Gold card holder Norton chasing classic silverware

John Norton never thought he would ever ride from Twizel to Timaru, let alone in a classic bike race.

The 65-year-old only took up cycling seriously in January but he has his eyes on the main prize, the prestigious Rudge Whitworth Trophy, for first across the line.

Norton admits he has always been competitive, be it in rugby, tennis or golf, and that it was no different when he clipped on his cycling shoes.

‘‘I am starting so I’m a chance of collecting the silverware on Saturday,’’ he said.

Three months after buying his first road bike Norton joked he traded up to one twice the price and half the weight.

‘‘I realised I was like a bag of cement going up the hills, so thought that it might help.’’

Norton has lost 11kg in seven months as he has become a bike junkie.

‘‘It’s a really addictive sport, I love it.’’

‘‘I’ve still got wrinkles and no hair but I’m feeling great.’’

The only down side was the first three months getting accustomed to being regularly in the saddle.

‘‘It was pretty sore sitting on the seat until you get used to it.’’

Norton, who plays off a nine handicap in golf, said the two sports were similar in that they used a handicap system to give everyone a chance.

‘‘I started in the D-grade, had a couple of wins and I’m in the C-grade.’’

Norton said he rides 100km every Wednesday with a group, no problems at all.

‘‘It is an individual sport but you often ride as part of a team, and it has the team dynamics. It is fun.’’

Norton said the South Canterbury cycling community was very welcoming..

‘‘The guys at the top help you out no matter what level you are at.

‘‘I got into it when Glen Gould and other cyclist said come along and see what you think’’ after doing a few 30km rides on my own.

Over 70 riders have registered for the Twizel Timaru Classic, the main event of South Canterbury cycling calendar.

Included in the field are nine women, 29 locals and two past winners.

On a good day the scratch riders would be fancied and with threetime Olympian Marc Ryan joining veteran Reon Park, Christchurch’s Sam Horgan, Otago’s Brad Evans and former New Zealand development ride Liam Aitcheson from Central Otago in the bunch, they might take some stopping.

Ryan is the defending champion while Park set the record of 3hr 13min 4sec on the course two years ago.

Ryan also has the five fastest times to his credit in the 160km classic, that was originally ridden from Christchurch to Timaru, and has won it twice.

He still, however, needs two more fastest times to match his father Colin’s efforts but the senior Ryan only won the race once.

The only other past winner in the field is Timaru’s James Archbold.

The first riders will get away at 9.30am, with the scratch riders setting off about 70 minutes later.

The finish is expected anytime after 1.30pm outside the Timaru International Motor Raceway at Levels.