Dear Slipstreamers Riders and Parents,

Welcome to your weekly club newsletter. This week's issue focusses on our second Race Day, rider safety, an Assen update, and we introduce you to a brand new feature where you get to "meet" a Slipstreamer Volunteer/ Coach each week. As usual, please watch out for any announcements, reminders, and of course the all important race results. Parents, please do forward, print or read the newsletter to your children so each and every Slipstreamer member is aware of their club's news. We hope you enjoy this week's issue!

The Second Club Race Day Is Almost Here!

This Saturday, 19th July, is our second Slipstreamers Race Day! We're pretty sure you'll all agree that the first race day was great fun, even in the pouring rain (if you missed the race report click here to read it), and we hope as many of you as possible will be taking part on Saturday for round 2! If you've never raced before, EVEN BETTER! The aim of race day is to let everyone have the experience of taking part in British Cycling race type conditions, so this is an excellent learning experience, and we'd encourage you to give it a go!

This time round we will be celebrating the Tour De France coming to the UK and are incorporating the BC Go-Ride Tour event. There will be circuit races AND proper mountain bike races, as well as some amazing prizes to be won, so we certainly hope to see as MANY of you ready to race on Saturday! As usual, the coaches have been busily planning away to ensure everything runs smoothly, and we are all looking forward to a very busy and exciting morning at the club.

Please read the following carefully to ensure you are clear on what is happening on Saturday:

Early morning power session: practice is on as usual if anyone wants to come down and use it for a warm-up session. Early sign on is at 8:15am for a 8:30am sharp start!
Volunteers who are helping with flag, lapboard, bell, and judging, please make sure you are at the judges’ hut by 9.30am please! Parents, if you haven’t yet volunteered and are interested in learning a few new skills whilst at the same time helping us out on Saturday, please make yourself known to us!
Sign on for the race day: this is as normal, between 9am - 9.30am. You will not be able to sign on after 9.30am, so if you arrive late (unless there are exceptional circumstances), you will not race! Please be prompt and ensure you are ready to by 9.30am sharp. We close sign on at 9.30am so please don’t be late!
- IMPORTANT NOTE for Under 8s & Under 10s: you are riding first and must be ready for your warm up at 9.15am – please make sure you are signed on by then! This will give you enough time to get warmed up and make your way over to the apron 5 MINUTES before your race starts.
Warming up before your race: we have allocated enough time in the itinerary to accommodate at least 20 minutes of warm-up training before your race, and leaving you enough time to get to the apron 5 minutes before your race starts. If you are not taking part in the early session and want to bring your rollers or turbos along, please do - coaches will be on hand to run through the warm up session published in last week’s newsletter. If you don’t have rollers or turbos, don’t worry – there will be other warm-ups to get you ready!
If you don't want to race, but still want to cycle: the apron will be open after the U8/U10 race for skills training. Sign on as normal, cheer on your fellow Slipstreamers racing in the U8/U10 race, then make your way to the apron to get started.
Prizes and/ or medals will be awarded on Saturday for the top 3 male and female riders in each age category, and for both circuit and MTB races. Do make sure you stick around for these! We will be recording positions for as many riders as we can, but we can’t guarantee we’ll manage to capture each and every rider position and time – although we will do our very best to do so!

Circuit Races:

Your coaches will explain everything to you in detail again on Saturday morning, so ensure you are signed on and ready in good time to receive further instruction and avoid confusion. The anticipated itinerary is as follows:

Race 1 – U8 & U10: 09:45am start – racing for 30 minutes. Be ready for warm-up at 9.15am.
Race 2 – U12: 10:30am start – racing for 40 minutes. Be ready for warm-up at 10am
Race 3 – U14 & U16: 11.25am – racing for 50 minutes. Be ready for warm-up at 10.55am

After your circuit race: if you’d like to get a taste for mountain biking, riders who have raced on the circuit and who have a mountain bike may also take part in the MTB racing – this is optional and only if you have a mountain bike. And of course, if timings permit! If you don’t want to mountain bike, make your way to the apron for further skills training, or alternatively wait in the clubhouse for prize-giving.

Mountain Bike Races:

Concurrent with the circuit racing agenda, mountain bikers will have the opportunity to race off-road in their respective age categories. Mudslingers must be ready by 9.30am sharp, and meet the MTB coaches near the mechanics’ hut, ahead of their warm up and a race briefing. Any Slipstreamer riding a mountain bike is welcome, whether or not they have raced previously. Riders who have completed their race on the circuit, and who have a mountain bike, may (if they want to) join the Mudslingers after their race for additional MTB racing, and if the timing permits. The anticipated itinerary is as follows:

Race Briefing & Warm-Up: 9:30am
Race 1: 10:15am - racing for 15 minutes
Race 2: 10:30am - racing for 40 minutes
Warm down and MTB fun & games at 11.15am

And finally...
We'll be bringing our cameras and taking snaps for a gallery and publication in next week's newsletter. Please do also bring yours along parents, and, if you don't mind, do share your pictures with us at signon@slipstreamers.co.uk after race day so we can include these in our race day showcase.

Good luck to you all of you racing on Saturday!

A Reminder About Safety

As it is Race Day this Saturday, we thought it was the right time to remind you all of the incredibly important safety aspects to bear in mind when you attend a Slipstreamers session, and indeed before any race. We've produced a guide for you, so please do click this link, and carefully read the guidance about what to do the night before, the importance of proper sustenance, wearing the right kit, and more. Parents, please make sure each child is familiar with this by reading it to the younger ones, or why not print and put on your fridge as a general reminder to all riders? We hope you find this useful!

A Note About Helmet Safety:

As some of you know, an accident occured last week Saturday that required us to clear the circuit and call an ambulance. You will all be very pleased to know that Oscar Elkington is thankfully absolutely fine, and other than a few bruises and scracthes, did not get seriously hurt. In fact, Oscar's helmet bore the brunt of the impact to his head, and while it was badly damaged by the crash it did it's job! Because of this one single piece of kit, the injuries sustained to Oscar's head were thankfully minor and not serious. The importance of helmet safety cannot be stressed enough, something that has also been tested previously by Ben Moriarty, who too recently had an accident whilst cycling on the road - his helmet bore the brunt of the impact and ultimately saved Ben's life. A decent helmet alone is not enough to keep you safe whilst cycling, but it's pretty reassuring to know that at least the risk of serious injury to your head is reduced while wearing on.Please do read the guidance we've produced on this here.

Tour De France - Slipstreamers' Experiences

Ralph & Simon Passey At the London Stage of Tour - 7th July:

Simon's Experience

It was an amazing and an unforgettable day. The atmosphere was great and while we were not able to watch the race at the Mall due to large crowds, we watched it in Green Park on a big screen. Whilst we were watching the race, we were kept topped up with little cakes that people were handing out for free. There were plenty of different stalls and freebies for all. One of these stalls was a Skoda stall which included a 700m race up hill on a 7% climb, a little shop for buying kit and lastly to design a biscuit with edible ink. Me and my dad both took part in the 700m uphill race, and after we got given a Skoda water bottle full of refreshing water. It was an amazing experience as a whole and was a great day out!

Ralph's Experience
We went to wast the end of stage 3 of the Tour De France finishing in London. We arrived at The Mall to find a mass of people up to 5 deep lining the finishing straight, so went to the Fan Park in Green Park to watch the race on a massive screen and visit the stands. Also, at the Fan Park was a food area where you could buy a large range of food, an area of stands where you could take part in challenges, or just get a free drink. Whilst the race progressed towards London, we enjoyed the free drinks and cakes from the Ibis Hotels stand, and saw Serge Betsen along with players from the London Irish rugby team. We bumped into some friends from other cycling clubs, and saw some Slipstreamers as we looked around. Unexpectedly, I was recognised by a cyclist who attended a coaching session I helped at several years ago. I also took part in the Skoda cycling challenge where I was up against Simon in a 700m uphill sprint, where we won a water bottle each (out of us two who do you think won?). As the race was about to finish there was a brief shower, but it did nothing to dampen the atmosphere. The stage was won by Marcel Kittel riding for Giant. As we left, we got an unexpected surprise of a bag of cakes from the Ibis stand for the journey home.

Do you have more photos and stories to share?

We look forward to receiving these so please do email to signon@slipstreamers.co.uk as soon as you can! If you have a particularly interesting experience or photo you'd like to share, don't forget to write an article for publication in our fantastic magazine, due out soon - email your contributions to magazine@slipstreamers.co.uk - remember, if you get published, you'll receive shopping vouchers!

Who's Who Corner - Meet Your Volunteers & Coaches

Each week we will be introducing you to one of the very many coaches and volunteers who help out at Slipstreamers, without whom the club would not function! You'll get to put a face to a name (if you don't know them already), plus you'll get to find out a little bit more about each one.

This week, we introduce you to someone most of you will already know - or at the very least, have heard of. She has been at the heart of Slipstreamers for many a year, received an award last week for her incredible volunteering efforts, and is none other than...

Alison Grant: Your Chairman, Assistant Club Welfare Officer and Generalissimo!

We asked Alison a few questions we thought you'd be interested to know the asnwers to:

{How long have you been volunteering at HSS?}
So long ago I have difficulty remembering. Officially, I became Membership Secretary in the Summer of 2003, but I started volunteering by helping at sign-on when we were outside, had no clubhouse, and were based in some huts where the Goals car park now is. That was about 2001.

{How did the idea of Slipstreamers come about?}
Originally, Slipstreamers started in the Summer of 1997 when two coaches, Brian Wright and Ray Kelly, started a Saturday morning session for children to learn to ride their bikes. It was so successful they continued it into the Winter, and the club was officially formed in January 1998. It was the children who decided to call it Slipstreamers as the coaches were always telling them to slipstream each other.

{What is the best/ worst part of your role at HSS?}
The best part is seeing children smiling, happy and seeing them achieve their goals. The worst is having to read through piles of paperwork to prepare for meetings!

{What do you do in your spare time, away from HSS?}
Horse riding is my passion. When I am cantering through the Chiltern Hills I don’t think of anything or anyone other than the moment. I love it.

{What is your “real” job?}
I am a company secretary for my husband’s business.

{What is your most interesting cycling/ sporting experience?}
Gosh, so many. Winning tickets to the Olympic Velodrome, watching the Tour finish in the VIP area, watching my daughter become National Champion at Judo. However, many, many years ago I played hockey for my county and was picked for England possibles against England probables and they said probably not...

{What is your favorite band/ artist/ musician of all time?}
There isn’t one overall favourite. I can appreciate different musicians from all backgrounds.

{If you could meet any historical figure, past or present, who would it be and why?}
My all time hero is a Swedish king called Gustavus Adolphus. He was AMAZING. He knew 10 different languages, rebuilt their navy and army, devised a new legal system, completely revamped the tax system, local government reformed, started an education system for all, bought in Universities, introduced the Arts, cleverly took control of the whole of North Europe, AND had time to design wallpaper patterns ( I have one of his in my house) and so much more.

{If you could time travel to any era, historical or future, where would you go?}
See above - and to meet Gustavus’ right hand man Axel Oxenstierna. Early C17th century.

{If you could be any fictional character from a book, comic, movie etc., whom would you choose?}
I love the Harry Potter books, so probably Madam Hooch teaching children to ride broomsticks instead of bikes!

{If you could be any animal, bird or insect for a day, what would you choose?}
Horse.

Thank you for taking the time to give us a bit of insight into who you are outside of Slipstreamers, Alison!

Race Chatter - Reports, Updates and General Chit Chat

Assen Trip Update

Not long to go now for Millie Coleman, Sam Gilbert, Stanley Kent, Bobbie O'Brien, Ben Bisson, Joe O'Brien, Jed Smithson, Abbey Old, Isabella Escallara, Cameron Still, Harvey Tadman, Nathan George, and Ieuan Woods, who will be heading out to Assen in Holland on or around the 26th/27th July, for a week of youth road racing. It will be a tough week racing against some of the best in Europe, but hopefully you'll all have great fun camping! If we have missed anyone please let us know and we will give you a mention next week.

All riders should have a copy of the regulations and the race programme details. If anyone is missing any information that can't be found on the website, then please let Dave know ASAP and he will send you copies of whatever you need.

Good luck to all of you, and please don't forget your cameras - we look forward to receiving loads of photos and a word or two about your experiences during the week.

Time Trial Practice Report - 12 July

We had 30 riders turn out for the July Time Trial Practice on Saturday. Quite a few riders turning out for the first time, which is great to see! Riders continue to record some very good times, and we are pleased to see that progress is being made. We are also pleased to report that most riders are now starting to analyse their own performance, and using these sessions to moniitor their progress against their own performance goals. Well done everyone!

A full list of results and lap times can be found here.

Westerley Time Trials - 16th July

Two competitions were held on this week on a fine and warm Wednesday evening. The first was the regular Time Trial, where all the available aerodynamic kit was allowed to be used. The second race, was for regular road bikes – no disk wheels, no aero bars, and no pointy hats. Josh Copley, although riding in his Willesden kit, entered both. In the first event, he came 4th with just failing to beat his previous best by just 2 seconds, recording 24:01 over 11 laps. Half an hour later, he was riding event 2 on his road bike, and managed to get 2nd place in the event recording a time of 25:19. Morgan Evans rode in the first event, and set himself a target lap time of 2:45. His lap times indicate that he was well on target completing his 11 laps within a range of 02:41 and 2:47. This is a fine example of looking at event demands, setting goals and working to achieve them. Morgan recorded a 30:19 – his first over the 11 lap distance. Ella Coleman raced in the second event and managed 11 laps in 36:27. Unfortunately, Ella did not improve on her previous outing, but no doubt opted to encourage her father, Phil, who did manage to come in just 15 seconds slower on his road bike than he did previous with aero-bars. It’s all down to the engine Phil! Jeremy Evans, who entered the previous road-bike-only event in June with a 33:30, pulled a great ride out of the bag to score a 30:54. Morgan must have given his Dad “the talk” on the way home, reminding him that “it’s only 35 seconds”.

Normal Time Trial Results:

Position	No.	Name	Total Time	Average Speed	Best Time
4	11	Josh Copley	24:01.0	25.832	02:06.5
10	19	Morgan Evans	30:19.2	20.462	02:41.2

Click here for full list of lap times.

Road Bike Only Results:

Position	Name	Total Time	Average Speed	Best Time
2	Josh Copley	25:19.0	24.506	02:10.6
3	Philip Coleman	26:07.3	23.75	02:18.3
20	Jeremy Evans	30:54.4	20.073	02:43.7
22	Ella Coleman	36:27.0	17.021	03:11.6

Well done to everyone that took part!

Slipstreamers in Action - A Few Random Race Snaps

As you can tell from our Winner's Corner feature, Slipstreamers are out and about racing all the time! Parents, please do take photos of your children at the various races they represent Slipstreamers at, and do please email these to us at sigon@slipstreamers.co.uk so we can showcase them in this newsletter.

Lee Valley Road Races

Stanley Kent takes the podium on the 12 July and also won their Summer series. Well done Stanley!

A Few Reminders - Don't Forget...

Lookout Ride This Sunday, 20th July - Swinley Forest, Bracknell

A reminder that the monthly social mountain bike ride is on this Sunday as normal - led by a group of our fantastic volunteers and coaches. The weather promises to be quite glorious, so if you've never ridden with us before, do join us - bring your family, bring your friends, bring your mountain bikes! Even if it's your first time on a mountain bike (or it's been a while since you brushed off the cobwebs and rode a bike!!), do come along - the trails are fantastic fun, you'll never be pushed to do more than you are able, and you won't regret it! It's a fabulous morning out - plus, you get to enjoy the amazing chocolate fudge cake from the canteen afterwards with absolutely zero guilt!

Meet at the Lookout Centre at 9am for a 9.30am start - we advise arriving early to ensure you get a parking spot as it gets very busy during the Spring/ Summer months. If you need directions or have any questions, do talk to one of the coaches, or email us at sigon@slipstreamers.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.

Circuit Safety Signs- Any More Designs?

We need a few more entries from creative Slipstreamers to show up the adults who can't come up with a circuit sign design that would deter pedestrians from wandering onto the circuit from the footpaths! We'd love it if you would please put on your creative hats, grab some pencils and paper, and design us a sign that all people, no matter what language they speak, would understand means do NOT walk on the circuit and to keep to the footpaths. Use your imaginations and please do send these in to signon@slipstreamers.co.uk as soon as you can! All designs will be reviewed, and while we cannot guarantee they will be used on the circuit as official signs, we'll definitely publish a few in our Newsletter and perhaps even the Magazine to show off your hard work and creativity!

If You'd Like To Buy Club Kit

Please email kit@slipstreamers.co.uk directly. We will then be able to advise you via email what is available for purchase.

Diary Dates - Upcoming

19th July:
- Race Day 2 - Go Ride Tour. Our second race day will celebrate the Tour De France coming to the UK and is incorporating the British Cycling Go-Ride Tour event. There will be Go-Ride prizes available to win, including t-shirts, bottles and other goodies!
- Normal sign on between 9am and 9:30am - do not be late!
20th July:
- Lookout Mountain Bike Session. Family/ friends ride in Swinley Forest, Bracknell. Arrive 9am for a 9.30am start.
26th July :
- Early practice session, sign on at 8.15am, ready to go for 8:30 sharp!
- Normal circuit session, sign on between 9am and 9:30am - don't be late!
2nd August :
- Early practice session, sign on at 8.15am, ready to go for 8:30 sharp!
- Normal circuit session, sign on between 9am and 9:30am - don't be late!
9th August :
- Early practice session, sign on at 8.15am, ready to go for 8:30 sharp!
- Normal circuit session, sign on between 9am and 9:30am - don't be late!
- Dews Farm Quarry - Mountain biking off site. Sign on from 9.30am - 10am
20th September:
- Safety Saturday - details to follow soon...
27th September:
- Family Fun Day!! Details to follow soon...

Winners Corner!

Saturday Club Session Races - 12th July...

And the weekly session winners recorded in our Winner's Corner are:

Mudslingers:

1st place for the girls is Maddie Emment, and Ted Vassey for the boys!

Well done mountain bikers!!

Road Racers:

U8 : Finlay Hawker for the boys, and Bobbie O'Brien for the girls
U10: Jo O'Brien for the boys, and Millie Coleman for the girls
U12: Nathan George for the boys, and Jessica Henning for the girls
U14: Peter Hewson for the boys
U16: Sam Henning and Alex Jones. Alex won the sprint, but joined the race on the neutral lap. Medal awarded to Sam Henning, 2nd in the sprint, but rode the full 6 laps. Both named champions based on effort!

Fantastic results all of you!!

And a VERY Special Mention Goes To...

Zack Taylor, who was awarded a medal for overcoming nervousness on his first session on a road bike, and road with confidence as though it was second nature. Good work, and keep it up Zack. Very well done!

From Further Afield, Wearing the Slipstreamers Colours...

Lee Valley Youth CC Summer Series Youth, 12th July

U12 Boys: 1st Gabe Banner
U10 Boys: 1st Jed Smithson

U8 Boys: 1st Stanley Kent

Castle Combe Series, 10th July

U10 Boys: 1st Jed Smithson

Mallory Park League 12, 8th July

U10 Boys: 1st Jed Smithson

Southdown Velo Goodwood #10, 8th July

U10 Boys: 1st Oliver Emment 2nd Benjamin Bisson

South East Region Series #9, 4th July

U12 Girls: 1st Isabella Escalera

Castle Combe Series 9, 3rd July

U14 Girls:   2nd   Lorna Bowler
U12 Girls:   2nd   Jemma Bowler
U10 Boys:   1st    Jed Smithson
U8 Girls:     1st    Kim Bowler

Velo Club Venta Summer Crit 1, 29th June

U10 Boys:    1st   Alex Uphill
U8 Boys:      2nd Pascal Giret
U8 Girls:      1st   Bobbie O'Brien

Well done to every single one of you, and if you didn't win or don't see your name above, don't worry - there are plenty more opportunities to race at each Saturday session and at all the various races out there, so keep at at, and please don't give up!!

CYCLING FUN FACT (S) OF THE WEEK

Tour De France - The Mountains Are Coming...

Did You Know...?

The race first crossed the Pyrenees in 1910 and the Alps one year later, with riders often pushing their bikes to the summits. The first finishes at altitude - Alpe d'Huez, Sestriere and Puy-de-Domecame - were in 1952, and Italy's Fausto Coppi won all three on his way to winning his second Tour. Mont Ventoux achieved notoriety when Britain's 1965 road race world champion Tom Simpson died on the mountain during the 1967 Tour. He collapsed less than one mile from the summit after falling off and being put back on his bike. The Galibier is the most climbed mountain and, to mark the 100th anniversary of its first crossing in 2011, it boasted the highest altitude finish in Tour history at 2,645m.

And finally, do remember the following important things:

1. Dress for the warm weather (but be ready for 4 seasons in a single day!), eat a healthy breakfast before you head out, and drink plenty of water!
2. Parents: park safely when you arrive please, i.e. stay off the grass verge at the gates, and park in the spaces provided!
3. Arrive on time for sign on - we start at 9am, we close at 9.30am!
4. Let us know ASAP if your phone numbers, address or emails change!

Stay safe and we'll see you on Saturday!

The Slipstreamers Team

IF YOU'VE MISSED A FEW OF OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS, HERE ARE THE LINKS TO OUR ARCHIVE:

10th July: Alison Receives Award, Tour Experiences, Dews Farm, and MUCH more...
3rd July: Le Tour, Assessment Results, Timetable, Race Reports, and MUCH more...
26th June: Special Issue - Nationals Feature!
19th June: National Series Prep, GHS Results, Awards, Ride Chilterns, and More...
12th June: Race Day Special, Velodrome, GHS Startsheet, and MUCH More...
5th June : Race Reports, Club Race Day, Kit Update and More...
29th May: Nationals Update, Olympic Velodrome, and More...
22nd May: Inter Club TT Report, Assen Update, MTB Dews Farm, and More...
15th May: Rider Safety, Time Trials Galore, National School Games, and More...
8th May 2014: Kit Sale, Time Trials, Results, and More...
1st May 2014: Promoting Cycling Event, Condor London, and More...
24th April 2014: Dews Farm MTB Session, Westerley TT Results and More.