Gusting winds don’t keep Thompson from Lowestoft Wheelers Reunion

The heavy gusting winds on Sunday morning would have discouraged many cyclists from venturing out in the country.

Two riders, however, maintained the traditions of the Velo Club Baracchi club run by putting in a ride of 45 miles or so, first with headwinds and side-winds and then benefiting from the wind on the return.

John Thompson, however, failed to enjoy the best of the tailwinds as his ride to the Rumburgh Buck was for the Lowestoft Wheelers reunion, so by the time he came home the winds had dropped significantly.

At Halesworth on the outward journey he lingered in the cafe over a pot of tea and sandwich and then by a route through the back roads reached the reunion, where seventeen riders with memories of the old days were assembled.

Thompson said, “Again a lot of photos were passed round.  The ones that seemed be of most interest were the ones of me with hair!”

The ride home was direct via Ilketshall St Lawrence, Redisham, Weston and Hulver.  With regard to the lighter wind Thompson said, “I didn’t get the payback I was hoping for but when the sun got out it was very pleasant.”

One of the guests at the previous week’s VC Baracchi presentation evening was Freda Randall, who came with her son Gary and was pleased to see Mark Newnham with the trophy she presented to the club last year in memory of her late husband Ernie.  Ernie Randall was the chairman of the club in its early years.

Newnham won the 50-mile veteran time trial scratch championship to earn this trophy.

The club runs should continue on Sundays at 8.30am from the roundabout in Cotmer Road.