Members of the Gloucester City Cycling Club started off the 2016 Time-Trial season on Sunday when they competed in the Severn Road Club 2 rider team 25 mile time-trial and the solo event at Falfield on the A38.
Conditions as to be expected in February were very cold in the morning with a strong Easterly wind that did help the riders on the final return leg from Cambridge on the A38 to the finish line at Stone.
Prior to this the riders who started at Falfield had to compete 2 loops of a lumpy circuit around Berkeley before the finishing A38 stretch.
The Gloucester City team of Anthony Lake and Ian Lindsay were well suited riding well together and relaying each other well – Ian was keen to try out his new time-trial machine for this season that he has been training hard for and intends to compete in the British Best All rounder Competition and do well in the Club Championship in this 125th Anniversary year in the Club’s history.
Partner Anthony who is an all rounder who rides in cyclo-cross events and will be joining the road squad for the season enjoyed this challenge and the team finished in 8th place with a time of 1hr 5minutes 11 sec.
The other member in the 2 up was Gerry McGarr who was starting his 50th season and was teamed with ex-Brockworth Schoolboy Simon Healey who now lives in Andover and rides for Andover Wheelers . His late father Brian was Gerry’s first 2-up partner when he started racing in 1967. Simon was riding his 3rd event of the season and was extremely strong and powerful for his 64yr old teammate and experience came in handy when the pressure was really on –especially on the many uphill drags they finished in an excellent time of 58 minutes and 21 seconds for 2nd place missing the win by just 17 seconds.
Peter Kellow from Churcham displayed a new bike and helmet for the new season and did well to complete the testing course in 1hr 11 minutes 10 seconds – finding the headwind stretches hard as he had no partner to ease the load.
Dan Kelly has started to race for the City Club and took on the challenge of riding the MAMIL SERIES at Stourbridge and found the tight circuit and sharp corners hard to negotiate in a large group of over 50 riders – he enjoyed the experience and was consistent in finishing in the top 30 riders in every round – a very strong climber and rider his teammates expect him to do very well as he gains in experience from racing – Dan is also a very keen runner competing in running races as well as cycling events.
Richard Clements from Stroud is a keen Audax competitor and enjoys the challenge that these long endurance events offer. He travelled to Cardiff with club mate Ian Lindsay to compete in a 200K event that took the riders over the Severn Bridge and both were feeling well tired at the completion after 120 miles.
Richard then competed in another 200K event this time starting at Tewkesbury and this time clubmate Gerry McGarr also took on the challenge from over 100 riders entered only 46 took to the start line as the weather conditions were awful with gale force winds and heavy rain being the forecast and it proved to be correct! The 125 mile route took the riders to Hereford ,Monmouth, down the Wye Valley and again a crossing of the Severn Bridge where the wind made it closed for motor vehicles and the cyclists struggled to keep upright – many who started failed to finish due to the heavy rain but the Gloucester men battled on to Thornbury, Malmesbury, Birdlip and to the welcoming finishing line at Tewkesbury in the dark but well up in the top 10 finishers.
All aspects of cycling are tackled by members of the Gloucester City CyclingClub and new members are always welcomed and encouraged.