Ystwyth TT season starts to climb

Four weeks into the 2017 TT season saw the first of the two time trials which will be held this year on the 12-mile Nant yr Arian course, descending and then ascending the A44 climb. This week saw strong performances again from the familiar names of the past few weeks, but performing well also were new riders joining the series. There were some notable family performances, with three members of the Brewer family racing, as well as a Skot family pair-up. Next week the series returns to the Llety Gwyn course, for a 7pm start.

Club TT 26/4/17 Nant yr Arian 12

1. Ieuan Andy Davies 33.18
2. Andrew Poole 34.06
3. Gethin Howells 34.23
4. Carwyn Henson (R) 34.31
5. Gareth Jones (R) 35.30
6. Paul Brewer 38.49
7. Caron Pugh (R) 39.18
8. Lois Brewer 39.35
9. Andy Starr 40.00
10.   Leah Brewer 40.19
11.   Helen Marshall 40.29
12.   Andy Hamilton (R) 43.30
13.   Leif Skot and Layla Skot Parker 49.55

(R) = road bike (no tri bars)

Photo: Andrew Poole on the climb back to Nant yr Arian (with thanks to Emma Palfrey for the photo)

Cake, coffee and second time trial of the 2017 season

The second time trial of the season was held in dry but chilly conditions on the 10 mile Cwm Rheidol course starting near the Statkraft Visitor Centre car park in the Rheidol Valley. 

With the promise of free coffee and cakes at the finish line – thirteen riders on the night took on the 10 miles all posting great times.

Club TT 12/4/17 Cwm Rheidol 10.

1. Ieuan Andy Davies 22.58
2. Daniel Davies (R) 23.14
3. Danny Thorogood 23.32
4. Adam Hughes (R) 25.09
5. Henry Moss 25.51
6. Martyn Saycell 26.51
7. Andy Starr 27.16
8. Ian Stevens (R) 27.43
9. Helen Marshall 28.15
10.Andy Hamilton 29.24
11.Justin Manley (R) 29.47
12.Katie Miles (R) 31.22
13.Kim Jones (R) 37.26

(R) Road Bike – No tri bars

Great racing for round 3 of the Ystwyth CC time trial series

With good conditions but still chilly – eleven riders enjoyed the quieter roads of the 7pm start for round 3 of the Ystwyth CC time trial series on the Llety Gwyn 10 mile course.  Ieuan Andy Davies and Helen Marshall continued to dominate the men’s and women’s races.  It was great to see club members riding their first time trial tonight and posting impressive times. 

Club TT 19/4/17 Llety Gwyn 10

1. Ieuan Andy Davies 22.41
2. Dan Field 26.06
3. Martyn Saycell 26.21
4. Helen Marshall 26.55
5. Lois Brewer 27.38
6. Andy Hamilton 28.17
7. Paul Tedaldi 28.42
8. Andy Purkiss (R) 28.53
9. Dafydd Wright 28.58
10.Leah Brewer 29.04
11.Sarah Hawkins (R) 30.22

(R) Road Bike – No tri bars

Fantastic Start to the Ystwyth CC Time Trial season

The first club time trial of the 2017 season kicked off with thirteen riders on the start line, which included seasoned riders as well as those riding their first time trial.  The 10 mile route started just outside Llanbadarn and headed along the A44 and then down the Rheidol Valley for 5 miles before returning back the same way.

Great times were posted by everyone which will make for some fantastic racing over the season.

Club TT 5/4/17.  Llety Gwyn 10.

1. I Andy Davies 23.17
2. Danny Thorogood 23.32
3. Adam Hughes (R) 24.59
4. Martyn Saycell 27.11
5. Dan Field 27.32
6. Dilwyn Williams 27.55
7. Lois Brewer 28.04
8. Leah Brewer 28.46
9. Lorraine Langford (R) 30.05
10. Katie Miles (R) 31.28
11. Leif Skot & Layla Skot 2up (R) 32.19
12. Brian Ashton 32.23
13. Ray Evans (R) 33.11

(R) Road Bike – no tri bars

Popular new Ystwyth beginner rides go weekly!

Due to the high numbers attending the first two beginner rides arranged over the past few weeks, it has been decided that these rides will now be held on a weekly basis, rather than monthly, for the remainder of the summer. We have been immensely encouraged as a club by the level of interest in these rides, and are grateful for the support. Thanks also to Tim Johnson and Andy Davies for coordinating and leading these rides.

Beginner rides will therefore depart from Plascrug Leisure Centre at 9.30am every Sunday morning, and the routes will be advertised beforehand under Events on the Clwb Beicio Ystwyth Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/ystwythcc/ 

This means that the club now offers three separate Sunday rides, with full details of the general pace / distance of each ride and further advice to cyclists available on the Club Rides page on our website http://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/ystwythcc/index.php/club-rides/

For those who are interested in joining the club for 2017, enabling them to buy club kit and securing local discounts, have a look at the Membership page on our website https://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/ystwythcc/index.php/membership/ 

And see you next Sunday!

Discover the new YCC history section on our website

The club have been working hard to collate a record of the last 65 years.  The jerseys have been photographed, over 200 photos scanned and uploaded to the People’s Collection Wales https://www.peoplescollection.wales/user/10467/author/10467/sort/dateand there is now a brand new page to check out on our website:
This is an ongoing project to collate and record the club’s history and we would love to hear your stories, share you photos or memories with us over the years.  Contact the club at ystwythcc@gmail.comor our Press Secretary Nia Peris nia.peris@btopenworld.comto get in touch.

1952 Ystwyth Cycle Club Team


Come along and try the club Chaingang – starting 4th April

These are great mid-week rides starting on the 4th April and continuing throughout the summer, every Tuesday and Thursday.

They are a great way to learn to ride at a faster pace, whilst working as a group.

There will be different pace groups, with around five riders in each group.  The aim is to ride together for as long as possible, each person doing a short turn on the front before moving to the side to allow the next person to smoothly come through.

The aim is to keep a consistent pace, which means no speeding up when you are on the front! 

There is the option to ride out to the start of the Chaingang (leaving Plascrug Leisure Centre promptly at 6pm) or to meet at Rhydypennau Garage in Bow Street for 6.20pm.

For April, May and June both the Tuesday and Thursday Chaingang rides will be on the Borth circuit. 
Bring a rear light, leave any tri bars at home and prepare to enjoy!
For more details about the route and tips on riding in a Chaingang, take a look at the club Chaingang webpage:


Ystwyth CC jerseys through the years

To celebrate 65 years of the club in 2017, we arranged for club member and grandson of original founding members Audrey and Bill Rushton, Kristian Bond, to photograph the club jerseys through the years. The collection has survived thanks to our Welsh Commissaire and longstanding club member from 1963, Ken Williams.

The jerseys will be on display in Summit Cycles from mid-October and can be viewed online along with over 200 photographs from the club’s history in the People’s Collection Wales website: https://www.peoplescollection.wales/user/10467/author/10467/sort/date
1952 – 1965




1966 – 1987



1988 – 1989

1990 – 1992


1993 – 2003


2004 – 2009

2010 – 2016

New – Monthly Beginner Rides starting Sunday 2nd April

Whether you are new to riding or looking at getting back on your bike after a break, the monthly Beginner Ride is a great way to enjoy riding your bike with others, building up your fitness and confidence and a chance to enjoy a sociable coffee stop!
The route for the Sunday 2nd April will be out to Borth (25 miles) with a coffee stop at Cletwr Cafe with no-one left behind: https://www.strava.com/routes/7908527  
Meet 9:30am at Plascrug Leisure Centre in Aberystwyth.

More details about the monthly Beginner Rides can be found at: https://www.bc-clubs.co.uk/ystwythcc/index.php/club-rides/beginner-ride/

Ystwyth ladies race again at Stourport

For the fifth time this season, Ystwyth ladies Lois Brewer, Leah Brewer and Anita Saycell made the 200-mile round trip to Stourport-on-Severn to compete in the University of Birmingham one day stage race. Stage 1 in the morning was a 10-mile TT on a very lumpy course – Anita was the fastest YCC rider with an impressive mid 27s, Lois was just over a minute slower with Leah in the mid 29s. Stage 2 in the afternoon was a 55-minute circuit race with a field of nearly 40 women. Racing was fast and furious from the off and the field splintered into 4 groups. Leah managed to get into the 2nd group, with Lois in the 3rd and Anita in the 4th. As the race progressed, the 3rd and 4th groups joined, this larger group then worked hard for 20 minutes and finally caught Leah’s group. In the last 10 minutes, the lead group on the road lapped the now combined chasing group forming one large peloton. The last few laps were fast but the group stayed together for an impressive final sprint. Leah was the first of the YCC ladies across the line with Lois and Anita not far behind. Final times and placings are yet to be released.

Many thanks to Paul Brewer for the above report and photos.