James West rides out with one of Kent’s biggest and most progressive clubs
San Fairy Ann CC is a club with a proud racing pedigree. Founded in 1922, the Kent-based club created a satellite team, Abellio-San Fairy Ann Racing Team five years ago. This was to stop, in the words of race team founder and race director, Dick Naylor, “haemorrhaging our best riders to race teams”.
Basking in the June sunshine at today’s cafe stop in Lenham, I chat with Geoff Wiles, former GB pro road race champion (1976) and current club president and coach. “Abellio is the knight in shining armour of the club, if you will,” says Wiles. “We wanted something fresh and exciting to build up a good team, but also to make sure there isn’t a delineation between the race team and the rest of the club.
“The strength of the club is the range of groups — there are opportunities for riders just starting out to those riding internationally and doing things they never thought they could dream of.”
Abellio RT (sponsor Abellio is a regional bus company) sits at the top of the club, in terms of performance, but is just one of 10 groups that set out today — there are 17 club run groups in total, spread across the weekend.
As we ride past frequent oast houses, a prominent feature of the Kentish countryside, I chat with 22-year-old Tom Rowing, an Abellio member who last week recorded a 19.28 10-mileTT. Rowing stresses how the racing team is just a small element of the club, which has an ethos of improvement, regardless of ability.
This story is from the August 30, 2018 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 30, 2018 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
