‘Ah yeah, this cycling thing is a doddle Just look, as far as the eye can see all we have is this nice flat terrain, silky smooth. Sure we will cruise along these 160-odd or whatever it is kilometres today, cruise I tells ya. Oh. Wait there just a moment Tonto. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. This is bad. This is very bad. What in the name of Bod is that?’
That, my biking buddy, is Sestriere. And that is where, on stage 14, the pain is going to kick in. Yup, after two stages almost as flat as the atmosphere at the Emirates, the organisers of the Giro have put their heads together and decided that what this boys need is some nice clean mountain air and mountain air is what they are going to get, by the bloody bucket load.
Today’s stage starts in Cervere – the land of truffles, hazelnuts, leeks and red turnips – and will warm up with a sprint at Pinerolo – where Eustache Dauger was imprisoned don’t you know? – but energy should really be conserved for what comes after that. Because what comes after that is the small matter of the race to the top of Sestriere located 2035 meters above the level of the sea and while the gradient scarcely peeps its head above the 5% mark this has to be one of the longest climbs on the tour.
Or at least it would have been if whoever it is that is in charge of the weather in that part of the world had not sent the temperature rising and with it the threat of avalanches meaning the Sestriere is out of bounds and a re-route via the Val di Susa is needed. Here’s a pic of the new route in case you are wondering what it looks like and here is much changed and much less exciting official profile. (Sunday’s climb of Galibier is also under threat by the way). All of which probably means that all the day’s fun will be reserved for the final climb of the day. But don’t get it twisted, that won’t be a Sunday stroll in London Fields accompanied by a pint of that elephant beer in the Dove afterwards by any stretch of your imagination.
“As wild as the Giro can get, this stage finish is “only” 7.2km at 9% on standard roads to cluster of ski lifts of Bardonnechia” says the knowledgeable peeps over at Inner Ring of the category one climb to Monte Jafferau (that 9% is an average figure but the gradient can and does hit 14% in places) and William Fotheringham reckons that it could start to separate the men from the mere men.
“A warm-up for the Dolomites with the long drag to Sestriere, and the short, steep finish climb. Any favourite struggling here will be out of the reckoning in the next few days; the finish will favour a pure climber,” he argues, before putting his money behind Bradley Wiggins and Ryder Hesjedal Carlos Betancur of Ag2r La Mondiale Team Sky’s Sergio Henao. Will he be right? Well why not stay tuned and find out, eh?
Sure what else would you be doing of a Saturday afternoon?
(Here’s what the stage would have looked like in its original form)
Giro d’Italia 2013 stage 14 map and profile Giro d’Italia 2013 stage 14 map and profile
Claiming to be the biggest and most comprehensive compilation of UK motorcycle routes ever, it appears to be just that, with carefully annotated and mapped trips ranging from short afternoon outings to bigger day tours, the length and breadth of Britain.
It includes useful touring tips on how to ride in groups, how long each ride takes, how to plan your route and stay safe. And it’ll fit neatly in your tank bag.
The only aspect Weir doesn’t mention is keeping the noise down; nothing alienates motorcycling faster, among those living near popular routes, than the day-long drone of a “racing” exhaust.
“Things Come Apart” is about stuff—the everyday things that surround us, and to which we rarely give a second thought. But for anyone with a love of Meccano and Haynes manuals, it is the perfect coffee-table book. Photographer Todd McLellan has taken 50 objects—from a Swiss Army penknife (38 components) to a Homelite chain saw (286)—disassembled and photographed them. The resulting pictures are intriguing. £19.95, Thames Hudson FM
With one month ’til the official start of summer, it’s time to get beach ready. Add some gain to all that workout pain with a little reward: a new suit.
For her, look like you’ve stepped out of Hollywood’s golden era in Melissa Odabash’s Hawaii ruched one-piece. £178, odabash.com .
For him, bring classic seersucker to the sand with Maison Kitsuné’s striped shorts. £133, farfetch.com
Croquet is the sport of queens, at least if Lewis Carroll is to be believed. Turn your tranquil lawn into grudge-match central with the full-size Canterbury croquet set from venerable games-maker Jaques of London. Flamingos not included. £299.99, jaqueslondon.co.uk
LB
Silvia folding rocking chair
The Furniture
Rockin’ it
Modern takes on a classic can occasionally go very right, as in the case of the Silvia folding rocking chair. A new addition to the garden furniture collection of Odd Limited, it calls to mind long summer afternoons in the countryside sipping Pimm’s and reading Ian Rankin. Though not waterproof, the chairs are light enough to carry inside when the rain does come. In shades of lime, orange or white, who needs the sun? £299, oddlimited.com
HKT
The Shop
American Beauty
If the reputation of American sportswear was built on the Ralphs, the Calvins, the Annes and the Donnas, its gospel of laid-back luxe has in recent years been spread by one J.Crew.
With bright mix-and-don’t-match prints, well-tailored basics and chunky costume jewelry, the brand is the perfect balance of East Coast prep and West Coast cool. Now, it’s trading in bicoastal living for some trans-Atlantic action, hopping the pond with a two-day pop-up shop in London next week—a teaser for the first stand-alone J.Crew store outside of North America, opening on Regent Street in November.
For those who can’t make it to London, there’s no need to panic. The brand has stayed true to its catalog roots with a thriving online business. May 24-25, The Western Transit Shed, London N1C 4AB; j.crew.com
Summer arrived early this year—in the sonic form of Vampire Weekend’s new album, “Modern Vampires of the City.” The cover art, depicting a 1966 cityscape of the smoggiest day in New York history, may make you want to head for the hills. But fun-fueled music inside is the perfect soundtrack for biking on the beach, having a picnic in the park or a backyard barbecue. vampireweekend.com
TG
The List
The Best of Star Trek
“To boldly go where no man has gone before.” Capt. Kirk, part of the opening monologue of the “Star Trek” TV series
“Scotty, beam us up.” Capt. Kirk, “The Gamesters of Triskelion” episode (1968)
“Khaaan!” Capt. Kirk, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982)
“Resistance is futile.” Borg in the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series
“Humans have an amazing capacity for believing what they choose and excluding that which is painful.” Spock, “And the Children Shall Lead” episode (1968)
“Make it so.” Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
“Live long and prosper.” Spock, first said in the 1967 episode “Amok Time” TG
—With contributions from Lucy Benson, Thorsten Gritschke, Helen Kirwan-Taylor, Fiona Matthias and Beth Schepens —Email BigSmallTalk@WSJ.com
The rioters are armed with makeshift weapons such as oil drums, planks, wooden pallets and water bottles which they hurl at the black-clad troops pouring from the rear of white UN Tactica armoured riot vehicles.
As the order is given, the two central vehicles in the line of four suddenly reverse at high speed leaving a gap through whichthe Mobile Force Reserve surge to try to restore order before retreating behind them again.
The pattern of advance and consolidate is repeated until a final push sees the mob flee and disperse.
On other occasions petrol bombs and bricks have rained down on the soldiers – men and women mainly from the West Midlands and South Staffordshire – but bounced harmlessly off their protective gear.
The drills are a vital part of the training needed to hone their skills of the 58 Territorial Army members of the 4th Battalion Mercian Regiment (4Mercian) who have been drafted in by the
United Nations to keep the peace on the divided sunshine island of Cyprus as part of a force established almost 50 years ago to end the bloodshed between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.
They are one of the first TA units to be chosen for the role and have been tasked with dashing to bring order to potential border flash points.
The mission comes at a crucial time as Reservist forces prepare to take on extra responsibility following substantial reductions in the strength of the Regular Army.
It also serves as graphic illustrations of the constantly changing face of world affairs with yesterday’s enemy becoming today’s friend with Argentinian and British troops standing shoulder to shoulder on the peace line.
Soldiers from the two nations who went to war over the Falklands Islands now keep the peace on the green and blue lines that separate Greek and Turkish-controlled territory on the Mediterranean island.
Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Wilford, 44, who has 25 years experience in the regular army and was Commanding Officer of 4Mercian as they underwent pre-deployment training, said:
“When I was at school we were putting Argentinians to the sword and now we are all pals working together under the same UN blue beret.”
Major Paul Walkley, a 42-year-old father of two from South Staffordshire who leads the 4Mercian unit, explained: “The training has to be really kinetic because it is aimed at instilling a ruthless level of professionalism to ensure that everybody responds proportionally to any disorder we encounter.
“They have got to get so used to petrol bombs exploding at their feet and bricks hitting their visor that they do not over react if, and when, it happens for real.
“This is an important deployment for us and it is vital that we all get it right.”
The British and Argentinian troops are joined by soldiers from Hungary and Slovakia on the mission and are operating in 10 armoured personnel carriers that are based at the former RAF Nicosia airfield.
Lt Col Wilford added: “We were allowed to organise all our own training for this which is unusual and an enormous feather in our cap. It speaks volumes for the standard of the soldiers and the quality of training they are given here.
“We were inundated with volunteers. There are guys who want to go on an operational tour and get a medal on their chest but sure as hell do not want to get shot at.
“Then there are those blokes who have been to Afghanistan, been shot at once or twice and think that if they go back to that place their time might be up.
“The UN deployment caters for both these groups since it gives them a six month tour where they might get shot at, although that is highly unlikely.”
4Mercian have had troops seconded to regularly army battalions serving in Afghanistan for the past 10 years and recently had 37 of its soldiers on the front line with The Rifles.
Lt Col Wilford concluded: “We will be serving alongside soldiers from the regular armies of other nations. The powers that be have looked at our track record, standards of training and levels of fitness and operational deployment and decided we can make a good job of this. We will not let them down.”
Corporal Alex Perryman, aged 27, who lives with his partner in Harvington and works at Worcester Autos in Kidderminster is among the 4Mercian soldiers on Cyprus.
He has previously been on three tours of duty in Afghanistan and was blown up twice during the last of these while embedded with 1st Battalion The Rifles in Nahr-e Saraj South during the summer of last year.
Amazingly he escaped without a scratch on both occasions despite being within six feet of a bomb exploded by a command wire as he passed on patrol. He recalled: “One minute I was walking and the next I was on my backside. I remember being knocked off my feet and seeing the crater with smoke coming out of it.
“It is just part of the job and your training kicks in. I was deaf for a couple of hours but back on patrol the same day. A few months later another Improvised Explosive Device went off while we were on patrol and the blast took several of us off our feet.
“This is a UN peace keeping mission and so a very different type of tour. It will be a question of reacting to escalating situations and stopping them becoming a full blown riot. Each tour has its own sort of challenges but I am confident we will cope with everything that this one can throw at us.”
The unit has been trained to deal with a full-scale riot in the worst-case scenario but in reality there has been no violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots for a long time and positive noises are being made about political negotiations for the first time in half a decade but there are still occasional protests on key anniversaries that could flare up.
Meanwhile the troops are put through their paces in the punishing Mediterranean heat – up to 40C – so they can cope with even a worst case scenario.
They went through six months of graduated preparation back home before flying out to Cyprus to start their deployment earlier this year.
The 58 soldiers are divided into two troops and are on fortnightly rotation between being on standby with the Mobile Force Reserve and guarding and security duties.
The tour proved so attractive that 179 soldiers from the battalion applied. Major Walkley said: “The competition for selection was intense and as a result we have now our best soldiers who all really want to be here.
“Our primary role is to provide the public order capability. Although disorder is unlikely, we need to train for that eventuality. This involves practising baton and shield drills and using the Tactica riot vehicles. The other part of the role is to provide security at vehicle check points.
“This tour is invaluable for us as Reserves as it allows us to practice being commanders, officers and non-commissioned officers, whereas usually we would be attached to a commanding regular Army unit.”
The group is also an experienced one with some soldiers, including Privates as young as 23 on their 5th operational tour, having previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Op TOSCA is a very different type of tour to those hostile theatres with opportunities for cultural visits, beach days and, most importantly, the ability to stay in touch with those at home via phone, Skype and FaceTime on a daily basis. A major revamp of the TA is due to be announced by the Government later this month as part of a defence strategy known as Future Force 2020 with the regular Army cut from 100,000 to 82,000 over the next few years and the TA boosted from around 19,000 trained troops to 30,000.
Lt Col Dominic Wilford confessed: “The plans are highly ambitious and I think there is a 50-50 chance of them succeeding. However that is the view of a parochial infantry officer sitting in the West Midlands and not somebody in London with the full picture.
“It needs the right legislation and the right expenditure over the next decade to make it work, but the world is changing and there are an enormous number of ways for people to spend their spare time. I have got to lure a guy away from mountain biking, Facebook, Twitter, rugby club and the traditional stuff of drinking beer and going around with his pals.
“That has to be done at a time when people think the army is shrinking and we must get the message across that we are still recruiting.”
Lt Col Wilford continued: “The million dollar question is: what do you want the reservist to do? The great attraction for the past 15 years from Bosnia through to Afghanistan, particularly for the infantry, has been operations.
“As our involvement in Afghanistan comes to an end, military reviews show that UK PLC needs to be more involved in working with other nations in areas such as helping with training their military and offering political assistance.”
One theory is that a large TA battalion such as 4Mercian could be split into companies that would take it in turn to be seconded to a regular army battalion for 12 months at a time.
Lt Col Wilford said: “The money helps but I don’t think it will ever be a hook.
“However when you have got the time to spend with them they are as dedicated, motivated and genuinely keen as a regular soldier in the first rushes of his career.”
“I will keep going for these guys as long as my legs will carry me.”
Veteran Angus fundraiser Ian Wren is making that pledge to injured troops ahead of his latest and toughest challenge yet.
The former soldier from Arbroath is preparing to take on a gruelling 350-mile bike ride through France for Help for Heroes.
An impressive total of £3,000 has already been banked through fundraising events and bucket collections but Ian says he will take every penny the local community is willing to give.
The 56-year-old will leave Paris on Tuesday May 28 with 300 other cyclists and complete the journey over six days. Each day the group will stop at battlefield memorial sites around the country to lay wreaths and pay tribute to the fallen.
The trek will take the fundraisers through Compiegne, Amiens, Le Touquet and Calais and then on to Chatham and Blackheath once back in the UK.
It will end at the Cenotaph in London on June 2, when thousands of other Help for Heroes riders from across the UK are expected to converge on the capital.
Ian said: “This is the biggest one yet. Up until now it has been around 130 or 140-mile rides from the likes of Arbroath to Glencoe.
“I am going to be travelling around 70 miles per day. On the last day we are biking from Blackheath into London and meeting up with the rest of the charity riders.
“It is going to be difficult but there are limbless guys who are doing it on handbikes and there is an amputee coming from Canada.”
Help for Heroes has organised for each rider involved in the nationwide Hero Ride to wear a different coloured shirt so the charity’s medal emblem will be visible from the air.
It is hoped the event will raise in excess of £1 million for servicemen and women injured in the line of duty.
Far from resting after the mammoth effort, Ian is already planning a cycle ride through the Mearns over the Cairn o’ Mount and into Aberdeenshire. To make a donation go to www.bmycharity.com/IanWren8452.
16th May 2013: Remember the Olympics last year? Remember how even the hardiest sport skeptics were swept up in a wave of communal feeling as the 10 days of the Games unfolded?
Remember how track cycling became the surprise hit of the London 2012 televised coverage?
In addition to showcasing the quality of Olympic-level cycling – just one part of a biking renaissance taking place all around us – another fact soon became clear. Scotland has a knack for producing world-class cycling talent. Whether this is down to the relentless hills, the unrelenting wind many cyclists might find themselves peddling into or something about the build and mindset of the people that live here, you don’t have to look far to see evidence of this.
If you’ve ever been remotely near YouTube, you’ve probably seen the skills of trails cyclist Danny MacAskill, whose stunts have earned him worldwide recognition – as well as several million YouTube views. Of a similarly high profile on the film front is Graeme Obree, the racing cyclist who has twice held the world record for most distance covered in an hour, and whose life story was recently filmed as The Flying Scotsman.
Then there’s Sir Chris Hoy, the most successful Olympic cyclist of all time, with 6 gold medals to his name (plus the rest). He might well have recently announced the end of his cycling career, but not before getting a velodrome named after him. A principal venue of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is quite a structure. And if you think the outside looks good, wait until see the inside – and from 7-11 Aug 2013 you can: the UCI Juniors Track Cycling World Championships will be the first major world championship-level event to take place in this iconic building – and the first time the event has ever visited the UK.
This is a real opportunity to experience the worldwide cycling talent of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games of the future – A bit like the track cycling equivalent of seeing the Sex Pistols at The 100 Club. The best junior (under-19) track cycling racers from around the world will compete in a range of the race disciplines we’re all now familiar with after the 2012 Olympics watershed moment: Keirin, Team Sprint, Individual pursuit; Team pursuit and many more.
For spectators, there’s also plenty of activities taking place in between the races, many of which are suitable for both younger children and teenagers, whether they’re new to the sport or keen to take things further. You can race other riders on a ‘rolling road’, take part in group rides on your own bike, and race on the outdoor track that forms part of the new velodrome complex.
High-spec cabins at Sherwood Hideaway (Picture: Supplied)
Each week, we test the best British escapes. This week, we stay at Sherwood Hideaway in Nottinghamshire.
‘Hmpf,’ sounded my husband suspiciously as we drove into Sherwood Hideaway. ‘I thought you said “luxury cabin in the forest?”’ It’s true that, from the outside, the neat collection of cedar lodges lacks the grandeur of the impressive Thorseby Hall Estate they call home. But once you cross the threshold, you realise these little cabins are like the Tardis – bigger and grander on the inside.
On the edge of the estate with trails into Sherwood Forest, the Hideaway is five miles from the A1 near Ollerton. Newark North Gate station, a taxi drive away, can be reached from London King’s Cross in just over an hour.
The park has 14 high-spec self-catering lodges in three styles (rustic, contemporary and traditional) that sleep four to six. There’s been great attention paid to the interior – tiles from Porcelanosa, Mulberry and Designers’ Guild fabrics with timber to reinforce the whole ‘forest hideaway’ thing.
There are hotel-style luxuries – iPod docks, broadband, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, duck feather pillows and duvets, Molton Brown goodies, fluffy robes – plus homely touches such as decks with barbecues, wood-burning stoves and a welcome hamper.
It’s worth shelling out for a VIP lodge with hot tub. Yes, I know they’re everywhere nowadays but these have been well positioned: screened off so neighbours can’t spy on you but allowing views of the forest and estate.
Ignoring the lingering snow on our deck, we sipped wine as we soaked under glittery skies while the kids slept (it made up for the ‘swimming’ we endured with them in the tub earlier).
USP: Such high-spec, self-catering luxury is rare, being able to enjoy it with kids, bikes and dogs in tow is even rarer.
Who goes there? Adventurers keen on walking or biking – you can link to the Ancient Sherwood Route from outside your cabin; couples in need of time out; and families looking for Robin Hood’s hideout.
Venture out: A walk through fields leads to a formal Jacobean-style park and on to Thorseby Hall Hotel, with its fine-dining restaurant and spa (Hideaway guests get a discount), and the Courtyard with a gallery, shops and café. It took us an hour to reach the hall, albeit with stops to play pooh sticks. Visit the Sherwood Forest visitor centre near Edwinstowe to see the 800-year-old Major Oak, where Robin Hood supposedly hid out. The ruins of a medieval monastery are the focus of the 150-acre Rufford Abbey Country Park, a short drive from the Oak. The ancient village-themed park teems with children, while couples take sedate turns around the lake.
Great Britain’s Olympic Programme mountain bikers will begin their World Cup campaign this weekend in the season opener of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup series in Albstadt, Germany.
Above: Coach Phil Dixon is looking for consistency in the run-up to Olympic qualification.
After a gruelling winter of cyclo-cross racing under their belts along with some career best performances in the British and Swiss cross country series events for the under 23 riders, Phil Dixon has selected a large squad for the first round of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup series which takes place on 18–19 May.
Olympian Annie Last (representing Trek Factory Racing) will contest the elite women’s category, whilst Grant Ferguson and Kenta Gallagher (both representing Superior-Brentjens MTB Racing Team) and Beth Crumpton will compete in the under-23 categories. Missing from the line up is Olympic Podium Programme rider David Fletcher who is rehabilitating with a broken wrist and elbow.
The Olympic Development Programme will be well represented in the junior category, with Alice Barnes, Billy Harding, Dylan Kerfoot-Robson, Iain Paton, Michael Thompson and Samuel Stean all selected to compete under the guidance of newly appointed coach Simon Watts.
This is the first time the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series has visited Albstadt, and it will run to the usual format of the World Cup Eliminator Sprint (XCE) taking place on Friday 17 May, with Kenta Gallagher the sole GB Olympic Programme entrant.
Commenting on Gallagher’s selection for the Eliminator, coach Phil Dixon said, “In the World Championships last year, Kenta qualified third in the Eliminator event and I think he’s got a strong chance to do well in that. The Eliminator discipline has been put forward to be a part of the Olympic Games at Rio and we’re still waiting on confirmation on that so we’ve made it a target for him for this season.”
The Cross Country (XCO) will then be contested on Saturday 18 May for the junior and under-23 women plus the under-23 Men and Sunday 19 May for the junior men and elite men and women.
“For the under 23 riders, I want to see consistency across the whole season – both Kenta and Grant have moved on in their development during the winter period and are now at a higher level so we want to maintain that and improve their world ranking going into the Olympic qualification year which starts in May 2014.”
British Cycling Olympic Podium Programme Coach Phil Dixon
Expectations aren’t too high for Olympic Podium Programme rider Annie Last who suffered an injury whilst competing with Trek Factory Racing in the USA. Dixon explains: “Annie unfortunately picked up a lower back injury over the winter which meant she had to take time out of training to do some rehab in order to get to the start line in Germany. This round of the World Cup for Annie is about seeing how her back copes and putting a marker down to move towards the World Championships in September which is her season target.”
With the current Olympic and World Champion Julie Bresset from France out of action with a broken collarbone, the women’s race looks to be an interesting one, with Beijing gold medallist Sabine Spitz (Germany) no doubt wanting to make an impression at her home World Cup, whilst Marianne Vos (Netherlands), who holds world champion titles in road, track and cyclo-cross disciplines, is turning her hand to mountain biking and will start in her first elite Mountain Bike World Cup.
The elite men’s race looks also to be hotly contested with Olympic Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech) and current world champion Nino Schurter (Switzerland) expected to take to the start line.
For the rest of the squad, Dixon has an eye on the Olympic Games in Rio and defines consistency to be the key: “I’m expecting strong performances from the U23 and the new junior set up. We’re four years out from the next Olympic Games and so typically for our programme we are in a development cycle where we are trying to get more athlete numbers to help with the qualification process for Rio, where we are hoping to qualify more male and female places than we did for London.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Dixon continued: “Annie’s obvious target for the season is a strong performance in the World Championships in South Africa and I’ll also be looking for her to perform well in the second half of the World Cup season and also at the National Championships in Glasgow. For the under 23 riders, I want to see consistency across the whole season – both Kenta and Grant have moved on in their development during the winter period and are now at a higher level so we want to maintain that and improve their world ranking going into the Olympic qualification year which starts in May 2014.”
From Germany, a reduced team of Annie Last, Beth Crumpton, Grant Ferguson and Kenta Gallagher will go straight on to the second round of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup the weekend after in the Czech Republic. The juniors will miss this round due to school commitments.
Track cycling event at Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome features group rides and races for young visitors
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Remember the Olympics last year? Remember how even the hardiest sport skeptics were swept up in a wave of communal feeling as the 10 days of the Games unfolded? Remember how track cycling became the surprise hit of the London 2012 televised coverage?
In addition to showcasing the quality of Olympic-level cycling – just one part of a biking renaissance taking place all around us – another fact soon became clear. Scotland has a knack for producing world-class cycling talent. Whether this is down to the relentless hills, the unrelenting wind many cyclists might find themselves peddling into or something about the build and mindset of the people that live here, you don’t have to look far to see evidence of this.
If you’ve ever been remotely near YouTube, you’ve probably seen the skills of trails cyclist Danny MacAskill, whose stunts have earned him worldwide recognition – as well as several million YouTube views. Of a similarly high profile on the film front is Graeme Obree, the racing cyclist who has twice held the world record for most distance covered in an hour, and whose life story was recently filmed as The Flying Scotsman.
Then there’s Sir Chris Hoy, the most successful Olympic cyclist of all time, with 6 gold medals to his name (plus the rest). He might well have recently announced the end of his cycling career, but not before getting a velodrome named after him. A principal venue of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is quite a structure. And if you think the outside looks good, wait until see the inside – and from 7-11 Aug 2013 you can: the UCI Juniors Track Cycling World Championships will be the first major world championship-level event to take place in this iconic building – and the first time the event has ever visited the UK.
This is a real opportunity to experience the worldwide cycling talent of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games of the future – A bit like the track cycling equivalent of seeing the Sex Pistols at The 100 Club. The best junior (under-19) track cycling racers from around the world will compete in a range of the race disciplines we’re all now familiar with after the 2012 Olympics watershed moment: Keirin, Team Sprint, Individual pursuit; Team pursuit and many more.
For spectators, there’s also plenty of activities taking place in between the races, many of which are suitable for both younger children and teenagers, whether they’re new to the sport or keen to take things further. You can race other riders on a ‘rolling road’, take part in group rides on your own bike, and race on the outdoor track that forms part of the new velodrome complex.
THE sixth annual Margate Meltdown takes place on Monday, May 27, as petrol heads make the journey to the seaside from London’s Ace Cafe.
Scores of scooter riders and motorcyclists will journey down to pay homage to the 1960s era of Mods and Rockers who famously clashed over the Whitsun weekend of 1964.
1755033
Riders will leave Ace cafe at 10.30am, aiming to arrive in Margate at around noon.
The bikers will then line up their vehicles along Marine Terrace for an afternoon display.
Your food bill.
Terms:
Monday to Thursday lunch dinner food only. Drinks are not included in promotion.
Contact: 01892 544144
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Bikes will be polished, leathers will be gleamed and motor enthusiasts will spend the afternoon showing off their pride and joy.
Thousands of visitors are expected to turnout to soak up the atmosphere to take part in the full throttle celebrations.
The seafront and old stone pier is handed over to the bikers and their vehicles.
Attractions will include motorcycle and scooter club stalls, as well as trade stands for visitors to pick up a token souvenir.
Throughout the afternoon there will be live music on the stage, with rockin’ and rollin’ music from DJ Bill Guntrip.
The bank holiday biking bonanza has become a popular event in Margate’s calendar.
Organisers have continued to run the event to allow riders to explore the seaside’s resort’s biking heritage and to enjoy the sands and the sunshine throughout the bank holiday weekend.
*The Margate Meltdown takes place on Monday, May 27.
Motorcyclists will line up along Marine Terrace from noon and their will be entertainment throughout the afternoon.
Watch a clip of the meltdown by clicking on the link below.
![[image]](http://www.bikinglondon.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/f2c52_EW-AO749_BigSma_DV_20130516092119.jpg)
