London Dynamo Newsletter #31, 29.10.04
MAGNIFIQUE!
As a fun-loving fille full of joie de vivre, the marvellous Mrs Newsletter likes nothing more than a good excuse to get dressed to the nines and put on her make-up – but we yelled “sacre bleu!” this week when the belle of the bunker painted a huge, curly comedy moustache on her face. What a waste of perfectly good mascara! And why on Earth was she wearing a necklace of onions draped over a black and white hooped jumper? Then we realised our favourite lady was dressed in traditional French costume to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale – or, in plain English, the historic moment when Britain officially became chums with our cross-channel cousins. Bravo, mademoiselle! A trio of specially-invited Dynamo Etape finishers also entered into the spirit of the momentous occasion by taking part in a glorious race from Paris to London – and your garlic-scoffing journal of all matters Dynamatique can reveal how the French went crackers for our three grand fromages. So sit down with us as we pass round a bottle of vin rouge to celebrate their success. Here comes the first glass…
A BERET NICE TIME
Shy and retiring CHRIS ‘CHADDERS’ CHAPMAN isn’t usually prone to emotional statements – but the high-cadence king got in a spin when he dropped us a line about his participation in the epic Paris-London race. The amazed redhead gushed: “It was awesome – the most exciting bike race I’ve ever done.” And the lucky lad even got his picture in Cycling Weekly! Chadders, DAVID ‘SMILER’ NORRIS and SAM GORDON were treated like pros from the moment they signed on in a huge stage underneath the Eiffel Tower – and the first day of the race saw the riders reach speeds of 40 to 60kmph at the front. Thrilling stuff! The 270-strong field included king of the mountains legend Laurent Jalabert and 2nd placed Tour of Britain rider Eric Leblacher – so Chris decided to show the Frenchmen a thing or two on their home soil by getting into a leading group of 15 riders. What a hero! Showing true bulldog spirit, he managed to hang on doggedly until the relentless cross wind got the better of him. Chris admits: “It’s not a great feeling when the Mavic car goes past to follow the group that just dropped you!” But the plucky Dynamate recovered after a chasing group of around 20 caught him – and he jumped away on the last hill to finish 18th in the 80km stage, just 4mins behind the leaders. What a result! The former mountain biker did even better on the second day in Britain, finishing 1min behind the leaders in 16th place after getting away on the final hill again. David has written about his side of the adventure on the Dynamo forum, but for now the last word goes to Chris, who brings us this impressive highlight: “We were racing through Kent at 50kmph on the wrong side of the road, with Tour de France boss Jean Marie Leblanc in the lead car, a full police escort, a helicopter above us and crowds cheering us on.” It’s certainly a step up from the Surrey League!
A BID OF A DISAPPOINTMENT
Sadly, Dynamo’s second visit to the French capital this week didn’t go quite to plan – in fact, it didn’t even happen! Eager Dynamette PETA McSHARRY pipped GUY ‘THE ENGINE’ POWDRILL in the bidding for JULIAN ‘WONDER’ WALL’s invite to official presentation of the 2005 Tour de France – but she had to turn it down as the ridiculous price of a day return from Waterloo beyond her budget. Damn you, Eurostar!
ETAPE TO BOTTOM
In keeping with this month’s French theme, we’ve finally got round to compiling the finishing sheet for this year’s Etape in The Small Print, our humble Dynamo-centric results service which resides quietly at the foot of this message. It’s only taken us four months! Long-overdue congratulations to MARTIN ‘BRAVEHEART’ BUDDEN for finishing the 237km course in the fastest time – and apologies to any disgruntled ‘Mos we may have missed out. It isn’t easy trying to find your names in a 6,500-strong list, you know!
KEN WATCH!
Back, now, to good old Blighty where an anonymous member has been tracking the Dyna-movements of slippery antipodean KEN BUIST. The mystery ‘Mo spotted the south-east cycling scene’s Greta Garbo at the tail end of last Sunday’s ride – and our panting informer begged him to slow down as he was “dropping riders as we went up the hills.” The Buister nonchalantly replied: “What hills?” That sounds like our Ken! The unknown Dynamate suggests: “Perhaps he should be known as Ken ‘What hills?’ Buist from now on.” No can do, pal – an obscure paragraph of the Dynamo regulations dictates that Ken must have a different nickname in the final item of every Newsletter. Them’s the rules!
MEET AND BLEAT
There is, of course, an opportunity to overturn this arcane dictum by coming along to Richmond Park on Saturday, November 6 for the London Dynamo Annual General Meeting. The inaugural pow-wow, which will take place at 9am in the cafÈ by Roehampton Gate, is your chance to have your say in the running of the club, so be sure to have plenty of helpful ideas and stern complaints to throw at the Dyna-management. Convocation chief RUSSELL ‘RUSTY’ SHORT won’t know what hit him!
IT SHAW WAS BIG
And talking of the pint-sized point-grabber, we were delighted to hear that the little fella is doing his bit to keep the Dynamo flame burning at the tail-end of the racing calendar. There’s just no stopping him now he’s got the points! Rusty accompanied MARTIN ‘COMEBACK’ GARRATT at the first of the three Ottershaw races on Sunday – and instead of finding a low end-of-season turnout, Dynamo’s version of Little and Large were greeted with a nearly-full field eagerly waiting in a buzzing Brook Hall. Hurrah! Despite taking plenty of digs off the front, the daring duo had to settle for a bunch finish in the 100km E/1/2/3 race – but neither of them was disappointed. Martin reveals: “I’ve never seen Rusty so chirpy. Bring on round two!” That’s the spirit!
AU REVOIR
The Eurostar is about to pull out of Gare de Nord and hundreds of tearful Gallic folk have turned out to see us off. Just look at them blowing their enormous noses into their hankies! There won’t be another big celebration of the Entente Cordiale for another hundred years – but another historic Newsletter will arrive in just seven days. Until then, please remember that we are the magnificent Louvre, but we would be nothing without you, our enigmatic Mona Lisa. So please keep Dyna-mailing your news, gossip, and further sightings of the elusive KEN ‘QUELLE SURPRISE’ BUIST to news@londondynamo.co.uk – but PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS ADDRESS if you are reading this on email. The deadline, as ever, is Wednesday afternoon for Friday’s edition. And now, as the closing bars of the Marseillaise fade away, it only remains for us to remind you about…
THIS WEEK’S RIDES
SATURDAY
The Parkride. Richmond Park, roundabout at Sheen Gate, 9am. Four laps split into fast, intermediate and steady groups. Anyone who wants to lead a group should leave a message at http://www.londondynamo.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=21.
SUNDAY
Hampton Court bridge, 9am for Surrey Hills ride. 50ish miles at a steady pace. Bring a pump, inner tubes, drink, and an accordion.
WEDNESDAY
Richmond Gate, Richmond Park, 7:30pm. Canter to Surrey and back.
So until next week, Dynamates, goodbye and happy riding.
London Dynamo Newsletter.
THE SMALL PRINT
SUNDAY, JULY 7, L’ETAPE DU TOUR, LIMOGES-ST FLOUR, 237KM: 1014 Martin Buddden 08:46:37.80; 1054 Chris Chapman 08:47:32.70; 1055 Rob Jeffroy st; 1178 Tom Hemmant 08:53:43.00; 1181 Richard Dolby 08:53:43.80; 1687 Piers Stansfield 09:12:44.30; 2184 David Norris 09:28:45.80; 2369 Stuart Jeffreys 09:34:21.30; 2944 Sam Woodhouse 09:51:42.70; 3749 Alex Balfour 10:15:22.90; 4313 Katrin Kandel 10:34:57.30; 4751 Lucy Dove 10:50:47.40; 5091 Alex Bastin 11:02:16.30.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, SURREY LEAGUE OTTERSHAW SERIES 1, OTTERSHAW, E/1/2/3, 100KM: 1 Mark Daly (Team Darenth) 2.25.02; 2 Paul Holdsworth (Hounslow Wheelers) +0.25; 3 Lee Day (Liphook Cycles) +0.30; 4 Craig Peter (VC Muedon); 5 Lewis Atkins (PCA/Ciclos Uno); 6 Des Gayler (Kenton RC); 7 Bryan Taylor (VC Londres); 8 Guy Pearson (Pearson Cycles); 9 Colin McDermott (Festival RC); 10 Henry Furness (unatt); 11 Adrian Goatly (Freerider); 12 James Holland-Leader (Principa); 13 Mark Sussex (Tonbridge); 14 Rob Crawstone (VC Muedon); 15 MARTIN GARRATT (LONDON DYNAMO); 16 Gary Wallis (unatt); 17 Paul Alderson (Luciano); 18 Brian Strellce (unatt); 19 Mick McManus (Twickenham); 20 Dave Larkham (VC Muedon); 21 Mark Creasy (VC Muedon); 22 RUSSELL SHORT (LONDON DYNAMO); 23 Martin Hulbert (VC Muedon); 24 Mick Anderson (Velo VCA); 25 Shaun Durratt (Pearson Cycles); 26 Mario Manelfi (Freerider); 27 Mark Hott (Hounslow Whlrs); 28 Chris Tune (Prestige VC); 29 Julian Newton (Interbike RT); 30 Mickael Metayer (Sport & Publicity).
The DYNAMITE! Files 
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