BTC 2019 Club Grand Prix and Club Championship Races

We are running a club Grand Prix again in 2019. The aim of the Grand Prix to encourage members to do events with their club mates and to encourage a bit of friendly competition within the club. The committee have taken into account all feedback received and selected the following events for 2019. We have focused on local sprint and standard distance triathlons but have also included a middle distance; a couple of duathlons; and an aquabike (swim/bike). Most events get booked up well beforehand so get planning. Men and women will be scored separately 

The scoring system will be as in previous years, 50 points for first club finisher, 45 for second, 40 for third, 39 for fourth, 38 for fifth, 37 for sixth and so on plus points for age group finish position in the whole race. If you finish 1st in your triathlon age group you get 40 - 1 = 39 points. If you finish 2nd in your age group you get 40 -2 = 38 points and so on. If you are 40th or below in age group you get 1 point. Triathlon age groups are in 5 year bands For each member their 5 best scores from events will count. This scoring system deliberately favours participation, the more events you compete in the better chance you have of winning.

You might be interested in checking out the 2018 Grand Prix results

The Bolton Tri will be the Club Sprint Tri Championship Race

The Ripon Tri will be the Club Standard Distance Tri Championship Race

The Holcombe Duathlon will be the Club Duathlon Championship Race

There will also be an award for the first Club finisher in the Deva Divas Womens Sprint Tri

Race	Type	Date	2019 Price (BTF Members)	Link
West Lancs Spring Triathlon	Sprint Tri (Pool)	14/04/2019	£44	http://www.epicevents.co.uk/triathlons/west-lancashire-spring-triathlon.html
Oulton Park Spring Duathlon	Standard Duathlon	TBC (Apr 2019)	TBC	http://www.xtramileevents.com/events/
Horwich Triathlon (Pool)	Standard (ish) Tri (Pool)	05/05/2019	£44	http://www.epicevents.co.uk/triathlons/horwich-pool-triathlon.html
St Annes Triathlon	Sprint Tri (Pool)	19/05/2019	£39	https://bookitzone.com/tim_armit/WP2FFX
Southport Triathlon	Standard Tri (OW)	19/05/2019	£59	http://www.epicevents.co.uk/triathlons/southport-triathlon.html
Rossendale Sprint	Sprint Tri (Pool)	26/05/2019 tbc	TBC	https://www.rossendaletriathlonclub.com/the-triathlon
Deva Middle distance	Middle Distance Tri (OW)	02/06/2019	£95 early bird	https://www.chestertri.org.uk/our-races/deva-triathlon/
Bolton fun tri	Sprint Tri (Pool)	09/6/2019	TBC  possible BTC discount	http://www.nhstriathlon.co.uk/
Ripon Triathlon Festival	Standard Distance/ Aquabike (OW)	29/06/2018	TBC	https://ripontriathlon.co.uk/
Deva Divas (female only)	Sprint Tri (OW)	14/07/2018	£45	https://www.chestertri.org.uk/our-races/deva-divas/
Salford Triathlon	Standard Tri (OW)	28/07/2019	£64.90	http://www.salfordtriathlon.com/
West Lancs Summer Tri (Pool)	Sprint Tri (Pool)	TBC (August 2019)	£44	http://www.epicevents.co.uk/triathlons/west-lancashire-summer-triathlon.html
Fleetwood Triathlon	Sprint Tri (Pool)	15/09/2019	£39	https://bookitzone.com/tim_armit/WP2FFX
Holcombe Mountain Trial Duathlon	Duathlon	TBC (September 2019)	£20	https://holcombeharriers.com/holcombe-mountain-trial-duathlon-2/

Next Club Ride Sunday 30th Sept

On Sunday 30th

Ashworth Valley Loop. Meet up 8.30 am Leverhulme Park. Easy pace, no one will be dropped, cafe stop, 49km and 700m climbing. Make hills your friend! John Grimshaw will lead and I will be back up. Pleased to say that we now have a ride leader for every Sunday up to Christmas except Sunday 4th November (any takers?). Keep an eye on Bolton Tri Club Strava group for all the details as rides get posted 

Here is the route

https://www.strava.com/clubs/13587/group_events/388773

Tameside Junior Duathlon and Adult Go-Tri Duathlon

Light rain is forecast at Tameside all day. Please be prepared for this as there is nowhere to shelter and you will be on a grass field most of the time.

Children will get a goody bag with fruit and snacks inside but there is no catering on site so bring drinks and something to eat

The cycle track surface is tarmac and any kind of bike will do but a road bike is an advantage.

The Tristar bike is 1.5 laps. They will do the half lap first followed by the full lap

Click here for the start list.

Here is the  race information pack and timetable that has been sent to all entrants.

Entries have now closed. No entries on the day are possible.

Training Aquathlon results Tue 17th July and Tue 12th June at Elton Sailing Club

Results from training aquathlon at Elton reservoir on 17th July. Click here

Next one 14th August 7pm. Choose long or short swim, long or short run or any combination

Results from 12th June are here

Triathlon checklist

Checks days before

• Check the event's information pack for any specific rules about what you can take/leave in transition and for other useful information 
• Check you have clean goggles & swim/wetsuit bag/kit
• Check your bike is clean (especially of old stickers), has handlebar ends (go to Evans if you need some or steal from second bike if last minute) and that you have tyres etc in good condition.
• Print off/save your swim time & plan parking, breakfast & route time before the day.
• Plan what you’ll do with keys/valuables if you’re travelling alone.
• Pack kit.

Carrying stuff

A small rucksack or carrier bag for post-event shower/change, toiletries, towel, car keys and valuables & some change for a locker (usually 20p, 50p or £1 coin at leisure centres)

A large reusable and foldable carrier bag for all things going to transition. Some events let you leave the bag in transition next to your bike-otherwise fold it up and put in your locker or under some shoes.

Swim kit for transition

·        Tri shorts, swimsuit, or tri suit (flip flops if allowed)

·        If you’re a woman you might want to wear a non-wired sports bra under your trisuit/swim gear for extra support on run route

·        Goggles/brightly coloured swim hat if not provided. Noseclip if you suffer from swimmers’ flu

·        Bath bright coloured towel

·        (Wetsuit if OW included)

Bike kit for transition

·        Bike (label it up before racking it in transition)

·        Helmet 

·        Cycling shoes and socks (if wearing)

·        Sunglasses

·        Water bottle(s) leave a bottle of plain water in transition in hot conditions

·        Nutrition 

·        Tool Kit: tube, levers, multi-tool (to be honest I use a track pump to sort my tyres on race day and leave a toolkit under my seat). I have never needed a repair kit.

·        Track pump (pump up your tires before you leave home) there will almost always be someone with a good pump at the event

Running kit

·        Running shoes with tri laces-Tobutt’s do a good selection and many events sell on day or pre-race registration

·        Race belt & scissors (snip 2 holes to make life easier)

·        Hat/visor and or sunscreen if it’s summer/sunny

Other optional in brackets

·        (Training device (Garmin, Timex, etc.) & heart rate strap)

·        Sunscreen

·        (Plasters)

·        (Post-race, warm change of clothes)

·        Post-race recovery drink/snack. Anything to eat and a glass of milk will help. Lots of fluid on hotter days

Race Day

·        Time when you’ll be able to eat breakfast and put your kit on afterwards

·        Eat only familiar, digestible foods (example: banana and a bagel with jam). Don’t eat anything new/faddy on race day

·        Sip fluids between breakfast & your start time.

·        Most races have your number attached to your spot in transition. Walk from swim exit to your bike a few times and check bike out and in.

·        Make a mental note of landmarks to help you easily find your place on rack.

·        Use a bright-colored towel on floor and I attach a cycling jersey to my bike to help it stand out.

·        If you’re putting on a cycling jersey leave snacks in pockets if not leave opened snack in shoes. A snack on bike leg will help the run. Cut a banana in half and leave in transition for a boost.

·        After setting up transition put valuables/post race gear into a locker & visit loo.

Open Water Swimming at Elton Reservoir Bury

To register for open water swimming at Elton click here 

Bolton Tri Club are hosting open water swim sessions at Elton Sailing Club in Bury which start on Tue 15th May and run every Tuesday until 4th September. You can swim anytime between 5 and 8 pm (or 7.30pm on 4th Sept). There are changing rooms and hot showers. To save everyone time we ask people to register on-line beforehand - there will be no paper registration forms. It is £5 a swim or £3 for Bolton Tri Club members. For juniors it is £3 a swim or £2 for BTC members. But you can get free swims if you provide kayak safety cover for an hour. The registration fee for non-BTC members is normally £5 but has been reduced to £1 for the last 3 sessoins.

We have monthly training aquathons with a choice of distances on 12th June, 17th July and 14th August. For novice open water swimmers who want to improve their skills and confidence there will be coached sessions starting in June from 6.30 to 7.15pm. Also catch us on Facebook search  for 'Open Water Swimming at Elton Sailing Club'. 
Directions to Elton Sailing Club. Use this postcode if relying on SatNav BL8 2BR
If travelling down Bolton Road (A58) towards Bury turn right at the Wellington Pub into Kitchener Street signposted Elton Reservoir and Cygnet Hospital. At end of Kitchener St turn right into Buller Street. Turn left over a small bridge signposted Cygnet Hospital. Once over bridge bear right and down lane to Sailing Club.

Spinning Class 10 Minute Time Trial

On Monday night spin classes myself and Anthony do a mid-evening session between the two scheduled Les Mills sessions.

We have several people using the bike sessions as a warm up for runs, as a post run brick session or people doing a double spin session.

Now that we have a simple computer we can do brief time trials between sessions once a month. Last night we did the first one and this is the first set of results;

10 minute time trial

Name                           RPM minimum/gear chosen             Distance

Julia C                              95/11                                               5.1

John H                              95/14                                               4.8

Dave R                              99/13                                               5.1

Laurence J                        95/15                                               4.8

Rosalyn D                         90/13                                               5.3

Jennifer                             90/13                                               4.8

Kathryn                              90/11                                               4.8

Andy O                               102/14                                            5.2

Josh O                               94/10                                               4.4

The computer is pretty simple. However it does give you an opportunity to check progress by having a default higher gear each month. Keeping a record of distance per session/calories etc. I take my phone and screen capture my sessions.

Well done everyone for the effort. We'll do another one in May.

Friday Cycling Sessions

The aims of these sessions are to promote Cycle Confidence, Skills and Stamina

Adults - Want to develop your confidence and skills so you feel prepared to enter triathlons & duathlons or join rides out on the roads?
Juniors (min age 9) – do you also want to spend more time on your bike so you can ride stronger in junior series events?
Do you have a road bike or hybrid?

Then join us on the track at Leverhulme Park on Fridays  - £3/£2 a session

Confidence and Skills.

Each session we will spend 30 minutes on one of the following

·         Bike Maintenance

·         Using your gears

·         Practicing with cleats or toe clips

·         Drinking on the move

·         Group riding

·         Bike handling, corners, hills, stopping and starting

·         Triathlon transition

·         Bike Set up

Stamina

Each session we will spend at least 30 minutes riding almost continuously using variety of activities to build up your cycling fitness and stamina. Examples of activities

4k/6k/8k/10k time trials - Russian Steps – Madison – Wipe out – Pursuits – Group riding – Chain gang

The coaching team is Stuart Carter, Rosalyn Dines, Peter Fry, Julia Coleman, Andy Taylor and Nina Carter so ask any of them for more information.

We respond to feedback and add sessions to meet members' specific needs. As the weather and light improves we also make use of the park for climbing and other skills. We look forward to seeing you there.

Rossendale Tri Preparation

Many club members have started their first events of the year and/or are preparing for their next one. The Rossendale Triathlon is on the last Sunday in May and it is part of our Grand Prix competition.

The bike route is hilly and worth practicing before you attempt it. Having completed it again this weekend, I think that it's worth passing on some advice and information on about the route. You don't need Strava or GPS to find your way round, it's pretty straightforward.

The route starts at Marl Pits Leisure Centre in Rawtenstall (marlpits.co.uk) where there is plenty of parking and at the RU club next door. When you leave the leisure centre car park turn left and keep climbing until your reach a road called The Bridleway and turn left. Follow this to the end and turn left.

You now follow this road for about 4.5 miles just shy of a T-junction above Burnley. (You will pass the Hargreaves Arms and there are currently some road-works which may still be there). When you see the T-junction you turn sharply left and diagonally onto Crown Point Road. This road is a rolling set of 4 hills with some steep bits and some poor surfaces at the edges. There are 2 cattle grids at the top of two of the hills-the first is in good condition and has space to pass on the left; the second is currently in poor shape and you may need to dismount to get over it. I've reported it to the race organisers as they may be able to put boards over on the day.

At the end of CPR there is another left and another climb before a 3-4 mile descent back into Rawtenstall. On the day you will dismount before the lights in the town centre before the leisure centre turn and wheel your bike round the corner. If you are doing a recce turn left and climb back up to the leisure centre.

Farnworth Sat Session Timed Swim Results

To see the results from last Saturdays 400m and 200m timed swims and the ones done in Feb and Jan click here ​​

As you can see nearly every one improved their Critical Swim Speed (lactate threshold pace) which is given as a time for 100m. This is a measure of your swim fitness for longer swims (as in triathlon) and is the pace you can sustain aerobically (without going into your anaerobic system which you can't sustain for long)

I suggest we continue to do main sets designed to keep you at or just below this pace over 1.2 to 1.8 k (depending on your lane) for another 4 weeks and then time everyone again on 28th April.