17th Dec 2012

The charity club run that was called off due to bad weather will be run in mid January (stand by for details).

The bad news is club fees for 2013 are due now :-(  The good news is if you pay before Jan 31st you get £5 off ;-)

7th November 2012

The QL squad were in for a treat when BC team members Wendy Houvenagel and Fiona Duncan turned up to watch an indoor session. Wendy stayed around to answer questions, sign a few autographs and have her photo taken with the squad.

1st Sept 2012

Ythan has a Paralympic champion and world record holder.

Congratulations to Neil Fachie

Graham Gerrard

Dear club members,

It is with great sadness that I have to pass on the news that our club president Graham Gerrard died this morning following a period of ill health.

Graham was a founder member of the club and has worked on the committee for the past 25 years. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the rules and regulations in cycling always kept us on the right path with the club.

Graham was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed by his friends in YCC.

Our thoughts are with Carole and his family.

I will put out a note when I hear about funeral arrangements

9th August 2012

Are you willing to take part in the challenge of this years Ythan Cycle
Run on Sunday 1st September?

This year both routes will start and finish at Udny Green with the
long (26 mile approx.) route passing through Methlick . There will also be
a shorter 7 mile approx. route suitable for families and for those who
prefer a more gentle bike ride. Refreshments will be available on the
long route and at the end of the event for all participants, these are
included in the registration fee. Start time for the run will be 1
p.m.

Registration and sponsorship forms and other information including a map
of the routes are available on the website www.ythancyclerun.co.uk or from
hilarygordon@gmail.com

We hope all participants will ask friends and family to sponsor them so
we can raising the maximum amount for your own and this years nominated
charity Monty's Maggie's Appeal. This worthwhile charity has been
fundraising to bring a Maggie's Centre to Aberdeen for people affected by
cancer across Grampian.

Please pass on information about this years Cycle Run to anyone you think
might be interested, and we hope to see you all there at Udny Green on 1st
September.

Regards

Sheena
Rotary Club of Oldmeldrum

Up close and personal, Rob interviews Brad's left ear and sideburn.

9th July 2012

Congratulations to Andy on a new 100 mile TT PB. That was despite still being indisposed when his number was being called and missing the start.

4th July 2012

Congratulations to Fiona, Lora and Neil for making the Paralympic squad.

7th June 2012 - Blair to Carry Olympic Flame

Ythan's Junior Member Blair McClymont will be running down Union Street with the Olympic Torch on Monday.  He will be starting from the top end of the Street down to the Bon Accord Centre at around 7.45pm

Paul's Challenge , extract from yesterday's paper!

Ythan Cycler run - Oldmeldrum Rotary


As a participant in one or more of the previous Ythan Cycle Runs you might
have wondered what has happened to this years event. For a number of
reasons we have decided to change the date to later in the year, this year
it will be on Saturday 1st September.

The format will probably be the same as in previous years. There will be
a small entrance fee and ideally participants will arrange some
sponsorship, half of which will go to a nominated Rotary Charity with the
other half going to a charity of your choice.

As yet the route has not been decided but as soon as it is arranged I will
be in touch with you again to let you know then you will be able to
download the forms from our website
www.oldmeldrumrotary.org.uk

Look forward to seeing you again on the 1st September

Sheena

Sheena Clark
Rotary Club Oldmeldrum

QLers test Mike Giles' podium for strength at the Saturday morning session. It survived the bounce test so should be in good shape for the real podium photos. Thanks Mike.

Latest Ythan QL film

Sam Thom has completed the first of the Ythan 25th anniversary films. He came over to Ellon one Saturday morning to film a QL training session.

The film is here, enjoy;

Ythan QL training session

Thanks Sam

Cyclefest 2012

As you are aware Ythan are running the Youth races for the cyclefest on the 27th may. As usual to make the event run smoothly we need some helpers. in particular we are looking for people to help out with the sign -on , the bike check and some lap counting.  All helpers will get in to the cyclefest free and will get to meet Graeme Obree.

Ythan CC media coverage

Ythan CC now has its own media email address at ythanccmedia@live.co.uk

Any member wishing to promote their participation in events such as sportives/ fundraising should send details to this email address at least 2 weels before the event date.  Anyone requiring assistance in promoting their participation can also request this via the email address

Any member racing outwith ADCA should email their results ASAP to the email address. All efforts will be made to pick up results from the various cycling forums and members are asked to contribute to the Blue Final section of the Ythan forum to enhance the availability of members performances.

All media reports to the local Ellon papers must be submitted by Tuesday PM to meet the publication on a Thursday/Friday.

Riders located outwith Ellon will have their results/performances highlighted in their local edtions ie Turriff, Inverurie. The onus lies with the rider to advise of their home location.

All efforts will be made to secure mainstream coverage in the P & J etc.

Photos of any member participating in races/events are also welcome to be sent to the media address. Permission should be given by the photographer so that the relevant acknowledgement can be provided.

Malcolm

New Kit

New Kit

Andy displays our new kit today worn at the Presentation TT

Confineds

The first of our Confined TTs will start on Tuesday 17th April at 6.30 pm. :)

Annual General Meeting

The 25th Annual General Meeting of Ythan Cycle Club will take place on Monday 26th March at 7.30pm in the Station Hotel, Ellon.


Carol Middleton

Cyclefest

It's just been announced that Graeme Obree will be the special guest at this years cyclefest on the 27th of May. the Clan display team will be there again. Peter is organising the youth races as it is the first of this years Skinny tyre Scottish series. the veterans Cycling Association are also running a penny farthing race.

More info about the legend here ;
Graeme Obree

There is also a cycle jumble sale , so it might be worth digging out some of that stuff you always thought about selling.

Keep your diary free for a cracking day of bike activity.

 More details to follow nearer the date

Google groups RIP

It appears our experiment using Google groups to communicate news items to the membership has failed. At the committee meeting this evening quite a few said they weren't receiving the Google group messages. therefore we have decided to disband the group and go back to using the e-mail membership list.

I'll post news update notices on the forum as well.

If you get this as part of the Google group it will be the last one from Ythan.

Paracycling Track World Championships

The 2012 UCI Paracycling Track World Championships start today in Los Angeles. Good luck to Fiona, Lora and Neil. Look out for reports on the forum.

There will also be reports on the BC website here:

British Cycling Report  

Go Ythan

Ewan Black

there was some great publicity in the press this week. Malcolm's excellent article was commented about by the guys I met down at Scottish Cycling at the weekend. There was also this piece in the Ellon Times about Ewan presenting to the Rotary about the Etape Caledonia last year.:

Other press news; Some of you will have noticed that The Times (not the Ellon Times) has started a cycling campaign. they have gone all two wheel friendly and have even issued a cycling manifesto. You can read all about it here:

The Times - Cycling pages

Looks quite interesting, I'll have to look to see what I can steal for the next newsletter.

Golden Year planned for Ythan Cycling Club

The addition of a current World Champion to their ranks and the potential for more medal success means that Ythan Cycling Club are looking at 2012 to be a “Golden Year” as it celebrates a significant milestone. Formed in 1987 by local enthusiasts the club will spend 2012 celebrating its 25th Anniversary and those celebrations have been given a massive boost by the addition of two world class riders to the clubs ranks.
With long serving club member Fiona Duncan riding full time with British Cycling as a tandem pilot for the British Para-cycling Team, her racing partner Lora Turnham, who hails from Liverpool has also joined the Ellon club. And if the talented duo were not enough the girl’s international teammate and fellow Aberdonian Neil Fachie, the four time Paralympic World Champion at the Kilo and Sprint disciplines, will also join Ythan before joining Lora and Fiona at the Para-cycling World Cycling Championships in Los Angeles in early February.

Speaking ahead of travelling to the United States Fiona said “Since becoming a full time rider with British Cycling last year it has been an incredible time. Partnering Lora at races on the road and track around the world has been fantastic and despite a bad crash last year we have been working really hard on the track in Manchester and Newport and are aiming to do the best we can at the World Championships and also to qualify for the Paralympics in August. Los Angeles is the last opportunity to score team qualification points for the Paralympics but we are riding well and getting to London would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Fiona, Lora and Neil travel to Los Angeles as part of a 14 strong team for the championships that run between 9-12 February with Neil looking to defend the titles he secured in Montichiari, Italy in March last year.

Club President Colin Allanach has been delighted with the progress of the club over the past three years and viewed the addition of Lora and Neil as a major opportunity for the club to develop and encourage young cyclists in the area.
Colin said, “At Ythan we have retained our core purpose of being a cycling club that meets the needs of cycling enthusiasts in the Ellon area and that has been vital to our success. That core membership has been on hand to help with events and races, running training sessions for our youth section and creating the great atmosphere that surrounds everything we do as a club. The recent achievements of our racing members and the addition of Lora and Neil are great for the club as it shows the younger members that success in competitive cycling is possible despite any obstacles they may have to overcome. To have three ambassadors within our club and members of all ages that enjoy riding and racing events at home and away points to a bright future for cycling in the Ellon area.”
The club's youth section, Ythan QL (Quines and Loons) had the honour of becoming an official Go Ride club last year having met all the requirements for providing a safe and progressive environment for young cyclists to learn the sport. Scottish Cycling's Regional Development Officer for Grampian, Peter Clark, also an Ythan member has been tutoring several North East youngsters with a focus on developing an Aberdeen and District team to race in the 3 day Youth Tour of Scotland in Perthshire this April. With several of the QL riders in contention to ride the event, which takes place over the Easter weekend, the race will provide an opportunity for the youth riders to compete under the watchful eyes of Scottish and British talent coaches and secure racing opportunities across the UK.
The club's website can be found at http://www.ythancc.org.uk/

By Malcolm Grant

Newsflash

Fellow Ythanites-  Look out in the local and national press over the next few days for some huge news regarding the club.

 It's a bitty hush hush at the moment but all will be revealed shortly.

 Col

Presentation Evening

A superb Presentation Evening was held in the Buchan Hotel last Saturday.

Picture of Senior Trophy Winners:-

Mike Giles, Dave Mackintosh, Graham Parley, Dave Carnegie.

Front:- Andy Duncan and Carol Middleton

Proudly showing off their Trophies are the QLs:-

Robbie Allanach, Zak Loney, Vojtec Kosciouszko,

Claire Loney(Manager) Laurie Cunningham.

Front: Adam Loney

How to ride in a pack

At the beginning of the winter season, John O'Donovan wrote this article on how to ride safely in a group.John is a very experienced coach who takes a lot of group rides around Aberdeen. Last weekend there was an incident on a Aberdeen club ride and so John has re-issued the article to help cyclists understand what to do, and what not to do, whilst riding in a pack. It's well worth reading and practicing some of the skills needed to ride safely in a group.

It's the sort of skills we are teaching the QL guys on the outdoor sessions. But even experienced cyclists can learn something from it.

Hopefully Mark and Neil recover quickly from the injuries sustained in the incident.

Hey, let’s be careful out there,

How to ride in a pack

Col