Back from a mountainous training week on the island of Mallorca, London Phoenix Cycling Club continue their preparations for a busy cycling season. The club, which describes itself as a “social racing club”, will see members competing in a full range of events in the coming months fuelled by a fine selection of cakes sourced from a secret woodland location in South East London.

Road racing at Eastway and in the Surrey League, grassroots mountain bike racing in the Beastway and Gorrick series will feature alongside gentler Sunday runs into the Surrey hills. Sadly the club’s track lovers are without a venue as the future of the incomparable Herne Hill hangs in the balance.

Marmotte first timer and club secretary Francis Cooper’s goal for the year is to reach Alpe d’Huez in the wake of Phoenix powerhouse Ben Johnson. Ben’s climbing prowess saw him place as 13 th UK rider in the 2004 Etape and Mallorca’s hills failed to trouble at least half of his available gears. If only he weren’t so nice he’d be ripping the South East’s competition to shreds.

Road race secretary and Cyclo Sportif specialist Julian Bray heads with fresh legs to the Cwmcarn 3 day stage race at the start of May for; “A gentle opener to the season.” We wish him well and fear for his sanity if that’s his idea of a quiet start.

At the age of four, London Phoenix is a young, city-wide cycling club; keen to welcome cyclists who are starting to think about cycle racing in all its forms. The club has its serious riders but most just watch in awe; then reach for another slice of cake…