Flying start to the season by town riders

HINCKLEY Cycle Racing Club has got off to a flying start in 2016.

Already nine of the season’s 23 scheduled club time trials have taken place with some cracking results despite dismal weather at times.

The first time trial of the season saw an impressive turn out of 42 riders with a couple of riders achieving personal bests, namely Simon Law with a time of 23:47 and Mark Mackay with a time of 23:08. Tom Rowlands also rode a decent 28:53 for his first ride.

The second Tuesday night 10 mile time trial saw David Mead achieving a club course record by riding a time of 20:56. At the same time Alex Cooke rode a personal best of 27:48 and Rachel Rathbone also achieved a personal best time of 29:41.

The weather was favouring the club on round three of the time trials with a massive turnout of 59 riders with more personal bests achieved by three riders and an impressive first ride time of 30:56 recorded for Emma Styles.

In contrast, round six saw the worst kind of cycling weather resulting in just seven riders braving the wet course with the fastest club rider being Karl Weatherall coming in with a time of 22:24.

As the weeks have gone on more and more personal bests have been recorded including Christine Johnson - 27:27, Amy Bishop - 26:53, Nathan Bonham - 23:38, James Evans - 24:18.

The Tuesday night 10 mile time trials continue to run every week until September 6.

The annual Open 2up 25 mile time trial took place on April 10. Craig McKee of Rugby RCC and David Kiernan of Corley Cycles came in first with a time of 53:43 shortly followed by our own David Mead and Kelvin Southan both riding for the Hinckley club who achieved a time of 54:32.

Meanwhile, results are also taking shape off-road for the club as David Staley, Jeff Farmer, Martin Alexander and Dave Bettridge compete in the Midlands Friday night summer series of cross country mountain bike races. Overall standings are still to be published as the series has only just got going.

The club will be hosting its annual Open 10 mile time trial on June 19 shortly followed by the Open 25 mile time trial on July 17.

The club’s flyers sessions continue to attract a number of budding young riders, these sessions are held biweekly on Saturday afternoons on the car-park of the Triumph Motorcycle Factory on Normandy Way (next session will be held on June 11).

The Flyers sessions cover all sorts of cycling techniques and disciplines. At the same time the club runs a ladies leisure ride also departing from the Triumph car-park at 2pm on the same Saturdays as the Flyers sessions, all ladies are welcome to join in with these rides as it’s open to members and non-members alike.

For anyone interested in cycling or considering taking it up as a sport or just interested in cycling to keep fit then visit the club website at www.hinckleycrc.org