Troughton Pulls in a Top 5 - GBW Enduro - 05/05/2008

Gore Bike Wear Enduro
Sunday May 04 2008


Our enduro and cross country man Paul Troughton had a great ride for the start of the season at the Gore Bike Wear Enduro finishing in the top 5.

Race report courtesy of Gorrick.co.uk

It was certainly fun out there with some great highlights, such as IT - the descent with the man-size berms and tabletops (many thanks to Colin Adams and his merry band of builders for letting us use it), also Seagull Woods and the Full 9 Yards which proved the merit of the "ginger" hardpack trail resurfacing. We caught up with a few riders for their post-race comments:

• "The course was fantastic." Paul Hudson 1st in the 2-lap.
• Many riders summed it up briefly; "Brilliant fun!" and "The jumps and berms were wonderful."
• "You'd suffer up the hills, but it would be ok because you'd know that there'd be a fun downhill afterwards." Nicky Hughes 2nd in the 2-lap women.
• "A great course - thanks." Lots of riders coming in to collect their medals.
• "It was hard work, but it was as slick as usual with plenty of places to overtake. I'll be back." Nick Evans, 3rd in the 3-lap.
• "Where did you find all those trails? I've ridden Swinley for years and never found some of them. You guys keep surprising us." Unknown rider during the race.
• "That was a whole heap of pain, but fantastic fun! It's amazing what you can put your body through for 70 odd miles; like total leg cramps at 5 laps and then get back on with the muscles twitching like crazy to complete another 2. I'm going to be sore all week." An unknown but happy finisher.



1 ROSS ADAMS - RED KITE CYCLES/TORQ
2 SHAUN HURRELL - GLENDENECC/BIKETRAX/SPECIALIZED
3 STUART JONES - LONDON PHEONIX
4 MARCOS SCHIER - TORQ BAR/KONA
5 PAUL TROUGHTON - WHEELBASE GORE BIKEWEAR/LONDON PHOENIX
6 PAUL DAVIES - AIRCOM INTERNATIONAL/MOUNTAIN TRAX
7 LEE GOLLOP - BANJOCYCLES.COM
8 IAN RICKARD - BIG FOOT MTB
9 CRAIG BOWLES - BERKS ON BIKES
10 STEVE DENNIS
11 DAN OAKLEY - CHELMER CYCLES

THE SAM HOUGHTON MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE 2008 - 21/04/2008

Saturday 7th June 2008
Start times between 12 & 1-30pm

It’s the second year this fantastic Mountain Bike Challenge has been run. The event opens up some of the best riding that the Kentmere Valley has to offer in memory of a great rider.

The Sam Houghton Challenge starts and finishes at Wilf’s Cafe /WHEELBASE.co.uk in the Mill Yard, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9LR.

The ride is 46km long with 1400m of ascent, covering bridle ways in the Kentmere, Longsleddale and Troutbeck valleys and taking in the Garburn pass. A Short course is also marked covering 25km with 700m ascent


All proceeds from this event will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Categories:
Male Solo
Female Solo
Male Pair
Female Pair
Mixed Pair
Team (4)
Family
Under 18

Riders under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Entry Fees:
Singles: £16.00
Pairs: £30.00
Teams/families: £40.00
16-18 y: £10.00

Entry fee includes free meal at finish courtesy of Wilf’s and free admission to Hawkshead Brewery for post race bash, presentations, raffle and music.

Entry form available instore and online soon.
Route map will be returned with entry numbers.
Entries must be received by 30th May 2008

Start times will be between 12 and 1-30pm. Slower riders are advised to start nearer 12.

Event notes:
There will be manned check points along the route where riders must give their event number. All riders must sign in at the finish even if they do not complete the course,
Must carry a repair kit (spare tube recommended) and appropriate clothing,
Must wear a helmet,
Must follow the Mountain Bike Code,
Must close all gates
Places will be limited to the first 400 entry’s received no later than 30th May 2008
Entries will be taken on the day if places are left or entered riders fail to start.

Cunego wins Amstel Gold - 20/04/2008

Article courtesy of Eurosport.co.uk

Italy's Damiano Cunego won the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands and took the lead in the ProTour competition aboard his Wilier Cento Record Limited Edition.

Cunego, taking part in the race for the first time, beat Frank Schleck of Luxembourg and Alejandro Valverde of Spain in a sprint to the finish line at the summit of the Cauberg climb.

The Lampre rider cleverly positioned himself on Schleck's wheel and then jumped past him as the road eased and the finish approached.

Italy's Davide Rebellin was fourth and Thomas Dekker of the Netherlands fifth.

"I always knew I could win this race and it's hugely satisfying to do it at the first attempt," Cunego said. "I knew that Schleck would attack on the climb to the finish because he was really strong during the race but doesn't have a fast sprint finish.

"I put myself on his wheel, stayed with him, and then waited until we were about a hundred metres from the line before accelerating past him."

The 257.4-km race twists and turns through the Limburg countryside and includes 31 short climbs.

The decisive attack formed on the penultimate Kuetenberg climb when nine riders went clear.

Cunego was there and began to chase down attacks by Schleck and Rebellin, so that he could use his good sprint in the final metres of the Cauberg climb.

"It was a nervous race because of all the climbs but thanks to my team mates we kept the race together and I started to really believe I could win it when the break got away," the 26-year-old from Verona added.

"After that it was about keeping a cool head and controlling my rivals.

"I'm on form but I think I won because I'm more relaxed in the way I approach races and because I've really started to believe in my ability.

"I won the Giro d'Italia in 2004 but it was only after winning the Tour of Lombardy last October that I started to have confidence in myself in the big one-day races.

"Now we'll see what happens in Fleche-Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Wednesday and Sunday. Winning is a great way to start the week."

Results:
1. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre/Wilier) 6 hrs 35 mins 43 secs
2. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) 0
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne) +2"
4. Davide Rebellin (Italy/Gerolsteiner) +2"
5. Thomas Dekker (Netherlands/Rabobank) +6"

Counting down to the Wild Boar 24... - 19/04/2008

The North Face Wild Boar 24Hr
Mountain Bike Enduro Event in the heart of The Lake District


17th/18th MAY 2008.
Grizedale Forest, Hawkshead
The Lake District


The event will be run along the same lines as Mountain Mayhem. It will start at 2pm on Saturday finishing at 2pm Sunday, obviously... You will be able to arrive from Friday 12 noon onwards. Bear in mind you will have a small amount of admin’ to do upon your arrival, signing on, collecting race numbers etc. A ‘rule book’ will be sent out 3-4 weeks prior to the event.

The course should take around 45 minutes to complete giving plenty of opportunity to ride. The terrain shouldn’t be too challenging with nothing dangerous! The course will allow for plenty of passing and safe riding in darkness when tired. It is likely that there will be two/three sections of singletrack.

The timing is been done by Sport Ident which means you will have a small ‘dibber’ attached to your wrist, unlike at Mountain Mayhem where you are required to walk over a mat. You will still be asked to dismount however after each lap as you pass through the arena and timing tent.

There will be a catering tent on site with food courtesy of Wilf’s Cafe. Race positions will be beamed into the catering tent so you can keep track of your team’s progress!

We are also pleased to announce WHEELBASE.co.uk as official retail partners for the event. They have two expert teams entered for the event, plus three solo riders – be sure to pop over to the stand at the event village and check out the latest and greatest in all things cycling.

Finally this is the first year of The North Face Wild Boar 24. Please come along and help make it a success!

Enter online at WildBoard24.com

The North Face Wild Boar 24 Event Team
Richard, Tracy, Stefan and Katie.

Levi defends his Tour of California title - 25/02/2008

Britain's David Millar finished second overall as Levi Leipheimer successfully defended his Tour of California title.

The American riding aboard a Trek Madone 6.9 Pro , held the race lead for five days, finished 22nd on the final stage to win the eight-day, 1,069km race by 49 seconds for Astana.

Leipheimer rode into Pasadena on the back of the Astana train, which had assembled at the front of the peloton to keep him safe as the skies opened up.

"This race was more special," said Leipheimer. "The theme of this race was the caliber of the peloton and the amount of stars we had in the race. That is what really makes the race so great."

"Its people like Cipollini, Millar, Vande Velde, Cancellara, Bettini, Boonen, Friere... the list goes on. We had all the stars in the race and for me to win it is unbelievable."

Leipheimer had a lot of praise for his team-mates as well, particularly because of this year's weather conditions.

"They did an amazing amount of work and they were upfront in the most miserable, horrific conditions for miles and miles and hours and hours," he said.

"That's a job that no one every really wants to do but they did it and they did it well. They proved that they are strong and we proved that Astana is one the best teams in the world."

TEAM WHEELBASE takes Marin Enduro Series Title - 12/02/2008

2007-8 Marin Winter Enduro
Round 4
10 February 2008

The climax of the ever-popular Marin Winter Series took place at Fire Gate 6 Brandon, with the hundreds of riders, most of whom entered this event before Christmas mas, being treated to a fantastic finish befitting of this cracking series.

Once more the organisers pulled out all the stops and, with their hard work and local knowledge, provided 7miles of fast flowing singletrack heaven, with one or two stings in the tail. On top of that, a rare and early dose of warm spring sun put the icing on the cake.

For many the sun was a mixed blessing, providing a multiple flash sensation as they hurtled along the wooded singletrack. Many found it pretty disorientating, not being used to the effect of light and shade at speed! Plenty of riders were in the thick of the action and keen to take the remaining podium positions and influence their overall standings in the series.

Our rider Paul Troughton TEAM WHEELBASE Gore Bike Wear amassed enough points from wins in the last three rounds to take the series title in the mens 2hr.


1 392 Paul Troughton TEAM WHEELBASE Gore Bike Wear
2 475 Dan Oakley
3 512 Damian Baker
4 411 Jason Smith
5 528 Chris Wheatley
6 302 Elliott Lawrence
7 638 Neil Richardson
8 301 Ben Loaker
9 467 Alan Hill
10 415 John Smith
11 316 Nick Owen
12 632 Neal Watson
13 515 Ian Grist
14 517 Rick Matthews
15 431 Paul Fielding
16 574 Tim Skinner
17 70 Alastair Brown
18 389 Alex Christians
15 530 Dave Penny
20 651 Paul Thomas
21 338 Danny Coote
22 403 Joe Bedingfield
23 782 Shane Ashby
24 424 Andy Armiger
25 559 Gordon Cobb

World CX - Boom Blast and Jebb does us proud - 28/01/2008

Boom blasts through Belgian blockade – and Jebb does us Proud

On a beautiful day in Treviso, Italy (just north of Venice) on a super fast course with a super Elite field Rob Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE does us proud at the World Cyclo Cross Championships completing the course 4.45 minutes down in 51, with fellow British Cycling Federation rider Paul Oldham, Hope Racing following in 52.


Elite Mens Race Video coverage at CyclingTv.com


Elite Mens Race Report courtesy of
Cyclingnews.com


Dutchman Lars Boom broke through the stranglehold which the Belgians have had on the Cyclo-cross World Championships for the past seven years, storming to victory on the La Bandie course in Treviso on Sunday and giving the Netherlands its first championship since Richard Groenendaal won the title in 2000. In an aggressive yet highly guarded race in which every attack was neutralized, the 22 year-old Boom powered to the victory with a well timed attack early in the final lap, staying clear of the two-man sprint won by Czech rider Zdenek Stybar ahead of Sven Nys (Belgium).

Defending World Champion Erwin Vervecken was the only rider who could hold the Dutchman's wheel after Nys marked the attack but faded. When Vervecken couldn't hold on to Boom just before hitting the steep 'Rampa Piscina', the race was over for the Belgians. Boom gave all he had in the ultimate stretches of the course and stormed to his third cyclo-cross world championship title after a junior and under-23 win, and his second rainbow jersey in a year after his victory in the under-23 time trial in Stuttgart.

"I was not feeling super in the race," admitted Boom. "But at the point where I went Sven was going a few laps before. I was strong at that moment, and I did not wait. It was a surprise for some of my rivals. I went full speed from that point on.

"I was good, but since it was my first as an elite I did not think I was the big favourite," he added. "I knew I had to be alert because the group was big, so I stayed near the front and did not waste energy in sixth or seventh position."

In the battle for silver, Stybar sprinted past Nys to take the second step on the podium, while Vervecken trailed in ahead of a group led by Stybar's countryman Radomir Simunek Jr. With three riders under 25 in the top five of this elite race, it seems like the era of Nys, Vervecken and Bart Wellens could finally be starting to crumble.

Asked why he didn't help trade team-mate Vervecken chase down Boom in the finale, Stybar didn't search for an excuse. "I was on my limit, and saved my energy for the sprint, otherwise I wouldn't have finished second. I have to thank Erwin [Vervecken] for his work," confessed the Czech rider.

After some poor performances by his standards during the past two weeks, Sven Nys came to Treviso without much pressure. The Flemish press chose Bart Wellens and Lars Boom as favourites, and thanks to that, Nys rode his first championships in years without carrying the torch of top favourite.

The 31 year-old launched several attacks that hurt the opposition, but not all of them. "Lars [Boom] attacked right after I had attacked. The group came over me and I was boxed in," explained the normally dominant Nys. "I gave all I had to come back and ended up chasing behind Vervecken. He couldn't close it down, and it wasn't up to me to close the gap.

"For me, the technical parts were not technical enough," added Nys. "It would've been better if the race was held in the morning." In the morning the course's frozen top layer started melting, resulting in a slippery course, while later the sun created a dry, fast circuit.

"I tried everything but finishing third is good, more wasn't possible. I didn't jump after Lars since he's a team-mate, but I was on my limit anyway. I focused on the sprint for second place, and you saw that more wasn't possible since I was beaten by Stybar."

Nys said that Boom was a worthy World Champion, unlike 2007 winner Erwin Vervecken, who Nys felt didn't show the rainbow jersey on the podium often enough. "We'll see him again during the coming years, but don't count me out. I'm not getting too old and I feel I can still win the World Championships in the next couple of years."

The North American participants in the race couldn't crack the top-20, with last year's runner-up Jonathan Page as first American in 23rd position. "It was bad, worse than I thought it would go," said Page. "I switched bikes a couple of times and I just did not have very good legs today. It went wrong right from the beginning; I was not right at the front, and I just did not have the power over the steeper hills. I was just mediocre today, and you can't be mediocre at the World Championships."

US champion Tim Johnson was set back by a crash halfway through the race. After trying to get back in the main group on his own, he finished in 26th, one place ahead of his young team-mate Jeremy Powers. "I had a crash when I was in the group with Jonathan [Page] - in the lead group, I think," said Johnson, who actually recorded the fastest lap time on lap seven. "I crashed on the long uphill on the backside here [kilometre five - ed.]. I had a bike change, and then I crashed again, and I lost track of where I was."

However, the 30 year-old recognised the race was better than he had thought it would go. "I said this morning that I was not going to do that well, so then in that respect I was very satisfied with my race."


How it unfolded – Elite Men

Top favourite Lars Boom took the hole shot and stormed down the first hill with Zdenek Stybar and Bart Wellens on his wheel. The other big guns all started well, with only Page and Enrico Franzoi back in about 20th position. Going into the first corner, Wellens almost pushed the Dutch ace into the barriers, but Boom managed to stay on his bike and regain composure.

On the tough 'Rampa Piscina' section, Boom, Francis Mourey and Marco Aurelio Fontana managed to ride up the steep climb, while the rest of the field had to run. French champion Mourey took over from Boom and only Fontana and Klaas Vantornout were able to join this group. Stybar, Simunek and Wellens were chasing closely behind these four riders.

After some soft-pedalling up front everything was back together on the second lap, with Page in 15th position. Fontana and Simunek led the bunch and pressured their rivals on the 'Rampa Piscina' again, but by the lap's conclusion Christian Heule led the field with no-one expending too much energy for now.

Going into the third lap, a group of 30 riders approached the 'Rampa Piscina', and Nys stormed forward for the first time. The UCI leader upped the tempo sending several riders into difficulty, but Mourey, Wellens and Fontana all looked strong.

The crowds got a scare when popular Nys stumbled on the stairs after missing a step. And when the speed dropped away shortly after the incident, Boom jumped away with Wellens on his wheel. But the speed dropped again when hitting the fourth lap, and the leaders re-grouped once more.

Zdenek Stybar now led for the first time and pulled the bunch over the first sections of the course. Page and Johnson were about 16 seconds behind the leaders, with Powers moving up to 30th position. Fontana started to feel the pain and almost crashed on the 'Rampa Piscina' where no real attack came this time. Sven Vanthourenhout tried to jump away, but he wasn't allowed to get far.

At half distance, 14 riders were leading the race and the group with Page came back to 12 seconds. Johnson was no longer featuring in this group after a crash at the end of lap four.

Local hero Enrico Franzoi caused some damage on the fifth lap when riding up the 'Rampa Piscina', but still 22 men were riding at the front, with Page off the back in this group. A cease-fire of sorts took place and Mourey led the big group along the Le Bandie lake.

With four laps to go Page was elbowing his way up in the group where Nys and Boom were leading; Wellens was back in 15th position just before the 'Rampa Piscina'. Boom jumped away here but Mourey and Fontana climbed their way back to the leader, with Nys and Wellens watching each other a little further back.

Stybar then saw his chance and attacked before the end of lap five, creating the biggest gap of the race so far. Page was still in the first chasing group, riding in 17th position. One minute later Stybar's lead was neutralised and John Gadret took over in front.

Mourey then saw his rainbow dreams shatter when he crashed on a descent, taking a bunch of other guys with him. Klaas Vantornout then tried an opportunistic move, but Boom, Stybar, Simunek, Nys, Gadret and Fontana were on his wheel.

Just before the penultimate lap Gadret and Simunek jumped clear, while the chasing group caught the remaining four riders. Page was off the back in this huge group while US champion Johnson was working his way back to the front on his own. Gadret got dropped and Simunek continued solo. Nys then launched a counter attack towards the Czech rider in front with Gadret, Boom and Fontana on his wheel. Wellens was sitting too far back by this point, and had lost his chance of victory.

Nys attacked again and this time only nine men could follow, with defending champion Erwin Vervecken still there without riding a metre on the front. Veteran Richard Groenendaal launched an attack across the start/finish line on the last lap, with Boom elbowing Stybar aside to give himself some space.

With Vervecken clinging to his wheel, Boom laid all his cards on the table early in the final lap and the Dutch ace was gone. On the 'Rampa Piscina' Vervecken, Nys and Stybar were already 7 seconds back. Nys wouldn't work with Vervecken - perhaps because Boom is his team-mate at Rabobank - and Stybar couldn't help the 35 year-old defending champion either.

Boom held strong on the uphill finish while Stybar sprinted past Nys for the silver medal. Vervecken had to be satisfied with fourth place ahead of Simunek. Fontana finished as first Italian rider in his best race of the season, with Heule, Gadret and Vantornout rounding out the top-10.


1 Lars Boom (Netherlands) 1.05.27
2 Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic) 0.05
3 Sven Nys (Belgium) 0.06
4 Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) 0.09
5 Radomir Simunek (Czech Republic) 0.10
6 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy)
7 Sven Vanthourenhout (Belgium)
8 Christian Heule (Switzerland) 0.12
9 John Gadret (France)
10 Klaas Vantornout (Belgium)
11 Kevin Pauwels (Belgium) 0.18
12 Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands)
13 Enrico Franzoi (Italy) 0.19
14 Bart Aernouts (Belgium) 0.20
15 Bart Wellens (Belgium) 0.21
16 Simon Zahner (Switzerland) 0.22
17 Gerben De Knegt (Netherlands) 0.27
18 Marek Cichosz (Poland)
19 Milan Barenyi (Slovakia) 0.28
20 Wilant Van Gils (Netherlands) 0.31
21 Marco Bianco (Italy) 0.37
22 Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spain) 0.40
23 Jonathan Page (United States Of America) 0.41
24 Steve Chainel (France) 0.49
25 José Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spain) 1.00
26 Timothy Johnson (United States Of America) 1.02
27 Jeremy Powers (United States Of America) 1.11
28 David Derepas (France) 1.19
29 Pirmin Lang (Switzerland) 1.26
30 Dieter Vanthourenhout (Belgium) 1.37
31 Malte Urban (Germany) 1.51
32 Kamil Ausbuher (Czech Republic) 2.07
33 Alessandro Gambino (Italy) 2.24
34 Robert Glajza (Slovakia)
35 Luca Damiani (Italy) 2.30
36 Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spain) 2.34
37 Marcel Wildhaber (Switzerland) 2.41
38 Finn Heitmann (Germany) 2.52
39 Maros Kovac (Slovakia) 3.24
40 Magnus Darvell (Sweden) 3.25
41 Nicolas Bazin (France) 3.36
42 Gusty Bausch (Luxembourg) 3.46
43 Julien Belgy (France) 4.02
44 Thijs Al (Netherlands) 4.09
45 Michael Müller (Switzerland) 4.20
46 Mariusz Gil (Poland) 4.21
47 René Birkenfeld (Germany) 4.32
48 Mike Garrigan (Canada) 4.33
49 Johannes Sickmüller (Germany) 4.36
50 Vaclav Metlicka (Slovakia) 4.45
51 Robert Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE (Great Britain)
52 Paul Oldham (Great Britain) 4.54
53 Fredrik Ericsson (Sweden) 5.10
54 Joachim Parbo (Denmark) 5.20
55 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spain) 5.57
56 Aaron Schooler (Canada) 6.45
57 Keiichi Tsujiura (Japan) 7.16
58 Jens Westergren (Sweden) 7.39
59 Osmond Bakker (Canada)

Marin Enduro - Troughton does the business - 25/01/2008

2007-8 MARIN WINTER ENDURO
ROUND 3
20 January 2008 - High Lodge
Images & Report:
Joolze Dymond, www.BritishCycling.org.uk



Once again as the third round of this ever popular series approached, all eyes were on weather forecasts and it wasn't looking good. With flood warnings issued many riders were contemplating bringing canoes to the event instead of bikes...

Despite this, forums were busy with folk hunting down that elusive ticket to ride and on the day, armed with water wings at the ready just in case, hundreds arrived ready to splash, squelch and splutter their way round the 7.1 mile circuit.

Based at the High Lodge Visitors Centre, Thetford Forest, riders and supporters were treated to warm toilets, warm food (lashings of tasty curries and casseroles) and even a magic carpet. The course started outside the actual visitors centre then wove its way around the forest, taking in copious amounts of singletrack as well as fast fire roads, with an interesting bomb hole snuck in for extra amusement and for those that had the energy to look around them, they would have been bemused to see a giant rabbit and various other wooden sculptures looking down on them as they speed past.

In the men's 2 hour it was Paul Troughton, TEAM WHEELBASE who did the business, leading out from the start and not looking back he crammed in four laps to take his second win of the series, which barring a disastrous fourth round should see him pick up the overall series win.

Dan Oakley picked up second, just a minute later Vet John McAndrew crossed the line taking his third win in the Vets series, sewing up the overall title up as he went. Third in the senior men went to Damian Baker, just narrowly ahead of Nick Owen, who punctured early on and spent the rest of the race battling through to get back up there. Second in the 2 hour vets went to a fast finishing Phil Buick, with Richard Muchmore taking third.


Paul Troughton, TEAM WHEELBASE - Two Hour Winner
"I had a good race, it was good fun. I enjoy slippy conditions though. I'm originally from the Lake District so riding in mud and slippy conditions comes quite naturally, it's great fun. There was tough competition to contend with, I tried to make a gap on the first lap, but as soon as I got that gap I crashed, then I got back up and crashed again. Eventually I managed to stay on the bike long enough to get away! We were all expecting the worse on the course, but it was drying out all the time and it made it good fun. Thetford always delivers great racing, they don't have much to offer for the climber or anything but they excel with swoopy singletrack, which is great fun."

Rob Jebb - "A Working Mens Hero" - 23/01/2008

Online magazine Cycling News has featured an interview with TEAM WHEELBASE’S Rob Jebb labelling him as ”a true working mans hero”

- Click here for the interview

JEBB SELECTED TO REPRESENT GREAT BRITAIN - 15/01/2008

After fighting a strong and consistent battle through 5 rounds of the 2008 National Cyclo Cross Championships Rob Jebb of Staveley based TEAM WHEELBASE has been selected by the British Cycling Federation to represent Great Britain at the 2008 UCI World Cyclo Cross Championships being held in Treviso, Italy on the 26-27 January 2008.

This will be the second time Jebb has represented Great Britain at the World Cyclo Cross Championships. ‘Cycling is easily as big as football on the Continent and we’ll be expecting 60,000+ spectators to pack the course. There’s nothing like the noise and passion generated by this many people. I’m really looking forward to it!’ Rob Jebb. Team Wheelbase.



Article image. Rob Jebb, Team Wheelbase competing at a World Cup Cyclo Cross round in Belgium in December 2007. Photographer: Sam Clark

TEAM WHEELBASE - NATIONAL CYCLO CROSS CHAMPIONS 2008 - 06/01/2008

TEAM WHEELBASE CLINCH NATIONAL TITLE

This Sunday 6th January TEAM WHEELBASE brought in the New Year in fantastic style winning the team prize at the National Cyclo Cross Championships in Sutton Coalfield.

Local WHEELBASE Elite category riders Rob Jebb, Lewis Craven and Dave Haygrath competed on an extremely demanding fast and technical course, not ideally suited to their riding styles, and brought victory to the local cycle store.

Jebb practically prefers a course with more running sections so he can unleash his running prowess, and for it to be much muddier. Unfortunately it was blue skies over Sutton Park providing a firm and super fast course.

The event was won by the T-Mobile professional rider Mark Hammond with Jebb finishing in 7th, Craven in 10th and Haygrath in 28th but it was enough to stave off attempts on the Team title from the likes of Evans RT, Specialized, Trek SIS and Scott Racing.

TEAM WHEELBASE is the cycle race team from the Staveley based cycle store WHEELBASE had has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years with a numerous exceptional results in cyclo cross, road racing and mountain bike events.

“This is a fantastic result for everyone involved in the team and is the culmination of many hard hours in the saddle. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the guys – you’ve done us proud!”
Toby Dalton WHEELBASE

TEAM WHEELBASE – NORTH of ENG. CX Champions! - 05/12/2007

North of England Cyclo-Cross Championships

Boggart Hole Clough
Sunday 2 Dec 2007

Report courtesy of British Cycling

Paul Oldham continued his superb season of 'Cross results by taking the senior title at the North of England Championships, at Boggart Hole Clough in Manchester. He coped admirably with some "heavy" conditions to win over a determined challenge from Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE with Stuart Wearmouth third.

Masterful rides from TEAM WHEELBASE's Lewis Craven and Dave Haygarth ensure that we brought the Team prize back to Staveley.

Chris Young took the Vets' title from Yorkshire rival Noel Clough, whilst in the same race Tim Rowson and Marie Stuart took the Junior and Women's titles respectively.

Tom Moses was a clear-cut winner in the Youth race, whilst Billy Harding was the under-12 winner.

TEAM Prize – TEAM WHEELBSE / GORE BIKE WEAR – Rob Jebb, Lewis Craven & Dave Haygarth


Results

1 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing 1 Hr 04 M. 32 Secs
2 Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear @ 2 M. 02 Secs
3 Stuart Wearmouth Picarsso Pulman VW @ 4 M. 40 Secs
4 Lewis Craven Wheelbase RC/Gore Bike Wear @ 5 M. 51 Secs
5 Keith Murray Wheelspin Cycles.Com/Scott @ 1 Lap
6 Dave Haygarth Wheelbase RC/Gore Bike Wear
7 Steven Ward VC Azzurri
8 Richard Wilkinson SIS/Trek
9 Gary Wearmouth Picarsso Pulman VW
10 Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes Cycles/Bradford Olympic @ 2 Laps
11 Anthony Morris Biketreks
12 Darren Binks Hambleton RC
13 Martin Kitchin Horwich CC
14 James Dalton Salsa Factory RT
15 Mark Mather Ferryhill Wheelers
16 Rob Pugh Liverpool Century
17 Will Hawtin Wills Wheels CC @ 3 Laps
18 Paul Milsom Calder Clarion @ 5 Laps
DNF Mark Wolstenholme Team Swift Allsports
DNF Dean Smith Liverpool Century
DNF Ian Field Hargroves Cycles

Marin Winter Enduro - WHEELBASE No.1 - 04/12/2007

Marin Winter Series Round 2
Thetford Sunday, December 02, 2007
Photographer: Joolze Dymond

Click here for more images, results and report


'Despite the horrendous potential conditions promised us by the weather people, hundreds turned up, fully waterproofed up and smiling brightly through the waves of water to get the chance to race the 2nd round of the popular winter series. They were not disappointed, either by the conditions or by the amount of fun you can have whilst ploughing through mud.....'

Our own TEAM WHEELBASE rider Paul Troughton stormed though the tough conditions with Northern grit to the top of the podium - awesome start to his winter racing season!



MTB Endurance - 2 hour Solo male


1st Paul Troughton TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear Over 23 0 0
2 Dan Oakley 0 0
3 Damian Baker Over 23 0 0
4 Ben Loaker Over 23 0 0
5 John Smith 0 0
6 Nicholas Owen Over 23 0 0
7 Chris Wheatley 0 0
8 Neil Richardson 0 0
9 Jason Smith 0 0
10 Charlie Evans Clifton CC York Over 23 0 0
11 Joe Bedingfield St Ives CC Over 23 0 0
12 Alan Hill Norwich Flyers BMX Racing Club Over 23 0 0
13 Paul Fielding Haverhill Whls Over 23 0 0
14 Edward Cork 0 0
15 Shane Ashby 0 0
16 Elliott Lawrence 0 0
17 Matthew Steven AW Cycles.Co.uk Over 23 0 0
18 Gary Lingard London Phoenix CC Over 23

The Season is here! National Cyclo X Trophy Round 3 - 20/11/2007

National Trophy Round 3: Mallory Park
Sunday 18th November 2007
Mallory Park, Leicestershire

Report and images by Larry Hickmott courtesy of British Cycling Click here for photos


National Cyclo-Cross Trophy leader for Elite men, Paul Oldham (Hope RT), was frozen out of the race at Mallory Park as arctic conditions saw him finish in 10th place whilst Leicestershire rider, Dave Collins (SiS/Trek) took full advantage, finishing third behind two visitors from Europe (Martin Nijland 1st, Malte Urban 2nd) with Collins taking the lead of the series. In the other races, Isla Rowntree won her first Trophy event for a while with a well timed race.

Our riders TEAM WHEELBASE riders Lewis Craven and Rob Jebb gritted their teeth against the harsh elements and finished a superb 5th and 6th respectively. Dave Haygarth, TEAM WHEELBASE finished 23rd.


ELITE MEN
1 Maarten Nijland Netherlands
2 Malte Urban Heinze von Heiden/Focus
3 David Collins Science in Sport/Trek
4 Ian Field Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized
5 Lewis Craven TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear
6 Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE /Gore Bike Wear
7 Daniel Booth Pedal Power Loughborough
8 Mariusz Gil Poland
9 Jody Crawforth Evans Cycles RT
10 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing



WOMEN
1 Isla Rowntree Stourbridge CC/Wrap/CY Electrical
2 Louise Robinson (V) Stourbridge CC/Parker
3 Amy Hunt Individual Member
4 Annie Last (J) Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards
5 Marie Stuart Team Chance
6 Jen Ives Interbike RT/Schils/The Essex/Boyer
7 Jessica Roberts Team Chance
8 Rebecca Thompson (J) Evans Cycles RT
9 Nina Davies Ogmore Valley Whs.
10 Elizabeth Clayton (V) CC Giro

Craven and Haygarth Smash Yorkshire CC - 22/10/2007

Yorkshire Cyclo Cross Winter Series - Round 5
Temple Newsam Park,
Leeds
Sunday 21/10/2007

TEAM WHEELBASE riders Lewis Craven and Dave Haygarth had storming rides at Round 5 of the Yorkshire Cyclo Cross series in Temple Newsam Park, Leeds, yesterday Sun 21/10. Craven won the technical course by a comfortable margin, with Haygarth having another brilliant performance finishing 4th.


1 L Craven TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear S
2 J Sharp York Cycleworks S
3 C Young Team JD Cycles V40
4 D Haygarth TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear S
5 Rob Thackray Paul Milnes RT S
6 N Clough Fietsen Tempo V40
7 J Limebear Batley CC S
8 R Bradbury Team Aire Valley S
9 R Pugh Liverpool Century U23
10 M Wolstenholme Team Swift/Allsports S
11 D Binks Hambleton RC S
12 P Caswell Harrogate Nova CC S
13 T Baldwin Paul Milnes RT S
14 C Gath Selby CC S
15 A Westwell Pendle Forest S
16 S Middleton Hambleton RC S
17 P Hinchliffe Bradford RCC S
18 M Kitchin Horwich CC S
19 J Davis DVCRC S
20 R Watson Paul Milnes RT J

JEBB WINS IRON CROSS - 17/10/2007

Article courtesy of Cycling Weekly
Photo courtesy of Tom Miller




Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE proved himself as one of the best long distance cyclo-cross riders in the world at the weekend with a crushing victory in the Iron Cross; America's version of the Three Peaks.

Jebb finished in a time of 3-36-26hrs, beating the course record by ten minutes and his nearest competitor, Christopher Beck, by 11 minutes. Cycling Weekly / Cycle Sport writer Stu Bowers was third, a further minute back.

Billed as America's answer to the Three Peaks, the 62 mile race in Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest is one of the longest cyclo-cross races in the world and features many similar elements to the Peaks.

With six Three Peaks victories already under his belt, it should have come as little surprise when Jebb ran away from the rest of the field on the steep Power Line run up Wigwam Hill.

Beck was astounded by Jebb's running prowess, after leading into the run up Jebb ran straight past Beck, as the American asked, "are you going to run the whole way up this?" To which Jebb responded with typical northern dryness, "yep".

The WHEELBASE sponsored rider's fell running skills saw him then extend his lead despite Beck and Bowers' leading the chase. Andy Peace another former winner of the Three Peaks finished in sixth after a long hard chase due to a crash on the start straight that put him straight to the back of the field.

> Photo Gallery One

> Photo Gallery Two


IRON CROSS V: RESULTS

Posn/Name/Team/Home town/Time

1 Rob Jebb (TEAM WHEELBASE / Gore Bike Wear) Stavely, UK 3:36:26.07
2 Christopher Beck (Joe's Bike Shop) Baltimore 3:47:05.74
3 Stuart Bowers (Cycle Sport) Blandford, UK 3:48:55.43
4 Justin Lindine (CBRC Iron Cross Squad) Maplecrest 3:53:27.27
5 Ray Adams (Visitpa.com-GPOA-Cannondale) Harrisburg 3:54:34.15

Haygarth Win Caps an Epic Weekend - 14/10/2007

Article courtesy of the North West Cyclo Cross Association


Photo courtesy of Ian McVety Lune Valley CC



On a brand new venue hastily re-arranged within four days, the Lune CC put on a great series of races.

On a short but technical senior circuit, Dave Haygarth TEAM WHEELBASE enjoyed a relatively trouble-free victory over John Shaw (Ace RT / Impsport) and the unlucky Dave Brailsford (Horwich CC). After a fast start, a broken saddle rail forced Haygarth into an early bike change, letting Brailsford up to join him, but it was Brailsford’s turn for bad luck, with the first of two punctures a lap later. Shaw was the first veteran and Joe Allen took his second junior victory of the weekend.

The TEAM WHEELBASE rider was pleased to be back on the bike after organising the previous day’s cyclocross in Radcliffe. “It’s a tiring business and a very long day organising the race” said Dave, “but I knew I’d have fresh legs today and I was determined to make the most of it - my mum and my mother in law were watching today - my family home’s just up the road in Kirkby Lonsdale - so I couldn’t afford to mess up!“.

In the youth race, Martin Woffindin made the most of the fast but slimey grass conditions and dismounts to take a well deserved Victory.

Sam Turton made it two in two days with an impressive victory in the U12s race.

RESULTS

Senior Race (full results to follow soon)
1st Dave Haygarth - TEAM WHEELBASE / GORE BIKE WEAR
2nd John Shaw - Ace RT/Impsport
3rd Dave Brailsford - Horwich CC
4th Rob Pugh - Liverpool Century
5th Kevin Walford - Patterson training

1st U23 Rob Pugh
1st Vet John Shaw
2nd Vet Paul Whatmough - Sheperds Cycles
3rd Vet Duncan Stuart - Keswick
1st Lady Marie Stuart - Team Chance
1st Junior Joe Allen - New Brighton CC

WHEELBASE 'CROSS Report - 13/10/2007

WHEELBASE 'CROSS
Saturday 13 Oct
Outwood Park, Radcliff

Article courtesy of Dave Haygarth
North West CycloCross Association


Photo gallery 1

Photo gallery 2



On what many people politely described as a ‘traditional’ course, a total of exactly 100 riders raced hard and heartily in Outwood Park, Radcliffe today.

On a senior course that featured three dismounts per 1.25 mile lap, a clear winner emerged in the shape of Ipswich’s Nathan Miller (53-12 Multisports). Miller’s early rival was the fast starting Dave Brailsford (Horwich CC), who led until the third of the hard, wet, muddy laps. Third placed rider was Liverpool Century’s Rob Pugh who, despite an early front wheel puncture, battled hard to be the first U23.

Steve Jolley enjoyed the tough course, finishing first veteran ahead of many riders to his junior. First woman was Marie Stuart, whilst Joe Allen claimed top U18 spot.

In the Youth event, Lewis Burke (Macclesfield Wheelers) proved untouchable and romped away to a comfortable victory ahead of Jack Bowyer.

Top under 12 on a slightly longer than usual 20 minute race was Sam Turton (Ribble Valley Juniors).

Prizes to a value of over £500 were very generously donated by Wheelbase.co.uk, as well as the shop directors and staff helping out on the day, displaying some dream-bikes, including one of Rob Jebb’s prototype Litespeed titanium bikes.

A short video to be added shortly!


RESULTS

Senior / Women / Junior

Position No. Name Cat. Club

1 30 Nathan Miller S 53-12 Multisports
2 45 Dave Brailsford S Horwich CC
3 6 Rob Pugh U23 Liverpool Century
4 36 Andy Westell S Pendle Forest CC
5 26 Adrian Lawrence S Lancashire RC
6 5 Rick Sale U23 Horwich CC
7 44 Anthony Morris S Biketreks
8 24 Steve Jolley V50 Onimpex Bioracer RT
9 9 Steffan Chandler S Horwich CC
10 20 Mick Style V40 Manchester Wheelers
11 25 Martin Kitchin S Horwich CC
12 35 Stuart Green S Oldham Century
13 10 Kev Walford S Patterson Training
14 28 Duncan Stuart V40 Keswick Bikes
15 13 Simon Watts S Lune CC
16 56 Ray Pugh V50 Liverpool Mercury
17 7 Dean Smith S Liverpool Century
18 17 Joe Allen J New Brighton CC
19 48 Martin Smith S Lancaster CC
20 14 Colin Davies S Eastlands Velo
21 40 L Underhill V40 Weaver Valley
22 59 Joseph Heywood S Horwich CC
23 1 Colin Humphreys V40 Red Rose Olympic
24 60 Chris Balsham S York Cycleworks
25 4 Dave Headon V40 Horwich CC
26 58 Eric Taylor V60 Horwich CC
27 47 Stephen Artingstan V40 Zodiac CRC
28 46 Chris Southern S Warrington CC
29 19 M Armstrong S Ribble Valley Juniors
30 34 John Gillmore V40 East Liverpool Wheelers
31 33 Luke Beswick J Buxton CC
32 21 Simon Cunningham V40 Manchester Wheelers
33 29 Marie Stuart W Team Chance
34 2 Paul Smith S Seamons CC
35 11 Martin Sackfield S Leigh Premier
36 57 Machael Davian V40 Horwich CC
37 23 John Stanistreet V50 Liverpool Century
38 39 A Stanistreet S Liverpool Mercury
39 38 R Stanistreet V60 Liverpool Mercury
40 41 C Gregory V50 Weaver Valley
41 8 Steven Mayerhoff S Liverpool Century
42 54 Roger Wilbraham S Liverpool Century
43 27 Alan Fitton V40 Mossley CRT
44 32 Sam Glover J Sub Sixty
45 52 John Gore V40 Liverpool Century
46 42 Eleanor Underhill W Weaver Valley
47 55 Paul West V40 Weaver Valley
48 22 James Stanistreet V40 Liverpool Century
49 50 Colin Thompson S Liverpool Century
50 53 Anita Clydon W Liverpool Century
51 51 Brian Owens S Liverpool Century
52 15 Peter Fairclough V40 Red Rose Olympic
53 12 Bob Duckworth V60 Bury Clarion
54 18 C Armstrong W Ribble Valley Juniors
55 16 Louise Cooper V Red Rose Olympic
3 Josh Varty U23 Probikekit.com
31 Peter Watson V60 Horwich CC
37 Danny Reilly S Mossley CRT
43 Paul Watmough V40 Shepherd's Cycles
49 Elizabeth Harley W Lancaster CC


Youth

Position Name Club Cat

1 Lewis Burke Macclesfield Wheelers U16
2 Jack Bowyer Eastlands Velo U16
3 Jack Humphreys Red Rose Olympic U14
4 Sam Russell Wheelbase / Gore Bike Wear U16
5 Lewis Sharman Liverpool Century U16
6 Christian Ramsden ABC Centreville U16
7 Melissa Bury Eastlands Velo U14
8 Lucas Tilston Eastlands Velo U16
9 Jack Sadler Ribble Valley Juniors U14
10 Sophie Gore Sports City Velo U16
11 Jack Cooper Red Rose Olympic U16
12 Drew Fitton Mossley CRT U14
13 Andrew Nickson Red Rose Olympic U14
14 Hannah Leyland Mossley CRT U14
15 Becky Preece Red Rose Olympic U14

Juniors Under 12

Position Name Club Cat

1 Sam Turton Ribble Valley Juniors U12
2 Christian Braybrooke Eastlands Velo U12
3 Bryn Davies Eastlands Velo U12
4 Alex Braybrooke Eastlands Velo U12
5 Clare Gore Red Rose Olympic U12
6 Moira Davies Eastlands Velo U12
7 James Duckworth Bury Clarion U12
8 Matthew Braybrooke Eastlands Velo U10
9 Helena Preece Red Rose Olympic U10
10 Caroline Humphreys Red Rose Olympic U12
11 Becky Sackfield Leigh Premier U10
12 Chris Sackfield Leigh Premier U10
13 Olivia Braybrooke Eastlands Velo U8
DNF Bill Cooper Red Rose Olympic U12
DNS Leyton Sharman Liverpool Century U10

JEBB's Litespeed CX in Profile - 10/10/2007

Rob Jebb's Litespeed
By Rich Land

Article courtesy of Road Cycling UK


Click here for more information on the LITESPEED range




There's been much lamenting for the last week due to the cancellation of the 46th Three Peaks Cyclo cross race, cancelled in 2001 for the same reason. Rob Jebb (Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear) must be doubly gutted as he's received the first two new Litespeed cross bikes in the UK.

With a sub 18lb build possible, Jebb - a six times winner of the Three Peaks - was hoping to use these new bikes to propel him around the 'worlds hardest' cyclocross race. With this lightweight bicycle, it would have given Jebb an extra dimension, coupled with his fell running experience, which could have resulted in him beating his own course record.
As you might just be able to see, there are some custom Orange decals supplied by Litespeed, with the rest of the bike made from parts readily available from most good bike shops. The frame itself uses Litespeed Geometry Enhanced Tubeset (G.E.T.) that results in a diamond shape at both the bottom bracket junction and where the down tube meets the head tube.
Beefy chainstays should ensure that there's no unwanted flex while the classic S-bend seatstays both improve clearance and rider comfort. A brake stop has been welded into the seatstays so removing the mythical hunt for a solution to the cantilever brake woes. The price for the frame, fork and a headset is £1599.99.

Many thanks to Toby from Wheelbase for the pictures. The race was Yorkshire Cyclo Cross point's series, Wakefield, Sunday 23rd September 2007 - which Jebb won.

Bike Spec

• Frame: Litespeed CX
• Fork: Easton EC90 XC
• Bars: FSA - but will change to Bontrager
• Stem: FSA 120mm - but will change to Bontrager
• Wheels: Bontrager / Ksyrium SL / Hope Pro 3 - depending on the event
• Seatpost: Bontrager Carbon
• Headset: Chris King
• Saddle: Selle Italia
• Pedals: Time Atac
• Brakes: Froglegs
• Tyres: Dugast
• Chainset: Bontrager Carbon
• Goupset: Shimano Dura Ace

Specified and maintained by Nick White, Head Mechanic, TEAM WHEELBASE

For more information on the WHEELBASE Custom Build Program call us on 01539 821443 or email workshop@wheelbase.co.uk

TEAM WHEELBASE off to a Strong Start - 09/10/2007

National Trophy Round 1: Abergavenny
7th October 2007

Report & images by Larry Hickmott courtesy of British Cycling



Click here full report and images


The opening round of the 2007-08 British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Trophy kicked off at Abergavenny on Sunday with some cracking racing around the dry and very fast course at the town’s Leisure Centre.

Elite Men’s Race
The final race of a dry day in Abergavenny lined up at quarter past two and what cracking race it was from the word go. It didn’t take long for the pace at the front to see two riders going clear as Paul Oldham piled on the pace at the front with only Jody Crawforth for company tucked tight on his wheel.

The chasers though were only seconds behind and leading the chase was Stephen Adams with a small gap to Dave Collins and Stuart Bowers. The race at the front soon started to get busy as a group of four formed lead still by Oldham and another group only seconds behind including a rider on the comeback trail, Matt Ellis and a new signing for Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles, Simon Richardson.

The leading group of four however never stayed together for long and Oldham’s speed around the dusty course soon saw him clear on his own again as the race started to fragment more and more in the chasing group. Stuart Bowers, Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE, Jody Crawforth and Stephen Adams were soon drawing clear of the rest of any would be challengers and only Dave Collins who had a mechanical was still in the chase for the podium.

With Oldham drawing clear 30 seconds plus ahead of the rest, the four chasers became five as Collins joined them and when Collins hit the front with Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE, the five became three as Crawforth and Bowers lost contact and then Adams lost contact too and it was down to two chasers. Oldham continued on his merry way to win the race alone and Collins made no mistake in the sprint for second with Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE third. Stephen Adams was 6th but was the first under 23 race.

Lancashire rider Paul Oldham’s reaction to his first Trophy win was “I’m pleased with that, its been a long time coming. It’s been fourth place usually so I am well chuffed. It’s my first cross but I have been mountain biking at Worlds three weeks ago so the form is there. It’s been a busy September what with my wife having a baby so I’m waiting for it to all come crashing around me when the sleepless night nights catch up with me!”

“The course was good and a bit different to normal. I’m usually knee deep in mud here but it was nice.” Paul explained he had little time for preparation on the ‘cross bike, riding it to work and back the Thursday before the race for the first time.

“I knew I was strong today and it was one of those courses where I knew it could be one of those bunch races and no-one was willing to go to front so I thought I may as well go it alone instead of towing everyone else around. It makes them work too then”.

“The Trophy is definitely a goal. I was always going to take it seriously but now I have this (leaders jersey) I’m going to have pull my finger out and start training”

Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE “I was a little bit off the pace on the first couple of laps, and then once I got up there, I had a little rest and Paul attacked and there was no way I could go with him as I had just got on. After a lap recovery, I dug in myself and tried to catch him but he was far too strong.”

“I’m looking forward to when we have some mud! If I can ride with the top boys on a course like that, I’m looking forward to later on in the year.” On his preparation, he admits he was really disappointed the Three Peaks was cancelled adding “I don’t doing anything different though to prepare – I ride my bike and go running.”

“I’m off to do a long race in America next week so that will make up for it. Before this, I have only done one cross race, and been doing some reps in running because I went to the World Mountain Range Champs so have been doing intervals for that and I think as long as you’re getting you’re heart rate up it’s the same whether you’re on the bike or running.”

Dave Collins: “I enjoyed the course today. I rolled my tub (tubular tyre) half way round the race and luckily it wasn’t too far from the pits so I didn’t have to run that far. I had to work pretty hard to get back on the group and when I caught them, they weren’t going that quick. So I was going to hit them straight away but decided to wait for the hill instead and gave it a good dig and there was only Rob who came with me. After that we made sure of the job and carried on very hard”.

“We have never ridden here in the dry before as it is always a mud bath but I quite enjoyed it. It is perhaps a little hilly for me but as long as the hills are straight, I can get the power down and with it being dryer, that always helps because I get the power out instead of sinking in the mud!”

“The course has lots of different challenges, hill’s cambers, sharp corners and a bit of everything. I knew Paul was going to be going well as he’s being going awesome this year. So I knew he was going to be one to watch. I thought Stuart Wearmouth was going to play a part and Matt Ellis perhaps. There are a lot of people challenging in this category and no-one is head and shoulders above everyone else.”

“I thought if I could get in a group and have a bit of a sort out I’d stand a chance. The Trophy is really open this year, I can’t see why there can’t be a different winner every round depending on the conditions and it was good to get some points today and get on the grid!”

Elite Men/U23

1. Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing 0 59 30 0 0
2. David Collins Science in Sport/Trek 1 0 2 0 32
3. Rob Jebb TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear 1 0 2 0 32
4. Jody Crawforth Evans Cycles RT 1 0 17 0 47
5. Stuart Bowers Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized 1 0 17 0 47
6. Stephen Adams Merlin RT 1 0 20 0 50
7. Tom Last Evans Cycles RT 1 0 49 1 19
8. Stuart Wearmouth Picarsso-Pulman RT 1 0 56 1 26
9. Mark Thwaites Kinesis UK 1 1 5 1 35
10. Jamie Newall Evans Cycles RT 1 1 22 1 52
11. Simon Richardson Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles RT 1 1 28 1 58
12. Duncan Jamieson Felt Racing 1 1 33 2 3
13. George Richardson Kona UK/Paligap 1 1 43 2 13
14. Lewis Craven TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear 1 2 8 2 38
15. Tim Dunford Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized 1 2 30 3 0
16. William Bjergfelt Kona UK/Paligap 1 2 38 3 8
17. Adrian Lansley Pedal on.co.uk/Martins Audi 1 2 49 3 19
18. Lee Williams Abergavenny RC/Govilon/Bikebase 1 2 53 3 23
19. Gary Wearmouth Picarsso-Pulman RT 1 3 5 3 35
20. Ben Simmons Lifeforce Creation/Heather Bird 1 3 16 3 46
21. Matt Ellis Individual Member 1 3 26 3 56
22. Peter Banham Wyre Forest CRC/Fabricolor/TMWC 1 3 30 4 0
23. Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport RT 1 3 32 4 2
24. Ian Legg Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar 1 3 50 4 20
25. Andrew Baum Gateway RT 1 3 59 4 29
26. Philip Smith Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized 1 4 9 4 39
27. Hamish Batchelor Sandy Wallace Cycles 1 4 16 4 46
28. Lee Shunburne Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards 1 4 19 4 49
29. Philip Cooper Individual Member 1 4 39 5 9
30. Keith Murray Wheelspincycles.com/Scott 1 4 53 5 23
31. James Furniss Ace RT/Impsport/Zepnat 1 4 57 5 27
32. David Haygarth TEAM WHEELBASE/Gore Bike Wear 1 5 26 5 56
33. Richard Lister MI Racing/EAS/Thule/Ozone/Shimano 1 5 34 6 4
34. Vin Cox Team Cyclo-Cross.com 1 5 35 6 5
35. Mark Cotton VC Lincoln/Mr Mortgage/SPS/Impsport 1 6 20 6 50
36. Grant Leavy Lifeforce Creation/Heather Bird 1 6 22 6 52
37. Hugo Hocknell Angliasport/Pro-vision 1 6 33 7 3
38. Michael Warner Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized 1 6 36 7 6
39. Nathan Miller 53-12 Multisports 1 7 0 7 30

Jebb Tackles the Iron Cross - 08/10/2007

TEAM WHEELBASE’S own Cyclo Cross ace Rob Jebb is flying off to Pennsylvania this weekend as he had been invited to compete in the gruelling 62 mile Iron Cross event, reputed to be the longest in the world.

Jebb was invited to attend as the Iron Cross is based on the legendary Three Peaks event in the Yorkshire Dales which he has won for six year in a row.

‘This route is almost 62 miles long and features nearly 6,300 feet of elevation gain. There will be one checkpoint/aid station in each sector. This thing freakin' rocks.’ Taken from the Iron Cross website

I’m not sure what to except really, I’ll just take it as it comes’… ‘I understand that they’ve tried to base it on the Three Peaks, and use rocky tracks with some road sections, but I’m not really sure. We’re flying out on Thursday before and hopefully we’ll get chance to check out the course before the race on Sunday Rob Jebb

For more information and maybe plan it in for next year check out the Iron Cross website

Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear Cyclo Cross - 05/10/2007

Saturday 13th October 2007

Promoter: WHEELBASE / Gore Bike Wear
Location: Outwood Park, Radcliffe

It’s the second year we’ve run our own Cyclo Cross race in Outwood Park, Radcliffe and we are hoping to build on this success in 2007

Entries are on the day only

Please click here for more information

Click here for map

Categories and start times:
• Under 12 10:45am
• Youth 11:15am
• Senior/Junior/Vet/Women 12:00noon

Craven smashes his hat-trick - 18/09/2007

Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge
Sunday 16th September 2007

Photography: Dave MacFarlane

Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge is one of the longest running Mountain Bike Endurance Events in Northern England, now in its eight year.

TEAM WHEELBASE rider Lewis Craven astonished competitors and spectators alike, leading from the start and finished an amazing nine minutes clear of second place rider ex. pro Barrie Clark. This win in is number 4 for Craven who’s speed and skill has enabled him to dominant this event.

The event attracted over 600 riders despite the never-ending rain, the largest field in the events history. The course consisted of an extremely challenging 30mile loop of Grizedale forest and surrounding areas, designed to display the very best in Lake District mountain biking.

‘This years course was easily the most technical and physically challenging that I’ve encountered on the GMBC’.Lewis Craven.

TEAM WHEELBASE also picked up the Team prize with the following finishing times;

Lewis Craven – winner 2hr 33mins
Steve Clark – 8th
Dave Haygrath – 15th
Ian Palmer – 33rd
Sam Russell – 55th (an aspiring Youth rider)
Stuart Reid – DNS (knee injury)
Paul Troughton – DNF (was running 12th before a slashed tyre)

The Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge principle sponsor is The North Face and all proceeds are donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Great North Air Ambulance.


Click here for the photos Courtesy of Dave MacFarlane Dave@DaveMacPhotogrphy.com


Click here for the results

TEAM WHEELBASE on the Podium - 18/07/2007

Colne Town Centre Elite Circuit Race
18 July 2007


Stuart Reid , TEAM WHEELBASE mixes it up with the full-time pro riders in the Colne Elite Circuit Race

… and Dave Haygarth, TEAM WHEELBASE hits the Podium again in the support race!

Full report and images courtesy of www.Britishcycling.org.uk


The Colne town centre circuit starts and finishes on Market Street, with a sharp right hand turn towards Craddock Road a slight climb to the Post Office Yard. Two severe right turns onto Church Street and a fast slightly downhill slope towards the finish. The road narrows along the finish straight with wide cobbled edges giving extra excitement to any rider straying off the centre line. PlowmanCraven-Evans showed their intent early in the race when James McCallum displayed his National Champs jersey with an attack along Market Street. Two laps later it was the turn of James Millard (PCA-Evans), then Tony Gibb (PCA-Evans) taking the first prime of the night.

The other riders were not content to allow PCA free reign and Tom Murray (Kinesis) started a series of attacks eventually taking Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor), Rob Partridge (Recycling), Ian Wilkinson (SIS-Trek) and Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) clear of the field. The PCA warning siren sounded and on the next lap Tony Gibb was with the breakaways and they’d established a small gap of about 6 seconds. Russell Downing (HealthNet-Maxxis) moved to the front and with his brother Dean up the road controlled the speed of the bunch.

Over the next four laps the small band of leading riders increased the gap, and with Kinesis, PCA, Recycling and SIS in the break it was down to the Merlin Racing Team to bring them back. John Mozley, Liam Holohan and Tom Smith took turns to drive the front of the bunch and their hard work resulted in the Dean Downing group being caught.

The fast pace and skill of the riders on this small tight circuit had the crowd straining for a better view as the big bunch raced down Market Street. The corners were also good vantage points as riders were clipping the pavement edge, sometimes misjudging the angle with a few unlucky riders ending up on the deck.

Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) had caught the interest of some young chav’s spectating around the circuit, and every time he passed, the chant “DEANO, DEANO, DEANO” could be heard ringing across the streets whilst Simon Holt (Recycling.co.uk) had a group of young women screaming his name, and evergreen pinup Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello RT) provided interest for the more mature female spectators in the crowd.

With 1 hours racing completed, the lap board now showed 5 laps to go. Dean Downing, Tony Gibb and John Mozley were on the front of the bunch as they passed through the finish area. Hearing the commentator announcing just five laps to go, Dean Downing attacked from the front of the bunch into Craddock Road. The Rapha-Condor rider stirred things up and the race was strung out behind him. He managed to hold his lead for the next lap, but with two laps to go the whole of the PlowmanCraven-Evans team moved to the front of the bunch and brought Downing back.

At the bell, the front of the race was a wall of pink and blue lycra, with the white National Champs jersey of McCallum visible just behind them. It looked as though PCA were setting McCallum up for the win, but with Simon Gaywood leading the Elite Circuit Series he may have been the intended beneficiary of the team’s hard work.

The whole field were together leading to the finish line and Simon Gaywood was just off the pace behind Russell Downing as the sprint was being wound up at the top of Market Street. Downing was in a good position but Gaywood too was sitting comfortably waiting to make his race winning move. At 100 metresto go, Gaywood moved out of the line, squeezed harder on the pedals to ease clear of Russell Downing, raising both arms in the air to celebrate an easy Sprint win from Downing. Gordon McCauley (PlowmanCraven-Evans) took the third podium position.

Elite Circuit Series
1. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
2. Russell Downing Health Net
3. Gordon McCauley Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
4. Dean Downing Rapha Condor R.T.
5. Graham Briggs Recycling.co.uk
6. Malcolm Elliott Pinarello R.T.
7. Ian Wilkinson Scienceinsport-Trek
8. Gary Adamson FP Mailing
9. Jonathan Mozley Merlin R.T.
10. Tom Murray Kinesis U.K.
11. Simon Holt Recycling.co.uk
12. Tom Smith Awcycles.co.uk
13. Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing
14. Stuart Reid Wheelbase / Gore
15. Tom Barras Merlin R.T.
16. James Millard Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
17. Ben Price Condor - Rapha
18. James McCallum Plowman Craven / Evans Cycles
19. Ian Bibby Scienceinsport-Trek
20. James Moss Inkland MTS Cyclesport



Support Event:
1. Phil West V.C. St. Raphael
2. Graeme Goulding Maxgear R.T.
3. Dave Haygarth Wheelbase / Gore
4. James Farnaby Crosstrax
5. Ben Green Manchester Wheelers
6. Simon Yates Sports CityVelo
7. Adam Mitchell Cherry Valley R.T
8. Steve Davies Onimpex Bioracer
9. Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes cycles
10. Andrew Westwell Pendle Forest CC

TEAM WHEELBASE Rochdale Grand Prix - 05/07/2007

Rochdale Town Centre Grand Prix
British Cycling Elite Circuit Series Event
July 4, 2007; Rochdale Town Centre


The Support Race
A field of over 50 riders were on the start line but it didn’t take long for that to be whittled down as the hill in the course, long and steep enough to do damage from lap 1, had its effect on the riders.

By the time the race entered into the final five laps, the lead group was now only a quarter of the size it had been at the start and a lone Aire Valley Wheelers rider was doing his best to hold off the now charging pack behind him lead by Dave Metcalf TEAM WHEELBASE.

At the bell, the bunch were on the Aire Valley Wheelers rider, Metcalf, TEAM WHEELBASE came out strong of the final bend but number 46 whose name is not on the programme crossed the line just in front to raise both hands in victory.


1. 46 (Glendene CC)
2. Greame Goulding, Maxgear RT
3. Dave Haygarth, TEAM WHEELBASE
4. John Watchman, ABC Centreville
5. 53
6. Matthew Wood, West Pennine, RC
7. Chris Sherriffs, Sport City Velo
8. Stuart Green, Oldham Century
9. Simon Yates, Sports City Velo
10. Ben Green, Manchester Wheelers

click here for all the photos


The Elite Race

A ten minute break followed before many of the best British circuit race riders took to the line and among them, certainly two of the inform riders at the moment, former World champion Chris Newton and former British road and circuit race champion Russell Downing. A double Olympic medallist in Athens 2004, Rob Hayles was back after injury and illness has kept him out of racing for a few weeks and wearing the champions jersey, James McCullam to was there ready to race too.

The rain had now all but gone and even the sun was making its presence felt from time to time and shining on the large crowd down the finish straight. The Elite race, an hour plus five laps, didn’t take long to get going and soon the young riders in the Recycling.co.uk and Merlin teams were having their own personal battle at the front trying to get away. They didn’t succeed and within a few laps, a break had developed led by Chris Newton up the rather savage climb.

It was a powerful group and as well as Newton, there was National Champion James McCullam (PCA/Evans Cycles), Ian Wilkinson (SiS/Trek), Russell Downing (Healthnet) and Stephen Adams (Merlin). Paul Oldham (Hope Racing) was chasing and quickly found himself a place in the lead group whilst Gordon McCauley, who could also see the danger, was stuck in no-mans land, chasing hard but unable to close the final 10 seconds he needed to make it into the group.

Chasing too behind McCauley was Matt Brammeier (Profel Ziegler) who was looking strong and the bunch were only seconds away as the race went full gas and there was still 50 minutes of racing left. The lead group never stayed together for long, and after five or six laps of withstanding the pressure from Newton up the climb, the rest had to give best to the rider who has amazing form at the moment. Russell Downing wasn’t going to let him go though and he joined Newton and from then on, the two of them dominated the race.

They never looked in any danger and whilst the remnants of the break were eventually caught, the bunch was now a shadow of itself as the tough course took its toll on the riders yet again. Onwards the leading duo went and behind them, the young guns in the Recycling team took control of the chase and that is pretty much how the race stayed. Attacks from the bunch were quickly nullified and any group that did get away, only got a few seconds before being reeled in.

It was all down to who would win – Downing or Newton? Was it going to be a sprint or would one or the other get away on that tough climb? With a lap to go, Downing led past the finish and into the S bends that preceded the climb. On that hill, the one that proved so decisive in the race, Newton made his move and Downing had no answer and Newton led all the way to line to have plenty of time to raise his arms in victory whilst Downing crossed the line four seconds later, raising an arm to acknowledge the crowd.

The final podium place was being set up three laps from the end when the Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles riders took control of the bunch and set it up for their best placed rider in the series, Simon Gaywood. Sure enough, despite a slip in the final bend on the still slippery roads which had been the cause of a few crashes that night, Gaywood had the better of Ian Wilkinson in the high speed down hill gallop.


1. Chris Newton, Recycling.co.uk
2. Russell Downing, Healthnet @4 seconds
3. Simon Gaywood, Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles @1.04
4. Ian Wilkinson, SiS/Trek
5. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor RT
6. Jonathon Mozely, Merlin
7. Matt Brammier, Profel Ziegler
8. Simon Holt, Recycling.co.uk
9. Graham Briggs, Recycling.co.uk
10. Tom Barras, Merlin
11. Paul Oldham, Hope Factory racing
12. Andy Tinsley, Omnipex/Bioracer
13. James Moss, Inkland MTS Cyclesport
14. Warrick Spence, Cyclefit-Serotta
15. Lewis Craven TEAM WHEELBASE
16. Richard Wilkinson, Rapha Condor RT
17. Jack Pullar, Kinesis
18. James Stewart, KFS/Sunday
19. Ryan Bonser, reccycling.co.uk
20. Gary Adamson, FP Mailing


click here for all the photos

Reid on form for Oldham WIN! - 01/07/2007

Oldham Century RC Summer Road Race
Sunday 01 July 2007
British Cycling



TEAM WHEELBASE rider Stuart Reid proved his exceptional form again this season with another convincing win at this weekends Oldham Century RC Summer Road Race.

Following a clean break of 10 riders early in the race TEAM WHEEBASE riders Lewis Craven and Stuart Reid worked hard on a hilly and demanding course from Delph, heading up on to Saddleworth Moor above Oldham. The third and final lap of the 22 mile course saw a number of breaks and counter attacks but Reid held fast and put the power down exactly when needed to win the final sprint by a clear 20 yards.



1. Stuart Reid Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear 2nd 30 0
2. Mark Thwaites Kinesis UK 2nd 25 03
3. Matthew Robinson All Terrain Cycles 2nd 21 04
4. Damien Sharp West Yorkshire Police CC 2nd17 05
5. James Moss MTS Cycle Sport 2nd 14 06
6. Richard Binks Triangle RT- Bianchi 2nd 12 07
7. Daniel Drake Lancashire RC 2nd 10 08
8. Philip Holwell Rutland CC 2nd 8 09
9. Stephen Robinson Holme Valley Whls 2nd 70 10
10. Lewis Craven Wheelbase/Gore Bike Wear 2nd 60 11
11. Damian Smith Honister '92 2nd 50 12
12. Andrew Westwell Blazing Saddles MTB Club 4th 40 13
13. Andrew Yates MK Cycles 2nd 30 14
14. Paul Bell Doncaster Whls CC 2nd 20 15
15. Julian Cail 00 16
16. Martin Cain 00 17
17. Adam Longworth Cleveleys RC 00 18
18. Mark Jones Alf Jones Cycles 00 19
19. Mark Jacobi Rutland CC 00 20
20. Nick Thomas 00 21

TEAM WHEELBASE Youth star posts report - 30/06/2007

TEAM WHEELBASE budding Youth Cat. cross-country racer Sam Russell has posted his own report on racing and the elation of winning!

Click here to check out the report at British Cycling


What a weekend!

Well I’ll start at Sherwood Pines, the 2nd round of the NPS race series. My Dad and I arrived on Friday afternoon and pitched our tent, the weather was looking a bit dodgy with grey clouds and forecast for rain. I managed to get two really good laps in on the course and my first thoughts were that the course was well hard!

The course had some very steep bankings, one of which I couldn’t even ride up, some tricky log drops, some fast singletrack and short sections of forest road sections. I kept thinking if it rains tonight, tomorrow will be so difficult, especially the single track and tree roots.

By 8pm the storm arrived and it hammered down all night. I was starting to worry, I knew I had to get an early night as tomorrow was going to be very hard and it was an early start. I got myself to bed at 9:30pm, the rain still hammering it down.

I woke at about 8am and was pleased that the rain had stopped, the sun was out which helped to dry the tent. I had a good breakfast and then had a good spin on the bike to get warmed up. By 9:50am we all lined up for a 10am race start, I was so nervous but managed to get a good position on the line and was feeling slightly better. There is nothing worse than a bad start on the line.

The whistle went and off we went. I had a desperate start as I had slipped my front derailleur into the smallest ring on the chainset and was spinning like crazy. By the time we hit the forest track I was in a really bad position stuck behind a small group, I knew I had to work hard if I wanted a good result.
Then we hit the first singletrack section and I was stuck behind a group of about five lads who were going slower than I wanted to go, I needed to get pass them. I made a move on the singletrack section, managing to just get pass but taking some brambles with me!

As we hit the forest track I made a serious effort to catch the next group ahead. I put on a bit of a burst and managed to get with them just before we went back on another singletrack section which was really “rooty” and slippery. I had to watch my speed as I didn’t want to over do it and come off.

I stayed at the back of the group until I hit the forest track and then I made a move for it, I managed to get to the front of the group and as we hit another section of singletrack I realised that the group behind weren’t pushing hard. I lead this group for about 10 minutes, and I felt I was doing ok. I could see a group of about three riders up ahead so I decided to push a bit harder.

As I started to chase the group ahead we came up to a log drop which you could either go around (which most people did) or over it, stupidly I decided that it would be a lot faster if I just flew over the drop but I under estimated it and only realised when my front wheel got on it that it was incredibly slippery. Before I knew it I was off the bike lying in the mud, winded and my morale at rock bottom. I was really gutted as I could see all the rest of the group I was leading ride off while I sat in the mud!

It just wasn’t my day so I decided it would be best to drop out. My dad was extremely disappointed as he thought I looked strong and was doing really well when he had seen me out on the course. I had to tell my mates that I had given up which made me feel even more gutted and I kept on saying to myself “why did I drop out, I should have kept on going!”, but it was too late. Well done to Will Verney who won the race and was in a class of his own. I have to put my race behind me and forget about it and put it down to experience.

Well after a bad race on the Saturday I had to try and make up for it on Sunday at the Merida Marathon in Penrith at the Cumbria Bike Fest. I had entered the 28km race and knew it was going to be just as hard as Saturday’s race if not harder as I would be racing against adults not just my age group.

I registered for the race at about 8am, the race was starting at 10am with about 1600 people in total entered for the different distances. The set up was really good with lots of different stalls and activities going on. There were loads of people, I knew it was going to be a massive race!

I was a bit worried because everyone would all be setting off together, that’s approx 1600 people all setting off together! Half of them were doing the 86km route with the others doing the 47km or the 28km races. I got to the starting grid at 9:30am and thought I needed to be in a good position so that I didn’t get mowed down in the charge. I made sure I was in the first few lines of riders just behind some of the elite men. I felt really confident and knew it was going to be my day.

I looked around to see if I could make out other riders numbers to see if they were doing the 28km race but it was impossible to tell so I knew that I just had to go for it from the off. At 10.00am the race started and I shot off with the front group, I realised I was racing next to Nick Craig (Scott UK) who was doing the 100km. We hit a road section and I was going so fast, I must have been in the top 20
at that stage. I was feeling great but also fairly knackered, this was only 10 minutes into the race and I knew I had a long way to go.

The 86km ,47km and 28km were all riding together and I was really enjoying myself. We were all chatting to each other and people were encouraging me to keep it going. After another road section it soon went quiet as I headed off on my own as the 28km riders split from the 86km and 47km riders.

I headed off on a narrow single track and a marshall said “you're first”. I couldn’t believe it, I was so shocked I was actually leading a race. The feeling was amazing but after about 10 minutes of riding on my own I was feeling bad as there was no one to speak to or cheer me on. I knew I had to just keep this lead, I hit a fantastic singletrack which went for about half a mile.

After a short climb I came to a gate where my Dad was waiting, he gave me an energy bar and a drink which made me feel a little bit better. I knew I still had a fair way to go as I set off on another short road section. I kept on pushing hard even though I felt terrible. I came to the bottom of this steep grassy climb, I looked towards the top and thought this is a big one there is no way I can get up there. I put in a low gear and just kept spinning, managing to keep going on the grassy hairpins.
By the time I got to the top my legs were cramping up, I was knackered but I kept shouting to myself “Come on Sam!”.

I looked back down the climb and could see the second rider just on the road and knew that I had a massive lead. I was out on my own, I was winning and I wanted to prove to myself that I really could win a race. I kept on pushing my weary legs around the crank and hoped that the finish was soon.

There was a sense of relief when I could see a forest in the distance, I knew that I must be close to the finish line. I kept on going for it and hoped there would be no more climbs, but unlucky for me there was another climb up into the forest were my Dad was waiting. He gave me encouragement and said that I was very close to the finish. I was cramping all the way up the climb but I could hear the tannoy at the finish area.

I managed to keep it going even though I had nothing left in my legs but it didn’t matter so much because the finish was there! I finished the race in 1 hour 34 minutes, the time keepers were shocked when I came through. They said I must have been flying! The feeling of winning was fantastic, I was over the moon with the result and especially pleased to win the race against all ages by over 14 minutes.

After the race they even wanted me for two minutes to do a little interview over the tannoy and the photographers were taking photos of me. They treated me like I was some professional racer! Now I know how good it feels to win. I will want that feeling again!

TEAM WHEELBASE in the Elite Break at Brighouse Crit - 29/06/2007

British Cycling
Brighouse Town Centre Crit
June 26, 2007

Report by Larry Hickmott
www.britishcycling.org.uk


The latest event in the Yorkshire Festival of Cycling, the Brighouse Town Centre circuit races, were held in dry and even bright conditions at times which helped draw out a good size crowd out to witness the action.

Elite Circuit Race

Although not part of the Elite Circuit Series, there had been a lot of star names on the start sheet but due to various reasons, a few of them did not turn up and it was Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk), the man in form after winning Ryedale on the weekend, who was the favourite at the start. It wasn’t to be his night though as one of his team’s young riders, Simon Holt, who was one of five that got in a break early on and they were never caught and almost lapping the field by the end.

With a number of the strong teams represented in the break, SiS/Trek (Matt Cronshaw), Merlin (Tom Barras), and Recycling.co.uk (Simon Holt) along with Andy Tinsely and number Lewis Crawen 54 Team Wheelbase, the chase behind was luck lustre. Ian Wilkinson tried to get away on his own but wasn’t being given any room and it wasn’t until late on that a three up break including Recycling’s Graham Briggs escaped that there was any racing going on behind the break.

With Sid Barras part of the large crowd watching, local boy Tom Barras romped home in the sprint to win the race from veteran Andy Tinsley with Simon Holt in third. Afterwards on the stage with Eurosport commentator Mike Smith, Tom Barras (Merlin) explained that there was no pressure from his parents, being the son of one of Britain’s greats, Sid Barras.


Elites

1. Tom Barras Merlin RT
2. Andy Tinsley Bioracer Onimpex
3. Simon Holt Recycling.co.uk
4. Lewis Craven TEAM WHEELBASE
5. Matt Cronshaw SIS
6. Graham Briggs Recycling.co.uk
7. Ian Bibby SIS
8. Jack Pullar Kinesis UK
9. Ian Wilkinson SIS
10. Jon Mozley Merlin RT

Reid in the mix at Circuit Race Championships - 20/06/2007

2007 British Elite Men's Circuit Race Championships

A British Cycling Championship Event

Wednesday 20th June 2007; Otley Town Centre



Scotland's James McCallum (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles) was the winner of the 2007 British Elite Men's Circuit Race Championship held in Otley (Yorkshire) on Wednesday night and joined a long and distinguished list of former champions.

Held on a sunny evening making conditions ideal for the riders on quite a tough circuit, McCallum was part of a small group that slipped away in the shadows on the back of the circuit with a few laps to go and in the sprint, crossed the line a worthy winner ahead of World Team Pursuit Champion Ed Clancy (Landbowkredit) and first year senior Matthew Cronshaw (SiS/Trek) who took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Team WHEELBASE rider Stuart Reid remained in the action throughout the extremely high-paced Elite race, averaging a speed of 35 mph and finished comfortably in the first half of the main bunch. Lap 10 and 12 of 19 saw the biggest action for Team WHEELBASE with Reid leading the pack of mainly full-time professional riders.



For all the photos click here

TEAM WHEELBASE TAKES A DOUBLE 1ST IN THE FRED WHITTON! - 23/05/2007

THE FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE
Sunday 13th May 2007


The Fred Whitton Challenge cycle ride took place in the Lake District this weekend, Sunday, May 13.

Eight hundred participants started from Coniston to complete an anti-clockwise 114-mile route taking in all the Lakeland passes.

Riders started from Coniston between 6am and 9am, then on to Kirkstone Pass, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Cold Fell, Hardknott, Wrynose, Little Langdale and then back to Coniston – a massive feat.

Wheelbase rider Stuart Reid, Burneside and co-team member Lewis Craven, Preston, jointly won the race in a time of 5 hours 45 mins, smashing the course record set by another Wheelbase rider Rob Jeb in 2005 of 6 hours 1 minute.

Team WHEELBASE also won the team prize - a great days work guys!!

For all the results check here

1st for TEAM WHEELBASE Budding Youth Star - 13/05/2007

Team WHEELBASE budding youth star Sam Russell smashed the field at this weekends 25km Merida Bikes 100 Mountain Bike Marathon in Penrith Cumbria.

Sam showed great potential leading from the start and surprising finish line marshals with a superb time of 1 hr 34mins, 6mins clear of second place!

It is great to see new talent emerging and we have big hopes for Sam in both road and mountain bike racing.


Click here for full results

WORLD CYCLO CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 28/01 - 29/01/2007

Rob Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE finished a superb 37th, just behind Phil Dixon, Trek ?SIS in 34th against a world-class field.

Photography courtesy of Joolze Dymond
www.joolzedymond.com

The most impressive stat is that Rob was the first non-pro rider across the line watched by an electric crowd of over 60,000 spectators!

"I knew it were gonna be hard on first couple of laps being at the back, as whoever crashes is just going to be right by you. After 2 laps I got into my own rhythm and just kept going, passing and passing and passing! I did as best as I could, I enjoyed it, it were brilliant." Rob Jebb.


1 Erwin Vervecken (Belgium) 1.05.35
2 Jonathan Page (USA) 0.03
3 Enrico Franzoi (Italy) 0.16
4 Bart Wellens (Belgium) 0.25
5 Kevin Pauwels (Belgium) 0.32
6 Richard Groenendaal (Netherlands) 0.35
7 Gerben de Knegt (Netherlands) 1.12
8 John Gadret (France) 1.26
9 Christian Heule (Switzerland) 1.35
10 Thijs Al (Netherlands) 1.40
11 Sven Nys (Belgium) 2.04
12 Sven Vanthourenhout (Belgium) 2.22
13 Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy) 2.46
14 Maarten Nijland (Netherlands) 2.57
15 Klaas Vantornout (Belgium) 2.57
16 David Derepas (France) 3.02
17 Jos? Antonio Hermida (Spain) 3.04
18 Lukas Fl?ckiger (Switzerland) 3.25
19 Arnaud Labbe (France) 3.27
20 Marek Cichosz (Poland) 3.31
21 Simon Zahner (Switzerland) 3.43
22 Maros Kov?c (Slovakia) 3.54
23 Ryan Trebon (USA) 3.59
24 Petr Dlask (Czech Republic) 4.05
25 Bart Aernouts (Belgium) 4.22
26 Alessandro Fontana (Italy) 4.34
27 Robert Glajza (Slovakia) 4.46
28 Rene Birkenfeld (Germany) 4.56
29 Steve Chainel (France) 5.42
30 Milan Barenyi (Slovakia) 5.49
31 Davide Frattini (Italy) 6.01
32 Joachim Parbo (Denmark) 6.16
33 Unai Yus (Spain) 6.33
34 Philip Dixon (Great Britain) 6.39
35 Keiiti Tsujiura (Japan) 6.47
36 Marco Bianco (Italy) 6.51
37 Rob Jebb (Great Britain) 7.17
38 Gusty Bausch (Luxembourg) 7.29
39 Kashy Leuchs (New Zealand) 7.34
40 Wilant van Gils (Netherlands) 7.41
41 Isaac Suarez Fernandez (Spain) 7.58
42 Frederick Ericsson (Sweden) 8.16
43 Erik Tonkin (USA) 8.25
44 Vaclaf Metlicka (Slovakia) 8.36
45 Mariusz Gil (Poland) 9.06

British Cycling Cyclo-Cross Championships - Excellent results for TEAM WHEELBASE - 09/01/2007

2007 British Cycling Cyclo-Cross Championships
January 7, Southampton Sports Centre


Report and pictures courtesy of Richard Robotham
www.britishcycling.org.uk


On the start line were a number of favourites but the name on the lips at the venue was Rob Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE who was favoured because of his running which may be crucial in the thick mud. Roger Hammond was getting lots of support as he lined up in his new T-Mobile colours and alongside him was Phil Dixon, gridded number 2.

After the countdown and the crack of the starting pistol from commissaire Colin Clewes, Jody Crawforth got off to a flyer with Dixon moving up and Hammond not far away. By the end of the first loop though, it was Dixon leading the way and slowly but surely, he continued to open the gap on the battle for the minor placings that ensured behind.

This battle soon developed into a three way tussle, Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE, Craig and Hammond, but for Hammond he had more than just his rivals to fight off as he got tangled in the tape and lost valuable time to his rivals who were giving as good as they got on the heavy course.

Hammond never managed to recover and it was Craig who finally broke Jebb?s, TEAM WHEELBASE
Rob Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE managed to keep his lead over Hammond to take the bronze medal and confirm his status as one of the favourites whilst a rider many had come to watch, former World Junior champion Roger Hammond, crossed the line 4th after a forgettable race. Leading Under 23 was Ian Bibby.



RESULT

1. Philip Dixon, Trek - SIS, Elite, 0, 0
2. Nick Craig, Team Scott UK, Elite, 1, 29
3. Rob Jebb, Wheelbase/Ron Hill, Elite, 2, 10
4. Roger Hammond, T-Mobile, Elite, 2, 54
5. Liam Killeen, Team Specialized, Elite, 2, 58
6. Daniel Booth, Pedal Power Loughborough, Elite, 3, 51
7. Ian Bibby, Trek - SIS, Under 23, 4, 57
8. Lewis Craven, Wheelbase/Ron Hill, Elite, 5, 14
9. Daniel Alexander, Ace RT/Impsport, Elite, 5, 31
10. Ian Field, Trek - SIS, Under 23, 5, 55
11. Carl Sturgeon, Magura, Elite, 6, 8
12. George Richardson, Kona UK/Paligap, Elite, 6, 49
13. Jim Bryan, Ace RT/Impsport, Elite, 6, 56
14. Lee Williams, CC Abergavenny/Owen/Doleq, Elite, 7, 0
15. Paul Oldham, Hope Factory Racing, Elite, 7, 20
16. Daniel Duguid, Sigma Sport, Elite, 7, 58
17. Steve Knight, MI Racing/EAS/Thule/Ozone/Elite, Elite, 8, 12
18. Paul Lloyd, Didcot Phoenix, Elite, 8, 30
19. Ross Creber, Evans Cycles RT, Under 23, 8, 41
20. Stuart Bowers, Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next, Elite, 9, 2
21. Duncan Jamieson, Felt Racing, Elite, 9, 14
22. Simon Richardson, Trek/Volkswagen, Elite, 9, 58
23. Stuart Reid, Wheelbase/Ron Hill, Elite, 11, 1
24. Luke Moseley, Climb on Bikes RT, Elite, 11, 9
25. Darren Atkins, Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk, Elite, 11, 33
26. Gareth Montgomerie, Endura/Voodoo Cycles/Singletrack, Elite, 11, 40
27. Ben Simmons, Lifeforce, Under 23, 11, 51
28. Lee Shunburne, Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers, Elite, 11, 57
29. Craig Denning, www.Sports-Coaching.com, Elite, 12, 20
30. David Collins (NC), Trek-SIS, Elite, at, 1 lap
31. Jamie Newall, Evans Cycles RT, Elite, at, 1 lap
32. David Haygarth, Wheelbase/Ron Hill, Elite, at, 1 lap
33. Philip Smith, Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next, Elite, at, 1 lap
34. Ian Wilkinson, Trek - SIS, Elite, at, 1 lap
35. Ben Eedy, South Pennine RC, Elite, at, 1 lap

TEAM
1. Trek-SIS, 18, ,
2. Wheelbase/Ron Hill, 34
3. Ace RT/Impsport, 58, ,
4. Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next, 94, ,
5. Evans Cycles RT, 103, ,

Macclesfield Supacross - Top honours for TEAM WHEELBASE - 28/12/2006

Macclesfield Supacross
27 December 2007


Phil Dixon (Science in Sport) took his second consecutive win at Macclesfield?s South Park - this time in more challenging company.

Dixon won by a comfortable margin over Liam Killeen (Specialized) though this was hotly contested by our own Rob Jebb, TEAM, WHEELBASE in third and Lewis Craven, TEAM WHEELBASE in fourth.

TEAM WHEELBASE took the team prize and also second place in the Junior category with a sterling effort from Josh Varity, TEAM WHEELBASE

Full result to follow soon.

Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE WIN! - National Cyclo-Cross Trophy Round 4 - 11/12/2006

Cyclo-Cross National Trophy Round 4
December 10, Bradford

Images Courtesy and Results: Joolze Dymond
www.britshcycling.org.uk

TEAM WHEELBASE rider Rob Jebb won the fourth round of the National Cyclo-Cross Trophy yesterday against a full Elite field.

TEAM WHEELBASE also won the Team prize in the Elite Men with Lewis Craven finishing 6th, Stuart Reid 20th and Dave Haygarth in 27th.




Elite Men

1 Rob Jebb Wheelbase/Ron Hill 57m 16s
2 Jody Crawforth Evans Cycles RT @ 0:05
3 Stuart Bowers Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next @ 0:07
4 Nick Craig Team Scott UK @ 0:18
5 Philip Dixon Trek - SIS @ 0:31
6 Lewis Craven Wheelbase/Ron Hill @ 0:41
7 Daniel Booth Individual Member @ 0:49
8 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing @ 1:09
9 Lee Williams CC Abergavenny/Owen/Doleq @ 1:22
10 David Collins Team Scott UK @ 1:52
11 Tom Last Evans CRT Under 23 @ 2:28
12 Stuart Wearmouth Science in Sport.com @ 2:56
13 Simon Richardson Subaru/Gary Fisher @ 2:58
14 Ian Wilkinson Trek - SIS @ 3:20
15 Keith Murray Wheelspincycles.com @ 3:28
16 Jim Bryan Ace RT/Impsport @ 3:39
17 George Richardson Kona UK/Paligap @ 3:56
18 Jamie Newall Evans Cycles RT @ 4:06
19 Daniel Alexander Ace RT/Impsport @ 4:17
20 Stuart Reid Wheelbase/Ron Hill @ 4:40
21 Ross Creber Evans Cycles RT Under 23 @ 4:48
22 Ian Legg Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar Under 23 @ 4:48
23 Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport @ 5:48
24 Noel Clough Fietsen Tempo @ 6:04
25 Lee Shunburne Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers @ 6:21
26 Richard Lister MI Racing/EAS/Fuji/Thule @ 6:49
27 David Haygarth Wheelbase/Ron Hill @ 7:05
28 Ben Eedy South Pennine RC @ 7:20
29 Stephen Adams Planet X /Cycling Plus Under 23 @ 8:35
30 Paul Cox Go Sports Spex RT Under 23 @ 8:58

TEAM WHEELBASE WIN - Northern Cyclo-Cross Championships - 03/12/2006

WHEELBASE wins the team prize at the Northern Cyclo-Cross Championships
Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire
3 December 2006

Images and words courtessy of www.NWCCA.org .uk and www.Britishcycling.org.uk


Another great day for North West riders - who took the first three places in the senior event and the team prize, third year running, for Wheelbase.
Ian Bibby (SIS) rode a strong and confident race, waiting until the race on a muddy, challenging course at Bishops Burton college had settled down before riding away from Colne?s Paul Oldham (Hope). Rob Jebb (Wheelbase) stayed in close contact but couldn?t close the gap on Oldham.

Cumbrian Marie Stuart was the second woman.

Senior

1 I Bibby SIS.com/Trek S
2 P Oldham Hope Factory Racing S
3 R Jebb Ron Hill/Wheelbase S
4 K Murray Scott UK S
5 M Thwaites Kinesis UK S
6 L Craven Ron Hill/Wheelbase S
7 S Reid Ron Hill/Wheelbase S
8 A Nixon Wheelspin.com/Scott S
9 N Clough Fietsen Tempo S
10 Rob Thackray Paul Milnes RT S
11 T Baldwin Paul Milnes RT S
12 D Haygarth Wheelbase/Ronhill RT S
13 R Bradbury Team Aire Valley S
14 J Limebear VS Cycles S
15 A Morris Bike Treks S



Vet/Women/Juniors

1 C Young Team Marie Curie V40
2 S Webster Triangle RT J
3 D Stevens Triangle RT V40
4 C Featherstone MTS V50
5 S Batchelor York Cycleworks J
6 J Wilkinson Dinninton RC V40
7 R Binks Triangle RT V40
8 M Rowson Team Marie Curie V40
9 B Kipling MTS V50
10 J Galway Keswick MTB V50
11 J Speirs Wheelbase/Ronhill RT J
12 D Stuart Keswick MTB V40
13 D Bradbury Norton Whls V40
14 S Barnes Seacroft Whls V40
15 D Headon Horwich CC V40

Otterspool win for Reid, TEAM WHEELBASE! - 28/11/2006

Images and report courtesy of www.nwcca.org.uk

Stuart Reid, Team WHEELBASE dealt with disappointment from the previous weekend in Mallory Park in the best style possible, by taking a satisfying win at the Mersey Roads CC ?cross at Otterspool Park.

Recycling.co.uk?s Ben Greenwood picked up one place on his previous effort on the Otterspool course, but was no match for Reid?s cyclocross experience.

Martin Woffindin was again the fastest in the youth race, and Christian Braybrooke took the U12s event.


1. Stuart Reid Wheelbase/Ron Hill
2. Ben Greenwood Recycling.co.uk Race Team
3. Nathan Miller Ipswich BC
4. Anthony Morris
5.Adrian Dalgleish Lune RCC
6. David Brailsford Horwich CC
7. John Shaw Wills Wheels Cycling Club
8. Robert Pugh Liverpool Century RC
9. Stuart Green Oldham Century RC
10. Nick Shaughnessy Wills Wheels Cycling Club

Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE - WIN at the Final Round of Yorkshire Points! - 26/11/2006

Words and Pics Courtesy of www.britishcycling.org.uk

The final round of the Yorkshire Points Cyclo-Cross series saw a fine battle for supremacy in the Senior race, with Robb Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE taking the win from Chris Young.

The race had been billed as a final head-to-head between Young and Noel Clough who began the final round separated by just a single point (best six of eight rounds to count). However, from the start they found their private contest gate-crashed by Jebb and Mark Thwaites. It was Thwaites who made the fastest start and he led through the first lap with Robb Jebb, TEAM WHEELBASE, Young and Clough hard on his heels.This quartet very rapidly rode away from the rest of the field.

The Bingley venue is the town's Myrtle Park and it is a predominantly grassland course, with a long start straight adjacent to the rider Aire. This leads to a series of cambered traverses and a long flight of steps leading to a second level, where the course loops in and out of some typical tree-lined parkland.

The course's two main running sections seemed to suit Jebb, because he was the first to make a significant break at the front of the field and he was soon clear o