THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MANCHESTER VELEODROME

Editor's Whinge: I was whiling away a few idle moments sorting through the detritus that seemed to have collected on my desk over the New Year, when this geezer pokes his blond-haired head through the door. I'm not too partial to blonds myself but this one I actually knew. As it happens it was my old chumlette Terji from Norway over here for a little troll around the track. And it wasn't the first time I'd seen him that day either since he was staying in the West Wing of tdo Towers. And since the evening before Terji was enquiring whether Jingles, the West Wing's resident teddy bear was potty trained or not, I waited with baited breath for the next instalment of Norwegian Tales. As it happened, Terji [Terry to you & I] had fallen off the track after using new, un-cleaned tubs on the Velodrome. Now, let this be a warning to you all. If you have new tubs or tyres on your wheels, please clean them with alcohol BEFORE you try them on the track. And I might further add that Jingles, bless his little cotton pyjamas, is fully potty trained.

I don't seem to have been over-rushed packing up signed copies of the last 50 issues of Velodrone [see Velodrone 50]. I can only assume you have all taken pirated copies from our web-site. Shame on you. They'll not be worth a groat without my lovingly scrawled name on. Anyway, happy new year to you all wherever you may be!

With 2003 only just cranking into a gear [grinding 'orrbly since the salty grit from the roads have got in] the Velodrome is already flat out with preparations for the Bits & Bikes fair on January 26th run by Tony O'Brien. Don't forget that once you have bought that essential item you never knew you even needed at some knock-down price, you'll be able to settle down and watch the Rumble in the Jumble track meet. Three omniums - Trackcycling.co.uk Sprint; Tile Choice [Ire] Madison and Orbit Cycles tandem omniums make up a full programme which begins at 11.30am, half an hour after the doors open for the Fair. Great racing in store with eight tandems racing on the boards and top mixed teams they are too [either m/f or sighted/sight impaired]. Lets just say as well as tandem champ Boydy stoking a blind fella we have GB tandemist Barney "I'm too sexy &" Storey stoking Ian Dawson; double World Masters champion Ellen Hunter steering triple national champ Jon Norfolk; Denise Hampson taking her life in her hands with Dougie Pinkerton etc. And the madison should be fun too [James Taylor, that fella Westy, Prof Hugh Cameron etc]. Since the boys have been training to do the Madison, there should be no embarrassing confusions in their three races. And sprinting too! All for £2 / £1 on the door on the day @ 11am. Never has so much fun been had for so little & &

By way of a little treat, the vets have recently had to endure some World Champion geezer riding their session. Chris Newton, whom I'm reliably told is not quite 40, was given special dispensation to ride with the Vets one week on the basis that he is quite good and the vets liked the idea. Have a look at the Berlin Six results soon to see how good the Vets session was!!!

10 km Derny track training 'record'. Yep folks. Now is the chance to stake your interest in getting this Velodrome 'record' going. It's not just for the derny but derny and rider!!!!! I have someone willing to put up £100 stake for the fastest 10km at the end of the year [£100- as long as we have at least 9 riders in each category]. All you have to do is get three personages together who want to have a go at the record, then contact me. Each rider puts up £25 for the hour track time and each of you gets a go at the record during the hour. And we increase the prize by £10 every session ! This would NOT be a BC record but a Velodrome record.

So if you fancy the idea, contact tdo ASAP on tdo@manchestervelodrome.com [or 0161 223 2244] and she will sort a date, time, dernys, fuel and driver. The BC motor-pace [big motors] record over the same distance is 8m 10secs!!!!

Sunday SQT 'B' This session is still going strongly despite dire warnings that it was the wrong time of the week, the wrong time of day and the wrong session. Still at 8-10pm. On Sundays as it happens.

Saturday Madison sessions. Do you ever get the feeling you are being got at? Well, since I told everyone that the Madison session was going to end on Jan 1st I was harassed severely but a morass of eager Madison-ites. I have succumbed to the pressure and the session will continue until Feb 1st when it will revert to an 'A' SQT. There will be a series of Madison SQT's later in the year to prepare yourselves for the nationals.!

Tuesday morning "Vets" SQT- more B variety!!!! This formerly Vets only SQT running from 10-12 midday, will be open to all 'B' riders and women of any age as from January 1st for a trial period. This is not just another SQT for anyone and the coach will run it at a pace suitable for this group of riders. You can just turn up and ride - but you must be accredited.

All-Day Track Training Sessions. Don't forget the additional day in place for riders with disability. If you have a disability and if you are interested in getting involved with track racing contact the tdo [Andrea] to book your FREE place. We have tandems ready for those who need them with all the requisite over-muscled tandem -drivers [Andy Slater, Barney Story, etc] just awaiting to get you involved. The riders with disability day is free - but places are limited so contact Andrea ASAP. Cost is a mere 27 pounds for Women's & Endurance days to cover everything including luncheon in the Refectory.

Sat 1-02-03 - Women's - with Yvonne McGregor [ no spaces]
Sat 1-03-03 - Endurance - with Marshall Thomas WCPP coach - [few spaces]
Sat 22-03-03 - Riders with disabilities - Ken Matheson, Paul West [BC & access for All] & Andrea Ingram [Velodrome & Access for All].

Any rider who wishes to get involved in track racing and has a disability - call Andrea on 0161 223 2244 or e-mail tdo@manchestervelodrome.com to book your place. Tandems for riders with sight impairment available.

Ciba kidz sessions - half term: No sooner had tdo recovered from the Christmas Ciba sessions than she's getting hassled about half-term and Easter. Rest assured there will be sessions on as usual - when I find out the school holiday days. Now, I did have them somewhere on my desk. OK, who's nicked my desk? Oh, it's under this pile of papers!!!!!! J

Monday 17th @ 12-1pm
Tuesday 18th Feb @ 3-4pm
Friday 21st @ 12-1pm & 3-4pm

Anyway, book by phoning 0161 223 2244 and it's £2 per session.

Now, where did I put my glasses?

Bikes & Bits Fair. Jan 26th. Doors open @ 11am. £2 / £1 on the door. The Best bikes & Bits jumble in the UK. Buy anything and everything BIKE. Incorporating the Rumble in the Jumble race meet
Orbit cycles Tandem omnium; Tile Choice [Ire] Madison Omnium & Trackcycling.co.uk Sprint omnium.
Top teams, great racing.
Velodrone - have it sent by e-mail. Just e-mail tdo@manchestervelodrome.com and ask to added to the mailing list.

Next issue for the Velodrone. 15th Feb 2003 All info gratefully received. Send it snail-mail to TDO, Manchester Velodrome, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ. Talk to me personally by telephone; Tel: 0161 223 2244. Send it by Fax: 0161 230 2309. Or, if you are wired try; Email : tdo@manchestervelodrome.com. Try our web-site; www.manchestervelodrome.com

� British Cycling 2002/2003

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