VCB’s 100km reliability trial well attended and conditions were hard

Velo Club Baracchi’s 100km reliability ride from Oulton Community Centre on Sunday was very well supported by club members and by members of other clubs.

There were three starting times and as per usual those who intended to take the longest time set off first and the quick riders set off last.

In the first group were the organiser John Thompson of VCB and two other riders, Ray and Chris Knights.

The middle group was the largest, with VCB riders Chris Wallis, Paul Reed, Alex He, Chris Womack, Keith Wink, Kate Churchill and Paul Hayward.

From other clubs, including Dap CC and Rock Estate, were Kerstin Langer, Andrew Kettless, Tim Amphlett, Steve Stringer, Mark Nickerson, Kevin Woodman, Chris Thornton, Warren Kingston, Dave Loynes, Martin Wilson, Stuart Chase, Paul Wright, Jay Lingwood and Roy Golding.

Finally, the speedy Liam Gentry, Harley Matthews and Morris Bacon of Dap CC and VCB’s Mark Saunders set off.

Ray Skipper acted as starting steward and was at the finish with cakes and flasks of tea and coffee for those who reported back to the finish at the car park at St Marks, Oulton Broad.

There was a fairly persistent wind from a north-easterly aspect and it gave help for the first long segment down through Halesworth to Laxfield, becoming a sidewind as far as Harleston and then a headwind most of the way home, except perhaps the last few miles.

As a test of reliability the event served well and most of the riders completed their rides in their chosen time of 3.5, 4 or 4.5 hours.

This Sunday Paul Hayward will be riding the Ely & District CC Hardriders 25-mile open time trial near Ely in the Fens.  Much of the course is flat but the weather may be cold and the wind is generally unforgiving and in addition some of the road surfaces are dodgy.