Welcome to Imperial Racing Team.
A cycle racing club: to race, to promote racing across the sport and promote races for others.
Imperial / im’pIerIal / a. majestic : derived from imperiale (Fr.), a great cyclist: for example Laurent Jalabert ; not to be confused with imperial rule.
Imperial Winter Series 2012/2013
This series was certainly one of highs and lows – revised circuit timings, malfunctioning equipment, a flooded circuit and instances of poor rider behaviour causing more than an ample helping of stress and frustration. We would also like to have seen a bigger field in the E123 race but this was compensated for by the 3rds and they deserve their own race on this basis alone.
These issues were more than balanced by the positives - consistently good fields in the 4th category race and a strong entry for the single Women’s event. Our decision to continue racing in a clockwise direction but siting the finish adjacent to the opulent new Judge’s hut has been an undoubted success.
Great thanks go to our Sponsors Henry Furniss of WyndyMilla and MaxiFuel and Dan Stevens of Neon-Velo not just for the prizes which were both generous and fantastic but also for their support behind the scenes.
Our roll call of honour must also mention:
ALL THE RIDERS – for their support again and welcome feedback – good and bad
CREW
Doug – Series founder, we wouldn’t be here without him; Rich definitely wouldn’t be here without him!
Lucy – wouldn’t be here without Rich!
Isabel – photo-finish operator and successor to the Imperial empire
Harry and Dan – teas and homemade flapjacks again
Tom – occasionally
Sally – cousin, rider and first-aider
Barry Hollis – first-aider
Tracey and Maisy – all round support
John Mullineaux – all round great guy
Mark Doel – always around to help
The Prize Presentation commenced with the introduction of our honoured guest Tony Doyle MBE and he took a welcome opportunity to talk about the highs and lows of his racing career, followed by a few questions from the riders.
The overall format of the Winter series will be reviewed again during the Summer, to ensure that we best meet the needs of the riders and provide racing for everyone.
Have a great season and see you in December 2013!
Rich, Lucy and Doug
COACHING
Again this year, there’s the opportunity to get in some coaching on circuit racing before the summer racing gets underway. Mark 23rd February 2013 (it’s a Saturday) in your diary, as Prime Coaching will come to the Hillingdon Circuit for a four-hour (1-5pm) training session on the do’s and don’ts and probably a few ‘cunning tricks to have up your sleeve’ that’ll be sure to have you ready in every way for when the action kicks off. No question, circuit racing can be intense and riding in a fast moving peloton around a technical undulating circuit calls for an understanding of racing etiquette. If circuit racing is new to you, this is a must-attend. Don't forget to register to avoid disappointment.
NEON VELO ANNOUNCED AS A NEW SPONSOR OF IMPERIAL WINTER SERIES
Neon Velo was today announced as an additional sponsor of the Imperial Winter Series 2012/13. Starting from 1st December, this exciting partnership brings further support to the popular Hillingdon races with some incredible prizes on offer.
Neon Velo holidays offer guests the ultimate cycling experience with a focus on training, support, nutrition and recovery. Based in premium locations, all rides are vehicle supported to provide riders with food, drink and spare wheels & clothing. A chef prepares all of the food fresh each day, with riders given handheld meals made from real ingredients. The latest recovery technology - NormaTec MVP compression devices - are available to allow riders to properly recover after a long day in the saddle. All of this means that guests are able to train more effectively and will return home fitter and healthier. Website Neon Velo
This ethos fits perfectly with the Imperial Winter Series which offers the chance for a weekly sharpener over the winter before embarking on an early season training experience.
Some exciting prizes and merchandise are available to competitors:
• Free water bottle for all riders
• Free holiday (worth £2800) for the overall Series winner of the E123 Cat
• Framed NeonVelo Yellow Jersey for the overall Series winner of the 3rd Cat
• Framed NeonVelo Green Jersey for overall Primes points winner in each category at the end of the Series
Dan Stevens, Director of Neon Velo said “We are delighted to be part of the fantastic Imperial Winter Series. Our philosophy is to provide the conditions that you would only otherwise expect in a pro team setup, which allows our guests to train, eat and recover properly. If you don’t pay attention to every aspect of your training then you are more likely to get injured or ill, undoing all of that hard work on the road”
Rich Collins added ‘joining up with an exciting new organisation like Neon Velo complements the Imperial Winter series and, together with WyndyMilla and Maxifuel, cements our relationship with another goto cycling company committed to supporting riders of every level’.
WHAT A YEAR!
2012 is coming to a close and what a year of contrasts it’s been! Massive British success at the Tour De France and Olympics, mostly courtesy of Sky. Our women both on- and off-road are proving they are some of the best in World - Lizzie Armitstead, Laura Trott, Helen Wyman and Nikki Harris - and some dancing into the sunset to be replaced with talented Lucy Garner and Elinor Barker.
On the other side of the Atlantic, ‘Stretch’ took cycling a massive step backwards and proved the old engineering adage that if it doesn’t look right then it probably isn’t! Whilst this propelled the sport back into the limelight for all the wrong reasons it may conversely help purge us of the remaining rottenness that pervades the governing bodies, teams and riders. None of these people were down to their last crust so the wins at all costs mentality is simply not justified! Enough ranting?
In spite of the latter events UK cycle sport must surely benefit from the success in the summer and, despite the inevitable flood of bargains on e-Bay in January, develop further long lasting interest - in any case it’s never been a five-minute wonder sport so those that pass through quickly would never have lasted anyway!
THE WINTER SERIES RESUMES
Closer to home and perhaps partly as a result of this success we have had to make a few changes to the format of the Winter series this year. We no longer have access to the main hall until later in the day, so the 4ths will sign on in the classroom and will race first on their own; however, this allows a bigger field than previous years and as this is the development class it fits reasonably well with our aspirations.
The downside to this is that in order to maintain a separate race for 3rds, which is also something we wanted to keep, their race will be run in parallel with the main race at 14:10. This would limit both fields to 50 riders but on past experience should not present a problem. Sign on for these races is still in the main hall.
The big loser this year is the women’s racing: although numbers have not been terrific in the last two years we were determined to continue (and perhaps develop) with this as a series of three over the Christmas break. We are now being prevented from having the extended period on those three days so there will be just one race on New Year’s day - the good news is that it’s a freebie on us, as a thank you for previous support but also partly by way of an apology as we feel we have let you down.
One thing that remains a constant for a further year are our principal sponsors - WyndyMilla and Maxifuel - we are privileged to maintain this partnership and they, like us, are keen to keep the prizes fresh and interesting - so watch this space for further updates!
This year we have decided to drop the usual Boxing Day race but we will still be running the New Year’s Day race, hopefully you won’t be nursing a fuzzy head from the night’s festivities?
If you’ve been to Hillingdon over the summer months you will be aware that our old gypsy caravan disappeared to be replaced by the splendid new judges’ hut, presently lying dormant on the apron - we are looking forward to our ‘Nue Camp’ - but no racist chants here - no lighting or heating also! Last year’s hot topic of ‘clockwise vs. anti-clockwise’ seems to have gone quiet but irrespective of this we are maintaining our favoured anti-clockwise race direction but with the finish on the apron - this could add a new dimension to the races - with the head wind on the short top straight followed by the sweep round the fast bend and 200m to the line. But no fear if it doesn’t work we’ll change it!
And finally, one last little shake up, to recognise the difficulty in racing in every round we are going to adopt the best 9 results from 12, good luck.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
And so to the prizes! We will again be having overall prize money for the E123 and 3rd cat. races.
E123 – Maxifuel packs to the top 3 overall
3rd Cat – Overall top 3 places win a WyndyMilla T-shirt, Baseball Cap and Bottle ; competitors will also be entered into a random selected finishing place each week to receive a Maxifuel pack of products.
4th Cat – Each week a random finish place will receive a Bike Fit courtesy of WyndyMilla
Women’s – a Maxifuel bag of products for the top 3 overall
E-ENTRIES
Web entries remain the way forward for fast tracking at the sign-on table, so thanks to Rider HQ, they will be continuing this option for us again. We recognise, however, that some people can’t plan this way so entry on the line still figures. To simplify things the same entry fee applies across the board fixed at last years eol rates and the fees include the RiderHQ commission; we have reverted to our previous Series registration fee of £5 to even things out a bit.
Ok, have you got all that? The Series starts Saturday 1st December, 12 rounds at the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, comfortable club house and the usual Imperial Racing Teas will be provided.
SPONSORSHIP
WyndyMilla continue as British cycling’s new wave of custom cool – young, sometime pink but always fresh - click on the link to their One Stop Go-Faster shop. WyndyMilla website
Developed by Maximuscle, Europe's leading sports nutrition company, Maxifuel is committed to providing proven, safe and effective products to help you beat your best during exercise - whether you're an elite athlete or a fitness junkie. Click on the links to view their full range of products and services. MaxiFuel website
COACHING
Again this year, there’s the opportunity to get in some coaching on circuit racing before the racing gets underway. Mark 23rd February 2013 (it’s a Saturday) in your diary, as Prime Coaching will come to the Hillingdon Circuit for a four-hour (1-5pm) training session on the do’s and don’ts and probably a few ‘cunning tricks to have up your sleeve’ that’ll be sure to have you ready in every way for when the action kicks off. No question, circuit racing can be intense and riding in a fast moving peloton around a technical undulating circuit calls for an understanding of racing etiquette. If circuit racing is new to you, this is a must-attend. Don't forget to register to avoid disappointment.
CONTACT
If you have any queries about the Imperial Winter Series, please contact Lucy Collins on 07740628810 or email Lucy@imperialracingteam.com
A very short video (just 3 minutes) rounding up the feel of the
2009/2010 Imperial Winter Series. Includes out takes.
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