The ever-reliable Thompson rides again

John Thompson of Velo Club Baracchi is the club’s greatest enthusiast for reliability rides and he took part in yet another last Saturday.

He took the longest option, six hours, in the East Anglian CC 75-mile event and completed the course nearly half an hour quicker.

Considering the cold and windy conditions he was pleased with his ride, especially as he was also shaking off a cold of his own.

Two Mars Bars at a stop just before Dereham helped him on his way and helped to make up for the lack of energy he was suffering from.

The start was on Cromer Rd at Hellesdon and the route was first to Roughton, then Felbrigg, Holt by-pass, Guist, Dereham and Watton, to finish at Colney.

Thompson said, “Overall we were lucky with the wind direction.  It was hard to Roughton (16 miles) but it was then mostly a tail wind through to Watton (55.5 miles). There are a couple of exposed long drags on hills.  However, the sting in the tail was from Watton to the finish against the wind.  With that distance in the legs it was a brute!”

VC Baracchi riders continued their training for the coming season and there were takers for the club’s 8.30am and 9am rides on Sunday.

This Saturday three of the club members are entered in the CC Breckland 10-mile time trial on the B1108 road between Hingham and Carbrooke.

The two top-seeded riders in this event are Mark Arnold of Team Pedal Revolution  and Daniel Bloy of King’s Lynn CC, both of whom are well able to show what that times can be achieved on a cold day at the beginning of the season.

Arnold had won the New Year’s Day 10-mile time trial on the A11 road in 21:31 (an average of more than 28mph) at a time when few riders can aspire to that kind of speed.

“The Norfolk Mardle” 100km Audax ride from Hellesdon will also attract support from the club.  Mike Rainton has said he will ride and there are likely to be others.