumping station at Llyn Brianne below the reservoir gave us a fantastic display of water blasting out of pipe-work designed to aerate the water. A short section of road took us to the reservoir head. At this point we followed the bank of the reservoir along a wide stony track.
A final fast wide downhill section brought us back to the vehicles and a gloriously sunny drive back to the hotel.
The next day, after packing, we headed over to Brechfa forest where the incredible man-made trails of Gorwech and Derwen awaited us, with masterly designed singletrack and features that rival the stalwarts of Afan and Cwm Carn in the south. I would thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re in the area.
Details of this more obscure area can be found at www.mbwales.com/other_trails/brechfa.html
Finally, a special thanks to Vicky for organising the accommodation at the Neuadd Arms in Llanwrtyd Wells enabling us to try their fine ales. Thanks also to Chris for his planning and making us giggle referring to a half pint glass as “a nice thing to provide for sampling the ale”!
2007-10-22
BC Club Accreditation
Further To our club accreditation update in the last issue of QUICKRELEASE, following some last minute amendments to one or two sections of the policy we are now waiting with baited breath to hear from British Cycling. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything.
For further information on the Club Accreditation, please contact Fiona at the usual e-mail address..
2007-10-22
Go-Ride
In the meantime, the children’s Go-Ride sessions are proving as popular a ever and we are looking to continue the momentum into the autumn and winter months.
2007-10-22
Autumn Diary
Some exciting rides coming up for the autumn and winter including the full South West Cyclo-Cross programme. These are all inclusive events aimed at anyone of any age who possesses an off-road bike and doesn’t mind getting down and dirty! There’s even a South West Championship at Bicton Arena. Log onto www.cyclo-cross.org.uk .
2007-10-22
Race Shirts
If you’ve been out with us recently, you may have noticed that we’re now sporting some rather fine race jerseys. You all received an email asking for orders for the shirts at a specially discounted price. If you missed that, we will be ordering more shirts shortly still at al reasonable price for such eye-catching technical shirts. £36 for a short sleeve xc jersey or £38 for a long-sleeve freeride jersey – excellent for winter. These prices are for both adult and children. If you don’t want to miss out this time round, email your order stating the size required to the usual email address.
2007-10-22
Team EMBC
Now we have the shirts, what do you think of forming a Team EMBC for next season? There must be loads of you who go to the various national events so why not enter as a team and maybe even try a 24 hour event; we’re spoilt for choice. I’m also after someone who is willing to run the team. If you’re interested email John at the usual address.
2007-10-22
Wiggle
IWiggle You may have noticed a Wiggle link on the website. Did you know that if you order through that link, not only do you benefit from some amazing discounts on bike bits but you’ll also be helping the club as a proportion of your spend goes into club funds. Great eh? So log onto via our website now! Use the link to your left.
LOCAL TV PROMOTION FOR EMBC
2007-07-14
Westcountry News Exposure
Exeter Mountain Bike Club has now had exposure on TV. If you’re fed up with always having football or rugby on TV, Westcountry News has started looking at alternative sports from around the region. A telephone call to the club secured the arrival of the Trina Lake and a cameraman on a recent balmy evening at Haldon Forest Park. Their brief was to look at what we provide for Children and Ladies’ and the result was a dynamic piece of over 5 minutes promoting the club as a place where coaching and challenges result in enjoyment and satisfaction. For those of you who didn’t catch the broadcast on Friday 1 June, we have a couple of videos of the piece for loan.
2007-07-14
New Website
You should now have seen our new website by now http://www.embc.uk.net// is packed with useful things such as the popular ride calendar page with our ride grade signing, and popular ride guide with Google mapping, landscape photography and even boxes detailing locations along with photos of the area. We couldn't make it more comprehensive - or could we? We're currently working on providing dialogue boxes detailing good pubs, cafes and bed and breakfasts that we've had personal experience of along with details of nearby bike shops for those emergency spares. We're also experimenting with uploading GPS details of routes we've done overlaying them on the Google maps with way marker points and photographs of landmarks along the way to help navigation. Keep dipping into the riding page to have a look.
2007-07-14
Big Wales Weekend
A big thank-you to Vicky and Chris for organising and coordinating this epic event and to those that braved the mixed weather to make it all worthwhile. Details of the next Wales Weekend, on the 7, 8 and 9th September, can now be found on the website.
2007-07-14
BC Club Accreditation
For the last few months, our Secretary, Fiona, has been busy working toward us being awarded British Cycling Club Accreditation. This essentially sets us up with a working manual of good practices for running the club based on the amount and quality of the coaching we provide, our duty of care, constitution and our accounting. The manual is now with British Cycling and we’ll keep you informed as to it’s progress. For further information on the Club Accreditation, please contact Fiona.
2007-07-14
Finding Your Way
Ever wished you could read a map or get your bearing right on that epic ride? We were fortunate enough to talk to Compassworks www.compassworks.co.uk, a Dartmoor based company specialising in the provision of land navigation skills training and development, at a recent outdoor event. Their courses can be tailored to your needs from novice to expert, maps to GPSs so have a look on their website. if you fancy a navigation course either for yourself or part of a group, contact John to obtain a 15% off vouchers for the first three enquiries or a 10% off voucher for the next twenty enquiries.
2007-07-14
Branding
EMBC been busy building on the strong branding we have for the club investing in some pretty impressive EMBC-branded surf flags and a new black event shelter that we are to have printed at some point. The shelter has a back, sides and an optional front to enable us to protect officers, members and equipment from the wind, rain and sun at the various events we have.
As well as the event equipment, we have also purchased a brand new trailer; it’s a white one that is ideal for any sponsors to have their logos on. We now need to talk to various people to see if anyone is interested in advertising on it and to help the club gain a little revenue.
We’re also working on designing a race jersey for the many members who want to enter the various enduro events as Team EMBC. The first order is now in and we’re waiting with baited breath to see the first print proof.
Your comments on any of these subjects would be really appreciated and something that I could take along in any talks we have with various organisations.
2007-07-14
Technical Skills
If you want to nail that drop-off, roll that rock garden or generally improve your skills, we’ll be holding a series of sessions over the summer with Ashley Mullane, our own Silverfish/Cove sponsored rider.
2007-04-22
Tip O' The Month
Now spring is nearly in the air, it is an ideal time to give your bike a bit of TLC, whether it's been stored for winter or used in all weathers. Make sure brakes, cables and gears are running smoothly and parts are replaced where necessary.
2007-04-22
Night and Easy
A big thank you to everyone who has braved the wind, rain, cold, the mud and grit, endured the seemingly endless bike cleaning, the caked bike clothes and the over-worked washing machines, to make this winter season's night riding the most successful ever. I think you'll all agree that despite the struggle to head out into the elements, numbers have been excellent, the riding has been top quality and a good excuse to get together for a bit of bike talk from Honiton Tim's bombproof winter boots to Chris' ‘I wonder if the paint will flake off this frame?'
To catch the last remaining weeks of darkness, we are continuing with our regular venues but are looking to maybe head to Dartmoor occasionally as well as the odd outing to the woods and moors of Oke.
A VERY SUCCESSFUL WINTER
2007-04-22
Always Take the Weather with you
Who said mountain biking has to stop in the winter? Not only have we managed to achieve a very healthy turn out every week, we have also expanded our membership by 15% since the beginning of November, our traditional start to the dark season.
The hardy amongst us have weathered Dartmoor's best, ventured onto Exmoor and The Quantocks as well as making road trips into Wales and the Forest of Dean.
We've also seen events such as our local Soggy Bottom Series and the mud fest of the Wiltshire Challenge at the beginning of January ensure that bikes are not allowed to stay clean for long.
The new diary is set to raise the bar yet again by being more creative. For a start, to enter into the spirit of the huge amount of endurance events now held nationally through the summer months, we're looking to start our own events team, called team www.embc.uk.net. If you want to be part of the team, call John on 01395 233533 or email John.
We have also been asked to lead two rides on Exmoor, forming part of the North Devon Festival of Walking and Cycling between 3rd May and 11th May. Details can be found at the following site http://www.walkcyclenorthdevon.co.uk/.
The new diary, to be released on 1st April, will be jam packed full of both EMBC and non-EMBC events so you'll never be lost for things to do. If you want to take out a ride or know of an event that should be listed, contact John Vessey.
2007-04-22
Go-Ride and Family Rides
Since November, Sam and Fiona have been busy coordinating and running a weekly Go-Ride programme design to teach riding skills to children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old. The children regularly turning up in all weathers have learned a wide range of trail skills as well as learning how to carry out pre-ride checks and to ride safely.
As a club, it is important for us to develop this aspect and as such, each child is entitled to free membership of the club with a view to eventually introducing them to our regular rides. One such ‘stepping' stone is to further develop the family rides to introduce rides outside of the Go-Ride sessions. We have been researching suitable routes within easy travelling distance of Exeter.
The rides are also open to those wanting to have a ‘taste' of the regular club rides as well as providing the novice riders a way of developing their skills in a fun way and at a relaxed pace.
For information on the Go-Ride sessions, please contact Fiona.
2007-04-22
Tip O' The Month
Now spring is nearly in the air, it is an ideal time to give your bike a bit of TLC, whether it's been stored for winter or used in all weathers. Make sure brakes, cables and gears are running smoothly and parts are replaced where necessary.
2007-04-22
Night and Easy
A big thank you to everyone who has braved the wind, rain, cold, the mud and grit, endured the seemingly endless bike cleaning, the caked bike clothes and the over-worked washing machines, to make this winter season's night riding the most successful ever. I think you'll all agree that despite the struggle to head out into the elements, numbers have been excellent, the riding has been top quality and a good excuse to get together for a bit of bike talk from Honiton Tim's bombproof winter boots to Chris' ‘I wonder if the paint will flake off this frame?'
To catch the last remaining weeks of darkness, we are continuing with our regular venues but are looking to maybe head to Dartmoor occasionally as well as the odd outing to the woods and moors of Oke.