Womack rides well despite the weather forecast

Two of Velo Club Baracchi’s veteran riders took part in the VTTA East Anglian 10-mile time trial on the A11 south of Newmarket on Saturday despite a dire weather forecast and came away happy.

The forecast had been for heavy rain and gusting winds but it turned out to be more mixed, with dry spells, a little drizzle and one heavier shower.

142 solo riders had entered and one tandem, but as a result of the poor weather, exacerbated by the unpromising forecast, more than half stayed away.

But the event went ahead after all and those who rode found the conditions acceptable and even rewarding for some.

Chris Womack”

Womack rode the event in 22:57 but Swanbury had to be content with 24:27, a respectable enough time, but outside the “23” he was looking for.  Womack is almost invariably the quicker of the two so the result was no surprise to either of them.

Chris Womack and John Swanbury share the same age, though Womack will hit his seventieth birthday first, before the year is out.

On the way out to the turn there was an exposed section where the headwinds, mostly somewhat from the right hand side, made the going especially tough.  The return leg was mostly wind-assisted and riders had to work hard to make up what they had lost.

Some good times were ridden, including 21:25 by Gt Yarmouth CC rider Steve Konrad, which was a personal best and a new GYCC record by one second.

Sole Bay Cycle Sport riders Lee Garrod (21:24), Gary Matthews (21:56), James Doy 22:47 and Denise Hurren (23:35) all had personal bests.  They won the team prize.

The fastest rider, 46-year-old Simon Norman of Bedfordshire Road RT, recorded 19:25 and it was also the best veteran performance against age standard, a “plus” of 7:02.

The CC Breckland 30-mile event scheduled for the same time but further north on the A11 was cancelled in the morning, removing the dilemma for riders who had entered of whether to travel in hope of a ride.

On Sunday the club run at the normal time comprised Swanbury on his own until he met up by chance with others and rode to a Framlingham café and back (just over 60 miles) with Mike Rainton, Mike Wood, Hugh Gatenby, Paul Clarke and, joining them from Halesworth, Terry Power of Godric CC.

In contrast to Saturday there was glorious sunshine once the mist had burned off.  This party averaged just under 16mph.

Other club members had opted for an earlier, faster ride that turned into a 70-mile chain gang at 23mph average and they enjoyed it greatly.

The official Sunday club runs will continue to be timed for 8.30am from the Cotmer Road roundabout and any other rides are agreed upon by particular members to suit their needs for faster riding, longer distances or both.