Acme Wheelers members have been very active racing from the word go this season, the wet winter doesn’t seem to have caused too much of a problem.
The season started for four of our members at the EC Cycles 10m TT (R10/22A) on the 6th March. Times posted were very creditable for this time of year on a cold day, Kevin Bartlemore posting a 23:47, Simon Kinsey a 24:25 10 seconds off his best for that course, with Ross Morgan close behind at 24:30. Special mention must be made of Nadine Cannon who posted a 23:52, a ten minute improvement on her time of last season. Well done Nadine.
Not to be outdone, the road racers got in on the act starting on March 13th with the Betty Pharoah Memorial Legstretcher 55m for 3rd and 4th Cats.. Thanks to Dai Long there is a full report of the race in the News section. But recently returned member Neil Moulsdale deserves a mention as he came in 22nd place after being caught up in a crash and having to chase back.
Also on the 13th PTW promoted a 25m 2-Up TT (R25/24) with Carl Banwell and Kevin Bartlemore teaming up for Acme Wheelers on a sunny but cold day they
finished in 17th place from 53 finishers posting a time of 1:03:24
Four members, Dan Taylor, Dai Long, Dean Cummings and Neil Moulsdale rode the Abergavenny Spring Handicap Road Race. A very cold day and only two groups on the road it was always going to be tough Neil and Dean were in the first group when the scratch group, including Dan and Dai, caught them half way through the 2nd lap of a 3 lap race. Once the scratch group caught the main field the race settled down but that wouldn’t last long. Neil positioned himself on the front of the peleton and waited for the attacks to come. Dean was feeling comfortable with the pace, but unfortunately punctured after 9 miles. Dai and Dan lost contact with their group because of the blistering pace set by some of the elite riders. The attacks started mid way into the 3rd and final lap. Neil went with the attacks and managed to finish 27th with the main bunch,only 17 seconds behind the eventual winner.
Further afield, on the 20th March the Royal Dean Forest CC promoted a 25m TT (R25/7A). Three members made the journey to this event, leading the way Carl Banwell posted 1:02:13 with Simon Kinsey at 1:02:51 and Kevin Bartlemore at 1:03:08. Another recently returned member Chris Wooley posted a 1:02:13 riding for the Tri Club at the time.
Finally Simon Kinsey took advantage of travelling away for work to enter VC Sevale 10 10m TT (K46/10). In the Malvern area. Showing good form Simon posted a 26.26 to finish in 8th place.
