Gary Matthews in time trial action on road bike

Gary Matthews of Velo Club Baracchi took part in the Stowmarket & District 20-mile time trial, achieving 56:33, which was a sound ride.

Glenn Taylor of Shorter Rochford Exclusive Ranges RT was the winner in 46:05, a quick time despite the cold. No doubt he made good use of the tailwind return from Occold to Debenham.

Matthews said, “It was a sporting course and an unusual distance. I plan to give road racing a go this year so decided to do the race on my road bike. The wind was quite keen and I suffered from not being in the aero position but it was certainly not a day for deep rim wheels!”

John Dupen, riding again for VC Baracchi, also made a promising start to his season in the recent Diss & District CC 25-mile time trial the week before.

In the competition for riders on pre-1980 specification bikes Dupen rode a time of 1-10:47.

The temperature was a mere 4 degrees and there was a cold easterly cross-wind on the return leg. David Staff of Velo Velocity won the event with 1-04:47.

Chris Womack of VCB rode the East Anglian VTTA open circuit 25 at Stetchworth, which used a circuit that combines part of the A1303 and the A1304, including Six Mile Bottom.

In dry, cool conditions with strong winds gusting from the north one 3-mile section over the top of the A14 had side winds that made it almost impossible for Womack to stay on the tri-bars.

Nevertheless he managed a very respectable time of 1-08:33.

Michael Hutchinson of In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp, who has held 51 national time trials titles including last year’s 25-mile championship, won in a fairly amazing time of 49:35.

Hutchinson had a winning margin of almost 7 minutes.  In second place, Peter Balls of West Suffolk Wheelers achieved 56:24.  The fastest 2-up team of Trevor Burke and Nigel Stephens of Finchley RT, with 55:02 were over 5 minutes down on Hutchinson.

Womack said, “I should thank John Thompson for travelling that far to marshal at the Six Mile Bottom turn.”

Thompson had ridden 99 miles the day before, so had not missed out on his exercise. He had been checking the route sheet for one of the Audax rides that he organises.

The club’s two Sunday rides took place and the faster one at 8.30 headed out to Pulham Market for a break at the Goodies farm shop.  It left just two riders for the 9am ride, one of whom was new member James Moore, who did not have the slightest trouble with the 55-mile distance.

They met up with Mike Rainton at Bungay, who the previous day had been riding in London with new colleagues with whom he will tackle the End to End ride for charity once again this year.

Ten of the clubs riders are listed to ride in the Gt Yarmouth CC open 10-mile event on the A143 this Friday.  For six of them it will be their first event of the year.

See www.becclescycleforlife.org for details, photos from last year and application forms for the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride on May 13.