The club has successfully gained the following places for members in the Surrey 100 British Cycling Club Challenge.

• 1 Female team (4 riders)
• 1 Male team (4 riders)
• 1 Mixed Team (4 riders)

Continue reading →

This years IBC Spring Scramble Road race was a complete success with a full contingent of 60 riders competing in the mens race and 30 ladies competing for the womens race.

Congratulations to Ross Fawcett of IBC as a worthy winner after leading a breakaway from as early as lap 1. In 2nd place was another IBC rider Phil Hetzel who chased down the leader in a group of 8 but couldn’t get closer than 2:22 minutes.

The full list of finishers and results for the mens race are here RACE RESULT 200316

The Ladies results can also be found here Ipswich Bicycle Club Spring Scramble Women Result.

This coming Sunday 6th March, Ipswich BC is hosting a set of Reliability Rides from Gosbeck Village Hall, Helmingham Road , Gosbeck, IP6 9RZ

There are 3 new rides to choose from, 100Km, 75Km, and 45Km. Setting off times are 0830, 0900 and 0930 respectively. Once back at the village hall, refreshments will be available to enjoy.

On our Club webpage  https://ipswichbicycleclub.co.uk/events/reliability-rides/  there are gpx files available for down loading. Route sheets will be available at the village hall before setting off.

If at all possible, donations of cakes would be appreciated, and we need a little help in the Kitchen from about 12. Please call me if you could lend a hand.

Registration should be available from 8am. The cost is £5 once again.

There will be a session at Foxhall Saturday 9^th and 23rd January 10am-12noon.  Continue reading →

Chairman’s Corner…

Welcome to the Ipswich Bicycle Club Newsletter.

The year seems to have gone by in a flash. Ipswich was fortunate to have so many events this year, including a Stage finish for the Tour of Britain, Crafted Classic, Sky Rides, Sunrise Appeal for the Ipswich Hospital, and a Cycle Swarm to name just a few.

The Club has a great membership, with riders participating in Cyclo Cross, Time Trialling, Road Racing and Mountain Biking. We have members that rarely ride a bike, but enjoy the helping out and socialising with us. The Coaching that takes place is a feature that younger riders, and their parents, seem to enjoy in its safe environment. Getting together with other local Clubs increases the breadth of knowledge and techniques that riders benefit from.

The Reliability Rides from Playford earlier in the year were a great success for the Club. Not many riders managed to lose their way following the maps and instructions this time, and most of the participants were eager to get through the beans on toast afterwards. Some did take up the offer of a massage for their aching legs. Some with far too much enthusiasm and pants showing! Next year the Reliability is moving to Gosbeck Village Hall on the 6^th March. With 3 new(ish) routes and hopefully gpx files for Garmins etc. the rides should be a good morning out if we get some good weather. These rides are open to non-members too.

The Spring Scramble Mens and Womens Road Races are planned again for next year, keeping with the Eastern Road Race League rules for 3/4 rider selection. The Womens open race is proving to be a success, and again will count towards the Womens Eastern Racing League.  Next year these races take place on the 20^th March from Gosbeck village Hall. Riders were very complimentary about the Club, organisation and the use of the motorcycle out riders. Many of the Women travel a long way in order to take part in our race, which is testament to the popularity of our race.

Club Membership prices for next year remain the same as this year. Re-joining is simple, and makes an ideal Christmas present… Either give Jo Newstead – Membership Secretary, a cheque (payable to Ipswich Bicycle Club) for the relevant amount at the Club Social, or go online at the BC website. Doing it with a cheque or cash saves each member the £1 BC admin fee.

The Saturday Social rides prove themselves to be popular every week, sometimes irrelevant of the weather forecast. The ride leaders have done a great job in trying to vary the café stops to mix it up a little. Being a cycle Club we are limited by the return distance to the cafes. Be aware that bicycles with a fixed gear, deep section wheels, and the use of TT bars are no longer acceptable, for the safety of those around you.

Although very cold, and a touch damp, the Club Hill climb proved very popular, with 22 members climbing Willisham Hill, before coasting down gain for the Half Wheel Trophy. After missing his time slot by warming up, Phil Hetzel took the 1^st place with a winning time of 1:26.

Ipswich Bicycle Club was very proud to have held a Cycle Cross National Trophy in November at Trinity Park. Steve Grimwood pulled off a superb event, with riders and spectators coming from all over the country to ride a varied course. The Iceland CX team, like all competitors, were very impressed with the facilities and course alike. The eastern Cycle Cross league returns to Trinity Park in January for the XRT Elmy event on 24th Jan details here

All the events that the Club hosts are all done with lots of volunteers who work behind the scenes and at the event giving up lots of their own free time. Thank you to all these people who have helped put throughout the year. It is appreciated by everyone the work you do.

A few dates for your diary:-

26^th December          Boxing Day ”Guess the distance” at Henley Community Centre

27th February           Annual Dinner, to be finalised

6^th March                   Reliability Rides from Gosbeck

20^th March                 Ipswich Spring Scramble Mens & Womens Road races

29^th March                 Time trialling begins at Henley

June / July                SCRS series will be returning to Trinity Park

Hopefully we are going to hold a Grass Track meeting at Chantry Cricket Pavilion in the summer as part of the Grass Track league system.

There have been so many Club Members making fantastic results; it would seem unfair to single out individuals, so I have just added a few links so you can see.

Spoco East

Eastern Road Race League

Womens Eastern Racing League

ICA Series Results

Suffolk Cycle Racing Series.

Eastern Cycle Cross League

And finally,

Happy Christmas and holiday season everyone. Hope to see you at the Club Social at Gresham’s on 4th Jan.

Happy Cycling

Paul Rippon.

This year’s hill climb and half wheel trophy will be held on Saturday 28th November on Willisham Hill. The Saturday social ride will be leaving Northgate at it’s normal 9am start time and heading to the bottom of Willisham Hill.

Anyone wishing to register can do so before at Northgate or at the concrete pad at the bottom of Willisham hill. We hope to get underway no later than 10am. On completion of the hill climb, we will contest the half wheel trophy which the winner will be the rider who can travel the furthest on the decent, without pedalling.

Following the contest the social ride will then loop back round to Ipswich (varying distances per ride group), to the Cult Bar for coffee, cake and chat.

Photographers and supporters are most welcome.

Hope to see you there Matt