Category: BCC

TML was advertised as being suitable for any bike, but we didn’t expect everyone to take it so seriously, seeing everything from fully rigid 29ers to full downhill bikes (Jamie!).

The largely singletrack course was designed with technical options and with the hope that tactics and line choice would help determine the winner – we didn’t expect Pete to start the discussions at 11am and for Esther to find an alternative route (down the hill!) on her first timed lap.

When Nathan came up with the name “Three Minute Laps” we didn’t expect the time period to be so accurate, with Curtis’ winning time of 2 minutes and 35 seconds (due to spinning classes, according to Bob) bringing him home ahead of Jack by a second, with Nathan a further 14 seconds back in third.

Our fingers were crossed for ten participants, but 20 turned up, each of whom became involved in battles against riders of a similar pace, with a highlight being Tom beating Greg (to the crown of fastest TF Tuned employee), due to the commitment and sportsmanship shown, not to mention the use of Tom’s “Heckler Can” (essentially a can of rocks, used as a rattle).

After the individual event was the team relay event, where the secret was ensuring you got round without crashes or big errors, and that the changeovers were good – the best shown by Louie, who seemed to pull away from the changeover area like he was on concrete, not the mud pit the rest of us wheel spun our way out of.

A team of Sharon, Greg, Nathan, Marjory, Al and (late arrival) Ben L took the win by 45 seconds.

Thanks to everybody who chipped in to share the load of making it a great event; with people helping set up, put away, time the riders, work out the teams, solve anagrams, cheer the riders, jeer the riders and abuse the riders (with some of the most middle class “banter” I have ever witnessed from Al).

The next is provisionally scheduled for the start of January, so keep an eye out for the date, as well as the dig days to improve the course.

This Saturday (the 10th November) is the first Three Minute Laps, a fun event where we hope club members from all mountain bike disciplines will take part, by riding and competing on the wet weather friendly 80% singletrack course).

The event will start with everybody setting an individual lap time. The lap times will help determine the teams for the team event, where there will be head-to-head racing.

12:00: Course will open for practice

13:00: Seeding runs

14:00: (Approx): Team event (Team size depends on numbers)

16:00: Clear up, go home

(During this time the upper sections of Spoons and BBMS will be closed)

Are you in favour of:

Short climbs
Singletrack
Fun descents
Technical options
Being part of a team
Exerting yourself for three minutes at a time?

Three Minute Laps launches at 12 noon, Saturday 10 November 2012 at the Allotment, suitable for any bike (almost) you will compete on your own, as a team, against the clock and against others.

Hope to see you there.

At the Allotment on Sunday 28th October.

12 Noon until 3pm, help setting up from 11am and packing away afterwards gratefully received.

Freelap timing, marked course, £2 suggested donation.

Sorry to do this, but there aren’t enough people who have committed.

Please give feedback on the forum as to:

– When we rearrange it for

– Other events you’d like to see

– What we can do to make it more popular.

We will be holding a small Dig Day tomorrow morning 9am-12 noon to prepare and improve the course ahead of when we finally do hold it!

Frome’s Missing Link is one of five local projects shortlisted to go forward to a public vote to receive a £10,000 Frome Town Council grant. Further information on our bid is available herehttp://www.frome-tc.gov.uk/fromes-missing-link Please do what you can to gather support for the project – if successful, the money will go towards completing the cycle link between Welshmill Lane and Whatcombe Farm. Voting forms should be appearing with you shortly through the Frome Town Council newsletter. Your support is greatly appreciated!  Thank you.

You’ll all be happy to know that after a lot of hard work by Back-On-Track and the team of volunteers, the Welshmill pump track is now open and ready to be ridden. Please do take care of the turf and areas of grass seeding and allow them time to establish. Enjoy!

Back-on-track, the contractors who built the pump track, are expected back on Monday (23rd) to finish off the track, and there is also a safety inspection booked for that day.  The contractors need to be happy with the surface, and we need a safety inspection before the track can be open for use.

Would you like to be involved in the project?  Can you help us maintain this track in “MINT” condition over the summer?  Rowan Sorrell from Back-on-track will be giving trail maintenance advice on Monday at 2.30pm down at the track at Welshmill.  Are you free during the day on Monday to come along then and learn how to keep the track in perfect condition?  All welcome.