Prize Presentation and Review of 2019

PLEASE NOTE – Our Prize Presentation and Review of 2019 will be held at Cranleigh Arts Centre in Cranleigh very close to Dunsfold Park. We do ask that if you are coming, please show your intention by entering the event via RiderHQ. This way we can gauge numbers and the amount of food required.

We plan on starting at midday and hopefully finish around 3 pm. One last thing, if you are coming and intend to ride to the event, please note that your bike can be stored inside the building safely whilst the presentation takes place.

The winners are;

  1. Vets Series (Over 40) – Steve Calland
  2. Vets Series (Over 50) – Craig Wilson
  3. Vets Series (Over 60) – Andy Grant
  4. Overall Male – Kevin Nelson
  5. Overall Female – Alexis Barnes
  6. Overall Junior – Ethan Court
  7. Overall Handicap – Henry James
  8. Club – Southdown’s Bikes CASCO Pet Racing Club

Also, we decided to ask all the winners a series of questions (10) to gain an insight into their training methods, hours put in, and their favourite Surrey League event. We couldn’t place all the responses into this email, but below are two responses from each winner.

Please visit our website for a full transcript of the questions asked and their responses.

Kevin Nelson
Rich: “What was your favourite SL event in 2019 and why?”
Kevin: “It would have to be the 3-day. It was the week after a Majorca training camp and I only entered as the wife and kids were away and fancied a weekend of riding. I had no real ambitions and so to win was a real shock.”
Rich: “What type(s) of training do you do during this ‘off-season’ period (gym, turbo, turbo with Swift, Wattbike, other sports, cycling (ie getting the miles in), or a combination of the above)?”
Kevin: “I do the majority of my winter training indoors on the turbo although recently just upgraded to a Wattbike. Previously I have relied heavily on Trainerroad and their plans however as we have recently formed the Crawley Wheelers Race Team partnering with Trainsharp Cycle Coaching, I am now under the careful supervision of them.”

Alexis Barnes
Rich: “During the racing season, how many hours do you dedicate to training/racing?
Alexis: “A lot less now than before children! Previous build-ups to race seasons would be anywhere from 12-15hrs a week. Last year I started the season with what I thought would be a manageable 4hrs a week training and a race but towards the end, all I could manage was to dust the bike every Friday and turn up to the race! Not ideal but it was just nice to get out and get some fresh air and race.”
Rich: “What motivates you to continue training?”
Alexis: “I think my main motivator towards training last year was to do something that wasn’t baby related and to prove to myself that I could still ride and race a bike!”

Craig Wilson
Rich: “What motivates you to continue training?”
Craig: “I like training in the winter with no structure and mix it up with MTB and gravel – great fun. Then in the season I just enjoy racing in a bunch and the challenge of trying to keep up with the youngsters. I like winning races and have no interest in Strava, Zwift or sharing power files – who cares about the process of training as races are what counts!”
Rich: “Do other members of your family enter races, actively train, or enjoying cycling?”
Craig: “No – for some strange reason, I produced Theatre and Art lovers! I am the sporting cultural wasteland in my family!”

Ethan Court
Rich: “What was your favourite SL event in 2019 and why?”
Ethan: “The event I most enjoyed was Chiddingfold 2/3 road race as it suited me as a rider because it had no real steep climbs and plenty of downhill”
Rich: “What type(s) of training do you do during this ‘off-season’ period (gym, turbo, turbo with Swift, Wattbike, other sports, cycling (ie getting the miles in), or a combination of the above)?”
Ethan: “Zwift races and interval sessions plus long-endurance riders on the road”

Andy Grant
Rich: “During the racing season, how many hours do you dedicate to training/racing?”
Andy: “10 hours a week”
Rich: “When out on the open road during the ‘off-season’, do you ride with friends and/or club/teammates, or ride alone, or a bit of both?”
Andy: “Both”

As mentioned visit our website to read all the questions and answers.

The Racing Season begins in March (all four events are open)

Saturday 7th March will kick off the SL racing season with 2 events on the Dunsfold circuit. A 3rd cat race will take place in the morning with riders covering approx 50 miles. This is followed by a 2/3 race in the afternoon (1 pm start time) and provides riders 60 miles to cover. Events promoted by Kingston Wheelers.

The following weekend, Sunday 15th March, sees 2 more events being held but on the Kirdford circuit. A 3rd cat race takes place in the morning with riders covering approx 50 miles. This is followed by a 2/3 race in the afternoon (1 pm start time) and provides riders 60 miles to cover. Events promoted by Brighton Mitre.


Crawley Wheelers forcing the issue

Racing for 4th Cats

Please note that within the Surrey League, 4th cat racing is provided by the Precise Performance 4th cat series, held at Dunsfold Park, and via any of the 14 Handicap events. 4th cat riders are not permitted to race any of our weekend road events at either of the 3rds or 2nd/3rds races.

More details on the Precise Performance 4th cat series and Handicap series can be found on our website.


4th cat riders during the Precise Performance race

Racing for Women

The Surrey League provides a varied calendar of events for you to compete in, depending on your ability level and confidence, but of Friday evenings there is a dedicated series available for 3rd or 4th cat (novice) women. This series is called the ‘stolen goat Women series’ and is held at Dunsfold Park with races distances being 27 miles in length. More details on the stolen goat Women’s series can be found on our website.

If a higher category, or 3rd or 4th, then you can ride any of the Handicap events, Vets races (Dunsfold Park) or weekend road event but please remember that is you wish to gain any BC points you’ll need to finish with the men in the top 10. You’ll still get SL points regardless of finishing position though.


Women competing in a Handicap event

The Surrey League 2020 Calendar

All of our planned events for 2020 are listed on our website. Each of the different types of series that are available, Handicap series, Vets series, etc, will now have their own web page and will display dates, courses, and the promoting clubs.

Each web page is accessible from the new ‘Race Calendar’ link located in the main navigation along the top of the page. As always, these dates remain provisional, but BC has now approved these so as far as we are concerned, they are good.

The South East Road Race League (SERRL) and the Surrey Cycle Racing League (SCRL)

For the 2020 season, the Surrey Cycle Racing League will go back to having a reciprocal agreement with the South East Road Race League (SERRL). Members of one league may ride events in the other league without having to join both leagues. This agreement will allow SCRL members to enter SERRL events at discounted costs and they will get early bird entry.

The SERRL will be going back to member club’s being allocated events to run on their behalf as the SCRL does. SERRL events will run on days when there are no SCRL events allowing members of both leagues to fully benefit from the agreement. Details of their racing calendar can be found on our website.

Novice Racers Training Days

Two more new dates have been added as regards the Novice Racers Training Days (8th and 23rd of February) and if new to the Surrey League, and a 4th cat male/female rider, novices will need to complete 2 of these sessions before being allowed to race Surrey League/SERRL events. Once passed, riders will be given an accreditation card that must be brought to events as well as a Surrey League and/or BC race license.

These sessions have been designed to introduce basic and advanced group riding skills to prepare novices for competitive racing. They are run by qualified British Cycling coaches, with the help of a number of experienced riders, on various traffic-free circuits in the Surrey area.

If you know of friends/club or teammates who wish to race any Surrey League or SERRL events next year, please let them know of the dates available.

The next sessions available are;


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Yours

Richard Pearman