Four VCB riders entered in CC Breckland 10

Four of Velo Club Baracchi’s riders will be tempering their indulgence this holiday with thoughts of their next race.

Chris Womack, John Dupen, Paul Dennington and Steve Summons are all entered in the New Year’s Day 10-mile time trial being staged by CC Breckland on the A11 road.

They were riding well in the last season and have maintained fitness as the winter advances, so as long as the weather does not affect this event they may produce unseasonably good times.

This event is regarded by some as a bit of a jolly, but many riders take it seriously and an indication of their form for the coming year.

Summons and Dennington have both acquired new time trial bikes and hope to ride them, but this may also depend on the weather, both before the day for practice, and on the day itself.

Meanwhile John Thompson has been one of the regular weekend riders, albeit not on this occasion on an organised ride.

After setting out with the intention of going to Thornham Magna and riding through Weston, Redisham and St Cross he found that a ford on the way to Mendham was extremely deep.

He said. “I managed to get past it by using the footbridge and the bank.  However, when I joined the next lane close the bank of the River Waveney it was clear that to attempt to ride through would be foolhardy.”

“It was a bit disappointing but I still did those ‘first time’ very pleasant lanes towards Fressingfield.”

Thompson’s detour also meant that he devised an alternative route in case similar problems arise on an audax ride he is planning.

He returned via Cratfield, Huntingfield, Walpole, Halesworth and Uggeshall and Wrentham, where a visit to Stephanie’s Kitchen revived him on the way home.