Getting into gear for Men O’Miles
Ayr Roads/ Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club:
On Sunday, the Roads club fielded four riders in the Etape de Caledonia.
This event is the UK’s leading closed road sportive, with riders experiencing the thrill of riding in the completely closed roads of Perthshire.
The 85- mile route started and finished at Pitlochry and took in the rolling hills and forest- lined roads around Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel.
The Roads team consisted of Andy Conway, John Gemmell, Stewart McCallum with his father Bobby.
Meanwhile, the club’s men o’ miles were active during the week both in the west of Scotland and in the Peak District.
Ed Clifton and Scott Knox recorded nearly 300 miles over a four day tour of the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District, taking in the climbs of Snake Pass, the Cat and Fiddle and Winnats Pass with a total ascent of 28,000 feet.
Ayr Roads and Fullarton Wheelers also joined up for the Three Ferry route.
From Wemyss Bay the route took them by the Cowal Peninsula, taking in the picturesque highland scenery around Loch Eck, Loch Fyne, by the second ferry at Colintraive and return from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay.
In glorious weather, a distance of 80 miles was recorded.
Sunday saw another group of clubmen take in a circuit of southern byways by Carrick Roads to Pinmore and then by Lendalfoot and by the coast road home.
On Thursday night at the club’s confined 10 mile Time Trial, the timekeeper took a bit of stick, when his prediction of a fine night for personal bests went wrong.
The wind direction changed during the day, which resulted in slower times that originally predicted.
Nonetheless, a fine ride by Mark Warters resulted in an under twenty two minute ride, with Mark recording 21.55.
Other times were: Calum MacDonald 22.44; Alex McAllister 23.33; Craig Allison 23.57; Harry Brawley 24.13; Tom G- Hill 24.21; John McKie 24.31; Duncan McArthur 24.37; Ross Milvenan 25.11; John Gemmell 26.24; Aileen Fisher 26.28; Robert Kelly 26.40; Toni McIntosh 26.55; Archie Arthur 27.30.
All club members were delighted to see Toni McIntosh’s return.
Since suffering a bad crash last year, Toni had not ridden in any club confined event.
Over the next few weeks the Roads club will have a full agenda, with the club’s league event taking place on Thursday night, followed by the Tour of the Ayrshire Alps on June 2.