CYCLING — Update From Inverclyde VeloTHE 10th race of the season in the Alex Hunter Time Trial League took place on Tuesday 30 May.
Conditions for the 10 riders taking part were dry, but a blustery north westerly gave them a strong headwind for the first two miles along Cloch Road.
Thereafter variable crosswinds created conditions that can make a time trial very difficult to pace; expending too much energy into a headwind and fighting crosswinds means that by the time riders have the benefit of a tailwind, they may not have enough power left to make the most of it. No such problems for race winner Scott Newman whose gruelling training schedule helped him made light work of the conditions, crossing the line in a superb time of 29 minutes and 10 seconds.
Scott Newman
Results: Scott Newman 29:10; Matt Hennon 30:07; Alan Holms 30:25; George McCarter 31:09; Derek Robinson 31:52; Tam May 32:59; Mark Smith 33:47 (Road Bike); Robert McCready 34:25 (Road Bike); Greg Stringfellow 36:27 (Road Bike); Gerry Malone 38:29 (Road Bike)
In open racing, Matt Hennon rode the Fullarton Wheelers Bill Moore Memorial 10-mile time trial in Ayrshire. The course starts opposite the entrance to Eglinton Country Park at Irvine and follows the A78 south to the turn at Dundonald Camp Roundabout. The return leg finishes on the slip road to Eglinton Interchange. Conditions for the 100 riders taking part were very poor with heavy rain and a head wind on the outward leg. Despite suffering a drenching, Matt finished in 20th place with a time of 22 minutes and 11 seconds.
Matt was again flying the flag for the Inverclyde Velo in the Cycling Time Trials 25-mile TT Championship. Eighty-two riders took part on the West Ferry course, organised by Velopreda Cycling Club. The course route starts at the top of Bishopton Hill and heads out under the railway bridge and on to the A8. Riders then have to complete two laps on the course that turns at the Newark Roundabout with an extra loop down Glasgow Road at Woodhall. Conditions were great for the race with only a slight breeze, but with high temperatures up around 20 degrees, riders were starting to suffer on slower parts of the course where it was difficult to cool down. Matt averaged 26.31 miles an hour for the race and finished in 30th place with a time of 57 minutes dead.
Five riders from Inverclyde Velo were out again at the Georgetown time trial event outside Houston. The race on the 7.2-mile course was being held by the Glasgow Couriers. Conditions were warm and dry with only a slight breeze on the outward leg to contend with. The race was won by Pro Vision rider David Griffiths with a time of 14 minutes 48 seconds. Matt, Paul and Alastair all managed personal bests on the course that night.
Results: David Griffiths 14:48; Matt Hennon (Inverclyde Velo) 15:45 (PB); Scott Newman (Glasgow Couriers/Inverclyde Velo) 16:01; Paul Symington (Inverclyde Velo) 16:19 (PB); George McCarter (Inverclyde Velo) 16:45; Alastair Gillespie (Inverclyde Velo) 17.17 (PB); Bill McMillan 18.55; Ron Defilice 19.01; Ian Loughran 20.25; Eddie Nelson 20.55
The Alex Hunter Summer Time Trial League is supported by Inverclyde Velo.
All are welcome; riders meet every Tuesday on Cloch Road just after McInroy’s Point and every Thursday along at the Gantock flats for the APR (Australian Pursuit Race). Both events start at 6.45pm throughout the summer.
Anyone using Strava can check out the route for the Time Trial and APR using the “Cloch Time Trial” segment.
