Three intrepid VC Baracchi Auxax riders set forth
Three Velo Club Baracchi riders, Mike Rainton, Steve Cone and John Thompson, tackled the 104km Norfolk Nips 2 Audax ride.
The weather was cold and the roads were quite icy in places, so riders had to take extra care despite the sunny morning.
Even so, a number of spills occurred, including one where Thompson had to brake when coming to a point where the road was blocked by a recovery lorry attending to a car that had slid into a ditch.
Probably it was the same icy patch that claimed Thompson, though his speed was low and no harm was done.
Careful riding made for slower times. Rainton had ridden round with another local rider, Dennis Glasscock and they were delayed when a companion who punctured, coming in at 5 hours and 56 minutes. Thompson took a little longer, with a time of 6-05, while Cone, with 5-20, made better headway.
The route from Hellesdon went to the information control at Shipdham and then to the main control at Castle Acre village hall. The ride back was through the lanes via Gt. Witchingham.
On Sunday various members of the club were out doing their customary club runs and training rides. The 9am ride was lightly attended – so much so that the two riders who reported for it missed each other and set off separately, only to meet up coincidentally at St Olaves on their return.
Thompson woke late after his previous endeavours and then rode to Rumburgh: Uggeshall, Halesworth, Heveningham and then through Fressingfield, Metfield and Mendham to the farm shop at Wortwell.
Our correspondent had resolved not to pass on further news of Thompson’s cycling meals, but on this occasion the steak and ale pie with a big plateful of roast potatoes and vegetables and Yorkshire pudding followed by the homemade apple and almonds crumble seemed worthy of a mention.
This Sunday, the Broome Heath Scramble, hosted this year by Iceni Velo and organised for them by Shaun Aldous on his home patch gives the opportunity to travel the shortest distance to watch cyclo-cross.
It is expected that riders from Gt Yarmouth CC will take part in this event, as they did last year. The U12, youth and junior races will be a good opportunity for their up-and-coming riders to sample off-road competition.
Racing starts at 11am and is concluded with the race for seniors and elite riders at 1.45pm.
