News from CCH management and Dave Carr

Dear CC Hackney members, friends and associates,

I hope this email finds you in good health and that you are finding your way during this difficult time. Currently going by bike is still allowed for daily short, light exercise and for commuting to Government permitted workplaces. Just to remind you that we should all take extra care not to have an accident that could involve depending on NHS resources during the increasingly critical times coming up - do be extra careful when moving around.

Long time and original CCH club member Dave Carr is a NHS critical care nurse at St. Thomas's Hospital central London. Many of you know him well and he is universally regarded as a legend and a top bloke. Dave's going to be very busy in the weeks ahead, staffing his ward during this challenging time. I've been keeping in touch and as requested baked a cake for him to share with his colleagues at work. He said to me that he would be delighted and boosted if CC Hackney could become one of the known supporters of the ward he is on (i.e. they want more cake!)  

Dave Carr - "Any small gesture coming in to support NHS front line staff here really does help and it carries us" 

For a good while we're to be living differently and contributing to a global, collective effort to get free from the covid virus - let's do this. 

Plan your days well, stay in touch with CC Hackney and keep looking forwards.

Something for your diary tomorrow:
Given the situation and dependance we all have on the NHS, tomorrow evening, Thursday at 8pm there is to be a standing applause for all at the NHS especially our front line workers and let's not forget all the key workers too.

All the best to you, stay safe and responsible, we got this!

   

Keir Apperley

Manager/lead coach Cycling Club Hackney (CiO)

Dave Carr

Update - Sunday 5th April 2020

Today I met up with our Dave before his next shift (AT TWO METRES DISTANCE!!) to bring him another ward cake and his CCH head of 1st Aid staff T-shirt. Dave told me that he and his team at a London Hospital critical care ward are ready to take on whatever Covid 19 brings in the coming weeks. As he's also the Union representative there and he's extra busy with union members urgent concerns about the lack of personal safety equipment. 
Dave Carr on duty

"Our workers are more than ready to fight on the front line but deeply resent being sent into the battle without shields (PPE) We're actually putting ourselves at risk of contagion and serious life threatening disease this way. And every staff member that goes off sick will result in more people dying - it's not acceptable; the Government must deliver on this aspect ASAP" 
DC the cyclist  "I got out for a mentally refreshing ride this morning, the clean air and audible bird song was lovely. I was also impressed by the 'distance' behaviour of all the other cyclists"

Before parting we mused on not wanting to be the one cyclist turning up at A&E with a collision injury - something to bare in mind people!

Keep it up Dave and everyone, stay fit and well.
    

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Dear CC Hackney members,

During the period of covid19 special measures our regular club sessions are going to be replaced by on-line drop in two way chats lead by your usual coaches. And we will build up a video bank of short clips presented by our staff, for cycling techniques and cycle maintenance and other useful additions - some not strictly cycling related. 

The usual apps are to be used and we are going to trial HouseParty for the drop in and check in club sessions too. https://houseparty.com/add/ksa2020 

Youth members are encouraged to go on-line to engage with their club's coaches and other members during these session times. 

Elsdale 9.00-11.00am

Concorde 9.30-11.30am 

Fawcett 5-7pm

Adults - we are looking to set up 'CCH coffee shop' in good time too.  

Membership 2020/21

Due to the lock down (and also because we don't want to lose you!) membership from 31st March will be half price for the whole year. 

Corvid 19 & Cycling Club Hackney

Dear members, friends and associates,

Based on our NGB's (national governing body) British Cycling's up to date information, advice and guidance; we have to suspend and postpone all of our club rides, activities and events with immediate effect. This civic position is set to last at least until April 30 with ongoing reviews. Our action is based on current government guidance for people to maintain social distancing, unnecessary travel, gatherings and contact with others: especially here in London. It's in order to minimise and/or prevent any Corvid 19 viral transmissions.

CC Hackney will continue to track NGB news and return to our activities as soon as as the conditions allow. CCH communications will be keeping you updated by WhatsApp, email and a new YouTube or Vimeo channel (get ready!) on a regular basis.

You can check the government advice at http://gov.uk/coronavirus
At this moment in time it's still possible to cycle outdoors solo or as a pair (at least 2 metres apart) but not in groups and certainly not as a CC Hackney club gathering.

Here is a helpful and on topic site:https://www.cyclinguk.org/arti…/coronavirus-qa-it-safe-cycle

Stay well, keep your spirits up for the duration, we will be functioning fully in good time.

Best wishes and thank you for your understanding support,

CC Hackney management

CC Hackney & NHS

24th March - CC Hackney is set to start delivery of a new day time club and group session that is designed to work for and with residents who may be feeling isolated and out of sorts. This project is in partnership with and supported by NHS East London Foundation Trust. These pilot sessions are to be based at our Concorde Centre station on Kingsmead housing estate .

CCH Seal Safari Saturday 29th February

Saturday 29th February is the date for the first CCH Sael Safari to the Thames Estuary via the Woolwich Ferry and along the Thames Path, heading east on the south bank. Coaches Patrick Field (route planner and guide) Jevon Taylor and organiser Keir Apperley will be taking the assembled group to the Thames by bike of course. Hopefully it will not be stormy weather and clear enough to see what we're looking for...there's a 50% chance!

 

Proper cross season comes to a close

Crystal Palace cross

 The 2019-20 cyclocross season closed last weekend with all the final races being cancelled due to storm Ciara blowing away the trees and topsoil. This was probably apt as this season will be remembered as one of proper cross conditions. The last few seasons have seen drier and drier conditions meaning some newer riders to cross had never had to clean their bikes.  Way back in September the season started in hot and dry conditions making for super fast races and it looked like the global warming trend for dusty courses was continuing -but come October come the rain and come the mud - proper cross courses were back.

Tom at Milton

Robin at Mistley

Conrad at Mistley

Elliot at Mistley

Harry at the Stow Scramble

Andy at Mistley

Charlie at Mistley

 Now I know a lot of cyclists don't understand the attraction of getting wet, cold and muddy looping round and round a field in Essex for an hour - but that's because they haven't tried it.
Cyclocross is the most friendly, most accessible entry into the world of cycle sport - and currently becoming the most popular cycling discipline in this country thanks to the exploits of the likes of Tom Pidcock, Evie Richards and Anna Kay at international level to name just a few of the riders from these shores taking it to the Belgians and Dutch. And speaking of Belgian and Dutch riders anyone still wondering what use cyclocross is to them on the road need only look at Wout Van Aert and the unstoppable Matthieu Van Der Poel. So all I can say is if you missed this season get some knobblies come summer and get ready for 2020 -21.

Catrin winning in the Leicestershire CX league

CCHackney has ben represented well this past season in the Eastern Cyclocross League as well some showings in the London and South east league and further afield in the National Trophy series.
In the ECL Charlie Dash finished in fifth place in the Junior women's standings, Tom Bardill also finished fifth in the youth  u16, with Robin Steer in 8th, in the U14s Elliot Marsden finished 13th. Also racing in the youth were Conrad and Milo. Arthur Steer finished 7th in the U10 boys whilst Catrin Marsden finished fifth in the u10 girls. In the V50s Harry, John and Andy did the required amount of races to score league points finishing 52nd , 67th and 62nd respectively - there were 120 riders in this most popular of categories. Having spread myself between the eastern and London leagues I didn't race enough in either - but did manage to cycle to some of them cutting out on car journeys.

John at Hillyfields

Neil at Hillyfields

The full Eastern Cross league Final standings here.

And if you really don't like mud but think you might try cross anyway  there is summer series in London you can find out all about it here.

Photos of ECL courtesy of Dave Cook

Early spring Reliability Trial with Finsbury Park CC

HNY 2020!

Sharing an email from our friends at Frinsbury Park CC. A great annual event for club riders at a low cost and for a good cause - let's make it a date!

Dear Fellow Cycling Club,

We are pleased to confirm that Finsbury Park Cycling Club will be hosting their annual reliability ride on Sunday 16^th February 2020, and we would be grateful if you could spread the word to your club members about this event.
Our Reliability Ride takes a 50km or 100km route around the quiet lanes used by the club in and around Hertfordshire, with a hilly finish returning to Potters Bar through Little Switzerland.
With your support we can match or exceed the 100 riders that signed on and completed the ride last year.
Ride Details

Entry: £5:00 (Donated to Cancer Research UK)

Location: Potters Bar Cricket Club EN6 1QE

Date: Sunday 16^th February 2020

Sign-on:  08:30 – 09:00

Ride Start: 09:00

50km Route (GPX here)

100km Route (GPX here)

Tea, Coffee and Cake will be available at the start and finish.
http://www.finsburyparkcc.org/fpcc-annual-reliability-ride/

Many thanks,

David & Vince

Alex Peters back in pro action with 2020 vision

CC Hackney’s original youth member Alex Peters is to return to professional cycling since taking time out after retiring from Team Sky in 2017. Good luck Alex with team Canyon DHB!
Alex is well remembered in France, in 2015 he left a lasting impression in the Tours of Normandy & Brittany and his return has been reported here.  Alex Peters ; “Je me suis dit : quelle est ma passion? Qu’est ce que j’aime faire? “