Track Panorama

Been up the Bishops Tachbrook track again this AM. Managed an hour before the rains came; Benn and Sean got there at 8:30!! Anyway, did a panorama picture to show you all the terrain. Track panorama's are going to become regular feature on the blog...hope you like it. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)
R.P.

PLANNING MEETING - 1ST DECEMBER

On 1st December we get an answer on our Planning application, for the new track. The planning hearing will take place at Redditch Town Hall at 7pm. We would like as many people as possible to attend. Please try and come along, even if we're spilling out into the corridor; it would be great to see as many Members, riders and families there as possible. We need to show the Planning committee, and the people that oppose our track, that the proposed facility could be a massive benefit to the local community.

An article, recently, published in Redditch Advertiser shows the strength of feeling, some people have, towards our plans. See below:

Residents say no to plans for BMX track at Arrow Valley Park (Tuesday 10th November 2009)

RESIDENTS have reacted with anger over proposed plans to build a new floodlit BMX track at Arrow Valley Park.

If plans go ahead the new track will be built on an area which at the moment comprises two football pitches and is regularly used by local residents for walks. The plans also include a perimeter fence around the site, a clubhouse facility, alterations to existing changing rooms, storage facilities, and a social activity space and office accommodation. Resident Heather Wood, who lives near the area, said: “Myself, and all my neighbours that I’ve spoken with, are all dead against this proposal. “It’s a real concern that yet another green space is going to be lost. “It’s going to be quite a big development. We will lose two football pitches that are always in use, not just for games but training, as well and a nature walk. “At the moment it is a very popular spot with a lovely view of uninterrupted greenery but if the proposal goes ahead we will lose all of it.” Redditch Council is behind the application, working in partnership with British Cycling, Redditch Premiers BMX Club and the Wheels Charity. Residents received a letter informing them of the plans at the end of last month and have until next week to object. Heather added: “At the moment everyone can make use of the area but if the track is built and a big fence is put up surrounding it then who can use it apart from the BMX riders? “We are going to fight this. If it goes ahead then who knows where the next place we could lose will be.” A council spokesman said: “The aim is to provide new and improved sports and recreation opportunities in the borough and to increase participation in physical activities across a broad range of age groups. “The on-site changing rooms will still be used for football and we can accommodate a football pitch elsewhere in the borough if it is required. “The track will be fenced off, but this will not prevent those who enjoy walking through the park being able to continue doing so.”

Anyone who would like to view the plans or object can visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk

We would really appreciate your comments, which you can make through the Redditch Advertiser. Please make them by clicking on the word COMMENTS below:

COMMENTS

Cheers and we look forward to seeing you in the 1st December.

Redditch Premiers

Bishops Tachbrook Play Track (Part 2‏)

After hearing great things about Bishops Tachbrook play track from some of the Premiers members; Myself, Sean, Mick, Andy and Ang thought we should check out the hype for ourselves . Myself and Sean set out early. When we arrived it was hard to believe such a great little track was tucked away in the corner of a park in the middle of a small village. The first straight is awesome fun with tight flowing rythym, this ment there was so many ways to get through it. At the end of the straight is a snaking tarmac berm which can get a little tight when you carry your momentum from the first straight, into it. Down the second straight you have more space between jumps but it doesnt flow as well as the first straight. Another great feature of this place is that the last corner,which is also tarmac, shoots you straight back up the start hill so you can literally do circuits of the track. We found it great for training by pumping round the track and seeing how many cuircuits we could do until we felt the burn. Mad manualler Mick Gough was rolling through half of the first straight on his back wheel, the guy has got mad skills. It was also great to see Sean really improving with his maunualling skills, it just showed what versatility this track has.

In summary we all loved this place, its great for beginners and experienced riders, because their is so many ways through it it gets the mind ticking with the different combinations, but its great for beginners to get the hang of manualling jumps and having more confidence in getting through Rythym sections.

Needless to say this will be a regular venue for Premiers Club session over the winter and we cant wait for our next visit. If you haven't already been, you should check this place out.....you won't be sorry you did.

Benn

SEAN (Manualling)

MICK (Flying)

MICK, SEAN & BENN (Grinning)

Gosport Winter Regional - A Redditch Premiers Road Trip

As Greg had mentioned in a previous post, last Sunday, Matt Mayneord and myself, made the trip down to Gosport on the South coast for the 1st round of the South Region Winter series. Matt had to go down to the South Coast to drop a bike off and suggested we killed two birds with one stone and race the Regional. It was a track that neither of us had seen or ridden before and we had heard good things, so that was enough to make the decision for me; its always good to ride next tracks and spots.

The trip down was easy but the weather wasn't looking too great, it rained for most of our journey. When we eventually found the track, Practise was in full swing. The first thing we did was got out of the car to check out the track. It looked dry considering the rain the region had had, and with only 15 minutes of our 1st practise session left we hurried to get our bikes out of the van to get a couple of gates in and get a feel of the track. Luckily the South split up their practise into blocks, Under 13's and over 13's have 2 sessions before racing starts. This made sense from a safety point of view but also meant we weren't really queueing a long time for gate practise. This is defiantly something for us to consider for when the track in Redditch is built and we start to hold our own events.

The first corner at Gosport is a tight, right hand 90 degree tarmac turn and when you go 8 riders deep into it its a case of hold on tight and say a little prayer; especially when you're racing Masters/40 like myself and Matt were. There were 10 of us in our category, seven Masters( 30-39 year old) and three 40 and over riders. It was good to see that Miles 'the flying fox' Kirby, Mad Ady Warden, and Jai 'Redline/SE Racing Team Manager' Kemp had all made the trip down. All of us, mixed in with some local guys and South region riders, promised some close racing. Even with 5 in each moto the corners were proving tight and hard to make passes, I know this because my gates were that bad that I found myself at the back most of time and trying to pass people in corners. Matt however made rather lighter work of qualifying for the Final with 3,3,4 in his motos to qualify 5th and my 5,4,2 with a little bit of look saw me through in 7th place. Come final time and it was going to be between Jai, Ady and Miles. They had been swapping wins in the motos and were just a level of above where myself and Matt are right now. Miles took the win much to his delight, with Ady taking 2nd, Jai 4th, Matt 5th and Myself 6th. Over all the race meeting was brilliant. There were approx. 150 riders in attendance which was amazing considering the location and the weather they had had over the weekend. !

7+ payback was stacked to the rafters, Notable riders were Zoltan Buday (19+ National Champ, 19+ big hitters Billy Luckhurst(Profile and Hayes Hawks) and James Chadwick(Bournemouth) Jon Moore (40+ National Champ) Jon was on fire and really mixing it with these guys, I knew Jon was fast but to see him hanging with some fast young riders was awesome; watching the semis, I saw some good riders missing out on the A final. 40+ cruiser was busy too, with nearly enough riders for Semis. Gary Godden taking the win on his shiny new Redline with a move on the last straight.

We didn't waste too much time in loading the van up and getting on our way. With a 2 and a half our drive in front of us we wanted to get on the road. The event was run so well that racing was done by 3.15pm and we were away.

We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone from Gosport Club and the South Region for a great day and we will definantly see you again over the winter.

Benn.

For South Winter Series details check out this link:
British Cycling South Region BMX

Gosport Track Panorama

R.P. Rider, Matt Mayneord/Jai Kemp/Miles Kirby & Son

Play Track Visit

As previously mentioned, some of the R.P. members went to Bishops Tachbrook, near Leamington Spa yesterday. We went to check out the new play track, (on the Bishops Tachbrook playing fields), designed and built by Jason Carpenter, from Dragon Downhill. It was a beautiful morning and the sight of the crisp edged jumps, after the 45 minute journey, was great. There was already one rider, Alec at the scene, from local club RLS4X, (we were later joined by a whole posse of riders from the club:-).

The first straight is a really tighlty packed rhythm section, finished off with a neat left hand berm. The berm then switches to the right and left again in a really tight, (and rather uncomfortable) way :-S . The berm then goes right again, leading into the second straight; this has some more triples before going onto three sets of doubles, of about a metre and a half in height.

It was alot of fun to ride. I particularly enjoyed the first straight and soon found myself triple manualling, in places, on every run,( a real achievement for me). However I did find it difficult to generate enough speed to jump all of the doubles on the second straight; Alec and my team mate Tim Drew, showed that it could be done though... The other RLS4X riders seemed to enjoy the track and it was great when everybody was on the track, snaking their way, over the obstacles in a train formation.

Overall, it was great fun to ride and it gave my knees a real workout. The parish councillors who made this happen were thrilled that so many people had turned up on it's inaugral weekend. Congratulations to all of them, the local kids are lucky to have such facilities on their door step. I'm sure a few more BMX's and MTB's will be on Santas list this year! Can't wait to go there again soon.
g.

A good turn out by RLS and Redditch Premier Riders

Tim Drew showing how to jump the doubles

The unique berm arrangement

Alec from RLS4X

Me, enjoying the sun and air!

Club Activities this Weekend

Whilst Redditch Premiers, Benn and Matt, are going to Gosport, Portsmouth, for a winter regional this weekend; other members Jo, Greg, Shaun and Tim are hoping for good weather to allow us to go and ride the new play track at Bishops Tachbrook near Leamington Spa. From the looks of the photos below, it looks like we should be entertained for a few hours!-) It's been designed and built by Dragon Downhill, the builders of Derby and Tredegar so the build quality should be good, (but hopefully not too steep.)

R.P.

Whoopdeedoo!!