VC Baracchi – reliability rides and suchlike
John Thompson of Velo Club Baracchi took part in the East Anglian CC 50-mile reliability ride from Horsford.
The route was a loop to the north via Aylsham, Roughton, Aylmerton, Holt by-pass, Brinningham, Melton Constable, Saxthorpe and back to Horsford..
This event, like others organised in Norwich, was extremely well attended and the organisers split the riders into for safety.
Thompson went off in a group that started at 8.35 am, who were riding at a sensible pace, although he said he did lose contact after about 30 miles.
However Thompson was very pleasantly surprised on finishing to see that he had got round in 3 hours 7 minutes, especially as a fair bit of it was unassisted by other riders or the wind.
The riders were blessed with lovely sunshine and the mist waited until after the event before it closed in, by which time the riders were enjoying the wonderful spread of food that had been provided.
The VC Baracchi 50-mile reliability rides are this Sunday January from Oulton Community Centre, Gorleston Road. The start times are 4 hours – 8.30am, 3.5 hours – 9am, 3 hours – 9.30am.
N.B John Thompson has now said, “Contrary to what you have been advised, Sunday’s ride is free and we are not asking for cake donations. This does mean that there will not be refreshments. I can only apologise for the confusion.”
The club run this Sunday will be affected this week by the reliability trial, as many riders may prefer the latter. However, as a general rule in future there will be two start times, as was the case for most of last year.
An attempt before Christmas to arrange for everyone to meet and set off at the same time ran up against a few practical problems, so the riders wanting a quicker training ride will in future set off at 8.30am as before and those happy with a slower ride will meet at 9am.
Last Sunday the two start times were used and it seemed to work well. Both rides start at the Cotmer Road roundabout.
Some riders have already entered the Beccles Cycle for Life, to take place on May 12. Details, including a link to a new on-line booking option for solo riders, can be found on www.becclescycleforlife.org and riders can easily create an on-line sponsorship page if they enter this way.
Beccles Cycle for Life is promoted by the Rotary Club of Beccles for charitable fundraising, half of which goes to East Anglian Air Ambulance. Up to 400 riders in all are likely to enter.
